Bathroom remodel cost in Luxembourg

Bathroom budgets can be grouped into four indicative scope levels; the ranges below vary by provider and building. Knowing which one you are commissioning is the most important conversation before three quotes go out.

Refresh-level quote anatomy (€8 000 net example, 5 m² guest bath):

• New WC + cistern: €450
• Wall-hung basin with mixer tap: €620
• New shower head, mixer, riser bar: €350
• Replacement floor and lower-wall tiles 12 m²: €1 320
• Demolition and disposal: €480
• Plumbing labour (no rerouting): €1 100
• Electrician (replace fittings, no new circuits): €350
• Tiling labour: €1 600
• Painting: €420
• Project management and coordination: €450
• Misc materials, sealants: €360
• Total: €8 000 net, €9 360 all-in at TVA 17 %. At 3 % VAT only the eligible lines are reduced; bathroom furniture and mirrors stay at 17 %.

Premium-level quote anatomy (€36 000 net example, 10 m² master bath, full re-pipe):

• Demolition, slab partial demolition, disposal: €2 200
• New 50 mm waste line and 22 mm copper supply: €2 800
• Walk-in shower system (tray, frameless glass, thermostatic mixer): €3 800
• Freestanding bathtub: €2 400
• Double vanity with two basins, mixer taps: €3 600
• WC suspendu with concealed cistern: €1 100
• Underfloor heating, hydronic, controller: €2 200
• Towel-warmer radiator, dual-fuel: €800
• Floor-to-ceiling porcelain tile 32 m² supply: €2 880
• Tiling labour: €4 800
• Plumbing labour: €3 400
• Electrician (new circuits, lighting design, USB outlets): €1 800
• Painting (ceiling and one accent wall): €600
• Project management, coordination: €2 100
• Misc consumables, sealants, profile trims: €1 520
• Total: €36 000 net, €42 120 all-in at TVA 17 %. The 3 % rate can apply only to eligible lines; the vanity furniture and mirrors are excluded, so ask the contractor to show the rate line by line.

The three reasons quotes drift across these scope levels are layout change (moving plumbing fixtures), tile area (floor-only versus floor-and-walls-to-ceiling) and finish level (entry-level Roca/Geberit versus premium Hansgrohe/Duravit).

The decision that shifts a quote by €4 000 to €12 000 is whether to re-pipe the bathroom or work with what's there. Two factors decide:

Building era and existing pipework:

• Pre-1970 — galvanised steel supply, lead waste in some cases. Replacing the pipework is usually recommended in a full renovation. Budget €2 800–€5 200 for full re-pipe of a 10-m² master bath.
• 1970–1990 — copper supply with PVC waste. Inspect for joint corrosion. Re-pipe is optional but recommended if the existing copper is rotting at joints. Budget €1 800–€3 500 for selective replacement.
• 1990–2010 — copper or multi-layer (PEX) supply with PVC waste. Generally fine to keep; replace only if you change the layout. Budget €800–€1 600 for connection adaptations.
• 2010+ — modern PEX or copper, plastic waste. Keep, no re-pipe needed. Budget €400–€900 just for connecting new fixtures.

Layout change (moving fixtures):

• Same layout (refresh) — fixtures stay where they are. Plumbing labour €1 100–€1 800 total for 4 connections.
• Minor layout change (basin moves, toilet stays) — plumbing labour €2 200–€3 600, demolition strip in floor or wall.
• Full layout change (new positions for shower, basin, WC) — plumbing labour €3 600–€6 800, possible slab demolition strip, possible header relocation.

The five plumbing line items every quote should name:

• Cold and hot supply runs from the local stop-valves to each fixture
• Waste lines from each fixture to the soil stack (slope minimum 1 %)
• Waste vent connection if the bathroom is far from the soil stack — ask the plumber whether it is needed for the drains to work properly
• Stop-valves at each fixture, so each one can be isolated for maintenance
• Pressure test of new pipework — written certification before tile is installed

Shower waste — the trap that catches DIY-leaning quotes: A walk-in shower needs a low-profile shower-tray waste with a horizontal trap (max height 90 mm under the tray). If the existing slab can't accommodate this, a raised shower platform (15–20 mm step up) is the workaround at additional cost of €450–€900. The cheap quote that omits this line will discover it on day three of demolition and add it as a variation order.

