Things to know
Most homes only have one bathroom, which changes the pressure on a bathroom fit compared to almost any other room job. State a realistic completion window up front, including what happens if unexpected work like a rotten subfloor or old pipework extends it. A family without a working bathroom for longer than quoted is the fastest way to sour an otherwise good job.
Tanking and waterproofing is exactly as invisible-but-critical as it is in tiling work, and deserves the same treatment: its own named line, not folded into "prep." It stands between a normal bathroom and a leak into the room below months later. Naming it on the quote lets a customer see they're paying for a real, specific step.
Sequence first fix and second fix explicitly in the notes: plumbing and electrics roughed in before tiling, sanitaryware and final connections after. A customer who doesn't understand this sequence will ask why the bathroom "isn't finished yet" a week in, even when the job is actually on schedule. Stating the phases upfront heads off that anxiety.
Sanitaryware and fittings, such as the bath, shower enclosure, taps, and toilet, are worth pricing as their own line separate from labour, especially when a customer might upgrade their choice mid-quote. It also makes it obvious when a customer's own higher-spec fittings, a walk-in shower instead of a bath say, are adding cost independent of your fitting rate.
Typical bathroom fitter line items and UK prices
Indicative ranges, excluding VAT. Rates vary by region (London and the South East run higher) and by job size.
| Item | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Strip out existing bathroom + disposal | per bathroom | £300–£650 |
| Plumbing first + second fix (suite) | per bathroom | £900–£1,800 |
| Tanking / waterproofing (shower area) | per job | £250–£600 |
| Wall + floor tiling | per m² | £40–£70 |
| Electric shower install (new circuit) | per job | £450–£850 |
| Extractor fan (replace / new) | per fan | £150–£350 |
| Full bathroom refit, labour only (standard size) | per bathroom | £3,000–£6,000 |
| Wet room conversionWide range: floor construction and drainage vary. | per job | £5,000–£10,000 |
Common bathroom fitter jobs and how to price them
- Full bathroom refits
- Fixed price, broken into strip-out, first fix, waterproofing, tiling and second fix, with a provisional sum for floor repairs.
- Bath-to-shower conversions
- Fixed price including the tray, screen, tanking and any extra waste work.
- Accessible bathrooms
- Fixed price; check zero-rated VAT eligibility before quoting the VAT line.
- Wet rooms
- Fixed price including the floor former, falls, full tanking and a linear or centre drain.
Regulations and certificates to reference
- Building Regulations Part P (special locations) — a room with a bath or shower is a special location. New circuits there — an electric shower or underfloor heating — are notifiable, and must be done or certified by a registered electrician.
- Building Regulations Part F — bathrooms need mechanical extraction (around 15 litres per second). Replacing a fan is routine, but a bathroom without one should get one.
- Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 — covers backflow protection and pipework; some appliances, such as bidets or pumped showers, need extra checks or notification.
- VAT relief for disabled customers — adapting a bathroom for a disabled person, such as a level-access shower or grab rails, can be zero-rated. The customer signs an eligibility declaration; keep it with the invoice.
Payment terms bathroom fitters commonly use
- Deposit for sanitaryware and materials (often 25–40%), stage payment at first fix, balance on completion.
- Customer-supplied suites: confirm all items are on site before the start date, or charge for idle days.
Read more: Invoice payment terms explained · Payment methods to offer clients
VAT and CIS for bathroom fitters
VAT
Standard-rated at 20% unless the work is an eligible adaptation for a disabled person, which can be zero-rated. Eligibility depends on the person and the work, not the customer’s age alone.
Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)
Bathroom fitting is within CIS when you subcontract to a builder or developer; split labour from sanitaryware and materials.
General guidance, not tax advice — check your position with HMRC or an accountant.
Read more: Do I need to charge VAT on my invoices? · What must an invoice include? (UK legal requirements)
What this template includes
- Waterproofing/tanking priced as its own line
- Sanitaryware and fittings itemised separately
- Plumber and electrician coordination noted
- Old bathroom removal and disposal
- PDF download or shareable tracked link
Full guide
How to Start a Bathroom Fitting Business as a Sole Trader
Frequently asked questions
Work in a room containing a bath or shower is treated as a special location. Installing a new circuit there, such as for an electric shower, is notifiable under Part P and must be done or certified by a registered electrician.
Yes, if it is an adaptation to suit a disabled person’s condition, such as a level-access shower. The customer completes an eligibility declaration. Cosmetic upgrades for older customers without a qualifying condition are standard-rated.
Tiles and grout are not waterproof. Tanking is the layer that stops water reaching the walls and the ceiling below. Showing it separately makes clear that it is not optional.
Include a provisional per-board or per-m² rate for floor repairs, confirmed with the customer once the old suite is out.
Most single-bathroom refits run 5-7 working days. State this on the quote along with what would extend it (subfloor damage, old pipework), since a single-bathroom household feels every extra day.
It is a distinct waterproofing step that happens before tiling and is invisible once finished — pricing it separately makes clear it's a real, named part of the job rather than assumed prep.
Either arrangement works, but state clearly on the quote whether you're coordinating first-fix/second-fix trades directly or the customer is arranging their own.
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