A new bathroom is one of the most popular home improvements in Devon, and one of the hardest to budget for, because no two bathrooms are the same. Search online and you'll see figures ranging from a few hundred pounds to well over ten thousand, which isn't much help when you're trying to plan. This guide breaks down realistic 2026 costs, what drives the price up or down, and how long the work actually takes, so you can plan with confidence.
Realistic 2026 bathroom costs in Exeter
Here is what our own customers pay. These are real figures, not national averages.
- Labour: usually £4,000–£7,000 plus VAT for a bathroom refurbishment, depending on the size, layout and complexity of the room.
- Materials: on top of the labour. The suite, tiles, taps, shower and brands you choose make the biggest difference here.
- Finished projects: our completed bathrooms have cost from £4,200 for a bathroom renovation with leak detection to £11,500 for a walk-in shower room and £12,000 for a complete renovation, including labour and materials.
The single biggest factor is whether you keep the existing layout. Moving the toilet, basin or bath means new plumbing and drainage runs, which adds both cost and time. Keeping fittings roughly where they are is the easiest way to keep the budget sensible.
What you're actually paying for
A bathroom price is rarely just the suite you saw in the showroom. A typical renovation includes:
- Removing and disposing of the old bathroom
- Any plumbing and electrical work (and re-routing if the layout changes)
- Walls and floor prep, plus tiling or panelling
- Fitting the new suite, taps, shower and accessories
- Flooring, sealing, finishing and making good
Two things people often underestimate: tiling (full-height tiling on every wall costs noticeably more than a half-height or feature approach) and the unglamorous prep work behind the walls. Cutting corners on waterproofing and prep is exactly what leads to leaks and mould a year later, so it's worth paying for it to be done properly.
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
It depends on how much is changing. Our quickest bathroom, with leak detection, took 3 days. A complete renovation or a walk-in shower conversion has usually taken us about 4 weeks. Very small bathrooms can take longer per square metre, simply because there is less room to work in.
A good fitter will give you a realistic timescale up front, not an optimistic one, and tell you which days will be the most disruptive so you can plan around them.
How to keep your bathroom budget under control
You don't have to spend a fortune to get a great result. The biggest savings come from:
- Keeping the layout the same. This avoids new plumbing and drainage costs.
- Choosing mid-range fittings. The jump from budget to mid-range is usually worth it for durability; the jump to premium often isn't unless you want a specific look.
- Being selective with tiling. A feature wall plus painted moisture-resistant areas can look fantastic for far less than tiling floor-to-ceiling.
- Getting a detailed written quote, so you know exactly what's included and there are no surprise "extras" halfway through.
Why a clear quote matters more than the lowest price
The cheapest quote is rarely the cheapest job. A vague price often means costs creep up once work starts, while a detailed quote shows the contractor has actually thought the job through. Look for someone who visits, measures up, talks through your options honestly, and gives you a clear price and timescale before any work begins.
Planning a new bathroom in Exeter?
Devon Home Maintenance handles complete bathroom renovations across Exeter, from a straightforward refresh to a full reconfiguration, with clear pricing and a realistic timescale agreed before we start. We'll talk you through where you can save and where it's worth investing, and leave you with a tidy finish and a bathroom built to last.
Ready for a quote? Call 07391092619 or send us a message through the website and tell us what you have in mind. We're here Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.