Short answer
Published Metro Vancouver guides put a mid-range full bathroom renovation at roughly $20,000 to $45,000. A powder room runs about $8,000 to $22,000, a basic refresh that keeps the layout about $10,000 to $28,000, and a high-end ensuite $40,000 to $95,000. Layout changes, waterproofing, glass and what is found behind the walls are what move a job within those ranges.
These are typical ranges compiled from three published Metro Vancouver cost guides, not a quote from us. Every bathroom is different, which is why we give a written, itemized price after seeing the room. Use the ranges below to set a realistic budget before you talk to any contractor.
Bathroom renovation cost by scope
| Scope | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Powder room | $8,000 – $22,000 |
| Basic refresh, main bathroom (layout kept) | $10,000 – $28,000 |
| Mid-range full renovation | $20,000 – $45,000 |
| Master ensuite or high-end | $40,000 – $95,000 |
| Condo bathroom | $18,000 – $32,000 |
Ranges combine the figures published by HomeStars, Reno Stars and Vancouver General Contractors. Where their numbers differ, the table shows the full spread.
What a Burnaby bathroom typically costs
Reno Stars, which publishes data from its own completed projects, reports six Burnaby bathroom renovations in the $20,000 to $32,000 range, each taking two to five weeks. That sits squarely in the mid-range band above.
The line items that move the total
- Tub-to-shower conversion: $3,000 – $8,000 (Reno Stars)
- Moving plumbing: about $2,000 – $6,000 per fixture (Reno Stars; HomeStars quotes $3,000 – $6,000+)
- Shower waterproofing membrane: $800 – $3,500 depending on the shower (Vancouver General Contractors; Reno Stars)
- Heated floor: $800 – $4,000 for electric; hydronic $3,500 – $8,000 (Vancouver General Contractors; HomeStars)
- Frameless glass shower: $2,000 – $8,000 (Reno Stars; HomeStars)
Hidden costs in older homes
Vancouver General Contractors lists the surprises that most often appear once walls and floors are opened in older houses: mould remediation ($1,500 – $8,000), asbestos abatement ($2,000 – $8,000), galvanized pipe replacement ($4,000 – $15,000) and subfloor repair ($800 – $3,000). A good estimate looks for the warning signs before demolition so these are discussed up front.
Condo and strata bathrooms
In a strata building, expect a damage deposit (Vancouver General Contractors cites $500 – $2,500), three to six extra weeks for approvals, and in concrete high-rises a scan of the slab before any drilling ($500 – $1,500). Working hours and elevator bookings also shape the schedule.
Do you need a permit in Burnaby?
The City of Burnaby states that minor works such as replacing fixtures, cabinets and flooring do not need a permit, but that installing, changing or upgrading any part of a plumbing system in single and duplex dwellings does. So a same-layout refresh usually does not need one, and moving a toilet, shower or vanity drain does. See our Burnaby permit guide for the full list.
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