A vital feature for every homeowner, most homes have between one or two toilets. Installing a new toilet is a good way to increase your home’s property value.
You will need to consider a few things before purchasing your toilet, such as the type of toilet you want, what kind of plumbing you currently have and whether it will match the new toilet and cistern type.
Our guide takes a look at toilet installation costs, including what affects the costs of installing a toilet, how you can save money and the best way to find a qualified installer to complete your project!
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How Much Does a New Toilet Cost?
The cost of your new toilet is going to be dependent on a couple of factors. Our table below breaks down the most common types of toilet installation jobs and their average cost.
| Toilet Installation Job | Estimated Supply Cost | Labour Costs | Time Required | Total Estimated Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installing a new toilet | £50 | £100 | Two to three hours | £150 |
| Close-coupled toilet | £100-£150 | £100-£200 | Two to six hours | £200-£350 |
| Hands free toilet | £1,500-£2,000 | £400-£600 | Two to six hours | £2,000-£2,600 |
It’s a relatively simple job to replace a toilet with an identical or similar unit, and toilet supply costs can start from £50, making the total cost of the job between £100-£150 depending on the contractor.
A close-coupled toilet installation will be more expensive than simply replacing an older toilet, as the toilet and cistern are attached to create one fluid unit. The cost for a close-coupled toilet is estimated to be between £200-£350.
A hands-free toilet is a specialist toilet that means you do not have to come into contact with any surfaces to flush the toilet. This advanced system is more expensive and is likely to cost between £2,000-£2,600.
If you’re looking to instal a new toilet in your property, an easy, simple way to compare contractor quotes is to use HouseholdQuotes and find the best professional for your job, within your budget, with one simple click.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Affects the Cost of a New Toilet?
Several factors can impact the cost of a new toilet and it’s best to be well aware of these factors before you make a final purchase, as they could impact your decision or even your budget.
Type of Toilet
Your choice of toilet will impact the final cost of the project as the supply and labour costs will be impacted by your decision.
You do have options to consider; do you want a floor standing or wall standing toilet? Will you opt for a close-coupled toilet? Do you want a low- or high-level cistern?
All these choices will impact the final cost.
A low-level cistern tends to range from £100-£150 whereas a high-level cistern ranges from £150-£300 depending on the brand.
Plumbing
You need to be aware of the current plumbing situation in your home before you decide to purchase a new toilet and possibly hire a professional for installation. If you’re installing an identical toilet unit in place of the old one, the water and waste supply can be easily hooked up and the toilet fitting should be relatively quick and easy to carry out.
If you’re planning to use a different type of toilet or cistern, this is where difficulties can arise, as the toilet will need to be hooked up to the plumbing and this could take a lot longer if the toilet is not an identical match.
Contractors will likely charge between £100-£200 to fit a new toilet, depending on the type and complexity of the job, and if there is difficult plumbing involved you should expect your labour costs to increase.
Ease of Access
If you want your new toilet installed in a particularly small or tight space, such as a cloakroom toilet, this can increase the time it takes to do the job and therefore could impact the labour costs.
Most contractors charge between £100-£200 for their daily rate or £30-£65 per hour, but it’s entirely dependent on the contractor or company you choose to hire.
Removal of Old Toilet
If you have an old toilet that needs to be removed before the new one can be installed, this will also increase the final cost of the job.
Removing a toilet is a tricky job that needs to be carefully handled as porcelain – what most toilets are made of – is easily breakable if mishandled.
Any water and waste will need to be removed from the toilet and cistern before the toilet can be taken out, otherwise, it will leak outside onto the floor and could potentially damage your floor work as well as being unpleasant to clear up.
It will cost between £75-£150 to remove a toilet depending on the ease of the job and the contractor hired.
Plumbing Condition
If the current plumbing condition in your house is below par, old or leaky, then you will likely need to pay more for toilet installation. Repairing soil and water pipes are common jobs that may need to take place before a toilet installation can begin.
Make sure to include this in your budgeting of the project, particularly if you are already aware that your plumbing will need repairs.
Location
As with all home renovation or construction projects, where you are located in the UK will undoubtedly impact the final cost of a toilet installation project.
If you’re located in central London, you can expect the prices for installing your toilet to be two to three times more expensive than bathroom tiling pricing for a property located in the Western or Northern regions.
How Can I Save Money on a New Toilet?
