What Does a Bathroom Renovation Really Cost in Sydney in 2026?

If you’ve searched this question, you’ve probably already found a dozen different answers ranging from a few thousand dollars to well over $50,000. Both can be right — for completely different jobs. Here’s what actually drives the number.

The short answer

For a wet-area bathroom renovation in Sydney, expect somewhere between $2,500 and $5,000 per square metre for a genuine strip-out — waterproofing, plumbing, tiling and compliance all concentrate real cost into a small room. A 5–6m² bathroom typically lands between $15,000 and $30,000 once you account for layout, fixtures and finish level.

Cosmetic work — new surfaces in an accessible space, no plumbing or structural changes — starts from a much lower per-square-metre rate, because none of the compliance-heavy work applies.

What actually drives the cost

Waterproofing. This is the single biggest hidden cost driver, and the one that’s easiest for a low-cost quote to skip or rush. A correctly lapped, tested membrane takes time and materials that don’t show up in the finished photo — but a failure here means a much bigger bill later, often to a neighbouring room.

Layout changes. Moving a toilet, shower or vanity means moving drainage and rough-in plumbing. Keeping the existing layout is almost always cheaper than relocating fixtures.

Fixture and finish level. Tile size and material, tapware brand, vanity style, and whether you want underfloor heating or a heated towel rail all add up — but they’re a smaller swing factor than waterproofing and layout.

Access and building age. Apartments with lift bookings, or homes over 25 years old with unknown plumbing and wiring behind the walls, both add cost and risk that only shows up once work starts.

Why some quotes look so much cheaper

A quote that’s dramatically below market range for a genuine strip-out is usually missing something — often waterproofing scope, certification, or waste removal — that gets added back as a “variation” once work is underway. See our companion article on reading a quote for the specific warning signs to check for.

The honest bottom line

There’s no single number that applies to every bathroom, because the room’s condition and your scope decide the price — not a marketing figure. A free on-site inspection and a fixed written quote is the only way to get a number you can actually rely on.