How much does kitchen renovation cost in Malaysia?
Free, no obligation. Sign in with Google to send your request.
Key takeaways
- Most kitchen renovation jobs in Malaysia land between MYR 8,000–MYR 100,000 — known locally as kitchen renovation / kabinet dapur.
- Malaysian kitchen renovations trigger council (PBT) permits when extensions are involved — the popular wet-kitchen extension on landed homes is the standard case — and strata properties need JMB/MC approval. Cabinetry is priced per foot run, and electrical work must use Suruhanjaya Tenaga-registered electricians.
- Prices below are researched national ranges, updated July 2026 — not quotes.
Kitchen Renovation prices by job size in Malaysia
| Job size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinet package New kitchen cabinets and worktop, existing layout | MYR 8,000 | MYR 12,000 | MYR 18,000 |
| Full kitchen renovation Hacking, tiling, cabinets, plumbing, and electrical | MYR 18,000 | MYR 30,000 | MYR 45,000 |
| Premium renovation / extension Wet-kitchen extension or premium custom kitchen | MYR 45,000 | MYR 70,000 | MYR 100,000 |
Per-unit rates
| Unit | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| per foot run (kitchen cabinets) | MYR 250 | MYR 400 | MYR 600 |
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 Malaysia 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 Malaysia
- Get kitchen cabinets quoted per foot run with the material system named (melamine, laminate, spray paint, aluminium) — it's the dominant cost line
- Confirm a Suruhanjaya Tenaga-registered electrician for new circuits and a qualified installer for gas piping
- For condos, get JMB/MC approval, pay the renovation deposit, and observe permitted hours
- For landed homes, check whether a wet-kitchen extension needs a PBT permit with plans — the classic Malaysian kitchen extension does
- Confirm waterproofing if floor tiles are hacked in a wet kitchen
- Keep the deposit to 10-30% with milestone payments
Red flags
- Wet-kitchen extension proposed with no PBT permit (stop-work orders and fines are common)
- Cabinets quoted as a lump sum with no per-foot-run rate or material spec
- 50%+ deposit demanded
- Gas piping by unqualified workers
- No CIDB registration for larger works
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 MYR, and adjust city pages by a population-based cost tier. Last updated July 2026. Basis: iDFAC Engineering 2025 Malaysian renovation cost guide (idfacengineering.com); Loanstreet and FindContractor.my kitchen renovation cost guides.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth just refacing cabinets instead of a full renovation?
If the cabinet carcasses are sound and you like the layout, replacing doors, drawer fronts, hardware, and the benchtop delivers most of the visual change for roughly a third to half the cost of a full renovation. It is not worth it when carcasses are water-damaged, the layout fails you daily, or services need rework anyway — then you'd pay twice.
What drives the cost of a kitchen renovation most?
Cabinetry — it typically consumes 30-40% of the budget, more than appliances or benchtops. After cabinets: whether you move plumbing or gas, appliance tier, benchtop material, and layout changes. A same-layout renovation with mid-range cabinets is routinely half the price of a relocated kitchen with custom joinery.
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.
Which benchtop material should I choose?
Laminate is the budget option and modern laminates are far better than their reputation. Engineered stone/quartz is the mid-to-upper standard — durable and consistent (note some countries now restrict high-silica products). Natural granite and sintered surfaces sit above it; solid timber and stainless serve specific styles. Price the benchtop with cutouts and edge profiles included, as those add meaningfully.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Malaysia?
Kitchen cabinet packages run roughly RM8,000-RM18,000 (about RM250-RM600 per foot run depending on materials), while full kitchen renovations typically land RM15,000-RM50,000 and premium projects RM45,000-RM100,000. Wet-kitchen extensions on landed homes add structural and permit costs on top.
What is a wet kitchen versus dry kitchen in Malaysian renovation?
Malaysian homes commonly split heavy cooking (wet kitchen, often an extension at the back) from light prep and display (dry kitchen). Renovating a dry kitchen is mostly cabinetry work; building or extending a wet kitchen involves structure, roofing, and drainage — meaning PBT-approved plans and roughly double the per-square-foot cost.
Free, no obligation. Sign in with Google to send your request.