Firstly, be savvy about the type of toilet you choose to have installed. If you opt for an identical fit as the existing toilet, not only will the supply cost be cheaper, but the labour cost will also be reduced as the toilet will be able to be hooked up to the water supply and plumbing easily.
If you’re able to, avoid extra plumbing! This is a great tip that can help to keep your costs down.
Avoid moving the toilet to a new position in the room as this will require extra plumbing and extra fees.
If you’re thinking of hiring a qualified professional, gathering more than one quote from contractors is a good way of making sure you’re getting the best price possible. Make sure to use HouseholdQuotes to compare fees quickly and easily from one simple search.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Type of Toilet Should I Choose?
There are many different kinds of toilet options available to you. The table below breaks down the most common kinds, and their advantages and disadvantages. This will hopefully help you make an informed decision when it comes to which toilet would be best for your home.
| Toilet Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Close-coupled toilets | -Very easy to instal -Great for small businesses -Good for rooms that don’t have a lot of space | -Can take longer to clean -Can be damaged much more easily than other toilets -Won’t conceal plumbing as easily as other toilets |
| Back to wall toilets | -Very aesthetically pleasing toilet option -Very little space is required to instal them properly -They have a very comfortable design | -They are a more expensive option of toilet -Quite difficult to instal and maintain them -Needs to be installed by an experienced professional |
| Wall hung toilets | -Very stylish toilet option and can increase value of property -Can clean underneath and around the toilet easily -Wide range of designs available | -They are a more expensive option of toilet -If they are not installed properly, they do have the risk of coming off the wall -Will need structurally strong walls to hold it up |
As well as budgeting requirements, think of the type of design you most want to see in your home and remember that more modern and stylish designs will add value to your property.
However, that doesn’t mean that regular or close-coupled toilets cannot look sleek and understated, particularly if you ensure you hire a great professional installer.
What’s Involved in Installing or Replacing a Toilet?
Your bathroom will firstly need to be prepared for toilet installation. This will mean removing the old toilet and cistern, being careful not to damage the toilet and contain the waste and water.
The area where your old toilet was situated will need to be cleaned and then if the contractor needs to drill new screw holes into the floor, they will do so once they have ensured there is nothing underneath it.
The contractor will then ensure that all toilet tubes fit the connections and that junctions are well sealed. If all appears to be good and there are no cracks or damages in the wall – which could affect its ability to hold a hanging toilet – then the toilet will be installed and checked for leakages.
How Do I Find and Hire a Plumber?
Make sure to seek recommendations from family, friends and neighbours. Find out if they’ve recently had a new toilet installed and if they would recommend the plumber they hired to get the job done.
This way you can source good recommendations from people you trust or maybe even enlist a kind pair of hands to give you some help if you’re thinking of installing the toilet yourself!
HouseholdQuotes can save you up to 40% on your project quote, giving you the ability to quickly and easily see contractor quotes.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
It’s good to make sure you’ve got the right questions ready to ask that will verify the tradesperson’s abilities. We recommend you ask them:
- For a written quote. Any contractor worth their salt will be happy to provide you with a written quote.
- For their experience. It’s best to go with a tradesperson who has experience in this field as toilets can be prone to breaking, particularly if they are old and mishandled.
- For their references. If they can provide you with references you can be sure of their ability and may even be able to see some of their previous work.
- For any photos of their previous jobs. This will offer you the opportunity to see the quality of their work and could also provide you with some good references for your own project designs.
- If they and their tools are insured. This can protect you from lawsuits if they or your property is damaged when they come to your home.
Final Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you have got everything you need before you instal a new toilet:
- Consider what kind of toilet you want to be installed. Do some research into styles that grab your attention and figure out what specifically it is that attracts you to it.
- Decide whether you will be installing a replica of your old toilet or going for a different range.
- Source a range of quotes from HouseholdQuotes and easily compare them with a simple quick!
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions:
Can I Replace a Toilet Myself?
Toilets can be tricky to remove as they need careful handling and if you’re uncertain apart any part of the process then we would recommend you hire a professional for peace of mind.
Why Should I Consider a Dual Flush Toilet?
If you are concerned about the amount of water used in your toilet or want to try and limit the water usage, a dual flush toilet is a good option to research into.
Do I Need Planning Permission for a Bathroom Renovation?
If you know your property is a listed building, make sure to consult your local planning authority before you begin any renovations.