The Short Answer
Replacing a close-coupled toilet in the same place costs about £150 to £300 in labour plus £120 to £450 for the toilet, on our estimates, and takes two to four hours. A wall-hung toilet costs more: £300 to £550 to fit, plus £350 to £800 to build and tile the frame that hides the cistern.
Moving a toilet is a bigger job, because its waste pipe has to reach the soil stack with enough fall: our estimate is £150 to £600 or more on top.
Toilet installation prices
| Toilet | Toilet (supply) | Fitting |
|---|---|---|
| Close coupled (cistern on the pan) | £120 to £450 | £150 to £300 |
| Back to wall (cistern in a unit) | £180 to £550 | £200 to £400 |
| Wall-hung (frame and cistern in the wall) | £250 to £900 | £300 to £550 plus £350 to £800 for the frame and tiling |
Expect London prices to run higher. Moving the waste adds about £150 to £600 or more on our estimates.
The 6-litre rule and cistern-only swaps
Under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, no toilet may flush more than 6 litres, and on a dual flush the small flush can be no more than two thirds of the big one. There's one exception: a cistern fitted before 1 July 1999 may be replaced with one that delivers a similar volume, but not by swapping a single-flush cistern for a dual-flush one.
A plumber can sometimes replace just the cistern if it's compatible with the pan and pipework, but older toilets don't always match modern cistern fittings, so replacing the whole toilet can be simpler.
Wall-hung toilets and concealed cisterns
The cistern sits in a frame inside a false wall. Geberit says its concealed cisterns are reached through a service opening behind the flush plate, so maintenance and replacing parts don't mean opening the wall. Its frames suit both stud (drywall) and solid walls, and it says spare parts for its concealed cisterns are available for 50 years.
The catch: wall-hung toilets are much harder to install, and the frame and cistern are bought separately from the toilet.
When to replace, and building regs
Most toilets last 20 to 50 years, though the flush mechanism and fill valve tend to wear out after 10 to 15. The signs it's time for a new one: cracks in the pan or cistern, persistent leaks, frequent blockages, or a flush you can't rely on.
The Planning Portal says refitting a bathroom with new fittings doesn't generally need building regulations approval, though drainage work that's part of it may: so a like-for-like swap is usually fine, while moving the toilet or changing the waste pipework may need approval. Plumbers get trade discounts on toilets, though some add a mark-up for sourcing one, so ask.
Get toilet installation quotes
A like-for-like swap is a couple of hours. Anything else changes the price, so tell them which it is.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do plumbers charge to fit a toilet?
About £150 to £300 for a close-coupled toilet on our estimates, and it takes two to four hours.
How much does it cost to install a new toilet in the UK?
About £270 to £750 for a close-coupled toilet supplied and fitted, by our estimate.
Do I need a plumber to fit a new toilet?
Not legally. New fittings don't generally need building regulations approval, the Planning Portal says, though drainage work may, so a like-for-like swap is usually fine. Moving it is a plumber's job.
Can I replace just the cistern?
Sometimes, if it's compatible with the pan. A cistern fitted before 1 July 1999 can be replaced like for like on volume, but a single-flush one can't be swapped for a dual-flush one under that exception.
How do you service a concealed cistern?
Through the opening behind the flush plate. Geberit says that's how its concealed cisterns are maintained and their parts replaced, without opening the wall.
How we priced thisView sources (5, 3 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- OfficialThe Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, Schedule 2 (WC flushing, drinking water taps), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- IndustryInstallation systems for the prewall: concealed cisterns, Geberit UK. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- IndustrySimple maintenance for sanitary installations, Geberit UK. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12(6A) and (9): notifiable electrical work and 'special location' (England), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 14 Oct 2026.
- OfficialIs building regulations approval needed for work to a kitchen or bathroom?, Planning Portal. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
