Bathtub replacement cost in Luxembourg (2026)

A €1 600 invoice with TVA at 17 % lands at €1 872 all-in. On a qualifying principal-residence renovation where the whole job is ventilated under the 3 % super-reduced rate, the same €1 600 becomes €1 648 — a saving of €224 on this single line that compounds across the broader renovation.

The tub itself is not the cost centre. A 170 cm acrylic tub ranges €150 to €400 at Luxembourg merchants (Hornbach, Bathlife, Sanitec). A 180 cm steel-enamel tub is €400 to €700. Cast iron at €800 to €1 500 exists for purists but rarely justifies the delivery and handling cost. The real lines are demolition, tile reinstatement, membrane and labour hours.

What the quote should break out:

• Tub supply (brand, reference, dimensions)
• Demolition and disposal of the old unit (€150–€350 depending on material)
• Plumbing reconnection and leak test (€180–€300)
• Tile row above the tub (€250–€600 per running metre if replaced)
• Waterproofing membrane renewed (€150–€250)
• Silicone joints and finishing (€60–€120)
• Installation labour (€280–€450)

The four-to-one spread across the range is driven by three factors stacking: tile disturbance, old-tub material, and supply tier on the new tub. Each adds roughly €500 to the base.

The six drivers that matter:

• Tile row above the tub. If the tile line survives the demolition cleanly, you save €400 to €700. A cast-iron tub that was set into the tile above will take a row of tile with it on removal, forcing tile repair — budget €350 to €600 for matching tile (lead time 2 to 4 weeks if the original is out of production) and €250 to €400 for labour.
• Old-tub material. Acrylic comes out in ten minutes with a utility knife. Steel-enamel takes 30 minutes and an angle grinder. Cast iron is 300 kg, takes two tradespeople and an angle grinder with dust suppression, and adds €200–€400 in extra labour plus disposal.
• Drain and overflow. The old set may or may not match the new tub's positions. A repositioned drain (10 cm shift) is a €150–€300 plumbing line; a full waste-stack intervention is €400–€700 if the floor must be opened.
• Waterproofing membrane. Pre-2000 bathrooms often have no proper membrane behind the tile. A proper redo before new tile (Schlüter-Kerdi or Wedi) is €150–€250 per side and worth every cent to avoid leaks into a downstairs flat.
• Tub grade. Entry acrylic at €150–€250 is fine for a rental; mid-range steel-enamel at €400–€600 gives the weight, warmth and durability most owners want; designer cast iron or solid-surface at €1 200+ is a look choice.
• Commune and access. An upper-floor flat with stair-only access adds €100–€200; tight stair turns may require a tub cut to fit, adding a further €150–€250.

The four common tub materials on the Luxembourg market each carry a different price, weight and lifespan. Pick by use case, not just by price.

Acrylic — €150 to €400 supply

• Light (25 to 35 kg), easy to install, warm to the touch
• Lifespan 15 to 20 years with care
• Scratches visible but repairable with a polish kit
• Best for: rental flats, secondary bathrooms, budget-constrained renovations

Steel-enamel — €400 to €700 supply

• Mid-weight (50 to 90 kg), cold to the touch until filled
• Lifespan 30 to 40 years
• Hard surface, chip-resistant against knocks but will chip if struck sharply
• Best for: primary bathrooms in owner-occupied flats and houses

Cast iron — €800 to €1 500 supply

• Heavy (200 to 350 kg), needs structural check on upper floors
• Lifespan 50+ years, the coat outlasts the bathroom around it
• Retains heat exceptionally well — warms slowly, cools slowly
• Best for: period properties, long-stay homes, freestanding centerpiece tubs

Stone composite / Solid-surface — €1 200 to €2 500 supply

• Brands: Corian, Solid Stone, Varicor
• Repairable surface — scratches sand out, burns can be re-polished
• Warm to the touch, matte finish, freestanding forms available
• Best for: high-end owner-occupied bathrooms, designer pieces

A quick sizing note for Luxembourg bathrooms:

• Average apartment bathroom: 170 × 70 cm alcove tub
• Average semi-detached master bathroom: 180 × 80 cm alcove or corner
• Larger new-build bathrooms: 180 × 80 cm freestanding island tubs are increasingly common

Width drives comfort far more than length — 80 cm is a meaningful upgrade over 70 cm; 160 versus 170 cm is barely noticeable in use.

