Redoing your bathroom is one of the most-requested jobs in Belgium. It is also one of the most poorly estimated. According to our data on quotes processed via Batizzy in the first quarter of 2026, the gap between the customer's first estimate and the final quote exceeds 35% on average. Here is how to frame your bathroom renovation budget from the start.
Price brackets 2026
For a standard Belgian bathroom of 5 to 7 m², here are the brackets observed:
- Light renovation (paint, taps, basin): €2,500 to €5,000 incl VAT
- Full renovation keeping the layout (tiling, sanitary, occasional plumbing): €6,500 to €12,000 incl VAT
- Full renovation with relocation of water supplies: €12,000 to €22,000 incl VAT
- High-end bathroom (premium materials, walk-in shower, freestanding bath, underfloor heating): €22,000 to €40,000 incl VAT
These brackets include labour and materials, excluding specific tiling above €80/m².
Breakdown of items
On a median project at €12,000 incl VAT, the typical split is:
| Item | Share | Amount (~) |
|---|---|---|
| Labour all trades | 45% | €5,400 |
| Sanitary (shower, basin, toilet) | 18% | €2,160 |
| Tiling and faience | 14% | €1,680 |
| Plumbing and connections | 9% | €1,080 |
| Electrical (lighting, sockets, ventilation) | 6% | €720 |
| Waterproofing and prep | 5% | €600 |
| Rubble removal | 3% | €360 |
Labour is always the dominant item. It is also the one that varies most from one pro to another, which makes comparing quotes essential.
VAT 6% or VAT 21%: the simple rule
In Belgium, the renovation of a home over 10 years old qualifies for the reduced 6% VAT rate. On a €12,000 ex-VAT bathroom job, that is a saving of around €1,800 compared to the full 21% rate.
Cumulative conditions:
- The property must be a private dwelling occupied by the owner or a tenant.
- Construction must be completed for at least 10 years.
- The works must be carried out by a BCE-registered contractor.
- The invoice must explicitly mention the conditions of the reduced rate.
If any of these conditions is missing, the 21% rate applies. The pro must annotate this mention on the quote. See our article 6% VAT in Belgium for the details.
Regional differences in 2026
Gaps between Belgian regions remain significant:
- Brussels-Capital Region: labour 5 to 8% more expensive than the national average, but generous Renolution support that more than makes up for it (up to €80/m² of wall insulation).
- Wallonia: the lowest labour rates, habitation grants revised upwards since January 2026.
- Flanders: middle-of-the-road rates, but easy access to the 0% EnergieLening for projects including an energy component.
Verified Batizzy pros in Liège, Namur or Charleroi show labour rates 10 to 15% below those in Brussels, at equal quality.
Common mistakes that blow up the budget
1. Forgetting the side works
A bathroom renovation often triggers unplanned reworks: replacing the electrical board if standards have changed, bringing it up to AREI standards, connecting to a new heat-pump water heater, waterproofing the floor. Plan for an 8 to 12% buffer on the initial quote.
2. Choosing the tiles last
Lead times on specific tiles (large format, Italian import) sometimes reach 6 to 10 weeks. If you choose after the start, the pro will charge you a site stoppage. Pick the tiles before signing.
3. Underestimating ventilation
A brand-new bathroom without properly sized mechanical ventilation will come back at you in 18 months in the form of mould on the joints. A single-flow ventilation costs €600 to €1,100 installed, this is non-negotiable.
4. Comparing non-comparable quotes
A €8,000 quote may look attractive against a €12,000 one, but if the first one does not mention the removal of the old elements, the haul-away, the waterproofing or the ceiling redo, you will pay the difference during the works. On Batizzy, our quotes use a unified format that enforces inclusion of every item.
How to halve the cost (without cutting quality)
Three concrete levers, validated by our panel of pros:
- Keep the existing layout of the water supplies. Moving a bath by 50 cm costs €1,500 to €2,500 of extra labour.
- Buy the sanitary on the marketplace. Job surplus in good condition on the Batizzy marketplace sells on average 40 to 60% below new, for identical quality.
- Pick standard 60×60 tiling rather than XL format or mosaic. Typical saving: €25 to €40/m² installed.
How Batizzy can help you
Post your bathroom project on Batizzy in 5 minutes. You will receive 3 to 5 comparable quotes within 72 hours, from BCE-verified pros, with:
- Unified quote format (same items, same units, prices ex VAT and incl VAT)
- Automatic check of the applicable VAT rate
- Verified customer reviews on real jobs
- Secure messaging to ask your technical questions before signing