How much does a flat pack kitchen cost? [2025]

If you're looking for a way to renovate your kitchen without breaking the bank, a new flat pack kitchen might be your best bet. These cost a lot less than a pre-assembled or custom kitchen – but can be just as high quality.

The average cost of a flat pack kitchen can be anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000, depending on the size of your kitchen and what manufacturer you choose, but there can be other costs involved too. Read this guide to find out about:

• Types of flat pack kitchens

• How much does a flat pack kitchen cost to install?

• How much does a flat pack kitchen cost: IKEA vs. Bunnings

• Why choose a flat pack kitchen?

• Planning your flat pack kitchen

• Does my flat pack kitchen installer need to be licensed?

• Getting quotes from flat pack kitchen installers

Types of flat pack kitchens

Flat pack kitchens may be modular/off the shelf kitchens or made to measure, depending on the supplier.

In Australia, most flat pack kitchens come from Bunnings, IKEA, Freedom and Kaboodle. All of these sell modular/off the shelf kitchens with cabinets and cupboards in a range of standard sizes. Some may be customised with your choice of fixtures or materials.

Other suppliers will make flat pack cabinetry to order, based on your measurements. A made-to-measure flat pack kitchen costs more.

How much does a flat pack kitchen cost to install?

If you want your flat pack kitchen to be professionally installed, pricing starts at $2,800+ on average. 

You will also likely need to hire a plumber and electrician to connect your kitchen, which will cost around $800 each.

Read more: How much does kitchen design cost?

How much does a flat pack kitchen cost: IKEA vs Bunnings?

Flat pack kitchens are typically priced on a per unit basis, so every drawer, cabinet and cupboard is individually priced. Expect to pay anywhere from $4,500 to $15,000, depending on the manufacturer you opt for.

For an average flat pack kitchen, not including plumbing, electrical or installation, you should expect to pay around:

• $4,500 from IKEA

• $5,000 from Bunnings

Of course, with both companies you have the option to buy bigger and more expensive items, too. 

Other extras are likely to be in the $800-$1,000 range for a plumber and for a sparkie. 

Installation costs will vary depending on factors like the size of your kitchen, the parts that need to be assembled and whether your old units need to be taken away. To make things easier for you, you can book in an installer in-store at Bunnings too. 

For comparison, a custom kitchen can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $75,000 on average.

Why choose a flat pack kitchen?

Flat pack kitchens are faster to install and considerably cheaper than a custom kitchen. Depending on the size and quality of the kitchen you choose, a flat pack kitchen could help you to save anywhere from 20% to 50% on the price of a custom kitchen.

Home renovators often shy away from flat pack kitchens because they're worried about poor construction and limited design options, but these kitchens have come a long way in recent years.

Flat pack kitchen designs now offer more options for customisation, so you can choose from a range of cabinet facings, benchtop materials and cabinet hardware and materials, as well as fancy extras such as pull-out pantries and under-cabinet lighting.

The important thing to look for in terms of durability is solid back carcass construction, which is a sign of better quality cabinetry.

Planning your flat pack kitchen

You have to take a number of things into consideration to find out the cost of a flat pack kitchen. The main features that will affect the cost are:

• Cabinets

• Doors and drawers

• Benchtops

• Cabinets

Most flat pack kitchen costs are priced per cabinet, so you need to figure out how many cabinets you need, what types of cabinets and their sizes. For example, a typical kitchen includes:

• Base storage cabinets

• A drawer cabinet

• One or two corner cabinets

• A fridge cabinet

• A pantry

• A sink cabinet

• Overhead cabinets

Most of these can be purchased in a range of standard widths that can be combined to fit neatly into most kitchens. If a custom width is required, most manufacturers can supply it.

Doors and drawers

Once you've chosen your cabinets, you need to choose your other inclusions. Some questions to ask yourself before you land on a final decision include: 

• Do you want the best quality door hinges and drawer runners? 

• Do you prefer metallic drawers? 

• Do you want cutlery trays, a lazy susan for your corner cabinet and storage racks for your pantry?

The style of doors and drawer fronts you choose can make a big difference to the cost of your kitchen. Melamine fronts are the least expensive, while timber and two-pack polyurethane are among the most expensive.

Benchtops

The benchtop you choose will make a difference to the final price. Some flat pack kitchen companies may not supply the type of benchtop you need, so you may have to contact benchtop suppliers in your area.

Read more: 7 questions to ask your builder before your kitchen reno

Does my flat pack kitchen installer need to be licensed?

This depends on where you live and how much your kitchen project is worth. For example, in NSW all building work valued over $5,000 must be done by a licensed or registered tradie. In Victoria, new kitchens and kitchen renovations costing over $5,000 need to be installed by a Registered Building Practitioner (RBP).

Getting quotes from flat pack kitchen installers

When it comes time to hiring a business to install your flat pack kitchen, it’s important to make sure they’re right for your job. Be sure to ask them:

• Are you insured to work in my home?

• Have you installed a flat pack kitchen before?

• How long will my job take?

• Can you provide a written quote?

• Do you have references I can follow up?

• Can I see examples of your work?

Get quotes from three installers so you can compare current market rates. Look into their company background, hipages’ profile and any references they have to decide whether they're the right team for the job.

*Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.