Bathtub replacement is one of the clearer cases for the Luxembourg super-reduced TVA rate of 3 %, but only when properly structured. Getting this right saves €150 to €400 on a typical job.

Conditions for the 3 % rate to apply:

• The property is a principal residence — declared as such on the occupant's tax record
• The property is at least 20 years old at the time of the invoice (or, for newer properties, a specific two-year window from the first occupancy applies)
• The contractor is declared in Luxembourg and files the application with the Administration de l'Enregistrement, des Domaines et de la TVA using Form 754F
• The scope qualifies as renovation, not standalone maintenance — a bathtub replacement packaged in a bathroom renovation meets this; an isolated tub swap may not

Working example on a €1 800 net quote:

• At 17 % TVA: €2 106 all-in
• At 3 % TVA: €1 854 all-in
• Saving: €252

What to put in place before the work starts:

• Written confirmation from the contractor that they will apply for the 3 % rate via Form 754F
• Proof of principal-residence status from the fiscal record (extrait de cadastre or tax declaration)
• The work order scoped as "renovation de la salle de bain" not "remplacement de baignoire"

Common traps:

• The bathroom is a rental unit owned by the invoicing household — 17 % applies; the 3 % is for the occupant's principal residence only
• The bathroom is in a secondary home — 17 % applies
• The bathroom is in a newly-built flat under two years old — the 3 % has specific transitional rules; check with the contractor's fiscal declaration
• The contractor is not set up for the 3 % rate — some smaller trades default to 17 % to avoid the paperwork; confirm before signing

Ask the contractor's TVA reference explicitly in the devis — "TVA applicable: 3 % sur formulaire 754F" or "TVA applicable: 17 % (prestation standard)".

A written devis with full line items is your only protection if the project hits a surprise. Beware the single-line "replacement of the bathtub — €1 500" offer; it masks what is and is not included.

A devis that protects you lists:

• Supply line — tub brand, reference, dimensions (e.g. Kaldewei Saniform Plus 170 × 70 cm, ref. 373-1)
• Drain-overflow set — brand and reference, chrome or other finish
• Demolition — hours allocated, disposal fee (€80 to €150 for normal construction waste; €150 to €300 for cast iron at a ressource centre)
• Plumbing — flexible connectors, pipe insulation, leak test
• Tile reinstatement — tiles supplied by client or by contractor; specify square metre count and tile reference
• Waterproofing — membrane brand (Schlüter-Kerdi, Wedi, Delta-TB) and side treatments (corners, corners of tub)
• Silicone — brand (Bostik, Sikaflex) and colour match
• Installation labour — hours budgeted, rate per hour (typical €55–€75/hr for a declared Luxembourg plumber)
• Warranty — one year on workmanship, manufacturer warranty on the tub (5 to 25 years depending on brand)
• Payment terms — typical pattern: 30 % on order, 40 % on delivery, 30 % on commissioning
• TVA rate applied — 17 % or 3 % with a mention of the 754F application

Red flags in a devis:

• A single total with no breakdown
• "Supply and install bathtub" without a tub reference
• No warranty duration stated
• No TVA number on the letterhead
• Payment upfront in cash for the full amount
• Verbal promise of 3 % TVA without a 754F reference in the devis

What the contractor should ask you in return:

• Photos of the existing bathtub with a tape measure showing dimensions
• Access photos (stairs, door widths, parking)
• Presence of a shower in the bathroom (affects scheduling — is there somewhere to wash during the 1 to 4 days of work?)
• Whether the ground-floor flat below should be informed

Bathtub replacement is disruptive but finite. Understanding the day-by-day is useful for arranging family logistics, especially in flats with only one bathroom.

