Aotearoa bathroom renovations, in plain English
Three scopes — refresh, retile, full layout change. Nine NZ regions. A scope estimator that tells you, honestly, what each tier costs in 2026.
Section I · The three scopes
Most NZ bathroom renovations are one of three things — and confusing them is the most common reason quotes feel impossible to compare. We name them clearly so you can shop apples-to-apples.
Paint, fittings, vanity swap — walls and tiles stay.
Medium bathroom · national median
The cosmetic-only path. Same layout, same tiles, same shower frame — but new paint, new vanity, new tapware, new toilet, new mirror, new accessories. The bathroom feels new without consent or waterproofing risk.
Run your numbersNew tiles, vanity, shower — plumbing fixtures stay where they are.
Medium bathroom · national median
The most popular renovation tier in NZ. Tiles come off, walls are stripped to substrate, full waterproofing membrane goes on, new tiles, new everything visible — but the toilet, basin and shower stay in their existing positions, so plumbing rough-in doesn't change. Council consent is usually only needed for plumbing alterations, not the cosmetic work.
Run your numbersWalls open, plumbing moves, layout changes — the works.
Medium bathroom · national median
The structural path. Walls come down or move, plumbing rough-in shifts, the bathroom becomes a different shape. This is where you fix the awkward layout you've put up with for ten years. Council consent is required for any structural work; expect 6–10 weeks of design and consent before a builder breaks ground, plus the actual build.
Run your numbersSection II · Scope estimator
Pick a size, a scope and a region. Numbers come from real 2026 quotes the renovators below have shared with us — not list prices, not from-prices, not 2018 pricing pretending to be current.
Estimated band · Auckland
$21,200
to $37,800
+18% on national median
Duration
3–5 weeks
on-site, after design + consent
New tiles, vanity, shower — plumbing fixtures stay where they are.
The most popular renovation tier in NZ. Tiles come off, walls are stripped to substrate, full waterproofing membrane goes on, new tiles, new everything visible — but the toilet, basin and shower stay in their existing positions, so plumbing rough-in doesn't change. Council consent is usually only needed for plumbing alterations, not the cosmetic work.
What’s included
Not in this scope
The case for using us
You can absolutely Google your way to a bathroom renovator. Most people do. The problem isn’t finding renovators — it’s comparing them.Four quotes, four different scopes, four different lists of what-was-and-wasn’t-included. Nothing lines up.
We do one thing — name the scope, then match you with renovators who quote it the same way.
We name the three scopes most NZ bathroom renos fall into — refresh, mid-scope retile, full layout change — so you can compare quotes that are actually comparing the same job.
Every renovator on this directory is Licensed Building Practitioner-registered, with a Master Plumbers partner for the bits behind tile. We confirm before listing.
Real NZD figures from real recent quotes — not the 'from $X' marketing bait that hides what bathrooms actually cost in this market.
Fill the form once, hear from up to three renovators in your region. We don't take kickbacks; renovators don't pay for placement.
Section III · The directory
Every entry below is LBP-registered, partnered with a Master Plumber, and on a directory we update by hand — not a scrape. Six previewed here; the full twelve and their service areas live on the directory page.
Full layout / structural
Quietly excellent inner-city renovator — full layout changes a speciality.
Signature: Heritage villa layouts, full reno specialists
Mid-scope retile + refit
Mid-range renovator covering the whole Shore — strong on retile and vanity refits.
Signature: Mid-scope retile + refit, fast turnaround
Full layout / structural
High-end design-and-build with in-house architectural detailing.
Signature: Architecturally detailed, premium fixtures
All scopes
Inner-Wellington reno specialist — old-house quirks, tight access.
Signature: Pre-1990 housing, prep-work-heavy renos
Mid-scope retile + refit
Family-owned western-suburbs builder — refresh and mid-scope sweet spot.
Signature: Suburban refresh and mid-scope, repeat-customer focused
All scopes
Canterbury's most-recommended tiler-led renovator. Sharp on price, strong on finish.
Signature: Tiler-led full bathroom renos, in-house waterproofing
Section IV · Recent transformations
Six case studies from the last twelve months — each tied to a named renovator on the directory and a final NZD figure that includes GST.
Removed a non-load-bearing wall to put the basin under a refurbished steel-frame window. New plumbing rough-in, framed-in shower niche, brushed brass tapware, terrazzo-look porcelain.
Region
Auckland
Owner
Tessa & Mark, Devonport
Final cost
$78.4k
Stripped to framing, full BRANZ-compliant rebuild, kept the basic 2x2 layout that worked. The point was the membrane — there was a slow leak.
Region
Wellington
Owner
Sam, Mt Victoria
Final cost
$39.6k
Rental property between tenants. New vanity, new toilet, regrout, repaint, new mixer, new lighting. The shower and tile stayed because they were sound.
Region
Christchurch
Owner
Property investor, Riccarton
Final cost
$16.8k
Section V · Field notes
Three short guides that will save you more money than they take time to read. Pricing, scope-choice, and how to actually find a Master Plumber.
6 min read
Published Apr 2026
The honest 2026 NZ pricing — by size, by scope, by region — without the showroom-website padding.
Read the guide
5 min read
Published Apr 2026
How to honestly diagnose whether your bathroom needs a refresh, a retile, or a layout change — before you ask any builder for a quote.
Read the guide
5 min read
Published Apr 2026
A practical guide to NZ plumbing standards, the Master Plumbers programme, and why your tiler shouldn't be the one connecting your shower mixer.
Read the guide
Section VI · Get matched
Tell us your region, scope, and budget shape. We’ll line up two or three vetted renovators who fit, usually within 48 hours. No phone tag, no pressure, no spam.