"How much for a new bathroom?" is the question we answer most often, and it deserves a straight answer rather than "it depends". It does depend — on size, tiles, fittings and what we find behind the old ones — but after hundreds of bathrooms in Torre del Mar, Nerja, Torrox and Rincón de la Victoria we can give you honest price bands. These are for a complete refit of a standard bathroom of roughly 4–6 m², labour and materials included, with IVA on top.
The three price bands
- Standard — €4,500 to €6,000. Full strip-out, new plumbing to the fittings, waterproofing (tanking) of the wet zone, mid-range Spanish ceramic tiles on floor and walls, a shower tray with a glass screen, a wall-hung basin unit, toilet, mirror and a simple extractor. Perfect for holiday rentals where robustness matters more than luxury.
- Mid-range — €6,000 to €9,000. Everything above, plus larger-format porcelain tiles, a walk-in or level-access shower with a linear drain, thermostatic shower fittings, a better-quality vanity unit with storage, a heated towel rail, and recessed lighting. This is the band most owner-occupiers choose.
- Premium — €9,000 to €15,000+. Natural stone or large-format porcelain slabs, a full wet room, concealed cisterns and shower valves, bespoke joinery, underfloor heating, designer sanitaryware, and layout changes that involve moving the soil pipe or drainage.
What pushes the price up
A handful of things move a bathroom from one band to the next, and most of them are decided before we start:
- Tiles. The single biggest variable. Ceramic at €12–€20/m² versus porcelain at €30–€60/m² or stone at €80+ makes a difference of a thousand euros or more on a whole bathroom, before the extra labour for large formats.
- Moving things. Keeping the toilet, basin and shower where they are is the cheapest option. Relocating the toilet means moving the soil pipe, which can add €500–€1,500.
- Old pipework. In 1970s–90s apartments we frequently find galvanised steel pipes that should be replaced while the walls are open. We always tell you before we do it.
- Access. Third-floor apartment with no lift, or a village house with no vehicle access, means more labour hours carrying rubble out and materials in.
- Wet rooms. Level-access showers need the floor screed lowered or built up and more waterproofing — worth it, but it costs more than a tray.
What is included in our quotes
Every bathroom quote we write itemises: strip-out and rubble removal, plumbing and electrical work, tanking, plastering, tiling, fitting of sanitaryware and screen, silicone and finishing, cleaning, and the licencia de obra menor paperwork. Tiles and sanitaryware are listed separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for, and you are free to choose your own from the showrooms in Torre del Mar and Vélez-Málaga.
How long does it take?
A standard refit takes 7–12 working days. Water is off only for short periods, and where the property has a second bathroom you will never be without one overnight. A wet room or a layout change adds a few days for screeding and drying.
Two things we always do
We tank (waterproof) the wet zone before a single tile goes on — it is invisible when finished and it is the difference between a bathroom that lasts and one that leaks into the flat below. And we fit proper ventilation, because a bathroom without an extractor on this coast grows mould within a winter. Both are included in every band.
Bath to walk-in shower conversions
If you only want to swap a bath for a walk-in shower and keep the rest, that is a smaller job: typically €1,800–€3,500 including the tray, screen, thermostatic fittings, re-tiling of the shower area and plumbing, done in 3–5 days.
Ready for a number for your bathroom? See our bathroom renovation service or send us a photo and the rough size and we will come back with a free written quote.
