Bathroom Renovation Costs in Johannesburg (2025 Estimates)

Bathroom Renovation Costs in Johannesburg (2025 Estimates)

Planning a bathroom renovation in Johannesburg in 2025 means working with higher material and labour costs than a few years ago, but you can still get good value if you budget realistically and plan well.

All prices in this renovation price guide are **approximate 2025 estimates for Johannesburg**. They are not quotes and can vary by contractor, material choice, building type, and site conditions.

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How Much Does a Bathroom Renovation Cost in Johannesburg?

Typical 2025 Cost Ranges

For a typical bathroom renovation Johannesburg homeowners can expect the following broad ranges:

**Estimated total project costs (labour + materials):**

| Type of renovation | Typical spend (Johannesburg, 2025)* | |----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| | Basic “facelift” / budget upgrade | R35 000 – R70 000 | | Standard / mid‑range full renovation | R70 000 – R140 000 | | High‑end or large bathroom remodel | R140 000 – R280 000+ |

\*These are **typical ranges, not guaranteed quotes**. Very small guest toilets may be less; large luxury bathrooms can exceed these figures.

What these usually include:

- **Basic upgrade** - Keep layout and plumbing points - Replace tiles with budget ranges - New toilet, basin, taps and shower/bath at entry‑level quality - Minimal electrical changes

- **Mid‑range renovation** - New tiles (mid‑range quality) on floor and walls - New sanitaryware and taps - Some layout tweaks (e.g. moving the shower) - New vanity and improved lighting - Full waterproofing

- **High‑end remodel** - Larger format or designer tiles - Frameless glass shower, possibly freestanding bath - Custom vanity and storage - High‑spec taps and fittings - Feature lighting, underfloor heating (optional)

Factors That Influence Your Final Price

Your **bathroom remodel cost SA** wide will vary, but in Johannesburg these factors matter most:

- **Bathroom size** - More square metres = more tiles, more waterproofing, more labour. - **Existing plumbing and electrics** - Old galvanised pipes, non‑compliant wiring, or leaks push costs up. - **Quality of finishes** - Tiles, taps, toilets, vanities and shower doors vary widely in price. - **Layout changes** - Moving a toilet, shower or bath adds plumbing and tiling work. - **Apartment vs house** - Access, working hours, body corporate rules and noise restrictions can add time and cost in complexes. - **Access to the site** - Upper floors, tight staircases or no lift increase labour for rubble removal and deliveries. - **Contractor experience** - More experienced bathroom contractor Johannesburg teams may charge more, but often save you money by avoiding mistakes.

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Cost Breakdown by Trade and Component

1. Plumbing Costs

Plumbing is usually one of the biggest line items.

**Typical 2025 Johannesburg plumbing estimates:**

- **Per new or moved water point** (e.g. basin, shower, bath, toilet supply) → R1 500 – R3 500 per point (labour only, excluding fixtures)

- **Replacing old pipes in a small bathroom** - R6 000 – R15 000 depending on access and pipe type

- **Installing or moving a toilet** - Keep in same position: R1 500 – R3 000 (labour) - Move to a new position: R3 500 – R8 000+ (labour + extra materials)

- **New shower mixer and outlet** - R1 800 – R4 000 (labour) depending on wall type and chasing

- **Connecting bath or basin** - R800 – R2 000 per fixture (labour)

Plumbing should always be done by a **qualified plumber** who can issue a compliance certificate where required. Cutting corners here can lead to leaks inside walls and very costly repairs.

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2. Tiling and Flooring Costs

Tiling costs depend on tile choice and layout complexity.

**Tile material (per m², supply only):**

- Budget ceramic tiles: **R120 – R220/m²** - Mid‑range porcelain: **R220 – R450/m²** - Premium / designer tiles: **R450 – R900+/m²**

**Tiling labour (Johannesburg, 2025):**

- Standard wall or floor tiling: **R200 – R350/m²** - Complex patterns (herringbone, mosaics, many cuts): **R300 – R500/m²**

**Floor preparation and extras:**

- Screeding / levelling: **R80 – R180/m²** - Removing old tiles: **R80 – R150/m²**

Wall tiling to full height costs more than just a splashback area, but it’s common in modern bathroom renovation Johannesburg projects, especially in showers and around baths.

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3. Waterproofing Costs

Waterproofing is critical in showers and other wet zones to prevent leaks into ceilings or neighbouring units.

**Typical 2025 waterproofing estimates (materials + labour):**

- **Shower floor and walls (up to ±1.8m high)** → R2 000 – R5 000 per shower, depending on size and system used

- **Full wet area (e.g. shower + bath wall zone)** → R200 – R350/m²

A proper system includes:

- Surface preparation - Primer and waterproofing membrane or slurry - Detailing at corners, drains and joints

Never skip this to save money; failures are expensive and disruptive to fix.

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4. Fixtures and Fittings

These are your visible items: toilets, basins, taps, showers, baths, shower doors and accessories. Prices vary hugely depending on style and brand.

**Indicative 2025 price ranges (supply only):**

- **Toilets** - Budget close‑coupled: R1 500 – R2 800 - Mid‑range: R2 800 – R5 000 - Premium / wall‑hung: R5 000 – R12 000+

- **Basins** - Basic pedestal or drop‑in: R600 – R1 800 - Countertop / vessel: R1 800 – R4 500+ - Double basins: R3 500 – R9 000+

- **Taps (mixers)** - Basin mixer: R600 – R2 500 - Shower / bath mixer set: R1 200 – R4 000+ - Premium designer sets: R4 000 – R10 000+

- **Showers** - Standard shower rose + arm: R400 – R1 200 - Rail set / hand shower: R800 – R2 500 - Rain shower + concealed mixer sets: R3 000 – R10 000+

- **Baths** - Standard built‑in acrylic: R2 500 – R5 000 - Freestanding acrylic / steel: R8 000 – R20 000+ - Freestanding stone / solid surface: R20 000 – R40 000+

- **Shower doors** - Framed / semi‑framed: R2 500 – R5 500 - Frameless: R7 000 – R18 000+

Accessories (towel rails, toilet roll holder, robe hooks, etc.) can add another **R1 500 – R5 000** depending on quality.

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5. Cabinetry, Vanities and Storage

Storage makes a big difference to how practical your bathroom feels.

**Typical 2025 Johannesburg estimates (supply, sometimes including basic install):**

- Off‑the‑shelf vanity units: **R2 500 – R8 000** - Mid‑range floating vanity with basin: **R6 000 – R15 000** - Custom built vanity (excluding stone tops): **R8 000 – R25 000+** - Stone / engineered stone tops: **R1 200 – R2 500 per linear metre** - Mirrored cabinets: **R2 000 – R7 000** - Simple shelving (melamine, basic timber): **R800 – R3 000**

Custom work is more expensive but lets you maximise awkward spaces, common in older Johannesburg houses and flats.

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6. Electrical and Lighting

By law, electrical work must be done by a **registered electrician**, and installations must comply with South African standards (SANS).

**Typical 2025 electrical costs in a bathroom:**

- New light point or downlight (labour + basic fitting): **R600 – R1 200 per point** - Extractor fan (supply + install): **R1 500 – R3 500** - Shaver socket / plug point: **R800 – R1 800 per point** - Underfloor heating (optional): **R450 – R900/m²** installed - Upgrading the circuit / DB for safety: **R1 500 – R5 000+** depending on what’s needed

Good lighting (a mix of general and mirror/task lighting) is worth investing in, especially in a modern bathroom renovation Johannesburg homeowners are aiming to use daily.

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7. Labour, Project Management and Demolition

Labour is usually **40–60% of your total budget**, depending on how fancy your finishes are.

What’s typically included:

- Site protection and preparation - Demolition of existing tiles, sanitaryware and cabinets - Chasing walls and floors for plumbing and electrical - Rubble removal and basic cleaning - Installation of all new items - Project management and coordination - Contractor overheads and profit (often 15–30% of total direct costs)

**Typical day rates (Johannesburg, 2025 estimates):**

- Skilled tiler / plumber / electrician: **R450 – R900 per hour** or **R1 500 – R3 000+ per day** - General labourer: **R300 – R600 per day**

Many bathroom contractor Johannesburg teams quote **per project**, not per day, which is usually better for budgeting.

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Example Budgets: Small, Standard and High-End Bathrooms

These examples show how a “before and after bathroom remodel” can look at different price levels. All are **rough, typical 2025 estimates** for Johannesburg.

Budget Upgrade (Minimal Layout Changes)

**Scenario:** Small bathroom in a flat, layout unchanged, basic finishes.

**Estimated total:** **R35 000 – R60 000**

Approximate breakdown:

- Demolition and rubble removal: R4 000 – R7 000 - Plumbing (no layout changes): R5 000 – R10 000 - Basic tiles + tiling labour (floor + part‑wall): R12 000 – R20 000 - Waterproofing in shower only: R2 000 – R3 500 - Entry‑level toilet, basin, taps, shower set: R7 000 – R12 000 - Simple vanity and mirror: R3 000 – R5 000 - Basic lighting and extractor fan: R2 000 – R4 000

You get a clean, modernised space without moving services or using premium finishes.

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Mid-Range Renovation (Most Common Scenario)

**Scenario:** Standard family bathroom in a house, some layout tweaks, mid‑range finishes.

**Estimated total:** **R80 000 – R130 000**

Approximate breakdown:

- Demolition and rubble removal: R6 000 – R10 000 - Plumbing (some points moved, new pipes where needed): R15 000 – R30 000 - Mid‑range tiles (floor and full‑height walls) + labour: R25 000 – R45 000 - Waterproofing shower and other wet zones: R4 000 – R8 000 - Mid‑range toilet, basin, taps, shower, bath: R18 000 – R35 000 - Floating vanity + mirror cabinet: R8 000 – R18 000 - Electrical (new lights, fan, shaver plug): R5 000 – R10 000 - Project management / contingency: included within the overall range

This is the “modern bathroom renovation Johannesburg” look many people want: large‑format tiles, walk‑in shower with glass screen, floating vanity, decent storage and good lighting.

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High-End Bathroom Remodel

**Scenario:** Larger main en‑suite with high‑end finishes, custom cabinetry, frameless shower, freestanding bath.

**Estimated total:** **R150 000 – R280 000+**

Approximate breakdown:

- Demolition and rubble removal: R8 000 – R15 000 - Extensive plumbing changes and upgrades: R25 000 – R50 000 - Premium tiles and mosaics + complex tiling: R45 000 – R90 000 - Full waterproofing of all wet areas: R8 000 – R15 000 - High‑end sanitaryware and taps: R35 000 – R80 000 - Custom vanity, stone tops, mirror cabinets: R25 000 – R60 000 - Feature lighting, underfloor heating, extractor fan: R15 000 – R30 000 - Higher project management and finishing time: included in overall range

Here you’re paying for design, detail and long‑term durability as much as for the basic function.

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How to Plan Your Bathroom Renovation Budget

Set Priorities: Where to Spend vs Save

In any bathroom renovation budget, some items are “non‑negotiable”:

**Spend on:**

- **Waterproofing** - **Plumbing quality and compliance** - **Electrical safety and compliance** - Proper preparation (screeds, wall repairs)

**Areas where you can save:**

- Choose **mid‑range tiles** instead of designer imported tiles. - Use a **standard framed shower door** instead of frameless glass. - Pick a good quality **mid‑range tap brand** rather than top designer lines. - Consider **off‑the‑shelf vanities** instead of full custom cabinetry.

The aim is to protect the structure and services, then adjust finishes to fit your budget.

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Allow for Contingency

Older Johannesburg properties often hide surprises: rotten subfloors, old galvanised pipes, non‑compliant electrics.

- Allow **10–20% contingency** on top of your expected budget. - For very old houses or flats with known issues, lean closer to **20%**.

If you do not need the contingency, you can always use it for nicer finishes at the end.

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Get Comparable Quotes in Johannesburg

To get a realistic **bathroom remodel cost SA** wide, but especially in Johannesburg:

- Get **2–3 detailed written quotes** from reputable contractors. - Ask each contractor to: - Specify what is included and excluded (materials, labour, rubble removal). - Clarify if waterproofing, plumbing and electrical compliance are included. - Indicate how variations (changes) will be priced. - Check **references and recent projects**. - Confirm **timelines** and **payment schedule** (avoid large upfront payments).

Quotes should be detailed enough that you can compare “apples with apples”.

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Common Mistakes That Increase Bathroom Renovation Costs

Changing the Design Mid-Project

Late changes – moving the shower after tiling has started, changing tile patterns, swapping fixtures – often cause:

- Extra demolition and re‑tiling - Wasted materials - Delays and additional labour charges

Finalise your layout and main selections **before** work begins.

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Choosing the Cheapest Quote Only

A very cheap quote may mean:

- Under‑allowance for materials (you pay more later) - Rushed or poor workmanship - No proper waterproofing - No guarantees or after‑sales support

Balance price with **experience, references and detail in the quote**.

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Skipping Waterproofing or Compliance

Trying to save by skipping:

- Proper waterproofing - Electrical compliance - Plumbing standards

can lead to:

- Leaks into neighbours’ units or lower floors - Mould, damp and structural damage - Insurance claims being rejected

These are **false savings** that usually cost much more over time.

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Bathroom Renovation Costs in Johannesburg: Key Takeaways for 2025

- A **basic upgrade** in Johannesburg typically starts from around **R35 000 – R70 000**. - A **standard mid‑range renovation** is usually **R70 000 – R140 000**. - A **high‑end remodel** can run from **R140 000** to **R280 000+**, depending on size and finishes. - **Plumbing, tiling, waterproofing and electrics** are critical areas where you should not cut corners. - Always **add 10–20% contingency** for hidden issues. - Use this renovation price guide as a starting point, then get **detailed quotes** from qualified contractors to match your specific bathroom and goals.

All figures here are **2025 estimates for typical Johannesburg conditions** and are not guaranteed quotes. Your actual cost to renovate a bathroom in South Africa will depend on your exact design, finishes, and the team you choose. Careful planning and clear priorities will help you get the best result for your budget.