Cost guides › Kitchen renovation
Australia
Kitchen renovation cost
A kitchen reno with 4.5 m of base cabinetry, keeping the same layout, typically costs $20,000 including GST, with most mid-range jobs between $15,600 and $26,000. Flat-pack cabinets with a laminate benchtop come to about $12,600, while custom cabinetry and premium stone push it towards $30,100. These figures cover cabinetry, benchtop, sink, splashback and installation, but not appliances or flooring, which many published kitchen prices include.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | $13,300 | $20,900 | $31,200 |
| Western Australia | $12,900 | $20,500 | $30,600 |
| Northern Territory | $12,800 | $20,200 | $30,400 |
| New South Wales | $12,700 | $20,100 | $30,200 |
| Queensland | $12,500 | $19,900 | $29,900 |
| Victoria | $12,500 | $19,900 | $29,900 |
| South Australia | $12,000 | $19,400 | $29,300 |
| Tasmania | $11,700 | $18,900 | $28,700 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Removal of the old cabinets, benchtop, sink, tapware and splashback tiles, with rubbish taken away
- Mid-range base and overhead cabinets with soft-close doors and drawers, assembled, levelled and installed
- Engineered stone (quartz) benchtop, templated and fitted, with the sink cut-out
- Composite or undermount sink with a quality mixer, connected along with the dishwasher
- New hot and cold water points and waste connections, with wall chases cut and patched
- Four double power points above the benchtop and for appliances, plus two light points including an under-cabinet feed
- Cooktop, oven and rangehood connected by a licensed electrician
- Wall prepared and porcelain splashback tiles laid and grouted
- Walls and ceiling prepared and painted with two coats of washable paint
What affects the cost
Cabinetry grade
Cabinetry is the biggest line in the budget. Flat-pack, mid-range cabinets with soft-close hardware and custom joinery can differ several times over for the same run, so settle on the grade before comparing quotes.
Benchtop material
Laminate is the cheapest and can be cut on site. Engineered and natural stone are templated after the cabinets go in and fabricated off site, which costs more and means a week or two without a benchtop.
Keeping the layout
Our figure assumes the sink, cooktop and appliances stay where they are. Moving the sink into an island or shifting a gas cooktop means new plumbing, gas and electrical runs, often through the floor.
Appliances and flooring are extra
The oven, cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher and fridge are not included, and neither is new flooring. When a kitchen company quotes a full package, check whether appliances are bundled before you compare.
Walls and wiring
Walls that are out of plumb make cabinetry harder to level, and older homes often lack dedicated circuits for the oven and cooktop. New circuits or a switchboard upgrade can add a fair bit to the electrical side.
Size and extras
Cost rises with the length of cabinetry and benchtop. An island, a butler's pantry, tall pantry units or cabinets to the ceiling all add material and installation time.
How to save
- Keep the sink, cooktop and dishwasher where they are so plumbing, gas and power don't have to move.
- Spend on solid carcasses and good hinges and choose a simple door profile; doors can be replaced later, carcasses can't.
- Put stone on the main bench and use laminate on a secondary bench or in the pantry.
- Have cabinetry, sink and tapware on site and checked before demolition so the tradies aren't waiting on missing parts.
Grants, tax and rules
Licensed trades
Electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed tradespeople under state licensing. That covers new power points, circuits and the sink and dishwasher connections; any gas work also needs a licensed gasfitter.
GST
Quotes to households include 10% GST, and so do our figures.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen renovation cost?
For 4.5 m of base cabinetry with mid-range cabinets, a stone benchtop, sink and splashback, expect around $20,000 including GST. That excludes appliances and flooring. Flat-pack cabinets with a laminate benchtop come to about $12,600.
Are appliances included?
No. Connecting the cooktop, oven and rangehood and plumbing in the dishwasher is included, but the appliances themselves are not. Add them on top, as the range between budget and premium brands is wide.
Is a stone benchtop worth it over laminate?
Engineered stone resists scratches, heat and stains much better and lasts for decades, while laminate can chip and swell at the joins near the sink. The difference shows in the gap between $12,600 and $20,000.
How long does a kitchen reno take?
With the layout unchanged, allow about three to five weeks from demolition to finished kitchen. A stone benchtop can only be measured once the cabinets are installed, and fabrication adds a week or two in the middle.
Can I install a flat-pack kitchen myself?
Assembling and fitting flat-pack cabinets is manageable for a careful DIYer, but they must be level for the benchtop to sit properly. The plumbing, electrical and any gas connections must be done by licensed trades.
Why do kitchen quotes vary so much?
Quotes differ in cabinetry grade, benchtop material and whether appliances, flooring and demolition are included. Ask each company for an itemised quote on the same layout so you're comparing like with like.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 50.2 · Labour: $8,076 · Materials: $10,132
Sources: ABS Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates.