How much does a kitchen renovation cost? [2025]

It’s said that the kitchen is the heart of your home but if you’re not happy with your kitchen it doesn’t feel that way. If you’re cooking with outdated appliances, working in cramped conditions or shut off from the rest of the house, it can feel like the last place you want to spend time.

Kitchen renos are one of the most common makeovers we take on in Australia. They’re not cheap, but done properly you should be set for the next 10 or 20 years. There are lots of factors that go into the final fee, but read on to get an idea about the cost of a kitchen renovation.

Read this guide to find out:

• How much does it cost to fully renovate a kitchen in Australia?
• Factors that affect kitchen renovation costs
• Can I redo my kitchen for $10,000?
• Getting the designer kitchen look for less
• How long will my kitchen renovation take?
• Who do I hire for a kitchen renovation?
• Does my kitchen builder need to be licensed?
• Is a flat pack kitchen right for me?
• How to hire the right tradies for your kitchen reno

How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen in Australia?

The cost to fully renovate an Aussie kitchen can change hugely depending on what you want done. For a ballpark figure for a basic reno, you should budget for around $30,000 - $50,000.

You’ll likely be able to renovate your kitchen for $30k so long as you keep all the major items where they are – doors, walls, sinks and any other plumbing – and stick to affordable materials. If you boost your budget to $40k, you can include a few extras.

If you have a bigger space or want high-end products, you could easily add another $10k or $20k onto your costs. 

What factors affect kitchen renovation costs?

The cost of a kitchen renovation can vary dramatically based on a few key factors in your design, such as:

• Any major structural changes
• Cost of materials, for example laminate vs quartz benchtops
• Complexity of the job, for example if you are moving electrics/plumbing
• Labour costs, especially if there is high demand for certain trades
• Size and dimensions of the kitchen, with larger spaces tending to cost more
• Type of kitchen, with custom designed costing more
• Type of flooring, with solid timber the most expensive option
• Whether you are installing cabinets or not
• Project management, where an architect or kitchen designer is involved

It’s also recommended to add 15% - 20% of the estimated renovation cost to your budget for contingency and unforeseen costs.

Things can quickly add up but if you stick to a plan and make sure you pick options that fit with that budget, you don’t have to go overboard. Speaking to a kitchen builder early on in your planning can help put you on the right track. 

Can I redo my kitchen for $10,000?

You can definitely achieve a lot with a budget of $10k, especially if you are creative - but you also need to be realistic.

The first thing to do is realise you won’t be able to move any plumbing or electricals around,  or change your existing floor plan. Moving plumbing and wiring is time-consuming and expensive. If you have a smaller kitchen, and/or a galley-style layout then this shouldn’t even be an issue.

You also have to be modest with your options. While hardwood flooring and marble countertops look great, they’ll quickly eat away at your budget. Appliances like induction cooktops can easily account for $5,000. That may be a key factor for you, but if there are more pressing issues like storage and tiling, then make sure to prioritise those.

Items you can change out for with a $10k budget include the:

• Cabinetry, if you go for flat pack or simply resurface/repainting your existing units

• Flooring, if you go for laminate flooring, which starts at $20 per square metre including installation; or vinyl tiles which start at $30 per square metre including installation

• Painting, which is a cost-effective way of refreshing any space. In the kitchen use an easily cleanable paint like a satin or semi-gloss finish with an anti-mould inhibitor

• Benchtops, if you opt for laminate instead of engineered stone. You can get laminate designs which look just like natural stone or Caesarstone finishes

Andrew Hadi from Greater Sydney Electrical warns against trying to cut expenses when you're looking at the more practical elements of a kitchen makeover.

He said, "I see a lot of people make mistakes, when they're on a budget, they want to stick to the budget package. They pay a little bit extra for a fancy splashback or a stone benchtop but they'll get the cheapest rangehood that they can find and then they wonder why the exhaust is not extracting well enough, because they've got a single motor pull-out rangehood instead of a twin-motor with adequate ventilation. That makes a huge difference."

"It's worth the upgrade, in my eyes, to spend that extra $400-$500 on the rangehood just because you're going to use that thing every single day when you're cooking. After five or six years, the splashback trend is out."  

How to get the designer kitchen look for less

The materials you choose can make a big difference to the final cost of your kitchen - and there are plenty of ways to save.

Benchtops, for example, range from relatively inexpensive laminate to stainless steel. Similarly, the cheapest cupboard doors you can buy are melamine doors. At the other end of the scale, some polyurethane doors can easily cost four times as much.

How do you get the high end look for less? Here are some options to consider:

• Laminate substitutes: Check out the designer ranges of laminates for a budget alternative to stainless steel. There are stainless steel look laminates, but for a hard-wearing benchtop that will still look great after it's been used and abused. If you like the granite look but not the granite price, consider a granite-look laminate. If you like the look of natural timber flooring, laminate options are also available for a cheaper pricepoint

• Switch to vinyl doors: Vinyl wrapped (also called thermo-formed) doors are almost indistinguishable from 2 pack polyurethane but at a fraction of the cost

• Flat pack kitchens: Flat pack kitchens can help you save on the cabinetry

How long will my kitchen renovation take?

