A bathroom renovation in Stockholm costs roughly 20,000 to 35,000 SEK per square metre including materials (2026 estimates), so about 100,000 to 175,000 SEK for a 5 sqm bathroom. The ROT deduction of 30 percent applies only to the labour portion. What drives the price most is not the tiles you choose, but whether the layout changes.
What it costs
2026 estimates for a complete renovation including materials:
| Bathroom | Approximate total |
|---|---|
| Small, approx. 3 sqm | 70,000–110,000 SEK |
| Standard, approx. 5 sqm | 100,000–175,000 SEK |
| Larger, approx. 8 sqm | 160,000–280,000 SEK |
Rough split between labour and materials:
| Item | Share |
|---|---|
| Labour: demolition, waterproofing, tiling, plumbing, electrical | approx. 55 % |
| Materials: tiles, sanitaryware, taps, fittings | approx. 45 % |
These are estimates, not quotes. The range is wide because bathrooms differ enormously in condition and constraints.
What drives the price
- Changing the layout. Moving the toilet, shower or floor drain means opening up the floor and drainage, and can add tens of thousands of kronor. Keeping existing positions is the single biggest saving available.
- Condition of the risers. If risers need replacing, the project changes fundamentally. In a bostadsrätt that is usually the association's responsibility and cost, but it affects your timing.
- Material choice. Tile prices vary tenfold per square metre. Large-format tiles cost more to lay because they need a flatter substrate.
- Existing condition. Moisture damage or uneven floors are often discovered only during demolition, and must be dealt with.
- Access. Stairwells without a lift and cramped spaces cost time, both for removing debris and carrying materials in.
Calculating the ROT deduction
ROT is 30 percent of the labour cost in 2026, up to 50,000 SEK per person per year (Skatteverket).
Worked example for a 5 sqm bathroom:
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Labour | 75,000 SEK |
| ROT deduction, 30% of labour | −22,500 SEK |
| Materials | 60,000 SEK |
| Total to pay | 112,500 SEK |
If two adults both own the home you each have your own 50,000 SEK ceiling. On a bathroom renovation it is often worth splitting the invoice, since the labour cost alone can approach one person's ceiling.
Insist the quote itemises labour and materials from the outset. If they are combined, Skatteverket can reject part of the deduction. See the ROT deduction.
Timeline
A standard bathroom takes three to five weeks. Rough sequence:
| Week | Stage |
|---|---|
| 1 | Demolition, breaking out, waste removal |
| 1–2 | Plumbing and electrical, new pipes and boxes |
| 2 | Floor levelling, building the fall towards the drain |
| 2–3 | Waterproofing, with drying time between coats |
| 3–4 | Tiling and grouting |
| 4–5 | Fitting sanitaryware, taps, fittings, final inspection |
Drying times cannot be rushed. Waterproofing and levelling compounds must cure according to the manufacturer's instructions, and that is the single most common reason a small bathroom still takes a month. A contractor promising completion in a week deserves a follow-up question.
Certification and the wet-room certificate
Bathrooms are where badly executed work costs the most, and where the requirements are correspondingly strict.
- Plumbing must follow the industry rules, see Säker Vatten
- Waterproofing must follow the applicable wet-room standards
- Electrical requires a company registered with Elsäkerhetsverket
When the work is finished you should receive a quality document, commonly called a wet-room certificate (våtrumsintyg). It records who did what, which materials were used, and that the industry rules were followed.
Keep it. Without the certificate an insurer can reduce or refuse compensation after future water damage, and it is almost always requested when you sell. A bathroom water-damage claim often runs to hundreds of thousands of kronor, which makes the certificate the cheapest insurance in the whole project.
If you own a bostadsrätt
You need the board's permission essentially always for a bathroom renovation. Work affecting waterproofing, the floor drain and ventilation affects the building, not just your apartment.
Also check:
- Whether the association is planning a riser replacement (stambyte). Renovating the year before one means your new bathroom gets torn out.
- Where the line falls between your responsibility and the association's, set out in the rules
- Whether there are restrictions on working hours and how breaking out may be done
Getting a quote that holds
- Get three quotes on the same brief
- Ask for a detailed specification: what demolition includes, which materials, which stages
- Check F-skatt, or the ROT deduction is lost
- Ask who is the main contractor coordinating electrical and plumbing
- Ask what happens if moisture damage is found during demolition, and how that is priced
- Tie the payment plan to completed stages rather than to dates
Common questions
What does a bathroom renovation cost in Stockholm?
Roughly 20,000 to 35,000 SEK per square metre including materials as a 2026 estimate, so about 100,000 to 175,000 SEK for 5 sqm.
What drives the price most?
Whether the layout changes. Moving the toilet, shower or floor drain can add tens of thousands.
How much ROT do I get?
30 percent of the labour, up to 50,000 SEK per person per year (Skatteverket).
How long does a bathroom renovation take?
Three to five weeks. Drying times for waterproofing cannot be rushed.
What is a wet-room certificate and why do I need it?
A quality document proving the industry rules were followed. Without it, insurance can be reduced after water damage.
Do I need permission from the housing association?
In a bostadsrätt, essentially always. Also check whether a riser replacement is planned.
Related guides: kitchen renovation, the ROT deduction and plumber cost and ROT. Back to renovation in Stockholm.