Budget & financing
Bathroom renovation prices in Belgium in 2026
A 5 to 7 m² bathroom: from €2,500 for a refresh to over €22,000 at the top end. What goes into the quote, 6% VAT, regional aid and the mistakes to avoid.
By the Batizzy teamPublished Updated 4 min read
A 5 to 7 m² bathroom can be refreshed for €2,500 to €5,000 including VAT in Belgium, and a full renovation starts at around €6,500. In between, the plumbing often makes the difference: keeping the water supplies where they are or moving them can almost double the bill. It is also the job where quotes look least alike, because each pro counts (or forgets) the strip-out, waterproofing and rubble removal in their own way.
Price ranges in 2026
For a standard bathroom of 5 to 7 m², these are the observed brackets:
- Light renovation (paint, taps, washbasin): €2,500 to €5,000 incl. VAT
- Full renovation keeping the layout (tiles, sanitary ware, some plumbing): €6,500 to €12,000 incl. VAT
- Full renovation with the water supplies moved: €12,000 to €22,000 incl. VAT
- High-end bathroom (top-range materials, walk-in shower, freestanding bath, underfloor heating): €22,000 to €40,000 incl. VAT
These brackets include labour and materials, excluding special tiles above €80 per m².
How a quote breaks down
Illustrative breakdown for a €12,000 project incl. VAT:
| Item | Share | Amount (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Labour, all trades | 45% | €5,400 |
| Sanitary ware (shower, basin, toilet) | 18% | €2,160 |
| Floor and wall tiles | 14% | €1,680 |
| Plumbing and connections | 9% | €1,080 |
| Electrics (lighting, sockets, extraction) | 6% | €720 |
| Waterproofing and preparation | 5% | €600 |
| Rubble removal | 3% | €360 |
Labour weighs the most, and it is also the item that varies most from one pro to the next. All the more reason to insist on a detailed quote, line by line.
VAT at 6% or 21%
Renovating a home more than 10 years old can qualify for the reduced 6% rate instead of 21%. On €12,000 excluding VAT, the difference is €1,800.
The conditions:
- After the work, the property is used as a private home for more than half of it.
- It was first occupied in a calendar year at least ten years before the date of the first invoice.
- The work and the materials are supplied and invoiced by the contractor to the occupant.
- The invoice carries the legal wording for the reduced rate.
If any of these is missing, the 21% rate applies. Sanitary ware or tiles you buy yourself stay at 21%. All the details are in our article on 6% VAT in Belgium.
What about regional aid?
A bathroom on its own rarely qualifies for aid. In Flanders, Mijn VerbouwPremie has an electricity and plumbing category, reserved for certain applicant profiles: run the simulation on the official portal. In Wallonia, Rénopack only finances health and safety work within a whole project that gains the home a PEB label, see our article on the end of the Prime Habitation. In Brussels, no Renolution grant is open for work invoiced in 2025 or 2026, see our update on Brussels support.
Mistakes that blow up the budget
Forgetting the side jobs
A bathroom renovation often brings unplanned work: an electrical circuit to bring up to the RGIE standard, a water heater to replace, waterproofing of the floor. Keep a margin of around 10% on top of the initial quote.
Choosing the tiles last
Some tiles (large formats, imports) take weeks to deliver. Chosen after the work starts, they can stall the job, and that stoppage gets billed. Pick the tiles before you sign.
Neglecting extraction
A new bathroom without properly sized air extraction ends up with mould in the grout. Have ventilation included in the quote; it is not a detail.
Comparing quotes that don't count the same things
An €8,000 quote may look attractive next to one at €12,000. If it leaves out removing the old fittings, rubble disposal, waterproofing and making good the ceiling, the difference will come back during the job.
Three ways to bring the bill down
- Keep the existing layout of water supplies and drains. Moving them quickly drives up labour.
- Choose mid-range sanitary ware, sturdy and easy to replace, rather than made-to-order models.
- Go for standard tiles (60 × 60, say) rather than very large formats or mosaic, which take longer to lay.
Compare quotes on Batizzy
Describe your bathroom project with a few photos, a rough budget and your preferred timing. Pros in your area message you, then send their quote. You compare them side by side: price incl. VAT, gap with the cheapest, deposit, validity. Pros who have had their CBE number checked carry a badge, and a review is only possible after a real job.