A standard mid-spec bathroom renovation in Ireland typically costs €10,200 for a three to five square metre bathroom with the layout kept as is. A small refresh that keeps the existing layout averages closer to €5,300. A full renovation that also moves the toilet, shower or basin costs €12,500. Based on Bark's analysis of over 865 bathroom installation and remodelling quotes across Ireland in 2026.

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These average prices hide a big gap between a simple refresh and a full rebuild. A homeowner swapping tiles and a toilet in the same footprint pays a fraction of what a full wet room conversion costs. The cost of a bathroom renovation comes down mostly to how much plumbing, tiling and structural work the job actually needs.

This guide breaks down 2026 bathroom renovation costs in Ireland by type, size and trade. You'll also find a full material cost breakdown and what typically drives a quote higher.

Note: All prices in this guide exclude VAT unless stated otherwise.

How much does a bathroom renovation cost by type of job?

The type of job matters more than almost anything else. A same-layout refresh and a full wet room conversion both count as a bathroom renovation. The price between the two can differ by more than €20,000.

The table below shows the average price for each type, based on verified 2026 data from across Ireland.

Bathroom renovation cost by type of job (2026, EUR, excluding VAT)

A small refresh keeps the toilet, shower and basin exactly where they are. You're paying mainly for new tiles, a new suite and fresh finishes, not for moving pipework, which is why it sits at the bottom. A full renovation adds a strip-out, first and second fix plumbing and new tanking underneath the tiles.

A large family bathroom and an ensuite cost less than their size difference suggests. This is because a good chunk of the price comes from fixed items like the suite and waterproofing rather than floor area.  

Wet rooms cost more again, since step-free drainage and full tanking add both material and labour time. Luxury bathrooms carry the biggest premium of all, driven by natural stone, underfloor heating and bespoke joinery rather than sheer size.

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How much does a bathroom renovation cost by size?

Cost per square metre actually falls as a bathroom gets bigger. Fixed costs like the suite, plumbing connections and waste pipework don't scale with floor area, so smaller rooms carry a heavier cost per square metre. A small 3m² bathroom averages around €2,500 per square metre including the full suite and finishes.

Bathroom renovation cost by size  (2026, EUR, excluding VAT)

A medium 6m² bathroom averages closer to €1,900 per square metre for the same standard of finish. This is why a small ensuite can cost almost as much per square metre as a much larger family bathroom. The suite, plumbing and tiling prep cost roughly the same whether the room is three square metres or six.

Once you're past medium size, the total bathroom redesign cost is driven more by finish level than by floor area alone. A large bathroom finished simply can cost less per square metre than a small one finished to a high spec. That's worth remembering if you're comparing quotes on a like-for-like basis.

What's included in a bathroom renovation quote?

A standard bathroom renovation quote should cover the full job from strip-out to finished fit-out. That includes removing the old suite and tiles, first fix plumbing and electrics, tanking, tiling, then second fix and sanitaryware installation. Waste disposal, including skip hire, is usually built into the price rather than charged separately.

Some items sit outside a standard quote and get priced separately. Structural work, moving a soil stack or supplying your own premium sanitaryware are common exclusions worth confirming upfront. Ask each professional exactly what their price includes, since this is where quotes that look similar on paper can differ once work starts.

A written quote should also state whether VAT is included and what happens if hidden issues turn up once the old tiles come off. Ask bathroom professionals to confirm exactly what's included before you compare prices, at no cost to you.

How much does each trade cost in a bathroom renovation?

Labour is usually the biggest single chunk of a bathroom renovation, ahead of materials in most standard jobs. The table below shows what each trade typically costs for a mid-spec, same-layout renovation, based on verified 2026 rates from tradespeople across Ireland.

Bathroom renovation cost by trade (2026, EUR, excluding VAT)

These line items illustrate the main cost components of a standard renovation, although individual projects can vary depending on their exact specification and site conditions.

