Cast-iron bath renovation prices in 2026: enamel, acrylic, bath-in-bath

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

Renovating a cast-iron or steel bath in Poland most often costs PLN 750 for a standard bath up to around 180 cm long, with half of all quotes falling within PLN 570 ‑ 950. Repairing individual chips costs around PLN 325, while an acrylic liner, known as the bath-in-bath method, costs around PLN 1,500.

An old cast-iron bath is heavy, retains heat and has often stood in the bathroom for several decades. When the enamel loses its shine, develops chips or begins to rust, there are three options: refinish the surface, fit an acrylic liner inside or replace the bath with a new one. We compare the cost of each option using price lists from renovation companies and tradespeople.

How much does cast-iron bath renovation cost?

Cast-iron bath renovation most often costs PLN 750 for a standard bath around 170 to 180 cm long, according to 5 price lists and articles collected by indekscen.pl. Half of all quotes fall within PLN 570 ‑ 950, with the cheapest starting at PLN 350 and the most expensive reaching PLN 1,500.

The price usually includes cleaning and keying the old enamel, degreasing it, applying a new coating and resealing the joint along the wall. Cast iron and steel take a new coating well, so cast-iron bath renovation is the most common job in this trade. Details and price sources are available on the bath resurfacing page.

Renovation, acrylic liner or new bath: comparison

Refinishing the surface is the cheapest of the three ways to renew a bath. An acrylic liner costs around PLN 1,500, while replacing the bath costs PLN 360 ‑ 550 in labour, plus the price of a new bath and the work around it. Here is how the methods compare:

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

Method	Cost	Durability and notes
Spot repair of chips	around PLN 325	only suitable for a few small areas of damage
Surface renovation (painting, spray coating)	PLN 570 ‑ 950	several years with gentle cleaning
Acrylic liner (bath-in-bath)	around PLN 1,500	usually 10 to 15 years
Bath replacement, labour only	PLN 360 ‑ 550	plus the new bath, surround and tiles

Replacing a bath looks inexpensive when you consider only the labour cost shown on bath installation. In practice, the bill also includes a new bath, often removing the surround and nearby tiles, carrying out the heavy cast-iron bath and restoring the tiling. Bath replacement can therefore quickly turn into a small bathroom renovation.

Is bath renovation worthwhile?

Bath renovation is worth the price when the bath is structurally sound, suits the bathroom and is enclosed by tiles that you do not want to disturb. For PLN 570 ‑ 950, you get a bath that looks like new without demolition, dust or replacing the tiles.

When renovation is not worthwhile:

1. The bath has rusted through or is cracked. A new coating will not repair this.
2. You are planning a complete bathroom renovation and will be removing the tiles anyway. In that case, it is better to buy a new bath straight away.
3. The bath has already been renovated several times. Removing the old coatings raises the cost and may produce a poorer result.
4. You want to change the bathroom layout, for example by replacing the bath with a shower.

If you are considering a complete renovation, see our guide to how much flat renovation costs. The median labour cost for bathroom renovation alone is 4,000 PLN/m², while a complete renovation of a 5 to 7 m² bathroom, including materials, costs around PLN 21,800, many times more than renovating a bath.

How much does acrylic and steel bath renovation cost?

Renovating an acrylic bath usually costs within the same range as renovating a cast-iron one, PLN 570 ‑ 950, but is technically more difficult. Acrylic is soft and flexible, so it requires special primers, and the new coating tends to crack if the bath flexes under weight. Some companies therefore do not renovate acrylic baths at all or offer a shorter guarantee for them.

An enamelled steel bath behaves much like a cast-iron one: the enamel can be keyed effectively and takes a new coating well. The price of renovating a steel bath is close to the median of PLN 750, but can be higher for corner baths and baths longer than 180 cm.

Is painting a bath worthwhile?

Painting a bath makes sense as a quick, inexpensive refresh, but it is the least durable method. Epoxy paint applied with a roller or brush is the cheapest renovation option, closer to the lower limit of PLN 350. Spray and ceramic coating methods are more expensive but produce a smoother, harder finish.

You can paint a bath yourself using a kit from a DIY store, but surface preparation is crucial: thorough keying, degreasing and drying. A mistake at this stage can cause the coating to peel after a few months, and a professional company will then charge extra to remove the old layer.

What is the bath-in-bath method?

The bath-in-bath method involves bonding a made-to-measure acrylic liner inside the old bath to create an entirely new surface. An acrylic liner costs around PLN 1,500, roughly twice the median price of ordinary renovation, but is much more durable: contractors quote a service life of 10 to 15 years.

