How much does kitchen renovation cost in Australia?
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Key takeaways
- Most kitchen renovation jobs in Australia land between A$10,000–A$120,000 — known locally as kitchen renovation.
- Australian kitchen renovations are licensed building work above low state thresholds, with plumbing, gas, and electrical legally restricted to licensed trades. Note the world-first ban on high-silica engineered stone benchtops (from July 2024) — compliant alternatives like porcelain, natural stone, and low-silica engineered products have replaced it in quotes.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Kitchen Renovation prices by job size in Australia
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget/cosmetic renovation Same layout, flat-pack or refaced cabinets, laminate benchtop | A$10,000 | A$16,000 | A$22,000 |
| Mid-range renovation Semi-custom cabinets, stone-alternative benchtop, new appliances | A$22,000 | A$35,000 | A$45,000 |
| Premium renovation Custom joinery, layout change, premium appliances | A$45,000 | A$70,000 | A$120,000 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per hour (licensed trades) | A$80 | A$110 | A$150 |
What affects the price
- Job size and scope — bigger or more complex jobs move you up the ranges above.
- Access and condition — hard-to-reach areas, older properties or neglected maintenance add labour time.
- Materials and quality level — where materials are involved, the grade you choose often matters more than labour.
- Urgency — same-day or out-of-hours work usually carries a premium.
- Where you live — large metros in Australia typically run above the national range; smaller towns below it.
How to save
- Get at least three quotes and compare like-for-like scopes, not just totals.
- Be flexible on timing — off-peak slots are often cheaper.
- Bundle related tasks into one visit to spread call-out costs.
- Agree the scope in writing up front to avoid change-order surprises.
How to hire a kitchen renovation pro in Australia
- Check the state licence for renovation work above your state's threshold (e.g., $5,000 NSW via Fair Trading, $3,300 QLD via QBCC, VBA registration in Victoria)
- Confirm a licensed electrician for circuits and a licensed gasfitter/plumber for gas and water — legally required, no DIY
- Note the engineered-stone rules: Australia banned high-silica engineered stone benchtops from July 2024 — confirm your benchtop choice is compliant (low/zero-silica engineered stone, porcelain, natural stone, laminate, timber)
- Check home warranty insurance where the contract exceeds your state threshold (e.g., $20,000 NSW, $16,000 VIC)
- Use a written domestic building contract with the deposit at or below the state cap
- Get compliance certificates for gas and electrical work at handover
Red flags
- Quoting legacy high-silica engineered stone post-ban
- Unlicensed trades proposed for gas or electrical
- Deposit above the state legal cap
- No home warranty insurance certificate on a job above threshold
- Verbal-only variations during the build
How Handld researches prices
These are researched estimates, not quotes and not our transaction data. We compile ranges from published sources — national statistics, trade bodies and incumbent cost guides — normalise them to AUD, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: hipages kitchen renovation cost brackets (hipages.com.au); HIA Kitchens and Bathrooms Report 2025 median.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
On-site work for a straightforward same-layout kitchen runs 2-4 weeks; layout changes with plumbing, gas, or electrical rework push it to 4-8 weeks. The hidden timeline is before day one: custom cabinetry commonly has 4-10 week manufacturing lead times, so order early and only demolish once delivery is confirmed.
Can I keep my kitchen layout to save money?
Yes, and it is the single biggest saver. Keeping the sink, stove, and appliance positions avoids rerouting water, waste, gas, and heavy electrical circuits — which means less demolition, fewer trades, and no re-certification of services. Spend the savings on better cabinets and benchtops, which you touch every day.
Flat-pack, semi-custom, or fully custom cabinets?
Flat-pack (IKEA-type) is the budget floor and works well in standard-shaped rooms with a good installer. Semi-custom modular ranges fit most kitchens at mid price. Fully custom joinery costs a large premium and earns it only for awkward spaces, non-standard heights, or specific design goals. The door and drawer hardware quality matters more to daily life than the box construction.
Who should I hire — a kitchen company, a general contractor, or separate trades?
Kitchen companies bundle design, cabinetry, and installation — convenient, mid-to-premium pricing, but their trades coordination varies. A general contractor suits kitchens with structural or layout changes. Buying cabinets yourself and hiring an installer plus plumber and electrician is cheapest but makes you the project manager. Match the model to how much rework your kitchen needs, not to the showroom experience.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Australia?
The HIA Kitchens and Bathrooms Report 2025 puts the median kitchen at about AUD 35,000, with hipages bracketing budget/cosmetic renovations at $10,000-$22,000 and mid-range at $22,000-$45,000; premium custom kitchens run $45,000-$120,000.
What replaced engineered stone benchtops after the Australian ban?
Since the July 2024 prohibition on high-silica engineered stone, quotes typically offer porcelain/sintered surfaces, natural granite, low- or zero-silica engineered products, laminate, and timber. Prices for porcelain and natural stone run at or above old engineered-stone levels, so re-check any pre-ban budget you're working from.
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