Bathroom Renovation Cost in Malaysia 2026: Itemised Prices for Condos and Landed Homes

A full rebuild of a 6x8 ft condo bathroom at standard spec costs about RM9,200–RM10,400. That covers hacking out old tiles, new waterproofing with a ponding test, plumbing, floor and wall tiles, ceiling, mid-range sanitaryware and a water heater point. A basic rebuild comes to about RM8,000–RM9,000 and a premium one RM14,400–RM16,300. A refresh that keeps the existing tiles costs roughly RM2,800–RM3,200.

This guide breaks each figure down item by item, using Wakkiro's material, labour and productivity rates (Selangor). Where our data has no figure, as with sanitaryware, condo deposits and debris removal, we say so and use a labelled market assumption. It also covers what is specific to condos: management approval, working hours, lift protection and the renovation deposit.

Bathroom renovation cost by tier (6x8 ft condo bathroom)

All figures below come from the worked example further down. Direct cost is materials plus labour. The quote range adds a 15%–30% contractor overhead and profit, which is a market assumption rather than a number from our data.

Per square foot of floor, a standard 6x8 ft (48 sq ft) bathroom works out at RM192–RM217 psf. That is far higher than any other room, because most of the cost is fixed. You pay for one set of sanitaryware, one plumber visit, one waterproofing system and one debris run whether the room is 35 sq ft or 60 sq ft.

Worked example: 6x8 ft condo bathroom, standard spec

Assumptions: a 6 ft x 8 ft bathroom (4.46 m²) with walls tiled to a 2.4 m ceiling and one 750 mm x 2100 mm door. That gives 18.91 m² of wall tiling after deducting the door. The WC and shower stay in their existing positions. Selangor rates.

Three items in this table exist only because it is a condo: carrying debris down, removing it from site, and protecting the lift. Together they add RM1,180 of direct cost. That roughly cancels out the saving from a smaller room. Our Malay-language guide to a 6x10 ft landed-house bathroom comes to almost the same standard-spec quote.

Hacking and debris disposal

Hacking out wall tiles usually damages the plaster behind them. That is why the example re-plasters every wall at about RM24 per m² including labour. If a contractor proposes tiling straight over what is left, ask to see the walls after hacking before you agree.

On a landed house a 10-wheel lorry with tipping fees costs RM350 per trip in our rate sheet. In a condo, debris has to be bagged, taken down in the service lift during permitted hours and removed from the loading bay. Our data has no rate for that, so we used RM400 as a market assumption. Some buildings let contractors use a shared skip, while others charge for it.

Waterproofing and the 24–48 hour ponding test

In a condo, a waterproofing failure is the most expensive mistake, because the leak appears in your neighbour's ceiling below. Our rate sheet carries two systems:

• Flexible cementitious coating at RM195 per 30 kg set. We assume one set covers about 10 m² in two coats, but check the brand's data sheet.
• Liquid polyurethane (PU) membrane at RM435 per 20-litre pail, applied at 0.8–1 kg per m² per coat. We used it for the premium tier.

The area to coat is more than double the floor area. For the 6x8 example: floor 4.46 m², plus a 300 mm upturn around the walls (2.56 m²), plus the shower walls 900 mm wide to 1.8 m high on two sides (3.24 m²). That totals 10.3 m².

Once the membrane has cured, plug the floor trap and flood the floor 25–50 mm deep for 24 to 48 hours. Mark the water level on the wall and check the unit below if you can. Tiles should go down only after the level has held. Many condo managements ask for this test, so ask for dated photos if you are not on site.

Plumbing, floor and wall tiles

A plumber costs RM140 a day in our rate sheet, and with a RM120 helper the pair costs RM260 a day. Plumbing cost depends mainly on whether anything moves. Keeping the WC and shower where they are means replacing supply pipes and fittings. Moving a WC means a new soil connection. In a condo that may need a new opening through the structural slab and connection to the building's shared stack, which most managements restrict or prohibit.

Tiling uses a tiler and an assistant at RM250 a day:

• Floor: 12 m² a day, or RM20.83 per m². Small tiles such as 300x300 are easier to fall towards the floor trap than 600x600 tiles.
• Walls: 8 m² a day, or RM31.25 per m². Walls are slower because of cuts around pipes, niches and the door.
• Wastage: 7.5% on both, because small rooms mean many cuts.

Tile prices in our sheet (per m²): ceramic 300x300 and 300x600 RM22.22, porcelain 300x300 RM33.33, porcelain 600x300 first grade RM50.00. Wall tiling is the largest labour item in the room at about 2.4 tiler-days, compared with less than half a day for the floor.

