How much does it cost to install a bathroom vanity?

Buying and installing a bathroom vanity usually costs $500 to $3,500, and about $1,500 is typical, according to What's The Damage. The labour on its own is often a few hundred dollars: the Archicentre Australia Cost Guide 2026 puts the install for a basin at $150 to $555, on top of the vanity itself.

Below are the labour costs, what the vanity itself costs by type, what pushes the price up, and who is allowed to do which part in Queensland. These are market prices from cost guides, checked on 5 October 2026. They are not a quote from us.

How much does it cost to install a bathroom vanity in 2026?

For a standard vanity, supplied and fitted, most guides land between $500 and $3,500. A custom-made vanity costs more. Here is what the cost guides say.

The What's The Damage Gold Coast figures are its national figures with a location adjustment, not a survey of local quotes. Sparky says plumbing connections are not included in its custom vanity range.

How much does a plumber charge to install a vanity?

A plumber connecting a single vanity basin usually charges $120 to $200 for that point, according to What's The Damage's June 2026 guide to plumbing prices. A double vanity is $200 to $350, because there are two basins to connect.

Many vanity jobs also need a carpenter, to fit noggins in the wall or set up the cabinet. What's The Damage puts Gold Coast carpenters at $54 to $125 an hour, about $83 on average. ServiceSeeking's national average is $85.42 an hour.

How much does the vanity itself cost?

An off-the-shelf vanity can cost under $500, while a custom-made one runs into the thousands. OpenAgent's September 2026 guide quotes hipages prices for ready-made units. Sparky's figures are for custom vanities, installed, with Sydney as the base.

The top matters too. Sparky's prices per linear metre are about $150 to $400 for laminate or solid surface, $300 to $600 for timber, and $700 to $2,000 for natural stone. An undermount basin adds about $100 to $250 for the cut-out.

Is a wall-hung vanity harder to install?

Yes. A wall-hung vanity hangs off the wall, so the wall needs solid timber behind the sheeting to hold it. The vanity maker ADP says in its install guide that wall-hung furniture and basins must be fixed to a support "fitted between the studs". It says to fit extra noggins at the right height "prior to sheeting the wall", and the vanity must fix to at least two supports. Sparky puts it more simply: plasterboard on its own will not hold a loaded vanity.

In a new bathroom that is easy, because the noggins go in while the frame is open. In a finished bathroom, someone has to open the wall from the other side, or lift tiles, to get the timber in, and then make it good. Sparky lists $200 to $500 for wall-hung install prep.

A floor-standing vanity takes its weight on the floor instead. ADP says it must sit level, or be packed until it does. On an old, uneven floor, that takes a bit of extra time.

What makes vanity installation cost more?

Moving the plumbing is the big one. What's The Damage says moving a plumbing point to a new spot costs $400 to $1,500 or more. On a concrete slab, cutting the floor adds $600 to $1,500. On a timber floor, moving it 1 to 2 metres might add $300 to $600.

Other things that push the price up:

• Going from floor-standing to wall-hung. You may need noggins in the wall, and the pipes may not line up with the new unit. ADP's plumbing kit drawings say not to drill or rough in the pipes until you have the vanity on site and have measured it.
• Gaps in the tiles. The floor under an old vanity is not always tiled. On a Bunnings Workshop thread, one homeowner found their new, slimmer vanity "will not fit the gaps" left by the old one. The floor had to be levelled and tiled. Matching old tiles can be hard.
• A stone top or undermount basin. See the benchtop prices above.
• Plumbing changes. Sparky lists $300 to $800 for plumbing changes, on top of $300 to $600 for the connections.
• Removing the old vanity. Ask if taking it out and taking it away is in the price. Archicentre says to allow extra for related work like "painting, tiling".

If the vanity is part of a bigger job, our bathroom renovation cost guide has the prices for the full room.

Who is allowed to install a vanity in Queensland?

The plumbing must be done by a QBCC-licensed plumber, whatever the job is worth. The QBCC licence rules say plumbing needs a licence "of any value". A handyman can do work up to $3,300 only if it "isn't electrical or plumbing work". This is a plain summary, not legal advice.

• Swapping a vanity in the same spot. The QBCC calls "replacing or removing a fitting or fixture" minor work. It still needs a licensed plumber, but there are no forms to lodge. See the QBCC page on regulated plumbing work.
• Moving the basin or adding one. This is usually notifiable work. The plumber must register it with the QBCC within 10 business days of invoicing it.
• What you can do yourself. The Queensland Government's DIY plumbing list is short. It includes "changing a shower head" and replacing a tap washer. Connecting a basin is not on it.
• The cabinet and carpentry. Building work over $3,300 needs a QBCC licence.
• Electrical. A lit mirror or a power point needs a licensed electrician. The Electrical Safety Office says DIY electrical work is illegal, with fines up to $40,000 for individuals.

The vanity's warranty can depend on this too. ADP's guide says its warranty is void if the unit "is not installed by a licensed qualified tradesperson".

The deposit is capped too. The QBCC says the most a contractor can ask is 20% for work of $3,300 or less, 10% from $3,301 to $19,999, and 5% from $20,000. See the QBCC deposit rules.

How do I compare vanity installation quotes?

Quotes only compare if they cover the same job. Check that each one says:

• who supplies the vanity, top, basin and tapware
• whether removing and dumping the old vanity is included
• whether the plumbing stays where it is, or what it costs to move
• for a wall-hung vanity, who checks the wall and fits the noggins
• what happens if there are no tiles under the old vanity
• the plumber's QBCC licence number

We fit vanities as part of our bathroom renovations across the Gold Coast. We do the strip-out, framing and noggins, and book licensed trades for the plumbing and electrical. See our bathroom renovations page for how we run a job.

Where do these prices come from?

Checked on 5 October 2026: What's The Damage (bathroom budget breakdown, October 2026; Gold Coast bathroom page, October 2026; plumbing cost per point, June 2026; Gold Coast carpenter cost, October 2026), Sparky (bathroom vanity cost, September 2026), OpenAgent (September 2026, quoting hipages), ServiceSeeking (plumber and carpenter prices, February 2026) and the Archicentre Australia Cost Guide 2026. Install rules from ADP's vanity installation guide (January 2022). Rules from the QBCC, the Queensland Government and the Electrical Safety Office. We will check the prices again every three months.

See our bathroom renovations work, or check what your job will cost.