Plumber quote example — replacing a bathroom suite
A worked example of how a plumber prices a suite swap: remove the old WC, basin and bath, install new sanitaryware, adjust the pipework and commission — with a clear sanitaryware allowance and VAT.
The job
Rip out a tired bathroom suite and install a new one in the same layout: close-coupled WC, vanity basin, bath with a thermostatic bar shower. No tiling and no building work — this is a plumbing quote, with the sanitaryware carried as a provisional allowance the customer can trade up or down.
Because the sanitaryware is a customer choice, it is priced as a PC (prime cost) allowance rather than a fixed figure — the labour to fit it stays the same whatever they pick.
The worked quote
| Item | Basis | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Isolate, drain down & remove existing suite | Labour | £180.00 |
| Install close-coupled WC & connect | Labour | £120.00 |
| Install vanity unit & basin, connect waste and supplies | Labour | £160.00 |
| Install bath, panel & thermostatic bar shower | Labour | £260.00 |
| Alter & extend pipework for new connections (first fix) | Labour | £220.00 |
| Fit new isolation valves & flexi connectors | Labour + parts | £80.00 |
| Sanitaryware — WC, basin/vanity, bath, shower, wastes (PC allowance) | Provisional | £1,150.00 |
| Test, commission & seal | Labour | £90.00 |
| Subtotal (ex VAT) | £2,260.00 | |
| VAT @ 20% | £452.00 | |
| Total | £2,712.00 |
How the pricing works
Labour per fixture
Each fixture is a line so the customer sees where the time goes — and if they drop the bath for a shower tray, you adjust one number, not the whole quote.
A PC allowance for sanitaryware
The £1,150 is a provisional allowance. If the customer chooses a £1,400 suite, the difference is added; a cheaper suite reduces it. The fitting labour is unaffected.
First-fix adjustments included
Pipework rarely lines up perfectly with new units. Pricing an allowance for altering supplies and wastes avoids a mid-job variation.
Commissioning matters
Testing and sealing is a real, chargeable step — it's what stops a callback for a weeping compression joint two weeks later.
What's excluded
A plumbing suite swap sits alongside other trades — be explicit about where your scope ends.
- Tiling, flooring and making good walls
- Electrical work — shaver socket, extractor fan, lighting or an electric shower circuit
- Plastering or boarding
- Removing existing tiling or altering the room layout
Build this quote in ProQuoter
FAQ
- How much does it cost to replace a bathroom suite?
- This worked example prices a like-for-like suite swap at £2,260 ex VAT (£2,712 inc VAT), including a £1,150 sanitaryware allowance. Strip out the allowance and the plumbing labour alone is £1,110. Figures are an illustrative UK example for guidance only — set your own rates, materials and margins in ProQuoter.
- Does a plumber's quote include the sanitaryware?
- It can, but it's cleaner to show it as a separate PC (prime cost) allowance so the customer can choose their own fixtures without reworking your labour price. This example carries £1,150 as a provisional allowance.
- What is a PC sum or provisional allowance?
- A prime cost (PC) sum is a placeholder for an item the customer hasn't chosen yet — here, the sanitaryware. You quote a sensible allowance, then adjust the final invoice to the actual cost once they've picked.
- Do plumbers charge VAT?
- If VAT registered, yes — 20% on the net, shown as a separate line here (£452). Domestic plumbing is standard-rated in most cases; only specific energy-saving installations attract a reduced rate.