Ceiling, sanitaryware and the water heater point

A 6 mm cement-board ceiling on a light metal frame costs about RM48 per m² installed, or RM216 for this room. PVC or aluminium strip ceilings are popular in bathrooms because they shed moisture, so ask for that price separately if you prefer one.

Sanitaryware is the item that moves the total most, and our rate sheet has no figures for it. We used three market assumptions:

• Basic, RM1,500: local-brand WC, wall basin, simple shower set, basic accessories
• Mid-range, RM2,500: recognised-brand WC and basin, shower mixer set, mirror and accessories
• Premium, RM6,000: rimless or wall-hung WC, vanity cabinet, rain shower, frameless glass screen

The water heater itself is not included. Only the electrical point is, at RM250, the midpoint of the market range in our Malay guide to wiring point prices.

Condo-specific costs and rules

Before any hacking starts, the management office (JMB or MC) will normally want:

• A renovation application with the scope of work, contractor details and often a simple layout. Approval can take several working days, so submit it before you book the contractor's start date.
• A refundable renovation deposit. A market range is RM1,000–RM3,000, depending on the building. Damage to lifts, corridors or common pipes is deducted from it.
• Working hours. Typical house rules limit noisy work to weekday office hours with a shorter Saturday, and no work on Sundays or public holidays. Check your building's rules. A two-week landed-house job can stretch to three weeks under these limits.
• Lift and corridor protection before materials come up. Our example allows four sheets of 9 mm plywood at RM45 each.
• Worker registration. Many buildings issue passes per worker, and some ask for the contractor's insurance.

None of these show up as a line on a landed-house quote. When comparing quotes for a condo bathroom, check that each contractor has priced them, and agree in writing who pays if the deposit is cut for damage.

What a bathroom renovation quote should include

Usually included:

• Hacking of floor and wall tiles, and removal of debris from the building
• Waterproofing: product, number of coats, upturn height and a ponding test
• Floor screed laid to fall to the floor trap
• Tile type and size, or a per-m² allowance if you choose tiles yourself
• Supply pipes, soil connection and floor trap
• Installation of sanitaryware and accessories

Usually not included unless stated:

• Sanitaryware, if you are buying it yourself
• The water heater unit and the bathroom door
• Exhaust fan and any new electrical points beyond the heater
• Moving the WC or soil pipe
• Condo deposit, permit fees and debris charges levied by management

How to check a bathroom renovation quote

1. Measure the wall tiling yourself. Perimeter × tiling height, minus the door. A 6x8 ft bathroom tiled to 2.4 m has about 19 m² of walls. A quote showing 30 m² needs explaining.
2. Look for the waterproofing details. "Waterproofing" on its own is not enough. You need the product, coats, upturn height and a 24–48 hour ponding test.
3. Ask for sanitaryware as a separate line. Then you can compare two contractors' workmanship fairly even if they propose different WCs.
4. Ask for the programme. Hacking, plaster, waterproofing, ponding test, tiling and fit-out take at least 7–10 working days because of curing and test time. A contractor promising three days is probably skipping the ponding test.
5. Tie payments to stages. Hold back a balance until the snag list is cleared.

For a whole-home budget, see our renovation cost guide for Malaysia. If the bathroom is part of a larger job, upload your plan to Wakkiro to get a BOQ that separates each trade before you ask for quotes. For reading the line items, see how to read a BOQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Malaysia in 2026?

For a full rebuild of a 6x8 ft condo bathroom, expect about RM8,000–RM9,000 at basic spec, RM9,200–RM10,400 at standard spec and RM14,400–RM16,300 at premium spec. A refresh that keeps the existing tiles costs roughly RM2,800–RM3,200.

How much is bathroom waterproofing in Malaysia?

A flexible cementitious coating costs RM195 per 30 kg set, and one set covers about 10 m² in two coats. A 6x8 ft bathroom needs about 10.3 m² including upturns and shower walls, so two sets plus a day's labour, about RM625 direct. A PU membrane costs RM435 per 20-litre pail.

Why does a condo bathroom renovation cost more?

Condos add costs a landed house does not have: carrying bagged debris down the service lift, removing it from site, protecting lifts and corridors, and working only within permitted hours. In our example these added about RM1,180 of direct cost, plus a refundable deposit of typically RM1,000–RM3,000.

What is a ponding test for a bathroom?

After the waterproofing cures, the floor trap is plugged and the floor is flooded 25–50 mm deep for 24 to 48 hours. The water level is marked and the unit below is checked. Tiling should start only after the level holds.

How long does a bathroom renovation take?

At least 7–10 working days for a full rebuild, because plaster, waterproofing and the 24–48 hour ponding test all need time. Condo working-hour rules can stretch that to around three weeks.