One-day job (€600–€900) — like-for-like acrylic swap

• 08:00–10:00: water shut-off, demolition of old tub, protection of floor
• 10:00–12:00: unboxing, dry-fit of new tub, plumbing reconnection
• 13:00–15:00: siliconing, adjustment, final tile-to-tub joint
• 15:00–16:00: leak test, handover
• Bathroom unusable: ~8 hours; first bath after 24 hours (silicone cure)

Two-day job (€1 200–€1 800) — cast iron out, acrylic in, minor tile repair

• Day 1 morning: demolition, tile repair prep (chipping out damaged tiles)
• Day 1 afternoon: waterproofing dry time if the membrane was disturbed
• Day 2 morning: new tub dry-fit, plumbing, leak test
• Day 2 afternoon: tile reinstatement, silicone, handover
• Bathroom unusable: 2 working days; first bath after 48–72 hours

Three-day job (€1 800–€2 500) — full scope with tile row renewed

• Day 1: demolition, prep
• Day 2: waterproofing, new tile row, grout
• Day 3: tub install, plumbing, leak test, silicone
• Bathroom unusable: 3 working days plus 24 hours silicone cure; first bath after 72–96 hours

Four-day job (€2 200–€2 800) — freestanding with floor-mounted tap

• Day 1: demolition and disposal
• Day 2: waterproofing, floor-penetration plumbing for the standalone tap
• Day 3: tile or floor finish, tub set into position
• Day 4: tap install, leak test, commissioning
• Bathroom unusable: 4 working days; first bath after 72 hours silicone cure

Family logistics tips:

• Arrange a shower at a neighbour's or a nearby gym for the work period — the bathroom is unusable while a tub is being removed
• If the flat has a second bathroom, confirm it has water pressure by opening a tap while the main isolation is on
• Pre-shower the children the evening before day 1
• Expect dust — seal the bathroom door with a zip-dust curtain, close HVAC vents nearby

Replacement devis are hard to compare without a tight brief because the scope inside the four walls of a bathroom varies by far more than the headline numbers suggest. A short, specific brief handed to three providers produces quotes that sit within ±20 % of one another.

The six checks that matter:

• Tub brand and reference. All three quoting the same Kaldewei, Bette or Roca reference removes the "one is bidding on a €150 tub, one on a €500 tub" problem.
• Scope of tile work. "Minor tile repair included" without a square-metre number is a cost vs. zero difference. Specify: "tile row above tub to be replaced; client supplies replacement tile" or "existing tile preserved, silicone redone only".
• Waterproofing. "New membrane if needed" is a cost that surfaces on day 2. Require: "new Schlüter-Kerdi Band-200 around the tub perimeter" or "existing membrane preserved".
• Disposal. Cast iron disposal at a Luxembourg ressource centre is a separate line (€80–€200). Require it called out explicitly.
• TVA rate treatment. All three providers on the same assumption — 17 % if standalone, 3 % if qualified — not a mix.
• Warranty and commissioning. One-year workmanship is the floor. Ask for the leak-test protocol in writing.

A brief to send to three providers:

• Current tub: material (acrylic / steel / cast iron), dimensions (L × W × D), age
• New tub wanted: specific brand / reference / dimensions, or "mid-range steel-enamel 170 × 70 cm"
• Tile work wanted: "preserve existing" or "replace row above tub, client supplies tiles"
• Access: floor, stair width, lift available yes/no
• Deadline: start-by date, occupied flat yes/no
• TVA assumption: "quote at 17 % standard" or "principal residence, 20+ years, 3 % applied via 754F"

Three quotes on the same brief land within ±20 %. Spreads of 2× almost always trace to one provider including tile work another excluded, or to the 17 % vs 3 % mix.