- Renovating an existing ensuite is usually cheaper than a main bathroom, often $15,000 to $30,000.
- Adding a new ensuite costs more, commonly $28,000 to $45,000, because of framing, plumbing, and approval.
- Ensuites are small, so the layout and the clearances decide whether the room works.
- Adding an ensuite involves new plumbing and often building approval, not just a refresh.
- In an older Queenslander, an upstairs ensuite needs a sub-floor and structural check.
Ensuite Renovations in Brisbane
Renovating an existing ensuite in Brisbane usually costs less than a main bathroom, often around $15,000 to $30,000, because it is smaller. Adding a brand-new ensuite costs more, commonly $28,000 to $45,000, because it involves framing, new plumbing, and building approval. The room is tight, so the layout and clearances matter more than in a big bathroom. This guide covers the cost of both, the sizes to plan for, the approvals you need, and what to watch for in an older Brisbane home.
Key takeaways
An ensuite is the smallest, most personal bathroom in the house, and it is one of the most popular projects we do in Brisbane. It is also two very different jobs depending on where you start: renovating an ensuite you already have, or carving a new one out of a bedroom or wardrobe. The costs, the approvals, and the challenges are different for each, so this guide covers both.
How much does an ensuite renovation cost in Brisbane?
Because an ensuite is smaller than a main bathroom, renovating an existing one usually costs less. Ensuites are typically 20 to 30 percent cheaper than a main bathroom for the same finish (per What’s The Damage), which in Brisbane puts a renovation of an existing ensuite around $15,000 to $30,000 depending on size and finish. Adding a new ensuite is a bigger job, and costs more.
| Project | Typical Brisbane cost |
|---|---|
| Renovate an existing ensuite | $15,000 to $30,000 |
| Add a new ensuite (from a bedroom or wardrobe) | $28,000 to $45,000 |
| Small ensuite, simple refresh, layout unchanged | from around $15,000 |
The reason a new ensuite costs more is that you are not just replacing finishes, you are building a room: framing new walls, running new plumbing rough-in for the shower, toilet, and basin, adding ventilation and electrical, and getting building approval. The national average bathroom renovation sits near $26,000 (per Canstar), and a new ensuite that adds a bathroom to the house often lands above it.
Get a fixed quote for your Brisbane ensuite Whether you are renovating an ensuite or adding one, we give you a free site visit and a fixed, itemised quote. Book at xbathrooms.com.au/contact.
Renovating an ensuite vs adding one
The two jobs share the same trades but not the same scope, so it helps to be clear which one you are doing.
- Renovating an existing ensuite. You are replacing finishes and fixtures in a room that is already a bathroom. Keep the layout and the plumbing where it is, and it is the best-value bathroom in the house to renovate. Move fixtures, and the cost climbs.
- Adding a new ensuite. You are converting part of a bedroom, a robe, or unused space into a new bathroom. That means new walls, a new plumbing connection, ventilation, waterproofing, and building approval. It adds real value to a home, but it is a build, not a refresh.
How much space do you need for an ensuite?
Ensuites are tight, so every millimetre counts and the clearances are what make the room comfortable rather than cramped. The National Construction Code sets clearances for new homes that are a good benchmark even in a renovation (per the Kitchen and Bathroom Designers Institute):
| Element | Good guide |
|---|---|
| Clear space in front of the toilet | 1200 x 900 mm to move comfortably |
| Toilet, space either side of the pan | at least 900 mm clear width |
| Internal doorway | 820 mm minimum clear opening |
| Shower | 900 x 900 mm is comfortable; 800 x 800 mm works when tight |
In a small ensuite, the moves that make it work are the same ones that make any small bathroom work: a wall-hung vanity, a frameless glass shower, an in-wall cistern, and a door that slides rather than swings. Trying to fit a full-size main bathroom into an ensuite footprint is the most common way an ensuite ends up feeling cramped.
Do I need approval to renovate or add an ensuite in Brisbane?
For a like-for-like ensuite refresh that does not move plumbing or change the structure, you generally do not need building approval. Adding a new ensuite is different, because it involves new plumbing and often structural and building approval. Either way, the plumbing rules apply (see Brisbane City Council):
- Installing or moving fixtures is notifiable plumbing work. It must be done by a licensed plumber, who lodges a Form 4 with QBCC once complete.
- Adding a new ensuite usually needs building approval, and the plumbing work is inspected by the council.
- Waterproofing must comply with AS 3740 and be certified (see the Housing Industry Association).
- Any building work over $3,300 must be carried out by a QBCC licensed contractor.
We handle the approvals and the licensed trades as part of the job. For the record, our QBCC licence number is 15482767.
Adding an ensuite in an older Queenslander
Brisbane has a lot of raised timber Queenslanders, and adding an ensuite upstairs in one is a specific job. The floor is timber over a sub-floor rather than a concrete slab, so the structure has to be checked and often reinforced to carry a wet area, and the plumbing has to be run through the sub-floor and connected to the existing drainage. It is very doable, we do it regularly, but it is not the same as adding an ensuite in a newer slab home, and the quote should reflect that. A cheap quote that ignores the sub-floor is a quote that will find the problem later.
How long does an ensuite renovation take?
Renovating an existing ensuite is a little quicker than a main bathroom because it is smaller, but it still runs through the same stages, so allow around four weeks including the curing time for waterproofing and screed. Adding a new ensuite takes longer, often five to seven weeks, because of the framing, the new plumbing rough-in, and the approvals. We give you a realistic schedule up front, and we tell you early if your home is likely to need extra time.
Frequently asked questions
Renovating an existing ensuite usually costs around $15,000 to $30,000, less than a main bathroom because it is smaller. Adding a new ensuite runs higher, commonly $28,000 to $45,000, because of framing, plumbing, and approval.
Yes, for the same finish, because an ensuite is smaller. Ensuites are typically 20 to 30 percent cheaper than a main bathroom to renovate, which makes an existing ensuite one of the best-value bathrooms to update.
Commonly $28,000 to $45,000, because you are building a room: new walls, plumbing rough-in, ventilation, waterproofing, and building approval. In a raised Queenslander, sub-floor work can add to that.
A workable shower is around 900 x 900 mm, and the National Construction Code sets clear space of 1200 x 900 mm in front of a toilet as a comfort benchmark for new homes. In a very tight space, an 800 x 800 mm shower can work.
Usually yes. Adding a new ensuite involves new plumbing and often building approval, and the plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber and inspected. We manage this as part of the job.
Around four weeks to renovate an existing ensuite, and five to seven weeks to add a new one, allowing for framing, new plumbing, curing time, and approvals.
Ready to renovate or add an ensuite? Book a free site visit and we will tell you what is possible, what it costs, and how long it will take. Complete the form below to get started.
About the author
Fineas Pintilie is a co-founder of xBathrooms, a QBCC licensed bathroom renovation company (licence 15482767) and Master Builders member working across Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Fineas and the team have completed more than 50 bathroom renovations, designing, supplying, and installing each one under one roof.
