Published price ranges
Prices vary a lot by region and job, so treat these as a guide only:
- Checkatrade says to expect between £416 and £1,408 for bath resurfacing, with an average of £748.
- MyBuilder puts small professional repairs at roughly £150 to £250 and full resurfacing at roughly £400 to £700.
Our own prices are fixed per job and confirmed with your free quote. See our prices page.
The hidden costs of replacing a bath
- Removing and disposing of the old bath (cast iron baths are very heavy)
- A plumber to disconnect and refit taps and waste
- New bath panel, and often new taps
- Re-tiling or repairing walls and flooring damaged during removal
- Several days without a working bathroom
When resurfacing makes sense
- The bath is sound but dull, stained, rough or chipped all over
- It’s cast iron, a period roll-top, or an unusual size
- Removing it would damage tiles or a fitted bathroom
- You need the bathroom back quickly
When replacing makes sense
- The bath is cracked through and can’t be supported
- It’s a standard acrylic bath that lifts out easily and you’re refitting anyway
- You want a different shape or size
Our prices
Our repairs start from £95 and bath resurfacing from £350, the same across the UK. Every job gets a fixed price from your photos, and every repair and resurface comes with a one-year guarantee. See all prices.
What a replacement involves, step by step
- Turning off the water and disconnecting the taps, waste and overflow.
- Removing the bath panel and cutting out sealant, which often damages tiles along the rim.
- Lifting the old bath out. Steel baths may need cutting; cast iron baths are very heavy and may need several people or breaking up.
- Disposing of the old bath.
- Fitting and levelling the new bath, its legs and wall fixings.
- Reconnecting the plumbing, often with new taps and a new waste.
- Repairing or replacing tiles, fitting a new panel, sealing and decorating.
Each step can involve a different trade, and the bathroom is usually out of use until the last one is done.
What resurfacing involves
Resurfacing happens with the bath where it is. We protect the room, clean and prepare the bath, repair chips and rust, then apply the primer and finish coats. The taps, panel and tiles stay in place, and the bath can normally be used the next day. Read how long resurfacing takes.
Time and disruption compared
| Resurfacing | Replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Trades involved | One technician | Often a fitter, plumber and tiler |
| Time on site | Usually most of a day | Often several days |
| Bathroom out of use | Usually until the next day | Until all trades have finished |
| Tiles and panel | Stay as they are | Often damaged and replaced |
| Waste | Very little | The old bath, packaging and rubble |
Baths that are almost always worth resurfacing
- Cast iron roll-top and period baths, which are costly to replace with something similar.
- Unusual sizes and shapes, which can be hard to match.
- Baths built into tiled or fitted bathrooms, where removal would damage finishes you want to keep.
- Coloured suites, where the bath, basin and toilet can all be resurfaced in white. See coloured suite to white.
When the numbers favour replacing
If you’re already refitting the bathroom, the plumber and tiler will be there anyway, and the bath is a cheap standard acrylic one, a new bath may cost little extra. The same applies if the bath is cracked through in a place that can’t be supported. We’ll tell you if we think that’s the case.
The environmental cost
Replacing a bath sends the old one to scrap or landfill, along with broken tiles, old panels and packaging, and a new bath has to be manufactured and delivered. Resurfacing keeps the bath in use and produces very little waste. That matters most for cast iron and steel baths, which are heavy and built to last for decades if their surface is looked after.
Making the decision
Start with the bath itself. If it is sound, doesn’t move when you stand in it and doesn’t leak, resurfacing or repair is almost always the cheaper and quicker choice. If you’re refitting the whole bathroom, or the bath is cracked through and can’t be supported, replacement may make more sense. If you’re unsure, send us photos of the bath and the room. We’ll give you a fixed price for repair or resurfacing and tell you honestly if we think replacement is the better option.
Getting a fair comparison
Ask each company what the price includes, how long the guarantee is and what it covers, and whether VAT is included. Our hiring checklist lists the questions to ask.
Quick answers
Is resurfacing as good as a new bath?
A properly prepared resurfaced bath has a smooth, glossy finish that looks new. It is a coating, so it needs gentle cleaning to last.
Can you resurface the basin and tray too?
Yes, and doing them on the same visit costs less than separately.
Where do the published price ranges come from?
From the cost guides we link to above. They’re a guide only; prices vary by region and job.
Every job is different. Send us a photo and we’ll tell you what we’d recommend for your bath, sink or surface.
