On average, the cost of installing a downstairs toilet here in the UK is between £1,600 – £4,700, depending on the size and the materials you choose.
You are probably wondering why this is such an extensive price range. Well, various factors can influence the cost of installing a downstairs toilet, so we will look into each of these for you so that you can get a better understanding of how much you can expect to pay.
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Contents
Installing a downstairs toilet has many practical benefits, is highly convenient, and can actually increase your property’s value.
If you’re contemplating adding a downstairs toilet, the pros outweigh the cons, and if you already have unused space, then there are ways to keep the cost down.
Let’s look at the costs in a bit more detail.
How much does it cost to install a downstairs toilet?
Installing a downstairs toilet costs approximately £1,600 to £4,700, including labour and materials.
Now this cost would be a lot more if you are thinking of extending your house to install a bathroom, but here we are just talking about a downstairs toilet or cloakroom. For example, converting an unused space under the stairs, in the utility room, or an area of a hallway.
The costs you need to consider are the labour costs and the materials costs.
Here is a breakdown of the cost of installing a downstairs toilet. However, every job is different so to get accurate quotes, post a job.
| Cost element | Cost | Average cost |
| Labour cost | £1,200 – 2,700 | £2,000 |
| Materials cost | £400 – 2,000 | £1,200 |
| Toilet cost | £150 – 550 | £350 |
| Sink cost | £60 – 300 | £180 |
| Plumbing work | £200 – 800 | £500 |
| Electrics & ventilation | £100 – 450 | £275 |
| Construction work | £150 – 300 | £150 |
| Plastering | £300 – 400 | £350 |
| Floor tiling | £300 – 500 | £400 |
| Get quotes | ||
Labour cost
The average labour cost for installing a downstairs toilet is £1,900. This may sound a lot, but there can be a lot of work involved, which we delve into further down.
The labour cost will depend on the scope of work needed and complexity of the job. A professional bathroom fitter can help design your downstairs toilet layout. Some do all of the work involved, including the plumbing and electrics as well as installing the fixtures and fittings. If not, they will liaise with other tradespeople to ensure the job is done smoothly.
Material cost
The average cost of materials for downstairs toilet installation is £1,200.
In terms of materials, if it is a basic downstairs toilet you are after and you want to keep the cost down then you will need the following:
- Toilet
- Sink
- Taps
- Lighting
But there are other additional optional materials that you can have, such as:
- Radiator, heated towel rail, underfloor heating
- Flooring – laminate, tiles, luxury vinyl tiles, sheet vinyl
- Walls – wall panelling, wallpaper, paint or tiles
- Backsplash behind sink or toilet
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What work is involved in installing a downstairs toilet?
If it is converting an area under the stairs, then the job is usually fairly straightforward, but quite a lot of different jobs are involved:
- Construction – some renovating and structural work might need to be done to create the room. This could take 1-2 days depending on the job.
- Plastering – the area might need plastering, so depending on the area and condition of the existing wall will determine how much this will cost.
- Plumbing work – connecting the water supply to the existing cold water line and making sure that there is a route for the soil pipe to connect to the main drain.
- Install an opening window if there isn’t one already, or installing an extractor van for ventilation.
- Install lighting.
- Install fittings – toilet and sink installation.
- Floor fitting.
- Tiling – walls or flooring.
- Install any heating – installing a radiator or underfloor heating.
- Door hanging.
Factors that affect the cost of installing a downstairs toilet
Scope of work/ complexity of the job
The amount of work and complexity of the job will undoubtedly affect the cost.
Plumbing is the bulk of the work, and the trickiest part is ensuring the toilet connects to the soil pipe. A soil pipe is the pipe that carries toilet waste out of your home to the main sewer.
If your new toilet is close to the existing soil pipe (i.e. near the kitchen) and the bathroom fitter can create a slope in the pipe for gravity to move the waste, then this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. However, if the following problems occur, then this will increase time and costs:
- The new downstairs toilet is far away from the existing soil pipe
- It is at a lower level than the main drain (e.g. basement toilet)
- Can’t create a proper slope for gravity flow
If the tradesperson has to start digging up ground, it can become really expensive.
Size of downstairs toilet
The size of the room or area you are converting will influence the cost of your downstairs toilet. Usually, the bigger the area, the more materials you will require.
Nowadays, compact toilets and corner sinks designed specifically for small downstairs toilets, so if you are thinking of converting under the stairs, this shouldn’t be a problem.
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Your location
Bathroom fitter rates vary depending on where you live. Expect to pay higher rates in London and the south-east.
Quality of materials & fittings
Toilets, sinks, and light fittings all come in a range of prices to suit different budgets. Therefore, the more expensive the materials you choose, the higher the overall installation cost.
Ventilation
If there is already a window which can be opened in the space you are converting, you might not need extra ventilation. But if you do, this will increase the cost.
Ease of access
Hard-to-access areas or small, confined spaces can make it harder for the bathroom fitter to work, which might mean longer labour times and, hence, more cost.
Additional costs
Underfloor heating
Underfloor heating costs between £50 and £185 per m². Electric underfloor heating mats are cheaper, easier to install, and available in a variety of sizes.
Tiling
Tiling costs will depend on the type of tiles you choose and the size of the area.
The cost to tile a floor size of 4.14m² is £300 – 500 including adhesive and grout.
If you choose to have the walls tiled and a splashback, the cost will be in addition to the one above.
Flooring
For flooring for a downstairs toilet, you can choose between laminate, tiles, luxury vinyl tiles, and sheet vinyl, with the latter being the cheapest option to buy and install.
Painting and decorating
If you’re not tiling your downstairs toilet, you may want to paint or decorate the room with wallpaper to finish the job. Depending on the size of the room, painting and decorating costs around £300 for a small room. Although, if you have the time, you can save this and do it yourself!
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Building regulations
Although you don’t usually need planning permission to install a downstairs toilet (unless it is part of a bigger extension), you do need to comply with Building Regulations.
After completing the work, you must apply to the council for a building control completion certificate to show that the work complies with building regulations.
The cost will vary depending on the complexity of the work, but you can expect to pay around £200. If you use a tradesperson registered with a competent person scheme, they can apply for this.
Saving tips for reducing toilet installation costs
- Keep it basic – no additional luxury items such as underfloor heating
- Choose cheaper products
- Tiling – if you want to tile the floor, then choose basic, affordable tiles without a pattern
- Prepare and clear the area yourself
- Install fixtures close to existing plumbing
- Paint and decorate the area yourself
Above, we’ve discussed the cost of installing a downstairs toilet, the work involved, and the cost of various materials. Hopefully, this gives you a rough guide for your project.
Next, to kick your project off, post a job to get quotes from local bathroom fitters.