Bathroom Renovation Cost in Singapore: What You'll Actually Pay (2026)
Prices checked October 2026 against the published price lists of 526 contractors listed on Homees, MOM's 2025 wage data and Qanvast's 2026 report. How we price →
A bathroom is the most trade-heavy room in your flat for its size — hacking, waterproofing, tiling, plumbing, electrical, a ceiling, a door and glass all packed into a few square metres. That's why it costs what it does. For 2026, a **standard HDB bathroom renovation runs S$5,000–S$8,000**. A light overlay refresh is **S$3,000–S$5,000**, and a full resale overhaul with designer finishes runs **S$8,000–S$15,000+**.| Scope | Typical cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic / overlay refresh | S$3,000 – S$5,000 | No hacking; overlay tiles, swap fixtures, touch-up |
| Standard | S$5,000 – S$8,000 | Hack, re-waterproof, re-tile, new fixtures — the sweet spot |
| Premium / full overhaul | S$8,000 – S$15,000+ | Resale gut, designer tiles, branded fixtures, rain shower |
Indicative 2026 ranges for one HDB bathroom. Two toilets roughly double the figure (with some shared savings).
Where the money goes — trade by trade
A bathroom price is really nine smaller jobs added up. Here's a standard HDB bathroom broken out, with each trade linked to its full cost guide:
| Trade | Typical cost | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Hacking / strip-out | S$1,200 – S$1,800 | Old tiles, fixtures, disposal |
| Waterproofing | S$800 – S$1,200 | Membrane + mandatory flood test |
| Tiling (floor + wall) | S$2,000 – S$4,000 | The biggest single line |
| Plumbing & sanitary | S$1,000 – S$2,500 | WC, basin, mixer, shower set |
| Electrical | S$300 – S$700 | Heater point, lights, exhaust fan |
| False ceiling | S$300 – S$700 | Moisture-resistant + downlights |
| Toilet door | S$150 – S$500 | Aluminium / PVC |
| Shower screen | S$450 – S$780 | Frameless tempered glass |
| Accessories | S$150 – S$400 | Towel rail, mirror, holders |
Add the individual trades up and you'll land higher than a bundled contractor package — that's normal. A package is cheaper because one team does everything in sequence and shares the overhead. The breakdown above is for understanding where your money goes and spotting an inflated line, not the number you'll necessarily pay.
The decision that sets your price: overlay or hack
This is the fork that moves a bathroom from S$3,000 to S$8,000+.
Overlay lays new tiles over sound existing ones and keeps the existing waterproofing. No hacking, no haulage, faster (often under a week), much cheaper. It works when your current tiles are flat, well-bonded and your waterproofing is intact.
Hack and rebuild strips everything back to the slab, lays a fresh waterproofing membrane and re-tiles. It's the only honest option if you've got leaks, hollow tiles or an old resale flat — and it's where hacking, waterproofing and re-tiling stack up.
One rule decides it for many: if you have a BTO flat, HDB prohibits removing bathroom tiles for 3 years from key collection (to protect the original membrane), so overlay is your only route in that window. (See the waterproofing and tiling guides.)
Sample budgets
Basic overlay refresh (BTO, under 3 years): overlay tiles, new fixtures, new door and screen, touch-up — roughly S$3,000–S$5,000.
Standard renovation (resale or post-3-year): hack, re-waterproof, re-tile, new fixtures and fittings — the sweet spot at S$5,000–S$8,000.
Premium overhaul (older resale): full gut, designer large-format tiles, branded fixtures, rain shower, feature niche, extended warranty — S$8,000–S$15,000+.
The costs people forget
- GST (9%) — always confirm whether a quote includes or excludes it; on a S$7,000 job that's ~S$630.
- A second toilet — most flats have two; budget per bathroom (with some shared savings on mobilisation).
- Pipe or layout relocation — moving the WC or shutting a window adds S$1,000–S$3,000 (see plumbing).
- Haulage / disposal — debris removal in a hacking job (see hacking).
- Permit time — hacking, waterproofing and plumbing rerouting need HDB approval.
- Shower kerb — needed for a frameless screen if you don't have one (~S$300).
HDB rules worth knowing
- 3-year BTO rule: no removing bathroom wall/floor tiles for 3 years from key collection — overlay only in that window.
- Mandatory flood test after waterproofing, before tiling — insist on it.
- Licensed trades: plumbing by a PUB-licensed plumber, electrical by an LEW; hacking and waterproofing need HDB permits.
- BCA waterproofing standards (Good Industry Practices, SS 637:2018) apply to the wet-area membrane.
How to keep the bill sensible
- Overlay if you genuinely can — it's the single biggest saving, when your tiles and waterproofing are sound.
- Take a bundled package over à-la-carte trades for a full reno — bundling beats summing.
- Spend on waterproofing, save on fittings — the membrane is forever; a tap is swappable.
- Confirm GST and a per-bathroom price so you're comparing like for like.
- Get itemised quotes and benchmark each trade against its own cost guide.
Comparing bathroom renovation contractors on Homees.co is the easiest way to line up itemised, comparable quotes.
FAQ
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Singapore? A standard HDB bathroom renovation is about S$5,000–S$8,000 in 2026. A basic overlay refresh is S$3,000–S$5,000, and a premium full overhaul runs S$8,000–S$15,000+. Most flats have two toilets, so budget per bathroom.
What's the cheapest way to renovate an HDB bathroom? An overlay — laying new tiles over sound existing ones and keeping the waterproofing — avoids hacking and haulage and is the cheapest route, from about S$3,000. It only works if your current tiles and membrane are in good condition.
Why is a bathroom so expensive for its size? Because it packs the most trades into the smallest space: hacking, waterproofing, tiling, plumbing, electrical, ceiling, door and glass all in a few square metres. Tiling and plumbing are usually the biggest lines.
Can I renovate my BTO bathroom? You can refresh it by overlay, but HDB prohibits removing the wall and floor tiles for 3 years from key collection to protect the original waterproofing. After 3 years (or in a resale flat) you can hack and fully rebuild.
Should I overlay or hack and re-tile? Overlay if your tiles are flat and well-bonded and your waterproofing is intact — it's cheaper and faster. Hack and rebuild if you have leaks, hollow tiles or an older resale flat needing fresh waterproofing.
Does the price include GST? Not always. Many quotes are shown before 9% GST. Always confirm, because on a S$7,000 job that's an extra ~S$630.
How long does a bathroom renovation take? An overlay is often under a week; a standard hack-and-rebuild is around 1–2 weeks; a full resale overhaul with permits can run 2–4 weeks.
Sources
- Tiling.sg — Complete toilet renovation Singapore guide with 2025 cost
- SHE Interior — Affordable HDB bathroom renovation cost: a complete breakdown
- The Design Factory — HDB bathroom renovation tips for 2025
- Renovation Contractor Singapore — Toilet renovation cost guide 2026 (itemised + GST)
- T Se7en Alucraft — HDB toilet renovation cost Singapore: 2026 price guide
Prices are indicative market ranges as of 2026 and vary by scope, materials, layout changes and contractor. This guide composes Homees' individual trade cost guides into a whole-bathroom estimate.
