How much does renovation contractor cost in Australia?
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Key takeaways
- Most renovation contractor jobs in Australia land between A$8,000–A$400,000 — known locally as builder.
- Residential building work in Australia is state-licensed with low thresholds — around $3,300 in Queensland and $5,000 in NSW — and home warranty insurance schemes protect owners if a builder dies, disappears, or becomes insolvent. Electrical, plumbing, and (in most states) waterproofing are separately licensed trades that a builder must subcontract to licence holders.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Renovation Contractor prices by job size in Australia
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-room refresh Cosmetic update of one room, no layout changes | A$8,000 | A$15,000 | A$30,000 |
| Kitchen or bathroom renovation Full renovation of one wet room through a builder | A$18,000 | A$30,000 | A$60,000 |
| Multi-room renovation Several rooms with some services rework | A$35,000 | A$80,000 | A$150,000 |
| Whole-home renovation Full internal renovation of a 3-bed house | A$100,000 | A$200,000 | A$400,000 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per hour (builder) | A$70 | A$95 | A$130 |
| per square metre (structural renovation) | A$1,500 | A$2,500 | A$4,000 |
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 renovation contractor pro in Australia
- Verify the builder's state licence: NSW Fair Trading licence (required for residential building work over $5,000), QBCC licence in Queensland (over $3,300), or VBA registration in Victoria (registered builder required over $10,000)
- Confirm home building insurance where your job requires it — HBCF cover in NSW for work over $20,000, Domestic Building Insurance in Victoria over $16,000
- Use a written domestic building contract — mandatory above state thresholds and standard forms exist (HIA, Master Builders)
- Check the deposit against your state cap (e.g., NSW: max 10% for jobs under $20,000; Victoria: 5% for contracts over $20,000)
- Confirm licensed subcontractors for electrical, plumbing, and waterproofing — all licensed trades in Australia
- Ask for two recent completed jobs you can contact or visit
Red flags
- Licence number missing from the quote or doesn't match the state register
- Asks for a deposit above the state legal cap
- No insurance certificate for a job over your state's home warranty threshold
- Proposes unlicensed mates for electrical or plumbing work
- Verbal-only variations with 'we'll sort it out at the end'
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 renovation cost guides (hipages.com.au); HIA Kitchens and Bathrooms Report 2025 medians; State licensing: NSW Fair Trading, QBCC, VBA.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare renovation quotes properly?
Ask every contractor to break the quote into the same line items: demolition, structural, plumbing, electrical, walls and finishes, fixtures, and a stated allowance for materials you choose. Then compare line by line. A single lump-sum number cannot be compared and cannot be enforced when scope questions come up mid-project.
How much contingency should I budget?
Hold back 10-15% of the contract value for surprises on a standard renovation, and 20% for older properties where opening walls tends to reveal outdated wiring, corroded pipes, or damp. Do not tell the contractor your contingency figure — it is your buffer, not extra scope budget.
What does a renovation contractor actually do?
A renovation contractor (general contractor or main builder) manages your whole project: pricing the job, scheduling and supervising trades like electricians and plumbers, ordering materials, arranging permits where needed, and being the single party responsible for quality and timeline. You pay one contract price instead of coordinating five separate trades yourself.
How do renovation payment schedules work?
Payments should follow completed milestones, not calendar dates: for example deposit, completion of demolition and first-fix (rough-in), completion of second-fix and finishes, then a final payment of 5-10% held until the snag list (punch list) is closed. That final retention is your only real leverage for defect fixes.
What can I do if the work is defective or the contractor disappears?
Document defects in writing with photos, give the contractor a written chance to fix them within a set period, and withhold only the retention amount — not all payment — while they do. If they abandon the job, your remedies are your contract, any licensing body's complaint process, consumer protection agencies, and small claims court. This is why the paper trail and staged payments matter from day one.
What should be in a renovation contract?
At minimum: full scope of works, itemized price, start and completion dates, payment schedule tied to milestones, who obtains permits, how variations are priced and approved in writing, warranty terms, and how disputes are handled. If a contractor resists putting these in writing, that is the answer to whether you should hire them.
What do builders charge in Australia?
Builder hourly rates typically run AUD 70-130, but renovations are almost always quoted as fixed-price contracts. HIA's 2025 Kitchens and Bathrooms data puts a median kitchen at about $35,000 and structural renovations commonly run $2,000-$4,000+ per square metre.
Do I need council approval for my renovation?
Internal cosmetic work is usually exempt development, but structural changes, wet-area relocations, and extensions need approval — either a fast-tracked Complying Development Certificate or a council Development Application in NSW, with similar systems in other states. Your builder or a private certifier can advise which path applies.
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