Handyman tips
Bathroom Fitting Cost and How Long It Takes
What a like-for-like bathroom suite swap costs in the UK, how many days it takes, and what pushes the price up.
· Handyman Manchester
A bathroom refit is quicker and cheaper when the new suite goes where the old one was. Once pipes move or tiles change, the job grows. The figures below are UK-wide guides, not Greater Manchester quotes.
A like-for-like suite swap
Homebuilding & Renovating, in an article updated in April 2025, quotes Tim Phillips saying that removing and installing a typical suite to the same layout costs approximately £1,250 to £1,500. It adds that a plumber should be able to carry out a simple like-for-like retrofit in two or three days, including removing the old suite, at a cost of around £1,000. The two figures differ, so ask for a quote for your own bathroom rather than relying on either.
How long the strip-out takes
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB), in a guide updated in February 2026, says the strip-out stage, where the old suite, tiles and flooring are removed and the waste taken away, typically takes 1 to 2 days for an average bathroom with easy access. It also says to check your quote to see whether waste removal is included. The sources give no total time for the whole job, so ask any fitter for a number of days in writing.
What pushes the price up
- Moving pipes, the toilet or the shower to a new position.
- Tiling and re-tiling walls and floors.
- New electrics, such as a fan, lighting or an electric shower.
- Waste removal, if it is not in the quote.
- Damage found once the old suite is out, such as rot or leaks.
How we price
We fit full bathroom suites and showers, replace taps and fixtures, do full or partial tiling, de-grout and re-grout, fit shower screens and grab rails, and repair leaks. We quote a fixed price for the job, with no call-out charge. For smaller jobs, our bath and shower re-sealing fixes a failing seal without a refit, and our guide on how to reseal a bath shows the steps. See our bathroom fitting service or ask for a quote.