Short answer: A plumber or bathroom fitter typically charges about £200 to £350 a day in the UK, and an electrician about £150 to £300 a day. Most bathroom jobs are priced as a fixed quote rather than by the day. A standard like-for-like refit, including products and all labour, typically costs about £2,000 to £5,000.
If you are planning a new bathroom, the plumber's charge is only one part of the bill. Most bathrooms also need an electrician, tiling, joinery and someone to take the old suite away. This guide explains typical 2026 labour rates, how fitters price a job, what is usually included and what is not, and whether you are better hiring one company or several separate trades.
All figures are typical UK ranges from published trade sources, not quotes.
Typical day rates for bathroom trades
| Trade | Typical rate | What they usually do |
|---|---|---|
| Plumber or bathroom fitter | About £200 to £350 a day | Strip out, pipework, fitting the suite, shower and taps |
| Electrician | About £150 to £300 a day | Shower circuits, extractor fans, lighting, heated towel rails |
| Tiler | Varies; often priced per job | Wall and floor tiling, which depends on tile size and pattern |
| Joiner | Varies | Floorboards, boxing in pipes, stud walls, doors |
| Plasterer | Varies | Making good walls and ceilings after strip out |
| Gas Safe registered engineer | Varies | Any work on gas appliances or pipework, such as moving a boiler |
Rates depend on where you live. London and the South East typically cost 25 to 40% more, while Scotland, the North East and parts of Wales often sit at or below the lower end of UK ranges. A bathroom fitter is often a plumber who also handles the general fitting work, and some will tile as well.
How many days of plumbing does a bathroom need?
A standard bathroom refit usually takes about 5 to 10 working days from start to finish. A typical breakdown looks like this:
- Strip out: removing the old suite, tiles and flooring
- First fix plumbing: about 1 to 2 days to run new supply and waste pipes
- Tiling or wall panels: about 2 to 3 days
- Second fix: about 1 to 2 days to fit the toilet, basin, shower and taps and test everything
As a rough illustration, if the plumbing stages take 2 to 4 days in total at £200 to £350 a day, the plumbing labour alone comes to roughly £400 to £1,400. That is before strip out, electrics, tiling, joinery, products and waste removal. Your own job could be quicker or slower, and our guide on how long it takes to remodel a bathroom explains what affects each stage.
Day rate or fixed price?
Bathroom fitters price work in one of two ways. Each has its place.
Day rate
You pay for the time spent on the job. This can suit small or uncertain jobs, such as replacing a single toilet or tracing a leak. The downside is that you carry the risk if the work takes longer than expected, and it is hard to compare day rate prices between trades because each person works at a different pace.
Fixed price
You get one price for the agreed job. This is the usual approach for a full bathroom and is much easier to budget for and compare. The key is that the quote clearly states what is included, so that any extras are genuinely extra rather than items left out to make the price look lower. Ask how any unexpected work, such as replacing damaged floorboards, would be priced.
What is and is not included in a fitting price
The biggest source of confusion with bathroom prices is what each quote actually covers. A labour-only quote from a plumber may look much cheaper than a full service quote from a bathroom company, but it may leave you to buy products and organise every other trade yourself.
| Item | Labour-only plumber | Full service bathroom company |
|---|---|---|
| Strip out of the old bathroom | Sometimes | Usually |
| Waste removal and disposal | Often extra | Usually |
| Plumbing | Yes | Yes |
| Electrics | No, separate electrician | Usually |
| Tiling, joinery and flooring | Sometimes, or separate trades | Usually |
| Products (suite, shower, taps) | Often supplied by you | Usually |
| Design and planning | Rarely | Often |
| Decorating | Rarely | Check the quote |
Also check whether VAT is included. Some smaller traders are not VAT registered, which can make their prices look lower when set beside a VAT registered company. For a fuller picture of total costs by job type, see our guide to the average price to install a bathroom in the UK.
One company or separate trades?
Hiring each trade yourself can look cheaper on paper, but it brings its own costs.
Hiring separate trades
- You arrange the order of work, so the electrician arrives after first fix and before tiling, and so on
- Gaps between trades can stretch the job well beyond the planned number of days
- If something goes wrong, it can be hard to tell whose work caused it
- You may need to buy and take delivery of the products yourself
Using one company for everything
- One point of contact and one fixed price for the whole job
- Trades follow each other without waiting, so the room is out of action for less time
- One business is responsible for the finished result
Time without a working bathroom matters more for some households than others. For an older person, a wheelchair user or someone with a carer, every extra day without a usable toilet or shower is a real problem. Our own team covers plumbing, electrics, joinery, flooring and waste removal, with no subcontractors, and many of our mobility installations take as little as 3 days. You can see the types of room we fit on our disabled bathrooms page.
Checking a plumber or fitter before you hire
A low rate is no saving if the work has to be redone. Before you agree to anything, check:
- Plumbers are SNIPEF members or WaterSafe approved
- Electricians are SELECT or NICEIC registered, working to BS 7671
- Anyone touching gas is Gas Safe registered
- They have insurance and offer a written guarantee on their work
- You get a written, itemised quote with named products
- They can give you references or show recent work
Our guide on how to choose a good bathroom fitter goes through each of these in more detail.
Keeping the cost of mobility work down
If the new bathroom is being fitted to suit a disabled person, the work can be zero rated for VAT where it is necessary to suit their condition. People aged 60 or over pay 5% VAT on certain items, such as grab rails, built-in shower seats and walk-in baths, when the same installer supplies and fits them. In Scotland, councils also run a Scheme of Assistance that funds at least 80% of the eligible cost of adaptations a disabled person needs, usually after an occupational therapist assessment. Check with HMRC or your council if you are unsure whether you qualify.
Want one clear price for the whole job? We provide a free 3D design and a no-obligation, fixed quote covering every trade, from strip out to the finishing touches. Send us a message to request your free design.
Frequently asked questions
What is the day rate for a bathroom fitter in the UK?
A plumber or bathroom fitter typically charges about £200 to £350 a day. Rates tend to be higher in London and the South East and at or below the lower end in Scotland.
Is it cheaper to hire a plumber than a bathroom company?
A labour-only plumber can look cheaper, but you may also need an electrician, tiler and joiner, plus products and waste removal. Compare the total cost of the finished bathroom, not just the plumber's price.
Do plumbers charge for taking away the old bathroom?
Some include it and some charge extra. Always check that strip out and waste disposal are listed in the quote.
Should I pay a deposit to a bathroom fitter?
Many fitters ask for a deposit, often to cover ordering products. Make sure the amount and what it covers are written into the quote, and avoid paying the full price before work starts.
