Buying a bathroom from China
A bathroom is many small things that all have to fit one wall. Order them together, check every wet product for WaterMark, and lock the in-wall parts before rough-in.
What to spec
- A wet-area layout with the finished floor level, the tile size and the set-out of every fixture.
- Every item on one schedule: vanity, basin, mixers, shower set, in-wall diverter, toilet suite, cistern frame and panel, floor wastes, towel rails, accessories, mirror cabinet.
- One finish across tapware, wastes, trims and accessories, named by the factory's finish code.
- Wall-hung or floor-standing for the vanity and toilet, so the framer adds blocking.
- Toilet set-out from the wall (usually 140 or 165 mm) and the cistern frame model.
What it costs landed
On the house we fitted out, the whole house and granny flat's tapware, toilets, cisterns, floor wastes and accessories came to $2,854 USD at the factory gate for 67 pieces.
Elje estimate, October 2026. Not yet from a delivered job; replaced with real landed numbers as jobs land.
| Item | Factory gate | Landed estimate |
|---|---|---|
| One bathroom's fit-out: vanity, basin, mixer, shower set, toilet suite, accessories | From about $3,000 | |
| Basin mixer, brushed brass, lead free | $82 USD (real quote) | $140 to $180 |
| Floor-mounted toilet pan plus concealed cistern and panel | $186 USD (real quote) | $330 to $420 |
| Wall shower head set plus hand shower and diverter | $158 USD (real quote) | $280 to $360 |
What to check
- WaterMark on every tap, mixer, waste, toilet and cistern, checked on the WaterMark register in the factory's own name.
- Lead free: since 1 May 2026 WaterMark licences cover only lead free versions of drinking-water products. Buy lead free.
- WELS registration and label on toilets, taps and showers.
- AS 4586 slip rating on every floor tile (see /guides/tiles/).
- Shower screens in safety glass to AS 1288.
- Anything powered (heated towel rails, LED mirrors) needs the RCM mark and a registered supplier.
Mistakes we have seen
- Buying the in-wall diverter body and the trim from different makers. They will not fit.
- Choosing the vanity after rough-in, so the waste is in the wrong place.
- Assuming a WaterMark logo on a box is a WaterMark. Check the certificate number on the register.
- Leaving the floor waste off the tile grid.
Questions
Can my plumber install imported tapware?
Yes, if every product carries a current WaterMark and WELS registration. A licensed plumber cannot legally install a product without WaterMark where the schedule requires one.
Sources
- Elje job file: a five-bedroom Brisbane house and granny flat we fitted out, factory quotes and proforma invoices, March to May 2026 (held by Elje)
- ABCB WaterMark, lead free plumbing products
- ABCB public record, board meeting 2025/5 (installation of existing stock extended to 1 May 2028)
- WELS, the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme
- EESS, the national electrical equipment safety register (RCM)
- Standards Australia, AS 4586 Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials