Bathroom Renovation Cost in Cairns (2026 Guide)

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Cairns?

Bathroom renovations with us start from $25,000 (AUD, incl. GST). Most Cairns bathrooms land between $25,000 and $50,000 depending on size, layout and finishes, and luxury renovations sit above $50,000. These figures are guides only; you'll get a fixed, itemised written price after a free on-site consultation.

That number can seem high at first, but a bathroom packs a lot into a small space. It needs demolition, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, sheeting, waterproofing, tiling, joinery, glazing and fit-off, carried out in order by several licensed trades. As your builder, we manage all of it under one contract.

Standard renovation: from $25,000

A standard renovation keeps your existing layout, so the toilet, shower and vanity stay where they are. It includes quality mid-range fixtures, floor-to-ceiling or feature tiling, a new vanity, toilet and shower screen, waterproofing to AS 3740 and a new exhaust fan. It's ideal for a tired or leaking bathroom that works well but needs bringing up to date, and for investment properties.

Mid-range / designer: approx. $35,000–$50,000

This is where most of our Cairns clients land. Expect larger-format or premium tiles, custom joinery, frameless glass, shower niches, upgraded tapware, minor layout changes and better lighting and ventilation. It's the sweet spot for a family home you plan to stay in.

Luxury: $50,000+

Luxury bathrooms include natural stone or marble, freestanding baths, walk-in or double showers, heated towel rails, custom stone vanities, full layout changes or moved plumbing, and high-end European tapware.

Signs of a luxury bathroom renovation

• Premium materials such as natural stone, marble and solid timber
• Bespoke joinery made to measure
• Layout reconfiguration, with fixtures moved to where they work best
• Feature lighting such as LED strips in niches, under vanities and behind mirrors
• Statement baths, often freestanding stone or composite
• Concealed cisterns and wall-hung toilets
• Wall-hung fixtures and vanities for a floating look
• Tile-insert drains that disappear into the floor

Bathroom renovation cost breakdown

Every bathroom is different, but here's roughly how a typical Cairns bathroom budget is spent:

These percentages are indicative only and shift with your choices. For example, natural stone pushes tiles up, and moving the toilet pushes plumbing up.

What drives the cost of a bathroom renovation?

• Bathroom size. More floor and wall area means more tiles, waterproofing and labour.
• Layout changes and moving plumbing. Relocating the toilet, shower or vanity means new drainage and water lines, and sometimes cutting the slab or working under a high-set home.
• Tile choice and area tiled. Floor-to-ceiling tiling, large-format tiles, natural stone and mosaics all add material and labour.
• Fixtures and tapware. The difference between mid-range and high-end European tapware can be thousands of dollars.
• Structural, rot or termite damage. Common in older Cairns homes and only visible once the old bathroom is removed.
• Access. High-set homes, upstairs bathrooms and apartments with lifts or body corporate rules take more time to work in.
• Freight and lead times. Many materials are freighted into Far North Queensland, and specialty items can take weeks to arrive.

Ways to save on your bathroom renovation

• Keep the existing layout so plumbing doesn't move
• Choose quality porcelain over natural stone
• Tile feature walls instead of floor-to-ceiling everywhere
• Pick an off-the-shelf vanity rather than custom joinery
• Choose reliable mid-range tapware from an established brand
• Make your selections early and stick to them, because changes mid-job cost time and money
• Renovate in the dry season to reduce weather delays

Where not to cut corners

Waterproofing is hidden behind the tiles, but it's the most important part of any bathroom. Failed waterproofing leads to rot, mould and damage to the rest of your home, and fixing it means ripping the bathroom out again. We waterproof to AS 3740 using licensed waterproofers and provide a certificate.

Ventilation matters more in Cairns than almost anywhere else in Australia. A correctly sized exhaust fan ducted outside, plus windows or louvres where possible, is the best defence against mould. Skimping here undoes everything else.

Other things worth spending on are a properly sized hot water supply, slip-rated floor tiles, and mould-resistant or epoxy grout.

Deposits and payments

Under Queensland law, the maximum deposit for domestic building work is 10% for contracts under $20,000 and 5% for contracts of $20,000 or more. Residential work over $3,300 needs a written contract and is covered by the QBCC Home Warranty Scheme. After the deposit, payments are made in stages as work is completed, for example after rough-in, after waterproofing and tiling, and at practical completion.

Laundry and full home renovation pricing

Laundry renovations and full home renovations vary too much to give fixed figures, so we price them individually after a free consultation.

Get an accurate price

The best way to know what your bathroom will cost is a free in-home consultation. We'll measure up, talk through options and give you a fixed written quote. See our main bathroom renovations, ensuite renovations and bathroom tiling pages, or the full renovation FAQ.