Depending on the scale of your project, the timeframe for your kitchen renovation could be impacted by a number of factors, including:

• Any structural works, and if permits are required
• Moving plumbing and/or electrical elements
• Having to get permission in a strata building
• Unforeseen events, like discovering asbestos in your wall or floor cavity

If you’re working with a kitchen designer you should allow at least 6 to 8 weeks to design your kitchen. This includes time to meet with them, measure up and then develop and tweak the plans until you are happy with a final concept. You also need to lock in your appliances, cabinetry and all the other finishes you want at this stage.

If you’re ordering custom kitchen cabinetry, expect to wait anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks for these to be made. Imported lines may even involve a long wait. If you are going for a flat pack kitchen or an IKEA kitchen, then choosing the right combination of cabinets and having them delivered is all you need to take care of. Cabinetry is a major item that can hold up the whole project, so all timeframes need to be aligned around this delivery.

For the demolish and prep work, simply removing old cabinets should take no longer than a day. Then the prep work for the installation actually begins. This includes any plumbing, electrical and flooring work that needs to be done. This stage could range from a few days for a simple project to 4 weeks or more if there are significant structural changes to be made.

The actual installation of your kitchen cabinetry, appliances and lighting can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks, depending on how complex your job is. This includes the templating and installation of your benchtops. The lead time for your benchtops will depend on the material you choose. Stone or engineered could take up to a week to deliver after a template is taken. There will typically be a shorter wait for laminate. You also need to budget for a day or two for the install of a glass or tile splashback.

Who do I hire for a kitchen renovation?

Wondering who you may need to hire for your kitchen makeover? These are the most common trades you will need to call on:

Benchtop installer

Having tons of space to work on is essential in the modern kitchen, so a kitchen benchtop specialist can install whatever surface is right for you, including laminate, timber, engineered or natural stone.

Cabinetmaker

A kitchen cabinetmaker can help you get exactly what you want in terms of storage for your kitchen including a dedicated pantry, deep drawers and all the latest hardware like soft close drawers. Expect to be charged a premium for custom cabinetry, anywhere from $120 per hour.

Electrician

A sparkie is a must-have tradie for any kitchen reno. Besides obvious elements like the lighting, you might also need new powerpoints and all your new appliances wired and installed. Expect to be charged anywhere from $70 - $95 per hour.

Andrew Hadi recommends getting in touch with an electrician early on in the process to make things smoother and more budget-friendly.

He said, "A lot of houses might have existing wiring which is not capable of handling the demand of the newer, higher-powered induction cooktops, for example. A common mistake is that people don't make an allowance for the electrician before the kitchen goes in at the rough-in or wiring stage. It's much easier and cost effective to run the appropriate size cabling to meet the needs of whatever appliance that they're installing."

Plumber

A licensed plumber is one of the most crucial tradies for a kitchen reno. They can install your kitchen sink, tapware, dishwasher and that fancy fridge with a water/ice dispenser. Expect them to charge hourly rates anywhere from $100 - $150, depending on the plumber.

Tiler

Whether you are thinking of a snazzy tiled splashback or simply having tiles underfoot, an experienced tiler can give your kitchen a whole new look. 

Kitchen builder

And if you want someone to take care of it all for you, then a dedicated kitchen builder is definitely for you. They can manage all the above trades and save you a heap of time trying to juggle it all.

Does my kitchen builder need to be licensed?

In short, yes. Most elements of a kitchen reno, such as plumbing and electrical work, require the use of a licensed contractor. For a complete kitchen renovation you will typically need to hire a licensed contractor, though some states have a licence specifically that covers kitchen renovations. If you use individual tradies, they all need to be appropriately qualified and licensed.

If in doubt check with your local state licensing authority.

Is a flat pack kitchen right for me?

A flat pack kitchen can help you save as they are much cheaper than a custom kitchen.

There are a number of reputable brands, including IKEA, that are popular with homeowners. Many of them have decent construction and use brand name hardware. The only thing you will need to do is spend some time working out how the standard sized cabinets fit into your space.

You’ll still need to hire an electrician and a plumber, for those elements, but if you keep the sink, dishwasher, and appliances in the same places they were before, this will help keep your costs down.

You can hire an IKEA kitchen installer who has received training on installing their product lines - so should be efficient at getting it all done ASAP.

How to hire the right tradies for your kitchen reno

When it comes time to hire tradies, make sure they’re right for your job. Some questions to ask include:

• Are you licensed?
• Are you insured to work in my home?
• 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?

Remember, when you hire a tradie, you’re putting a lot of trust in them. You trust them to be on time. You trust them to finish the work. Most importantly, you’re trusting them with your home. When you do your homework, you’re doing more than just checking credentials. You’re making sure your home is in good hands.

We make hiring a tradie easy by doing a lot of the hard yakka for you, like:

• ABN and licences are checked for you
• You receive multiple quotes to compare prices
• Examples of tradies’ past work at your fingertips
• Ratings and recommendations from local homeowners
• Pay securely online

* All the costs and prices quoted were sourced at the time this article was written. They are indicative, may vary locally, are subject to market forces and should only be used as a guide.