The right time to re-pipe: If your bathroom is more than 25 years old and you are doing a mid-range or premium remodel, re-pipe. The marginal cost of €2 000 to €4 000 during the open-walls phase is far less than re-piping later in a finished bathroom (€8 000+ in tear-out and rebuild).

Tiling is typically the largest single line on a bathroom remodel — material plus labour together account for 25 to 35 % of a premium project. Three decisions matter: material, format and installation pattern.

Material price per m² supplied:

Installation labour per m²:

• Standard 30×60 or 60×60 porcelain: €55–€85/m²
• Large-format 60×120: €80–€130/m² (needs two installers and special tools)
• Slab 100×200+: €150–€280/m² (specialist work, lifting equipment)
• Mosaic: €110–€180/m² (slow work)
• Natural stone with bevelled edges: €95–€160/m²

Surface and pattern decisions that drive cost:

• Floor only — typical 6–10 m² of floor, lowest tile cost
• Floor + lower wall (1,2 m height) — adds 12–18 m² of wall tile
• Floor + full walls (no tile to ceiling) — adds 25–35 m²
• Floor + walls to ceiling — adds 35–50 m², premium look but €1 500–€3 500 more than partial walls
• Patterned tile or herringbone layout — adds 15–25 % to labour cost

The three line items most often missed in a tile quote:

• Edge profile (chrome, brass or matching ceramic L-profile) at all external corners and door reveals: €8–€18 per linear metre
• Anti-slip floor tile with R10 or R11 rating in shower areas: tile premium of €8–€15/m² over standard
• Underfloor-heating-compatible substrate: thinset and decoupling membrane (Schlüter Ditra or equivalent) €12–€22/m²

Sample tile cost on a 10-m² master bath, full walls to ceiling:

• Floor 10 m² in 60×60 porcelain at €60/m²: €600
• Walls 28 m² (3 walls full height + return) in 60×60 porcelain at €60/m²: €1 680
• Mosaic accent strip 2 m² at €180/m²: €360
• Edge profiles 22 m at €12/m: €264
• Decoupling membrane 10 m²: €170
• Tiling labour 38 m² at €70/m²: €2 660
• Mosaic labour 2 m² at €140/m²: €280
• Tile package total: €6 014 net, €7 037 all-in at TVA 17 %

Sanitaryware and finishes are the most visible decision in a bathroom and the easiest place to over- or under-spend. Brand and finish level explain most of the cost spread between three quotes for the "same" project.

WC suite (toilet + cistern + flush plate):

Basin and vanity:

Shower system (mixer, head, riser, hose, hand shower):

Bathtub:

• Built-in acrylic tub: €350–€780 + €350 install
• Built-in steel-enamel tub: €620–€1 200 + €420 install
• Freestanding acrylic tub: €1 200–€2 800 + €450 install
• Freestanding cast-iron tub: €2 800–€6 500 + €650 install (heavy, needs crane access in upper floors)
• Built-in Jacuzzi-style tub: €2 200–€5 800 + €600 install + electrical

Heating:

• Replacement towel-warmer radiator: €350–€700
• Dual-fuel towel-warmer (electric + circulation): €650–€1 200
• Hydronic underfloor heating loop and thermostat: €90–€140/m² installed
• Electric underfloor heating mat: €55–€90/m² installed (cheaper but ongoing electricity cost)

Lighting:

• Replacement ceiling light: €80–€280
• Mirror with integrated LED and demister: €350–€1 200
• Recessed IP44-rated downlights (4–6 units): €400–€900 installed
• Lighting design with three layers (ambient, task, accent): €1 200–€2 800 for design + fittings

Three rules for fixture selection:

1. Match tier across the room. A premium bathtub next to entry-level taps looks discount, not premium. Either commit to one tier across the bathroom or accept a mid-mid finish.
2. Buy fixtures from your installer's preferred brand. Trade-account discounts of 15–25 % are usually passed through, and warranty service is faster.
3. Avoid online "specialist" imports unless the contractor agrees in writing. Plumbing fittings outside the EU often have different connection sizes; the installer will not warrant them.

Three operational items decide whether the project lands smoothly or runs into surprises mid-stream.

