Price ranges for 2026
These are planning ranges for Central Coast homes, not quotes. Your actual figure comes from a site visit and a written price.
| Bathroom type | Typical 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Cottage or compact bathroom | $14,000 – $23,000 |
| Unit bathroom (including strata logistics) | $16,000 – $28,000 |
| Ensuite | $15,000 – $26,000 |
| Main family bathroom | $20,000 – $34,000 |
| Larger or premium bathroom | $34,000 – $55,000 |
| Accessible bathroom | Room range plus accessible features |
| Laundry | $8,000 – $19,000 |
Usually included
- Protection of floors and access paths.
- Strip-out and waste removal.
- Plumbing and electrical rough-in and fit-off.
- Wet-area sheeting and a certified waterproofing membrane.
- Screed with falls, then floor and wall tiling.
- Vanity, toilet, tapware, shower screen, mirror or shaving cabinet and accessories, to the stated allowance.
- Exhaust fan and lighting.
- Final clean and handover.
What pushes the price up
Moving things around. Relocating the shower, toilet or vanity means new drainage. On a slab it can mean cutting concrete.
Walls. Taking out the wall to a separate toilet, or borrowing space from a robe, adds framing, lining and finishing.
Old-house surprises. Common on the Coast: asbestos sheeting in cottages, rotten joists under the shower, galvanised pipes, and switchboards that need upgrading.
Access. Steep driveways in Terrigal and Erina Heights, walk-up units with no lift, and waterfront streets where parking is limited all add labour time.
Strata. Approvals, lift protection, restricted hours and waste handling in apartment buildings.
Tile choice. Large-format, handmade-look and patterned tiles take more time to lay.
Fittings. Tapware, vanities and screens range from budget to luxury. Coastal-grade finishes cost a little more.
Extras. Heated towel rails, floor heating, wall-hung toilets, recessed cabinets, freestanding baths and niches.
Ways to keep it sensible
- Keep the wet areas roughly where they are.
- Pick a mid-range tile in a standard size.
- Put the budget into the shower, the fan and the membrane rather than decorative extras.
- Make every selection before work starts — changes mid-job cost the most.
- Consider doing the laundry at the same time.
Deposits and payments in NSW
The most a builder can ask as a deposit in NSW is 10 per cent. If the job is over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested, and the work needs a written contract. After that, payments should line up with stages that are actually finished.
Turn the range into a real number
A site visit takes the guesswork out. See how the job runs on the renovation process page, or read the FAQ.
Call 02 4307 6205 or pop your bathroom details in the form.
Keep planning: Our Renovation Process FAQ Contact
Questions people ask before they commit
What is the average bathroom renovation cost on the Central Coast?
There is no single average worth relying on, because size and condition vary so much. As a 2026 planning guide: main bathroom $20,000 to $34,000, ensuite $15,000 to $26,000, cottage or unit bathroom $14,000 to $28,000, larger or premium bathroom $34,000 to $55,000, and laundry $8,000 to $19,000.
What extras are common in older Coast homes?
Asbestos removal where old sheeting is found, repairs to rotten joists under leaking showers, replacing old galvanised plumbing, and electrical upgrades once walls are open. These are assessed at the site visit and priced up front where they can be seen.
How much deposit can a builder ask for in NSW?
The maximum deposit for residential building work in NSW is 10 per cent of the contract price. For work over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before the builder requests a deposit, and a written contract is required.
Is it cheaper to renovate the bathroom and laundry together?
Generally, per room, yes. Demolition, waste removal, trade call-outs and waterproofing inspections are shared across both rooms. The saving has to be weighed against both rooms being unusable at once.