A liner is suitable for baths with standard dimensions for which the manufacturer has a ready-made mould. It may be impossible to fit one to an unusual, corner or very old bath with an irregular shape.

How much does replacing a bath without removing tiles cost?

Replacing a bath without removing tiles is possible only when the bath is not built into a masonry surround or enclosed by tiles, for example, if it is freestanding or has a ready-made panel. Installation labour then usually costs PLN 360 ‑ 550, excluding the price of the new bath. When the bath is built in, avoiding demolition is the main argument in favour of renovation or an acrylic liner.

How much does bath renovation cost in Warsaw and other cities?

We do not yet have local median bath renovation prices for individual cities, so the national range of PLN 570 ‑ 950 serves as the benchmark. In price lists from companies in Warsaw and other large cities, starting prices are usually closer to the upper limit of PLN 1,500, because travel and labour costs are higher there. In smaller localities, it is easier to find a quote closer to the lower limit, but a company travelling from another town will often add a travel charge.

When comparing quotes from different cities, compare like with like: the size of the bath, the method and whether removal of the old coating is included. Only then is the price difference meaningful.

How should you prepare the bathroom for bath renovation?

Preparing the bathroom for bath renovation takes several minutes and reduces the contractor’s working time. Remove toiletries and bath mats, take down the shower curtain, provide access to a power socket and ensure the room can be ventilated. While the coating dries, plan to bathe elsewhere or use a separate shower if you have one.

What increases the renovation price, and what should you ask the contractor?

The condition of the surface, old coatings and the method used have the greatest effect on the price of bath renovation. Before commissioning the work, ask:

• Which method the company uses (painting, spray coating, ceramic coating or liner) and what guarantee it provides.
• Whether removal of the old coating is included in the price if the bath has been renovated before. This is a common additional charge.
• Whether grouting and silicone sealing along the wall are included and whether the waste trap needs to be removed.
• How much a colour other than white costs and whether there is an additional charge for travel outside the city.
• When the bath can be used. The coating needs time to cure.

If you are considering a shower instead of a bath, see our price guide to shower enclosure removal and installation, or, for a modern wall finish, read our article about microcement in the bathroom. More prices for renovation and finishing work are available in the renovation and finishing category.

„Standardowa wanna 170 cm w stosunkowo dobrym stanie to wydatek rzędu 600-900 zł.”

renowacje-modernizacje.pl, source

„Ile kosztuje renowacja wanny? – średnio od 400 do 1500 zł, w zależności od metody i stanu wanny.”

deafbonce.pl, source

„Białystok, Warszawa | do 170 cm włącznie: od 1000 zł”

Renotech, source

„Cena renowacji wanny emaliowanej to 350 - 450 zł (w zależności od wymaganego zakresu prac).”

odnawianiewanien.prv.pl, source

The prices in this article come from public price lists published by renovation companies and from guide articles. Each price on the bath resurfacing page includes its source, date and a verbatim quotation.

Frequently asked questions

How much does acrylic bath renovation cost?

Renowacja wanny akrylowej kosztuje zwykle tyle co wanny żeliwnej, czyli PLN 570 ‑ 950, choć akryl wymaga specjalnych podkładów. Przy głębokich pęknięciach akrylu renowacja powłoki nie wystarczy i trzeba rozważyć wymianę wanny.

How much does it cost to renovate a badly worn enamelled bath?

Przy rdzy, ubytkach emalii albo łuszczącej się powłoce po poprzedniej renowacji cena rośnie w stronę górnej granicy, do PLN 1,500. Usunięcie starych powłok wykonawcy liczą osobno.

How long does bath renovation take?

Sama renowacja wanny zajmuje zwykle kilka godzin pracy, ale z wanny można korzystać dopiero po utwardzeniu powłoki, najczęściej po jednej lub dwóch dobach. Wkład akrylowy montuje się zwykle w jeden dzień.

Can a renovated bath be cleaned with ordinary cleaning products?

Wannę po renowacji czyści się łagodnymi płynami i miękką gąbką, bez proszków ściernych, druciaków i środków z chlorem w dużym stężeniu. Dzięki temu powłoka za PLN 750 posłuży dłużej.

Is renovating a bath in a block of flats cheaper than in a house?

Cena renowacji wanny nie zależy od rodzaju budynku, tylko od rozmiaru, stanu i metody, i wynosi zwykle PLN 570 ‑ 950. W bloku renowacja ma dodatkową zaletę: nie trzeba wynosić ciężkiej żeliwnej wanny po klatce schodowej.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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