VAT position — agree it before the works start:

• Main residence (owner-occupied or rented to a tenant as main residence), building at least 10 years old when the works start: eligible lines can be invoiced at 3 % instead of 17 %
• Second home or commercial use: 17 %
• Not eligible even in a main residence: bathroom furniture and mirrors, wellness equipment such as a sauna or steam room, and architect fees

According to the official VAT guidance, the contractor requests an approval from the AED before the works start and then invoices eligible lines at 3 %. Without approval, the contractor invoices 17 % and the owner can ask the AED to refund the difference afterwards. The total advantage is capped at €50 000 per dwelling. If all of a €30 000 net project were eligible, the difference between 17 % and 3 % would be €4 200; in practice it is lower when furniture or other excluded items are included.

Project timeline — what to expect:

During the works — what to plan:

• Bathroom out of use for the full on-site duration; arrange backup access (other bathroom in house, friend nearby for premium projects)
• Dust will reach adjacent rooms even with sealed plastic doors; protect electronics and clothing
• Water and electricity to the bathroom will be off during specific phases — coordinate with the contractor weekly
• A skip on the public road usually needs permission from the commune; ask the contractor who requests it and who pays the fee

COPROPRIÉTÉ rules — the apartment-owner reality: A bathroom in a COPROPRIÉTÉ apartment building is subject to the règlement de copropriété for any work that touches:

• The waste stack (soil pipe between floors): formal authorisation usually required, syndic notification mandatory
• The water supply riser: same notification regime
• The structural slab (if you lower it for waste routing): assemblée générale approval required
• Common-area access (lift use, common stairs): syndic notification, often a deposit required

Three pre-flight checks for COPROPRIÉTÉ owners:

• Read the règlement de copropriété sections on bathroom modifications
• Notify the syndic in writing 4 to 6 weeks before works start, with a contractor letter showing insurance
• Check the permitted hours for noisy work (hammer, drill, demolition) in your commune's regulations and the building's house rules
• Budget for €350–€900 in additional administrative cost (syndic fees, deposits, occasionally an expert opinion for the syndic)

Three quotes for the same bathroom remodel commonly land at €18 000, €26 000 and €34 000 — and the answer to "which is right" depends on which scope each one is actually pricing. The job is to read past the headline number to the line items.

The eight checks that matter:

• Surface area treated. Floor only? Floor + walls to 1,2 m? Floor + walls to ceiling? This single line drives 20 % of the spread.
• Tile material and brand. A €40/m² ceramic versus a €90/m² porcelain on 35 m² is a €1 750 material difference plus 20 % labour difference.
• Plumbing scope. Refresh-only versus partial re-pipe versus full re-pipe — this is often the largest hidden gap.
• Fixture brand and tier. Premium WC suite + double vanity + Hansgrohe shower system versus mid-tier alternatives is a €3 000–€7 000 difference on the same scope.
• Heating choice. Replacement towel-warmer only versus full hydronic underfloor heating with controller is a €2 200–€3 800 difference.
• Lighting design. Single ceiling fitting versus three-layer lighting plan with mirror LED is a €1 200–€2 800 difference.
• TVA position. Net or TTC at the line — convert before comparing. Where 3 % super-reduced applies, require each bidder to state their position.
• Warranty document. Garantie décennale on plumbing and waterproofing referenced specifically; manufacturer warranties on fixtures listed.

Briefing pack to send all three:

• Existing-state plan with measurements (sketch is fine if no architect drawing exists)
• Photos of all four walls, floor, ceiling, existing plumbing visible
• Photos of the soil-stack location and access route to it
• Building era and known plumbing material (galvanised, copper, PEX)
• Desired layout — keep, modify, complete redesign — with sketch
• Fixture tier expectation (Roca/Geberit, Hansgrohe/Duravit, Dornbracht) and any specific brand preference
• Tile material and surface coverage expectation (samples or product sheets attached if possible)
• Heating expectation — towel warmer only, underfloor, or both
• Timeline expectation and acceptable start window
• TVA position — confirm 3 % super-reduced application status

Sample comparison framework — three bids on a 9-m² mid-range master bath:

These three bids are not "different prices for the same project" — they are three different projects. Match the scope across bidders and the spread shrinks to ±15 %.

Wider spreads on a matched scope almost always reflect either margin discipline (an under-pricer who will issue variation orders) or a misunderstanding of the existing plumbing — call before assuming the cheapest is the best.