How to Quote a Bathroom Renovation

Why bathroom renovation quotes matter more than most

Bathroom renovations are high-value, multi-trade jobs. A standard reno in Australia runs $15,000 to $35,000, with labour making up 40-60% of the total. That means the quote you write directly shapes your revenue for a week or more of work.

They are also the jobs most likely to blow up. Multiple trades, hidden plumbing, waterproofing compliance, client-selected fixtures, and tight timelines create a quoting environment where a missed line item can wipe your margin. The tradies who quote bathroom renos profitably do it systematically, the same way every time.

Here is that system.

Step 1: Run a thorough site inspection

Every accurate bathroom renovation quote starts on site. You can ballpark from photos, but you cannot quote from them. Here is what to check during the inspection:

Plumbing access

Where are the existing water supply lines and waste pipes? Is the hot water system accessible and adequate for the new layout? If the client wants to move the toilet or shower, check the fall on the waste run. A relocated toilet can add $1,500-$3,000 in plumbing alone if the waste needs rerouting under the slab.

Electrical layout

Count the existing circuits. Check the switchboard for capacity. Note the location of every power point, light fitting, and exhaust fan. If the client wants heated towel rails, underfloor heating, or additional downlights, confirm the switchboard can handle the additional load.

Structural condition

Look for signs of water damage in the walls, floor, and ceiling below (if accessible). Soft spots in the floor framing, bulging plaster, or discolouration around the shower recess all signal repair work that needs to be in the quote. In older homes, check for asbestos in wall sheeting, floor tiles, and adhesives. If you suspect asbestos, factor in testing ($50-$150 per sample) and licensed removal ($2,000-$5,000+ depending on extent).

Waterproofing state

If the existing waterproofing is failed or non-compliant, the entire wet area needs to be stripped back to substrate and re-waterproofed to AS 3740. This is a mandatory cost, and it is a common source of variation disputes if it is discovered mid-job rather than at inspection.

Ventilation

Check whether the bathroom has a window or mechanical ventilation. Building codes in most states require one or the other. If you are adding an exhaust fan to a bathroom that currently has neither, include the ducting and roof penetration in your quote.

Access and logistics

How will materials get into the bathroom? Is there stair access only? A narrow hallway? Will you need to protect flooring and walls in transit areas? Tight access adds time, and time is money. Note the skip bin location and waste removal path.

Pro tip: Take photos of everything during the site inspection. Every pipe, every wall, every fitting. These photos become your defence if the client later disputes what was included in the original scope.

Step 2: Define the scope in writing

The scope is the contract between you and the client. A vague scope leads to variation disputes. A precise scope leads to a smooth job. Write down exactly what is included, what the client supplies, and what counts as a variation.

What to include in the scope

• Demolition: What is being removed? Full strip-out to studs, or partial (e.g. replace fixtures only, keep existing tiles)?
• Layout changes: Is the toilet, shower, or vanity moving? Each relocation adds plumbing and sometimes structural work.
• Fixtures and fittings: Are you supplying these, or is the client? If client-supplied, list them as PC (provisional cost) items with a stated allowance.
• Finish level: Budget tiles ($35-$60/m2) or premium ($80-$120+/m2)? Standard mixer taps or designer fittings? This shapes the total by thousands.
• Compliance work: Waterproofing to AS 3740, electrical certification, plumbing compliance certificates. These are mandatory costs, not optional extras.

What to exclude explicitly

• Structural repairs discovered during demolition (variation)
• Asbestos removal if not identified at inspection (variation)
• Work outside the bathroom (e.g. hallway painting, laundry plumbing)
• Council permits or engineering reports (if required)

Write these exclusions into the quote document. Clients appreciate clarity, and it protects you when the unexpected turns up behind the tiles.

Step 3: Break the quote into clear line items

An itemised quote builds client confidence and helps you track costs during the job. Here are the standard line items for a bathroom renovation quote:

Total for a standard bathroom renovation: $15,000 to $35,000 depending on size, finish level, and extent of plumbing or electrical changes.

For a small ensuite with minimal layout changes and budget finishes, the lower end applies. For a main bathroom with a freestanding bath, underfloor heating, and premium tiles, expect the upper end or above.

Step 4: Price each line accurately

Accurate pricing protects your margin. Here is how to approach each cost component:

Materials

Use your actual supplier pricing, not estimates from last year. Material costs shift, especially tiles, cement sheet, and copper fittings. If you use Xero and keep your price lists current, you can pull costs directly from your account rather than guessing.

Labour

Australian labour benchmarks for bathroom renovation work in 2026:

• Plumber: $110-$160/hour (excluding call-out)
• Electrician: $80-$130/hour
• Tiler: $50-$70/m2 (laying, excl. materials)
• Waterproofer: $60-$80/m2
• Carpenter: $70-$100/hour
• Painter: $40-$60/hour

If you are subcontracting trades (e.g. you are a plumber and you sub out the tiling), get firm subcontractor quotes before you finalise the client quote. A verbal estimate from a tiler is a guess, and guesses eat margins.

Margin

Apply your margin on top of direct costs, not hidden inside them. A healthy margin for bathroom renovation work is 15-25% on materials and 20-35% on subcontracted labour. If you are the sole trade doing the work, your hourly rate already includes your margin.

Contingency

Add 10-15% contingency for standard renovations. For pre-1980s homes, go to 20%. Present this transparently in the quote. Clients respect honesty about the unknowns behind walls, and it is far easier to hand back unspent contingency than to ask for more money mid-job.

GST

If your business turns over more than $75,000 annually, you are registered for GST. Show all prices ex-GST with a GST line and an inc-GST total. This is standard practice and clients expect it.

Step 5: Coordinate the trade sequence

Bathroom renovations involve multiple licensed trades working in a specific order. If you are the lead contractor (or the plumber coordinating the job), the sequence matters because a trade working out of order means a revisit, and revisits cost money that you quoted zero for.

Standard bathroom renovation trade sequence:

1. Demolition (you or a labourer)
2. Plumber rough-in (relocate pipes, set waste positions)
3. Electrician rough-in (new circuits, wiring)
4. Carpenter (framing, cement sheet, niche framing)
5. Waterproofer (membrane, wait for cure time before tiling)
6. Tiler (floor and walls)
7. Plumber fit-off (install fixtures, connect tapware)
8. Electrician fit-off (install lights, fans, power points)
9. Painter (ceiling and any non-tiled walls)
10. Final clean and handover

If you are quoting as the lead trade, include a line item for project coordination. Managing subcontractor scheduling, site access, and client communication is real work that deserves compensation. A common approach is a flat coordination fee ($500-$1,500 depending on job complexity) or a percentage markup on subcontracted work.

Key timing trap: waterproofing membrane needs 24-72 hours to cure before tiling. If you book the tiler too early, they either wait on site (billable) or reschedule (potential delay). Build this curing time into the project timeline and communicate it to the client upfront.

Step 6: Present the quote professionally

How you present the quote shapes how the client perceives your value. A professional, itemised quote builds confidence. A one-line "bathroom reno: $22,000" raises questions.

What a winning quote includes

• Your business name, ABN, licence number, and insurance details
• The client's name and site address
• Date and quote validity period (typically 30 days)
• Detailed scope of work (what is included and excluded)
• Itemised pricing with subtotal, GST, and total
• PC items listed separately with stated allowances
• Contingency amount and what it covers
• Estimated timeline (start date, duration, completion)
• Payment schedule (deposit, progress payments, final payment)
• Terms and conditions (variation process, dispute resolution, cooling-off period where applicable)

Delivery format

Send the quote as a branded PDF or directly through Xero. Both give the client a professional document they can review, compare, and accept. Avoid sending quotes via text message or verbal quotes over the phone. Written quotes protect both you and the client.

The walk-through

When possible, walk the client through the quote in person or on a call. Explain each line item, the rationale behind the contingency, and the project timeline. Clients who understand the quote are more likely to accept it, and less likely to negotiate on price alone. They compare on clarity and confidence instead.

Step 7: Follow up within 48 hours

Most tradies skip this step, and it costs them jobs. A quick call or text within two days of sending the quote shows professionalism and gives you a chance to answer questions before the client moves on to the next quote in their inbox.

Keep the follow-up short: "Hi [name], just checking you received the quote for the bathroom. Happy to walk through anything or answer questions." That is enough. You are not chasing; you are being helpful.

If the client says they are still deciding, ask when they plan to make a decision and set a reminder to follow up again. Persistence wins more jobs than price alone.

Common bathroom renovation quoting pitfalls

These are the issues that eat margins on bathroom reno jobs. Watch for them:

• Quoting from photos alone. You will miss structural issues, access problems, and plumbing complications that are obvious on site and invisible in a photo.
• Forgetting waste removal. A full bathroom strip-out generates 2-4 cubic metres of waste. A skip bin hire ($350-$600) and dump fees should be a line item.
• Using last year's material prices. Tile costs, copper pipe, and cement sheet prices shift quarterly. Use current supplier pricing for every quote.
• Underquoting waterproofing. Waterproofing to AS 3740 is mandatory and the cost depends on the extent of wet areas. A shower-only waterproof is cheaper than a full-room membrane. Specify exactly what is covered.
• Absorbing subcontractor overruns. If you are coordinating the job, get fixed quotes from your subbies. "Around $2,000" from a tiler is a guess. "$2,200 for 18m2 of 600x600 porcelain" is a quote.
• Ignoring trade sequencing costs. A plumber returning to site because the tiler was booked before the waterproofing cured is a billable revisit. Plan the sequence and build any buffer days into the timeline.
• Vague PC allowances. Listing "tiles: $1,500 allowance" without specifying m2 rate and area means the client can choose $120/m2 tiles and expect you to absorb the difference. Specify the allowance as a rate per m2 and the total area.

For a deeper look at quoting mistakes across all trades, read 7 Quoting Mistakes That Cost Tradies Thousands.

Speed up your bathroom renovation quoting

A thorough bathroom renovation quote can take 1-3 hours to prepare. Site inspection, scope write-up, supplier pricing, subcontractor quotes, and formatting the document all add up.

FlowSpec is built for exactly this. Speak your line items during the site inspection, and FlowSpec turns your voice into a structured quote with your real Xero price list. The quote lands in Xero ready to send, with every line item, price, and GST calculation in place.

Instead of spending the evening typing up the quote from scribbled notes, you walk off site with the quote already done. That speed means you can quote more jobs, follow up faster, and win work that goes to whoever responds first.

See FlowSpec pricing or learn how voice quoting works.