Costs, Price Drivers and 2026 Rules
Kitchen renovation cost in Australia: budget, mid-range and premium explained
What drives kitchen renovation costs in Australia, illustrative ranges by finish level, layout changes, appliance packages and how to read a kitchen quote.
A kitchen renovation in Australia is priced mainly by cabinetry, benchtops, whether plumbing and electrical points move, the appliance package and how much demolition and making good is needed. Keeping the existing layout is the single biggest saving, because it avoids moving water, waste, gas and power. As an illustrative planning figure, a mid-range kitchen of about 12 m² with the same layout might sit around $30,000 to $54,000 including GST before fixed costs, while a premium kitchen with a new layout can be far higher. These ranges are assumptions to structure your budget, not quotes.
This guide is part of the overview of renovation costs.
What a kitchen budget pays for
| Component | What to look for in a quote | Share of budget (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry and joinery | Carcass material, door finish, drawer runners, soft-close hardware, pantry fit-out | Often the largest single item |
| Benchtops | Laminate, engineered stone alternatives, natural stone, timber, stainless steel | Small to large depending on material |
| Appliances | Oven, cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher, fridge space | Highly variable; often supplied by the owner |
| Plumbing and gas | Sink, dishwasher and fridge water connections, gas cooktop | Rises sharply if points move |
| Electrical | New circuits for induction, ovens, lighting, power points | Induction often needs a dedicated circuit |
| Splashback and tiling | Tiles, glass, or stone offcut | Moderate |
| Demolition and making good | Strip-out, waste, patching walls, ceilings and floors | Higher in older homes |
A note on benchtop materials
The manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs has been banned across Australia, from 1 July 2024 in most jurisdictions (check your state's work health and safety regulator for its exact start date), because of the silicosis risk from respirable crystalline silica, with limited exceptions for removal and repair of existing products. Quotes in 2026 will therefore offer alternatives such as natural stone, porcelain or sintered panels, laminate, timber or stainless steel. Prices for these vary widely, so ask for the material and thickness to be named in the quote. Check Safe Work Australia for the current rules.
Illustrative ranges by finish level
These bands match the options in the renovation cost estimator. They include GST and the builder's margin and assume metropolitan licensed trades.
| Finish level (illustrative) | Layout | Per m² band | 12 m² example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-range | Same layout | $2,500 to $4,500 | $30,000 to $54,000 |
| Premium | Layout change, island with services | $4,500 to $8,000 | $54,000 to $96,000 |
A budget flat-pack kitchen installed by the owner with a licensed plumber and electrician for connections can come in below the mid-range band, but the saving depends on your skill and time. Electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed trades in every state, whoever installs the cabinets.
Worked example: mid-range kitchen (illustrative)
A 12 m² galley kitchen in a 1990s brick-veneer house, same layout, new cabinetry, a porcelain benchtop, new appliances supplied by the builder, new LED lighting and an induction cooktop.
- Area x rate: 12 x $2,500 = $30,000 (low) and 12 x $4,500 = $54,000 (high).
- Fixed costs: kitchen design fee $1,500 and a new dedicated induction circuit with a switchboard upgrade $2,000. Total $3,500.
- Range: $33,500 to $57,500.
- Contingency of 10% on the high end: $5,750. Planning budget up to about $63,250.
Use the contingency calculator to repeat the step with your own numbers.
Layout changes: where costs jump
Moving a sink to an island means new waste and water lines under the floor. On a concrete slab that can mean cutting the slab; on a suspended timber floor it is easier but may need subfloor access. Moving a gas cooktop requires a licensed gasfitter and, in some cases, a new gas line. Removing a wall between the kitchen and living area is structural if the wall is load bearing, which brings an engineer, a beam and possibly an approval.
| Change | Typical extra trades | Approval risk |
|---|---|---|
| Sink moves less than about a metre along the same wall | Plumber | Low |
| Sink or cooktop moves to an island | Plumber, electrician, possibly concreter | Low to medium |
| Wall removed, non load bearing | Carpenter, plasterer, electrician | Low |
| Load-bearing wall removed | Engineer, carpenter or steel fabricator, plasterer | Medium to high; check with a certifier |
| Window enlarged or moved | Carpenter, glazier, possibly engineer | Depends on state and heritage controls |
For window replacement detail, a separate window guide is a better source; here it is only one line in a kitchen budget.
Reading a kitchen quote
Kitchen quotes often include prime cost (PC) items for appliances, sinks and tapware and provisional sums for work that cannot be priced yet. A $1,200 PC allowance for a cooktop that you actually want at $3,000 adds $1,800 plus the builder's margin on the difference. Read prime cost and provisional sums before comparing quotes, and use the quote comparison checklist.
Check that the quote names:
- carcass and door material and thickness;
- benchtop material, edge profile and thickness;
- who supplies and installs appliances, and who connects them;
- whether waste removal, splashback and painting are included;
- the licence numbers of the builder or cabinetmaker, and of the plumber and electrician if they contract with you directly.
A kitchen company may contract with you directly. If its contract includes building work over your state's threshold, the same licensing, written contract, deposit and insurance rules apply as for a builder. See renovation rules by state.
Mistakes to avoid
- Ordering cabinetry before the floor and walls are finalised, so measurements no longer match.
- Forgetting the switchboard: older boards may need upgrading for induction and ovens.
- Assuming appliances are included when the quote says "by owner".
- Paying a large share up front to a joinery company before anything is built.
FAQ
Is a kitchen cheaper if I keep the layout?
Usually yes, because water, waste, gas and power stay where they are. It is the most reliable way to keep a kitchen in the mid-range band.
Can I still get an engineered stone benchtop?
Not a new one. The national ban on manufacture, supply, processing and installation has applied since mid-2024 in most jurisdictions. Ask your builder about alternatives and check Safe Work Australia for exceptions.
Do I need council approval for a kitchen?
Like-for-like internal kitchen work generally does not need planning approval, but structural changes, heritage controls and strata by-laws can change that. Ask your council or a private certifier.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
Many take several weeks on site after cabinetry is made, but lead times for joinery and benchtops vary. Ask for a written programme.
Sources
- Safe Work Australia — engineered stone prohibition and exceptions
- Building Commission NSW, via NSW Government — contracts and licences in NSW
- Building and Plumbing Commission (Victoria) — registration and domestic building insurance
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission — licensing and contracts in Queensland
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission — consumer guarantees for appliances and services
