How much does a builder cost in Sunshine Coast?
Sunshine Coast builders price a single-storey extension at $2,500–$5,000 for each square metre added, typically $3,500, while a standard-finish new build comes in at $1,600–$4,500 a square metre. Self-contained projects are quoted as a whole: a turnkey granny flat runs $120,000–$250,000, a roofed alfresco $12,000–$35,000 and a knock-down rebuild $450,000–$1,000,000. Homes on the coast are roomy: four-bedroom-plus dwellings make up 39.4% of the stock, a bigger slice than the 34.8% Australian figure (ABS 2021 Census), so a whole-house renovation here often takes in more rooms than it would elsewhere. All prices include GST.
Comparing cities, or after the Australia-wide picture? See the national guide: Builder cost in Australia.
Detailed Pricing — Building Cost in Sunshine Coast 2026
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor structural repair (lintel, crack stitching, wall ties) | $500per job | $1,800 | $5,000 |
| Load-bearing wall removal + steel beam | $3,000per job | $8,000 | $15,000 |
| Pre-purchase building inspection / defect report | $400per job | $600 | $1,200 |
| Deck or pergola (builder-managed) | $5,000per project | $12,000 | $40,000 |
| Roofed patio / alfresco (builder-managed) | $12,000per project | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| Garage or carport (single to double) | $10,000per project | $25,000 | $55,000 |
| Bathroom renovation (builder-managed) | $15,000per project | $25,000 | $45,000 |
| Kitchen renovation (builder-managed) | $20,000per project | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| Single-storey extension (per sqm) | $2,500per sqm | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| New home build (per sqm, standard finish) | $1,600per sqm | $2,300 | $4,500 |
| Granny flat (1-2 bed, turnkey) | $120,000per build | $165,000 | $250,000 |
| Full home renovation (whole house) | $150,000per project | $300,000 | $600,000 |
| Second-storey addition | $250,000per project | $380,000 | $600,000 |
| Knock-down rebuild (3-4 bed, single storey) | $450,000per build | $650,000 | $1,000,000 |
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Get Sunshine Coast quotes →Renovate, Extend or Rebuild in Sunshine Coast?
In the Sunshine Coast table, a whole-house renovation is $150,000–$600,000, an extension $2,500–$5,000 a square metre and a knock-down rebuild $450,000–$1,000,000. Queensland home warranty cover runs six and a half years and stays with the house if you sell.
Common Building Projects and What They Cost
Home extensions
30 to 50 m² extended: $75,000–$250,000.
Second-storey additions
A second storey: $250,000–$600,000.
Granny flats
Granny flat, turnkey: $120,000–$250,000.
Knock-down rebuilds
Rebuild: $450,000–$1,000,000; demolition, even partial, needs a building permit.
Home Extensions and Second-Storey Additions in Sunshine Coast
Owner-builders need a QBCC permit for projects over $11,000, and can’t use the state home warranty. Second storey: $250,000–$600,000.
Knock-Down Rebuild vs Renovation in Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Council requires a development building work permit to demolish a building, including part of one; a private certifier can advise. Renovators removing over 10 m² of bonded asbestos need a Queensland Health certificate.
What's Included in a Builder's Quote
Above $3,300 a written Level 1 contract is required, Level 2 from $20,000. The deposit on a Level 2 contract is capped at 5%. A pre-purchase or defect inspection: $400–$1,200.
What Affects Builder Costs in Sunshine Coast
Licence and contract level
Once building work is worth more than $3,300, Queensland law wants two things: a builder licensed by the QBCC, and a contract on paper that both parties have signed and dated before the first trade arrives. A job of $20,000 or more moves up to a Level 2 contract, and the builder has to hand you the QBCC Consumer Building Guide before you sign. Even a mid-range bathroom renovation, typically $25,000, already falls under Level 2.
Deposits and the cooling-off period
The QBCC caps deposits at 20% on work of $3,300 or less, 10% between $3,301 and $19,999 and 5% on anything larger, so a typical granny flat at $165,000 allows a deposit of $8,250. A unit prefabricated mostly off site may take up to 20%. You can generally still back out during a cooling-off period of five business days, normally paying $100 plus any expenses the builder has reasonably incurred.
Home warranty cover
Every residential job above $3,300, with materials, labour and GST counted in, must carry a premium for the state's Home Warranty Scheme, so check it appears in each quote before you compare totals. The QBCC administers the cover, which meets claims to a maximum of $200,000, protects the home for six years and six months, and transfers with the property when it changes hands. Owner-builders cannot get it.
Built for wind region B
Under the wind loading standard the Sunshine Coast is region B1, the intermediate band, and the state's cyclone preparedness guide expects region B buildings to stand up to a weakened tropical cyclone; the season runs November to April (BOM). An extension, second storey or roofed patio therefore needs engineered tie-downs, bracing and roof fixings, which shows in the steel and labour on a quote.
Wet summers and the climate zone
The airport weather station logs 217.5 mm in an average February but only 51.1 mm in September, its lowest month (BOM averages). Excavation and slab pours slip when the ground is saturated, so a summer start can cost days. For thermal design the NCC puts the area in climate zone 2, and that zone sets the targets the walls, roof and glazing of your extension are designed to.
Demolition and asbestos
Sunshine Coast Council needs a development building work permit for demolition, part demolition included, and a private building certifier can tell you whether your job triggers one. Older linings and eaves may hold asbestos, and a tradesperson clearing over 10 square metres of the bonded kind must be licensed for class A or B removal; spreading the removal across several days to dodge that limit is not allowed.
Granny flat size limits
Council caps a secondary dwelling at 60 square metres of floor area in most zones, and in an urban zone the lot must be a regular shape of at least 600 square metres, with a freestanding unit within 20 metres of the main house. Building approval is always needed, issued here by private certifiers, so put their fee next to the $120,000–$250,000 build price.
How to Save Money on Building Cost in Sunshine Coast
Frequently Asked Questions — Building Cost in Sunshine Coast
Our Methodology
Prices on this page are compiled from publicly available cost guides, leading tradie marketplaces, peak industry body data, and individual tradesperson websites across Australia. We cross-reference ranges from multiple sources and adjust for city-specific cost differences. Our price guides are produced independently and no tradesperson can influence a published figure. All prices are estimates and will vary based on your specific job. Always get multiple quotes. Last reviewed June 2026. Read our full methodology →