Brett Field
Stripping out a bathroom costs about $1,000 to $3,000 for demolition and disposal, typically $1,800, on What's The Damage's 2026 national figures. Its Gold Coast page puts the same job at $980 to $2,950.
Below is what that price covers, what a skip bin costs on the Gold Coast, what to do about asbestos, what you can strip out yourself, and how long it takes. These are market prices from cost guides, checked on 26 October 2026. They are not a quote from us.
How much does it cost to strip out a bathroom?
Most bathroom strip-outs cost $1,000 to $3,000, including taking the waste away. What's The Damage puts the typical figure at $1,800 nationally and $1,775 on its Gold Coast page. All figures include GST.
| Item (What's The Damage, October 2026) | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition and disposal, whole bathroom (national guide) | $1,000 | $1,800 | $3,000 |
| Demolition and disposal, whole bathroom (Gold Coast page) | $980 | $1,775 | $2,950 |
| Tile removal, per m2 (Gold Coast tiling page) | $20 | $34 | $54 |
Demolition is a small part of the whole job. In What's The Damage's breakdown of a typical $27,000 mid-range bathroom, demolition and disposal is $1,800, about 7% of the budget. Tiling and plumbing cost far more. For the rest of the numbers, see our bathroom renovation cost guide.
Where your price lands depends on what is inside it. What's The Damage says to check whether the skip, the old fittings and any wall linings taken off are part of the strip-out price.
What is included in bathroom demolition?
A full strip-out takes the room back to the studs, so it can be rebuilt with a new membrane, new tiles and new fixtures. That is how What's The Damage describes a mid-range renovation. What comes out usually includes:
- the vanity, toilet, bath and shower screen
- the floor and wall tiles
- the old waterproofing membrane
- any wall linings being replaced
- the rubble, out of the room and off the site
A few parts of the strip-out are not demolition work at all. The water and waste pipes are a job for a licensed plumber, and the lights, exhaust fan and any hard-wired heater are a job for a licensed electrician. More on that below.
Before you sign, get the strip-out as its own line on the quote. What's The Damage's Gold Coast page says it should list what leaves the room and how the rubble gets out of the building. Also ask how any rot or damage found behind the old tiles will be priced before work on it goes ahead. You will not know what is behind the tiles until they come off.
How much is a skip bin on the Gold Coast?
A general waste skip costs about $195 to $880 on the Gold Coast, for a hire of about a week, depending on size. What's The Damage says the 4 m3 bin suits most renovation clean-ups.
| Skip (What's The Damage, Gold Coast page, October 2026) | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 m3 mini skip, general waste | $195 | $290 | $355 |
| 3 m3 skip, general waste | $295 | $405 | $490 |
| 4 m3 skip, general waste | $370 | $455 | $590 |
| 2 m3 skip, heavy waste | $245 | $355 | $440 |
| 4 m3 skip, heavy waste | $390 | $530 | $765 |
| Each extra day of hire | $20 | $39 | $69 |
| Council footpath permit, if needed | $78 | $125 | $195 |
Tiles are heavy. What's The Damage prices tiles, soil and concrete on the heavy waste rows, while timber and plasterboard go in a general waste bin. If your job makes both, ask the supplier whether to split the load, because a mixed load can attract an overweight charge.
No driveway? What's The Damage says the City of Gold Coast's local law counts the footpath as road, so a skip placed there needs approval. In the wet months, put a tarp over the bin between loads. Rain soaks in and adds weight that can tip a load over its limit.
What if there is asbestos?
Stop and get it tested before anything comes off the walls. Queensland's asbestos website says a house built before 1990 has a good chance of containing asbestos, including wall sheeting in bathrooms. If you are not sure, it says to assume a material contains asbestos until an accredited laboratory tests a sample.
- Homeowners need a certificate, under arrangements approved by Queensland Health, to remove more than 10 m2 of bonded (non-friable) asbestos.
- Tradespeople and businesses can only remove it with a Class A or Class B asbestos removal licence. Friable asbestos needs a Class A licence.
Asbestos never goes in a hired skip. What's The Damage says that on the Gold Coast it is accepted only at the Stapylton and Reedy Creek landfills. It has to be wet down, double-wrapped in plastic at least 0.2 mm thick, and packed in bundles of no more than 25 kg. The City charges $346 a tonne, with an $83 minimum.
Read the state's asbestos guidance for home renovators before you start. Our bathroom renovation checklist has the other checks to do before work begins.
Can I strip out a bathroom myself in Queensland?
You can do some of it, but not the plumbing, the electrical or a large amount of asbestos. The QBCC says an owner working on their own property does not need a licence when the work is valued at no more than $11,000.
- Plumbing and drainage need a QBCC licence at any value. Book a licensed plumber to disconnect the toilet, basin, bath and shower.
- Electrical work includes removing electrical equipment, under Queensland's Electrical Safety Act. The Electrical Safety Office says DIY electrical work is illegal, with penalties of up to $40,000 for individuals. So the lights, exhaust fan and any hard-wired heated towel rail come out with a licensed electrician.
- Asbestos rules apply before any old wall sheeting comes off (see above).
The rest is heavy, dusty work: tiles, the vanity and old wall linings. The Electrical Safety Office also warns about the wiring inside wall cavities when you cut holes or drive screws into walls. In a unit, read the body corporate by-laws first. What's The Damage says they can limit trade hours, noise and lift use.
How long does bathroom demolition take?
Usually 1 to 2 days for a standard bathroom. What's The Damage's timeline puts demolition at 1 day for a cosmetic job, 1 to 2 days for a mid-range renovation and 2 to 3 days for a premium one.
| Stage (What's The Damage, October 2026) | Cosmetic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition | 1 day | 1-2 days | 2-3 days |
| Total active work, start to finish | 3-5 days | 2-3 weeks | 3-5 weeks |
Demolition is the quick part. After it come the plumbing and electrical rough-in, then the waterproofing, which needs 24 to 48 hours to cure before tiling can start. Our guide on how long a bathroom renovation takes walks through each stage.
In a unit, allow more time. What's The Damage's Gold Coast page says lift bookings, water shut-down windows and staging materials in the foyer can add 1 to 2 weeks before a tradie can start.
We do the strip-out as part of our bathroom renovations across the Gold Coast. We book and run the trades, with licensed plumbers and electricians doing their parts, and you get a timeline with the proposal. See our bathroom renovations page. Trying to keep the whole job down? Our guide to a budget bathroom renovation shows what to keep and what to change first.
Where do these prices come from?
Checked on 26 October 2026: What's The Damage (bathroom renovation budget breakdown, Gold Coast bathroom renovation page, Gold Coast skip bin page and Gold Coast tiling page, all last verified October 2026), Queensland's asbestos website (homeowners: look, check and prepare, no date shown), the QBCC (when you need a licence, August 2021) and the Electrical Safety Office (DDIY page, no date shown). We will check the prices again every three months.
See our bathroom renovations work, or check what your job will cost.
