How much does a bathroom renovation cost: a guide

By the Málaga Urgente team · Updated 1 October 2026 · 8 min read

Why there is no single price for a bathroom renovation

When someone asks how much a bathroom renovation costs, the honest answer is that it depends. Two bathrooms of the same size can differ greatly in the work needed: one just needs the bathtub swapped for a shower tray and new taps, while the other has iron pipes, badly sloped drains and tiling that covers old damp.

That is why any figure given without visiting the bathroom is a baseless estimate. This guide gives no amounts: it explains which factors determine the price, so you can understand a quote and notice when something is missing.

Before asking for a quote, it helps to be clear about what you want to achieve: more comfort (swapping the bath for a shower), more safety (non-slip floor, accessible bathroom), a cosmetic refresh or a full renovation that solves old services. The clearer your idea, the more precise the quote.

The factors that weigh most in the cost

These are the elements that, in practice, influence the total most:

• Size and layout. A small bathroom is not automatically cheap: it packs many items into little space. If the position of fixtures or shower changes, drains and pipes must be moved, which makes the work more expensive.
• Scope of work. Only replacing the bath with a shower tray is a contained job; renovating everything (floor, walls, services, ceiling, fixtures) is a different project.
• Materials and finishes. Between standard tile and large-format porcelain, or between basic taps and designer ones, there is a noticeable difference. The shower tray, screen and furniture also matter.
• Condition of the services. Old pipes, stacks in poor condition or an electrical installation without earthing force additional work that cannot be seen until it is opened up.
• Access to the building. With no lift, narrow streets or difficult skip access, the works take longer.
• Accessibility of the bathroom itself. An adapted bathroom needs an extra-flat tray, grab bars and a non-slip floor.
• Deadlines and conditions. A very short deadline or working hours restricted by the community may require more staff.

Which items a serious quote should include

A bathroom renovation quote should be broken down by item, so you can see where each part goes. As a minimum, it should show:

1. Demolition and rubble removal. Lifting the floor and tiling, removing fixtures and disposing of waste with an authorised handler.
2. Plumbing and drains. New pipes, stopcocks, traps and drains with the correct fall.
3. Electrics. Light points, sockets and adaptation to the bathroom regulations, including equipotential bonding.
4. Building work. Levelling floors and walls, a screed with a fall and partitions if any.
5. Waterproofing. Of the shower area and, where appropriate, the entire floor. It should not be an optional extra.
6. Tiling and flooring. Labour and materials, with the right grout and adhesives.
7. Fixtures, taps, tray and screen. Stating the brand or range, to avoid substitution by inferior equivalents.
8. Painting, finishing and final clean.
9. Permits or notifications, if required, and the applicable VAT.

If a quote has a single line saying "complete bathroom renovation" with no further detail, ask for it to be broken down. It is the best way to compare and to know what you are hiring.

Common surprises and how they should be handled

When an old bathroom is opened up, things that were not visible can appear. The most frequent are:

• Corroded iron or lead pipes, which are best replaced while the wall is open.
• Stacks and drains with little fall, blocked or in poor condition.
• Hidden damp behind the tiling, sometimes from old leaks.
• Uneven floors that must be levelled before laying new flooring.
• Electrical installation without earthing or with insufficient cable sizes.
• Old materials such as fibre cement in stacks of buildings from before 2002, whose removal requires specific handling.

What matters is not that surprises arise, but how they are dealt with. A serious professional warns you before continuing, explains what they have found and gives you the additional cost in writing so you can decide. It should not appear on the final invoice without having been discussed. That is why the quote should state how unforeseen work will be handled.

Fixed quote versus hourly quote

A fixed quote sets the price for a specific scope of work, and protects you from the job dragging on without control. An hourly or "by eye" quote leaves the final cost open and dependent on how long each phase takes.

For a fixed quote to work, the scope must be well defined: what is done, with which materials and how far it goes. If the scope changes during the works, the quote must change too, but always in writing and with your agreement.

Warning signs

• A price given over the phone without having seen the bathroom.
• A single figure with no breakdown or materials specified.
• An amount far below the others, with no explanation.
• A very large upfront payment before starting.
• No written guarantee or invoice.
• No mention of waterproofing or rubble removal.

How to save without compromising what matters

Reducing the cost is possible if you decide well where to cut back:

• Keep the position of the drains and main pipes whenever you can. Moving them is one of the biggest cost drivers.
• Choose standard-format tiles rather than special or large-format pieces, which need more labour.
• Swap the bath for a shower if you do not use it. It frees up space and is usually simpler.
• Narrow the scope: if the services are fine, sometimes it is enough to renew finishes, fixtures and taps.
• Avoid changes during the works. Deciding on finishes before starting saves time and money.

What should not be cut is what you cannot see: services, waterproofing and watertightness. A beautiful bathroom with poor waterproofing ends up causing problems in the home below.

How to compare quotes sensibly

Two quotes can only be compared if they are equivalent. Before deciding on price, check that:

1. They include the same items (waterproofing, rubble, electrics, etc.).
2. They specify the same brands or ranges of materials and fixtures.
3. They state the timescale and when work begins.
4. They detail the guarantee and what it covers.
5. They set out a reasonable payment schedule, by project milestone.
6. They make clear whether VAT is included and how surprises are handled.

Many price differences between quotes are explained by items that one includes and another omits. Ask both to follow the same list before comparing them.

Particularities of renovating a bathroom on the Costa del Sol and in the Axarquía

Location affects the work and therefore the quote. Some points to bear in mind:

• Hard water. Limescale is a common problem. It is wise to choose taps with removable aerators and screens with anti-limescale treatment.
• Damp and salt air. Good ventilation and mould-resistant materials extend the life of the bathroom.
• Buildings without a lift or with a community. Working hours and access for materials and rubble affect the timescale.
• Old town centres. Uneven walls and small bathrooms require made-to-measure solutions.
• Seasonal homes. Renovating between October and May makes it easier to match schedules and deliveries.

If you would like to see how we work, see our bathroom renovations page. And if the bathroom is part of a larger renovation, our full renovations page.

When to ask for a quote and what to prepare

The sooner you talk to a professional, the better you can plan. For the quote to be accurate, have to hand:

• Photos of the current bathroom, including the floor, ceiling and the stack area.
• Approximate measurements and the ceiling height.
• An idea of what you want: shower or bath, style, colours and accessibility needs.
• Information about the community: lift, working hours and rules.
• Any previous problems: damp, blockages or leaks to the neighbour below.

On our visit we measure, check the condition of the services and give you a fixed quote in writing, free and with no obligation.

Quick questions

How much does a bathroom renovation cost?

It depends on the scope, the materials and the condition of the services. That is why we do not give figures without visiting: we give you a fixed quote, free and with no obligation, itemised by task.

What does a bathroom renovation usually include?

Demolition and rubble removal, plumbing and drains, electrics, waterproofing, building work, tiling, fixtures, taps, screen and finishing. Each item should appear separately in the quote.

How long does a bathroom renovation take?

A bathtub-to-shower conversion usually takes between 2 and 4 days; a full renovation, between one and two weeks of work, depending on the condition of the services.

Can I use the bathroom during the works?

Not during the demolition and installation phases. If you only have one bathroom, it is best to plan ahead and, if possible, reduce the days without service.

Do I need a permit or to notify the community?

A renovation that does not affect the structure or façade is usually handled as minor works, but it depends on the town hall. It is advisable to notify the community if the water needs cutting or shared stacks are involved.

Keep reading

• Rising damp and salt damp on the Costa del Sol and the Axarquía
• Ideas for renovating a small kitchen without losing space