How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Australia?

A budget kitchen renovation (flatpack cabinetry, laminate benchtop, basic appliances) costs $12,000-$22,000 in metro areas in 2024-25. A mid-range kitchen (assembled custom cabinetry, engineered stone benchtop, quality appliances) costs $22,000-$48,000. A prestige kitchen (fully custom joinery, imported stone, premium appliances, integrated everything) costs $48,000-$120,000+. Regional areas add 10-20% due to higher trade rates and travel costs.

What is included in a bathroom renovation budget?

A standard bathroom renovation scope includes: demolition of existing bathroom, waterproofing, tiling (floor and walls), new bath or shower, toilet, vanity and tapware, lighting, exhaust fan, towel rails and accessories, and painting. It does not typically include structural changes, window alterations, underfloor heating, heated towel rails, custom joinery or the replacement of existing plumbing that is in the wall or subfloor unless specified separately.

When do I need building approval for a renovation?

Building approval requirements vary by state and by the nature of the work. Typically requiring approval: structural changes (removing load-bearing walls, adding or modifying openings), new or expanded decks above a certain height or area, adding a room or extension, changing the use of a space, plumbing work in some jurisdictions and any work that changes the building's footprint. Cosmetic work (painting, replacing kitchen or bathroom fittings in-kind, new flooring) typically does not require approval. Check with your local council before starting any significant renovation.

Renovation Budget Estimator — Free Construction Calculator

🎯

A homeowner is planning a mid-range kitchen renovation and wants a budget range before speaking to builders. They need to know whether $35,000 is realistic or whether they are significantly under budget before engaging anyone.

Renovation Budget Estimator

Budget

Renovation scope

Room / house area (m²)

Location premium

Renovation costs are notoriously variable. Key factors: structural changes (moving walls = expensive), quality of fixtures and finishes, whether existing plumbing/electrical needs relocating, and builder availability in your area.
Budget renovations use standard fixtures and cosmetic changes only. Prestige renovations involve custom joinery, imported tiles, and high-spec appliances.
Always get 3 quotes and add a 15–20% contingency to any renovation budget.

Reference: HiPages — Renovation Costs Australia

ℹ️ Results are estimates for planning purposes. Verify with current standards and a qualified professional.

1 What this calculator does

Provides a budget range for common renovation scopes -- kitchen (budget, mid, prestige), bathroom (budget, mid, prestige), living room, bedroom, deck and whole-home renovations. Applies a location multiplier for regional areas. Always returns a low-high range with a recommendation to add 15-20% contingency.

2 Formula & professional reasoning

Budget range = [Low, High] for the selected scope x Location multiplier
Kitchen ranges: Budget $12K-$22K | Mid $22K-$48K | Prestige $48K-$120K
Bathroom: Budget $9K-$16K | Mid $16K-$35K | Prestige $35K-$70K
Deck: Budget $8K-$20K | Mid $20K-$50K
Whole home: Budget $50K-$120K | Mid $120K-$280K | Full $280K-$600K
Add 15-20% contingency to any renovation budget

Renovation costs are expressed as ranges rather than single figures because the variation within any scope is genuinely large -- a budget kitchen at $12K uses flatpack cabinetry and laminate benchtops, while a budget kitchen at $22K uses assembled joinery and stone benchtops. The ranges reflect real market variation in contractor pricing, specification level and site conditions. A 15-20% contingency is higher than for new builds because renovations invariably reveal unexpected conditions -- deteriorated waterproofing, asbestos, substandard previous work -- that are not visible before work starts.

3 Worked examples

⚠️ Illustrative example only — not clinical or professional instruction.

Basic

Mid-range kitchen renovation in metro

Given: Scope: kitchen mid | Location: metro (1.0x)

Working: Range: $22,000 to $48,000 | Midpoint: $35,000 | With 15% contingency: $25,300 to $55,200

Answer: Budget range: $22,000 to $48,000 | With contingency: $25,300 to $55,200

💡 $35,000 sits at the lower end of the mid-range kitchen budget -- achievable with quality assembled cabinetry, engineered stone benchtop and mid-range appliances, but will require careful specification management.

Standard

Prestige bathroom in a regional area

Given: Scope: bathroom prestige | Location: regional (1.12x)

Working: Range: $35,000-$70,000 x 1.12 = $39,200-$78,400 | With 15% contingency: $45,080-$90,160

Answer: Budget range: $39,200 to $78,400 | With contingency: $45,080 to $90,160

💡 Prestige bathroom work in a regional area can be particularly expensive because specialist trades (tilers, waterproofers, custom joinery makers) may travel from metro areas, adding travel and accommodation costs to the standard rate premium.

Advanced

Whole-home mid renovation -- is the budget realistic?

Given: Scope: whole home mid | Budget available: $200,000 | Location: metro

Working:

Range: $120,000 to $280,000 | $200,000 sits near the midpoint | With 15% contingency need: $200,000/1.15 = $173,913 budget ex-contingency

Answer: Budget range: $120,000-$280,000 | $200,000 is achievable but in the lower half -- expect to prioritise scopes

💡 A $200,000 whole-home renovation budget is achievable but requires careful prioritisation -- kitchens and bathrooms typically consume 40-60% of a whole-home renovation budget. Commission a detailed scope from a builder or quantity surveyor before committing.

4 Sanity check

Kitchen renovation cost drivers

Cabinetry: 30-40% of kitchen budget | Benchtop: 10-15% | Appliances: 15-25% | Labour: 25-35%

Custom joinery is the biggest variable -- flatpack vs semi-custom vs fully custom can double the kitchen cost.

Bathroom renovation cost drivers

Waterproofing and tiling: 30-40% | Fixtures and fittings: 25-35% | Labour: 30-40%

Waterproofing is non-negotiable -- cutting this corner causes catastrophic water damage. Budget minimum $1,500-$3,000 for waterproofing regardless of overall budget.

Contingency for renovations

15-20% is the minimum recommended contingency for any renovation

Asbestos in walls or ceilings, deteriorated waterproofing, substandard previous plumbing or electrical work are common unexpected discoveries that add $5,000-$30,000 to costs.

Structural changes

Removing or relocating walls, moving wet areas (kitchen or bathroom plumbing) and altering rooflines adds significantly to cost and is NOT included in standard renovation ranges

5 Common errors

Error	Cause	Consequence	Fix
Treating the low end of the range as the budget target	Anchoring to the lowest figure in the range	Contractors cannot deliver the scope at the low end without compromising specification or quality -- disputes and variations result	Use the midpoint of the range as the working budget and hold the top end plus contingency in reserve. The low end of the range requires the simplest specification, most competitive market conditions and zero surprises.
Not getting licensed contractors for plumbing, electrical and waterproofing	Using unqualified labour to reduce cost	Unlicensed plumbing and electrical work is illegal and void of warranty -- creates safety hazards and problems at resale	Always use licensed plumbers, electricians and waterproofers regardless of the renovation budget. Confirm licences before work starts through the relevant state licensing authority.
Not budgeting for building approval on renovations that require it	Assuming minor renovations do not need council approval	Unapproved work discovered at sale or insurance claim -- costly retrospective approval or removal required	Any renovation involving structural changes, extensions, changes to wet areas (in some jurisdictions), new decks over a certain height or area, or change of use typically requires council approval. Check with the local council before starting work.
Paying the full contract price upfront	Contractor requests full payment before starting	No leverage if work is substandard or contractor abandons the job	Australian consumer law and most state fair trading legislation limits upfront deposits for home renovation work. A deposit of 5-10% is standard; progress payments tied to completion of defined stages are appropriate. Never pay more than the work completed.