Real Bathrooms, Real Budgets: What does a Bathroom Renovation cost on the Sunshine Coast (2025 Edition)
- Candice Klease
- May 8
- 4 min read
Are you dreaming of a stylish bathroom reno on the Sunshine Coast and wondering whether $30,000 is enough to get the luxe finish you see online?
You’re not alone—and honestly, it’s a fair question. So what does a Bathroom Renovation cost on the Sunshine Coast?
Recently, Trent sent me a blog from someone really influential in the renovation world. I was curious... and then shocked.
They claimed they’d installed a super on-trend, frameless curved shower screen—you know, the kind you see all over Pinterest, Instagram and those “reality reno” shows—for $200.
Say what?!
Now, we’ve renovated a lot of bathrooms across the Sunshine Coast, and I can tell you—it’s been a long time since you could get a screen like that supplied and installed for anything close to that price. Realistically, it’s more like $800+.
Even when I tested it myself from a budget online supplier:
Glass & fittings: $328
Shipping: $55
Total: $383—and that’s before paying someone to install it.
Because let’s be honest—it’s not much good leaning against the wall in your garage.
This kind of price fluff sets homeowners up for disappointment. If you're comparing your bathroom renovation budget to influencer articles, you're going to feel like you’re doing something wrong—when in fact, you’re just facing the real bathroom renovation costs on the Sunshine Coast.
🤯 “Surely I Can Get a Bougie Bathroom for $30k?”
You might be thinking it.
And I’m not going to say you can’t. But I am going to say you need to make smart design decisions, understand what's included in your renovation, and budget for real trade costs in 2025.
You want floor-to-ceiling tiles? Of course you do. It’s bougie, it’s luxe, it’s wow—and it’s everywhere in your renovation inspo.
But let me tell you… it can also come with a wow price tag.
Let’s say you’ve got a smaller bathroom—around 2.5m x 3m, with standard 2.4m ceilings. If you want to tile the whole lot (minus a couple of square metres for the door and window), you’re looking at roughly 30m² of tiling.
Now, that might not sound like much—until you add:
A couple of niches
A bougie shaving ledge
A tiled window reveal
Maybe even a feature tile wall
Now your tiler’s quoting for meticulous detail, mitres, and precision, and guess what? That bill can easily tip over $5,000—and that’s before we’ve even talked about waterproofing or shower bedding.
🧾 The Real Cost to Renovate a Bathroom in Sunshine Coast Homes
Let’s break it down. Here’s where your money goes in a standard $30k–$50k bathroom renovation on the Sunshine Coast:
🚧 Early Works
Demolition: $2,000
Skip or dumping fees: $500–$1,000
🔨 Trade Costs for Bathroom Renovations
Plumber: $3,000–$5,000
Waterproofer: $1,200–$1,500
Carpenter: $3,000–$5,000
Electrician: $1,000–$2,500
Plasterer: $1,000–$2,000
Painter: $800–$1,000
Cabinetmaker & Stonemason: $1,500–$3,000
✅ You're already around $13,500–$20,000 in, before you've picked your fixtures.
🧱 Tiling
Going full-height with detailed features? Expect $5,000+ for tiling labour alone—especially with Sunshine Coast tilers who specialise in high-end finishes.
🛁 Fixtures & Fittings: What You Get for $6,500
We built a cart from a popular supplier using mid-range, on-trend selections:
Toilet
Tapware (basin mixers, shower diverters, bath spout, wastes)
Acrylic bath & waste
Basin & waste
Accessories (towel rail, robe hook, toilet roll holder)
💸 Total: Nearly $6,500—and that's before installation.
💡 Don’t Forget Lighting, Mirror, Shower Screen & the Tiles
Lights and power point supply: $500 allowance for your fittings
Shaving cabinet mirror: from $500
Shower screen: from $800
Tiles: from $1200
🛠 Margin & Contingency: The Realities of Renovating in QLD
Your builder’s margin covers licensing, admin, scheduling trades, and risk. It's not just markup—it’s your insurance policy that your reno will run smoothly.
And don't forget your contingency allowance (5–10%) for surprises. Because with any renovation, you will hit one.
💬 So… What’s the Realistic Bathroom Renovation Budget?
When it comes to renovating a bathroom in 2025, the real cost isn’t $15k or even $25k.
Your real-world budget should sit somewhere between $32,000 and $55,000 depending on:
Layout changes
Fixture selections
Tile choice and coverage
Whether you choose custom cabinetry
The builder and trades you work with
✅ So Can You Really Get a Bougie Bathroom for $30k?
Tight? Yes. Doable? Also yes—with the right planning and the right team.
But only if you:
Make smart product selections
Avoid moving plumbing
Keep tile coverage modest
Work with us—your licensed Sunshine Coast builder
Know where to splurge and where to save
🎯 Final Word from a Sunshine Coast Builder
At TBK Constructions, we specialise in bathroom renovations across the Sunshine Coast—and we’re here to help you budget better, design smarter, and build without the stress.
Our Preliminary Cost Evaluation service helps homeowners understand what’s possible within their budget before plans are finalised. Because let’s face it—no one wants to fall in love with a design they can’t afford to build.
Contact us today to start your renovation journey—and get the bathroom you’ve been dreaming of, without the budget shocks.
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