How Much Does a Bathroom Fitter Charge in the UK? (2026)

UK Bathroom Fitter Rates at a Glance (2026)

Region	Hourly Rate	Day Rate
National average	£35–£55/hr	£200–£320/day
London	£55–£80/hr	£300–£460/day
South East	£42–£65/hr	£260–£390/day
Midlands	£30–£50/hr	£180–£290/day
North England	£28–£48/hr	£165–£270/day
Scotland	£30–£50/hr	£170–£280/day
Wales	£27–£45/hr	£160–£260/day

Bathroom Fitting Costs at a Glance (2026)

What Drives Bathroom Fitting Costs?

A bathroom is one of the most trade-intensive rooms in the house. You typically need a plumber, an electrician, and a tiler — and a skilled bathroom fitter is often multi-qualified across at least two of these. That breadth of skill commands a higher day rate than single-trade work.

• Layout changes: Moving the toilet to a different wall means new waste pipes, which usually means cutting into floors or chasing walls. This adds 1–2 days to any installation.
• Waterproofing: Wet rooms and shower areas need tanking membrane applied before tiling. Cutting corners here is how bathrooms leak into the ceiling below, an expensive mistake that's entirely avoidable.
• Extractor fan and lighting: Adding or moving a bathroom extractor or replacing lighting requires Part P certification in England and Wales. Either your fitter is qualified or you need a separate electrician.
• Access and building type: Old houses with lath and plaster ceilings, joists running the wrong way, or cast iron pipes below floor level make everything harder and slower. Get the fitter to assess the bathroom before quoting if possible.
• Sanitary ware quality: Cheap flatpack suites are harder to fit precisely than quality branded sanitary ware. Your fitter will know which brands are straightforward and which are a pain.

How to Get an Accurate Bathroom Fitting Quote

Bathroom jobs are notoriously prone to scope creep. To get a quote you can actually hold someone to, be specific upfront:

• Confirm whether the layout is changing or staying the same
• Specify who supplies the sanitary ware — you or the fitter
• Confirm what tiling is included, if any
• Ask whether electrics and extractor are in scope
• Confirm waste disposal is included, or agree to handle it yourself

A good bathroom fitter will want to survey the space before quoting. Be cautious of anyone who gives a firm price without looking at the bathroom first.

Wet Room vs Walk-In Shower: What's the Cost Difference?

These terms get used interchangeably but they describe different installations with different costs. A walk-in shower has a tray, a drain, and a screen or walls. A wet room has a fully waterproofed (tanked) floor and walls, no tray, and a linear drain set flush with the floor tiles.

Walk-in showers are cheaper to install — a decent shower tray with screen, plumbing, and fitting typically runs £600–£1,500. Wet rooms are significantly more involved: the floor and lower wall surfaces need tanking to a proper waterproofing standard (specialist membrane or liquid tanking compound), the floor needs a gradient poured into it towards the drain, and the drain itself is a specialist item. Labour alone for a wet room conversion in a standard bathroom runs £1,800–£4,000 before tiles.

Whether it's worth it depends on use. Wet rooms suit elderly users, young children, or those who want minimal visual interruption in the space. But a poorly installed wet room — one where the tanking was skimped — is a serious problem. Water ingress through the floor will rot joists, cause ceiling damage in the room below, and cost far more to remediate than the original installation. Ask your fitter exactly what tanking product they use and how they apply it.

Getting the Sequence Right: Why Bathroom Refits Have an Order

Bathroom refits have more moving parts than most home improvement jobs. Getting the sequence wrong adds cost and time. The correct order is: strip out, first-fix plumbing (rerouting any pipes), first-fix electrical (wiring for extractor, heated towel rail, shaver sockets), board and waterproof wet areas, tile (walls first, then floor), second-fix plumbing (connecting the suite), second-fix electrical (fitting extractor and lights), then sealant and finishing. Connecting the basin and WC after tiling prevents damage to tiles during installation — a fitter who sequences it differently is either inexperienced or rushing.

How to Find a Reliable Bathroom Fitter

• Confirm they can coordinate all trades: A good bathroom fitter manages the plumbing, tiling, and electrical scope (or does some of it themselves). Get clarity on who does what before signing anything.
• Ask specifically about tanking: In any wet zone, ask what waterproofing product they use and how it's applied. A vague answer is a concern.
• Get a detailed written quote: It should specify labour vs. materials, who supplies the suite, whether tiling is included, and how any unforeseen issues (rotten floor joists, old lead pipes) will be handled and priced.
• Check Part P certification for electrical work: Heated towel rails, extractor fans, and shaver sockets in a bathroom are all Part P notifiable. Either your fitter is certified or a separate registered electrician must do this work.
• Ask to see a comparable recent job: Photos don't show grout lines, sealant quality, or how well doors open after the suite is fitted. A reference from a similar bathroom they've completed recently is worth more than any online review.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does a bathroom fitter charge per day?
  UK bathroom fitters typically charge £200–£320 per day nationally. London and South East bathroom fitters charge £300–£460/day. A full installation usually takes 5–10 days.
• How much does a full bathroom installation cost (labour)?
  Labour for a full bathroom installation typically costs £1,500–£4,000, not including sanitary ware, tiles, or materials. A refurb keeping the same layout costs significantly less.
• Do bathroom fitters do plumbing and tiling?
  Many are multi-skilled and handle plumbing, basic electrics, and tiling. Gas and notifiable electrical work need separately qualified tradespeople. Confirm what's in scope before booking.
• How much does a wet room cost?
  A wet room installation (labour only) typically costs £2,500–£5,000 depending on size. Floor work, waterproofing membranes, and drainage planning add time and skill vs. a standard bathroom.
• Do bathroom fitters charge VAT?
  Only if VAT registered (turnover over £90,000/year in 2025/26). On a £3,000 labour-only bathroom job, VAT adds £600 — always confirm whether the quote is inclusive or exclusive.

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