A full home renovation in Australia costs $150,000 to $550,000+ in 2026, depending on the scope of work, your property size, and which city you're in. That's a wide range because "full renovation" means different things to different people — from a cosmetic refresh to a complete gut-and-rebuild.
This guide breaks down the real costs room by room, using independent data from 90+ Australian pricing sources. Every figure links to our detailed trade-specific cost guides so you can drill into the numbers for your exact situation.
$150K–$550K+
Full renovation range
$25K–$45K
Avg kitchen reno
$15K–$30K
Avg bathroom reno
3–12 mths
Typical timeline
Three Levels of Home Renovation
Before you budget, you need to know which level you're at. The difference between a cosmetic refresh and a full gut renovation can be $400,000+.
Cosmetic Refresh
$50K–$150K
Paint, flooring, fixtures, landscaping. No structural changes. Keep existing layout.
Mid-Range Renovation
$150K–$350K
New kitchen + bathroom, rewiring, replumbing, some layout changes.
Full Gut Renovation
$350K–$550K+
Strip to frame. New everything: structure, plumbing, electrical, layout, finishes.
Room-by-Room Cost Breakdown
Here's what each room costs to renovate in 2026, based on our data across 90+ Australian pricing sources. Click any trade name for the full cost guide.
| Room / Project | Cost Range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Kitchen renovation | $15,000–$80,000+ |
| Bathroom renovation | $10,000–$35,000 |
| Full interior painting (3-bed home) | $4,000–$12,000 |
| New flooring (whole house) | $8,000–$25,000 |
| Full rewire | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Replumbing | $10,000–$30,000 |
| New roof | $10,000–$40,000 |
| Insulation (ceiling + walls) | $3,000–$10,000 |
| Ducted air conditioning | $6,000–$15,000 |
| Landscaping | $5,000–$50,000+ |
| New fencing | $3,000–$15,000 |
| Decking | $5,000–$25,000 |
| Typical mid-range total | $150,000–$350,000 |
Budget Tip
Always add 15–20% contingency on top of your total budget. Renovations consistently run over budget due to hidden issues like asbestos, subfloor damage, or outdated wiring that only appears once walls come down. On a $200,000 renovation, that's $30,000–$40,000 in contingency.
Ready to get real numbers for your renovation?
Get Free Quotes From Local Tradies →Cost by Australian City
Trade rates vary significantly across Australia. Here's how major cities compare using our city pricing multipliers based on real market data:
| City | vs National Avg |
|---|---|
| Sydney | +15% above average |
| Darwin | +18% above average |
| Canberra | +12% above average |
| Melbourne | +8% above average |
| Brisbane | +3% above average |
| Perth | National average |
| Geelong | -3% below average |
| Adelaide | -5% below average |
| Hobart | -8% below average |
Save Money
Autumn and winter (April–August) are the best times to renovate across Australia. Tradies are less busy, and you're more likely to get competitive quotes and faster turnaround. Summer is peak season with longer wait times and higher prices.
Every Trade You'll Need
A full renovation touches almost every trade. Here are all the cost guides you'll need, each with city-specific pricing for your area:
Plumbing
Electrical
Kitchen Reno
Bathroom Reno
Painting
Flooring
Roofing
Air Con
Landscaping
Fencing
Tiling
Rendering
Insulation
Solar
Decking
Hot Water
Concreting
Retaining Wall
How to Save Money on Your Renovation
- Get 3+ quotes for every trade. Pricing can vary by 30–50% between tradies for the same work. Use our free quote tool to compare.
- Renovate in autumn/winter. Tradies charge less during their quiet season (April–August). You could save 5–15% across the board.
- Keep the existing layout. Moving plumbing and wet areas is where costs explode. Keeping the kitchen and bathroom in the same location saves $20,000–$50,000.
- Project manage it yourself. Hiring a builder to manage everything adds 15–25% in builder's margin. If you have the time, coordinating trades directly saves serious money.
- Prioritise by ROI. Kitchen renovations return 60–80% of their cost at resale. Bathrooms return 50–70%. Cosmetic work (paint + flooring) has the best cost-to-impact ratio.
Renovation vs Rebuild
If your renovation budget exceeds 60–70% of what a new build would cost on your block, it's worth getting a knock-down rebuild quote. In many cases, a new build gives you a better result for similar money, plus you get structural warranties and modern energy efficiency standards.
What to Renovate First (Priority Order)
If you're tackling a full renovation in stages, here's the order that makes the most financial and practical sense:
- Structural and safety issues — Roof repairs, restumping, electrical rewiring, replumbing. Fix what's dangerous or deteriorating first.
- Weatherproofing — Insulation, windows, gutters, rendering. Stop water and air getting in.
- Kitchen — Highest ROI room. Full guide here.
- Bathroom — Second highest ROI. Full guide here.
- Flooring and painting — Flooring and painting have the best bang-for-buck in visual transformation.
- External — Landscaping, fencing, decking. Do these last so they don't get damaged during the build.
Planning a renovation? Get free quotes from pre-screened local tradies.
Compare Quotes Now →Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a full home renovation cost in Australia?
A full home renovation costs $150,000–$550,000+ in 2026. A cosmetic refresh (paint, flooring, fixtures) runs $50,000–$150,000. Mid-range with new kitchen and bathroom costs $150,000–$350,000. A complete gut renovation with structural changes costs $350,000–$550,000+. Sydney and Melbourne are 10–15% above the national average.
What is the most expensive room to renovate?
The kitchen is the most expensive room, costing $15,000–$80,000+ depending on scope. A mid-range kitchen renovation averages $25,000–$45,000. Bathrooms are second at $10,000–$35,000. Both rooms involve plumbing, electrical, waterproofing, and tiling which drive up labour costs significantly.
Is it cheaper to renovate or knock down and rebuild?
Renovating is cheaper when the project is under $300,000 and the existing structure is sound. A knock-down rebuild costs $350,000–$700,000+ for a 3–4 bedroom home. Rebuild makes more sense when renovation costs exceed 60–70% of a new build, or when you need a completely different floorplan.
Which city is cheapest for renovations?
Hobart is the most affordable at 8% below the national average, followed by Adelaide (5% below) and Geelong (3% below). Darwin is the most expensive at 18% above average, followed by Sydney at 15% above. Based on whatsthedamage.com.au data from 90+ Australian pricing sources.
How long does a full renovation take?
A cosmetic refresh takes 4–8 weeks. Mid-range renovation takes 3–6 months. Full gut renovation takes 6–12 months. Add 2–4 weeks for council approvals. Delays of 2–6 weeks are common due to material supply, weather, and trade scheduling.
What should I renovate first?
Priority order: 1) Structural and safety (roof, stumps, electrical, plumbing). 2) Weatherproofing (windows, insulation, gutters). 3) Kitchen — highest ROI at 60–80%. 4) Bathroom — second highest ROI. 5) Flooring and painting for visual impact. 6) External (landscaping, fencing, decking) last.