A qualified, insured plumber charges an average of €90 an hour in Ireland, and a straightforward same-layout job takes roughly two to four days. You can compare plumbers on Bark before booking the first fix stage of your renovation.

Electrical work near a shower or bath should be carried out by a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor. Safe Electric also advises homeowners to obtain a completion certificate after the work.

This usually covers a new shower circuit, an extractor fan and updated lighting, and averages €650 for a standard job. It's worth checking electricians who hold current Safe Electric registration before you book them.

Tiling labour averages around €55 per square metre, with tiles adding to the overall cost. Large-format porcelain and natural stone can increase the total further.

A plasterer typically spends half a day to a full day skimming walls after first fix work, averaging €550. Older properties, particularly pre-1980s builds in Dublin, often need more extensive plastering and can run to €800 or more.

How much do bathroom materials cost in Ireland?

Materials make up a smaller share of the budget than most people expect, usually less than labour on a standard job. Sanitaryware and tiles still add up quickly once you're fitting out an entire room.

The table below shows typical costs for individual materials and fixtures. These figures aren't intended to add up to the €2,700 sanitaryware allowance in the trade breakdown, as some items are priced separately.

Bathroom material costs in Ireland (2026, EUR, excluding VAT)

These figures cover mid-range products from mainstream bathroom suppliers, and the gap between items comes down to what you're actually paying for.

A vanity unit costs more than a toilet because it's furniture as much as plumbing. It combines cabinetry, a worktop or integrated basin and often soft-close drawers. A toilet is a single ceramic fixture built around one cistern mechanism.

Individual fixtures can cost more or less than the allowances within a full sanitaryware package. Vanity units, mirrors and accessories are priced separately.

Wall tiles typically cost more per square metre than floor tiles. Wall runs involve more cutting around sockets, valves and shower fittings. Mid-spec wall ranges tend toward smaller-format or patterned tiles that simply take longer to lay than a plain floor tile.

A shower enclosure and its tray are priced on glass, framing and the base material rather than footprint alone. This is why the tray carries a real cost of its own rather than reading as an afterthought.

The ‘mirrors and accessories’ line covers more than one item too: it's a bundle of mirror, towel rail, holders and hooks rather than a single fixture. So, it sits above what a standalone mirror would cost.

Premium brands, natural stone tiles and designer sanitaryware push each line well above these averages. You're paying for material rarity and brand positioning there, not a fundamentally different fitting process. Natural stone does add genuine prep and sealing time on top.

Painters and decorators on Bark can also quote separately for any wall or ceiling painting outside the tiled area, which often gets missed when budgeting for materials.

What affects the cost of a bathroom renovation in Ireland?

Six factors consistently move a bathroom renovation price up or down. Understanding each one helps explain why two seemingly similar bathrooms can end up with very different quotes.

Layout changes

Moving the toilet, shower or basin adds an average of €2,250 to the plumbing bill. Moving the toilet specifically, which often means relocating the soil stack, averages €1,850 on its own. This is the single biggest cost lever in most renovations, more than any single material choice.

Wet room conversion

Upgrading a standard shower enclosure to a full wet room adds an average of €3,000 on top of a standard renovation. That extra cost pays for step-free drainage, a floor screed laid to a gradient and complete floor-to-ceiling tanking.

Bathroom size

As covered above, cost per square metre drops as the room gets bigger, so size alone doesn't tell the whole story. A large bathroom finished simply can still cost less overall than a small one finished to a high spec.

Tile and material choice

Standard ceramic or porcelain tiling labour averages €55 per square metre. Natural stone can run to €130 per square metre or more once you average the higher end of that market. Large-format tiles also take longer to lay than smaller standard tiles, adding to the labour bill.

Hidden structural issues

Subfloor rot, an unexpected stud wall or a concealed cistern that needs replacing typically add an average of €1,350 combined when they turn up. Builders on Bark can assess these risks properly during a site visit, before you commit to a fixed price.

