How to Quote a Bathroom Installation - The Tradesman's Guide

A bathroom installation is one of the highest-risk jobs to quote if you get the scope wrong. Fixtures can be swapped, tiling can overrun, and customers often have a different mental image of “full bathroom fit” from what you priced. This guide covers how to quote a bathroom installation that protects your margin and sets clear expectations with customers.

Why bathroom quotes go wrong

Three common mistakes plumbers make when quoting bathrooms:

1. Not specifying fixtures. If you quote “supply and fit bathroom” without specifying which fixtures, the customer assumes top of the range. You priced mid-range. The conversation becomes difficult.
2. Including tiling without clarifying scope. Tiling a bathroom is a significant additional cost. If your quote mentions tiling without specifying how many square metres, what tile grade, and whether waste is included, you have opened yourself to scope creep.
3. Not accounting for first-fix and second-fix time separately. First-fix plumbing (rough-in, pipework, waste runs) and second-fix (fitting fixtures, connecting, commissioning) happen at different stages and may be separated by other trades. Your quote should reflect this.

What a bathroom installation quote should cover

A complete bathroom installation quote should address each of these categories:

Strip-out and prep

• Removal and disposal of existing bathroom suite
• Removal of existing floor covering (if in scope)
• Removal of existing wall tiles (if in scope)
• Any making good to walls or floor before tiling (if in scope)

Be explicit about skip hire or disposal costs. Who is paying for skip hire?

Plumbing first-fix

• New waste runs (bath waste, shower waste, basin waste, toilet soil pipe)
• New supply pipework (hot and cold to each fixture)
• Any upgrades to existing supply or waste infrastructure

Fixtures - specify by make, model, and colour

Never just write “bath,” “shower,” or “basin.” Specify:

• Bath: make, model, size, material (steel, acrylic, cast iron), and whether panels are included
• Shower enclosure: make, model, dimensions, glass thickness (6mm or 8mm), door type
• Shower valve: thermostatic or manual, brand, finish (chrome, brushed nickel)
• Basin: wall-hung or pedestal, size, make, model
• Taps: make, model, finish - specify separately for basin and bath
• Toilet: close-coupled or wall-hung, make, model, flush specification, seat type
• Radiator/towel rail: size, output, finish

If the customer is supplying their own fixtures, note that clearly in the quote. “Customer-supplied fixtures: plumber is not responsible for manufacturer defects.”

Tiling (if in scope)

If tiling is in your scope, specify:

• Square metres of floor tiling
• Square metres of wall tiling (how high - full height, half height, or wet areas only?)
• Tile grade included in price (cost per m2 allowance, e.g., “up to €30/m2 supply”)
• Adhesive, grout, and edge trim included or excluded
• Tile cutting and waste included
• Disposal of old tiles included

If tiling is NOT in your scope, state this explicitly: “Tiling by others - to follow plumbing first-fix.”

Plumbing second-fix

• Fit and connect all fixtures
• Commission shower
• Pressure test
• Final check and customer handover

VAT on bathroom installations

VAT rates for bathroom fitting on residential properties:

See our guide on VAT rates for plumbers in Ireland and our UK VAT guide for tradesmen for the full detail.

A worked example: bathroom installation quote structure

Example structure for a full bathroom renovation - existing bathroom strip-out and replace:

Handling the tiling question

Many customers ask plumbers to handle tiling because they want a single point of contact. You have a few options:

• Include tiling in scope - and price it properly. Get a quote from your regular tiler, add your management margin, and include it as a line item.
• Exclude tiling, recommend a tiler - you coordinate the trades but the customer contracts separately. Keeps your liability cleaner.
• Exclude tiling entirely - simplest, but the customer now has to manage two contractors and there can be blame issues at the seam between plumbing and tiling.

Whatever you choose, be explicit about it in writing before work starts.

Quote validity and stage payments

Set your quote validity at 30 days. Bathroom fixture prices and delivery lead times can change, and a 3-month-old quote can become unprofitable.

For bathroom installations, stage payments are common and sensible:

• Deposit on acceptance of quote (to cover materials order): 30-40%
• Payment on completion of first fix: 30-35%
• Final payment on completion: balance

See our guide on scope of works for tradesmen for the complete framework.

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