Location

Dublin renovation costs run roughly 17.5% above the national average, largely due to higher labour rates and skip permit costs. A standard mid-spec renovation that averages €10,200 nationally comes in closer to €11,985 in Dublin. Outside Dublin, the same job typically averages nearer €9,500.

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What additional costs should you budget for?

Beyond the core trade and material costs, several extras catch homeowners out. Planning for these upfront avoids an unpleasant surprise partway through the job.

Additional bathroom renovation costs (2026, EUR)

Contingency fund

Most professionals recommend holding back 12.5% of your total budget for unexpected findings once the old bathroom comes out. Pre-1980s Dublin properties often need a higher contingency, closer to 20%, given the age of the plumbing and plasterwork typically found behind the walls.

Skip hire and waste permits

These sit outside some quotes, particularly in Dublin, where a permit is needed to leave a skip on a public road.

VAT

Add this on top of a trade quote if it hasn't already been included. 

Ireland's current reduced VAT rate is 13.5%, and qualifying construction services are generally subject to it. However, the two-thirds rule can apply where the cost of goods exceeds two-thirds of the total price. This can push the entire transaction onto the rate that applies to those goods instead.

Design consultation 

It’s worth budgeting for on larger jobs. Bathroom designers on Bark can help you plan the layout and specification properly before you start requesting fixed quotes.

How long does a bathroom renovation take?

A standard mid-spec renovation with no layout changes takes an average of around two weeks from strip-out to finished fit-out. That covers roughly a day for strip-out, two to four days for first fix plumbing and electrics. It also includes plasterwork and drying time, then tiling, grout curing and final second fix.

Jobs that involve a layout change or a wet room conversion generally take longer than a standard renovation. Relocating a soil stack, laying a screeded and graded wet room floor or waiting on back-ordered natural stone tiles all add time to the programme. It's worth asking your professional for a written timeline based on your specific job, rather than assuming every renovation runs to the same two-week schedule.

How can you manage your bathroom renovation budget?

A few practical habits make the biggest difference to keeping a bathroom renovation on budget. None of them require compromising on the finished result.

• Keep the existing layout wherever possible, since this alone saves an average of €2,250 on plumbing.
• Order your sanitaryware and tiles before the job starts, rather than mid-renovation, to avoid paying tradespeople to wait around for deliveries.
• Get at least three written quotes for anything beyond a small refresh, since prices for the same scope can vary meaningfully between providers.
• Stage your payments against clear milestones, such as completion of strip-out, first fix and final fit-out, rather than paying a large deposit upfront.
• Set your contingency fund before you start, and treat it as genuinely off-limits until something specific requires it.
• Avoid changing your tile or sanitaryware choice once the job is underway, since mid-project changes are one of the most common causes of budget overruns.

Why is it worth planning a bathroom renovation carefully?

Careful planning protects both your budget and your timeline. Most of the costly surprises in a bathroom renovation come from decisions made too late, not from anything genuinely unpredictable about the job itself.

A layout confirmed before the quote stage avoids paying twice for plumbing work once pipework is already in place. Tiles and sanitaryware ordered early avoid delays that leave tradespeople idle and waiting, which often gets billed regardless. A realistic contingency set from day one means an unexpected subfloor issue is a planned cost, not a budget crisis.

The homeowners who end up happiest with the result are rarely the ones who found the cheapest quote. They're the ones who compared several detailed quotes, understood exactly what each one covered and planned the layout and materials before work began.

A bathroom renovation in Ireland costs €10,200 for a standard mid-spec job. Small refreshes average €5,300, while a layout change pushes the rate toward €12,500. Size, layout and location are the three factors most likely to move your own quote up or down from these averages.

When comparing quotes, look beyond the headline figure. Check whether plumbing, electrical work, tiling, sanitaryware, waste disposal and finishing are included. A detailed quote that clearly defines the scope is usually a better benchmark than the cheapest price alone.

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