You've done the research, compared three quotes, and settled on a kitchen renovation budget of $30,000. Six weeks later, you're staring at a bill closer to $45,000 and wondering where it all went wrong.
You're not alone. Our pricing data across Australian cities shows kitchen projects exceed the original quote by 20–40% more often than not. The reason isn't dodgy tradies — it's that the standard quote doesn't cover everything you'll actually need.
Where a $35k kitchen quote actually ends up
Let's track a real scenario. You accept a $35,000 quote for a full kitchen renovation — new cabinetry, benchtop, appliances, tiling, plumbing and electrical. Here's what the final bill typically looks like once the hidden costs surface.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Original builder quote (cabinets, benchtop, tiling, labour) | $35,000 |
| Temporary kitchen setup (8 weeks of meals, bar fridge, microwave) | $1,400 |
| Asbestos testing + removal (splashback sheeting) | $2,800 |
| Switchboard upgrade for induction cooktop | $3,200 |
| Structural engineer (load-bearing wall assessment) | $900 |
| Council building permit + certifier | $1,800 |
| Appliance rush delivery (rangehood 4 weeks late) | $650 |
| Finishing touches (repainting, flooring transition, new pantry door) | $2,400 |
| Actual total | $48,150 |
That's a 37.5% blowout — and every single item on that list is common. Let's break down each one so you know what to expect.
1. Temporary kitchen setup — $800–$2,000
Your kitchen will be completely unusable for the duration of the renovation. No sink, no cooktop, no fridge in its usual spot. Most families underestimate how expensive it is to live without a kitchen for 4–8 weeks.
The costs accumulate in ways you don't expect: takeaway meals and restaurant dinners ($50–$100/day for a family of four), a bar fridge ($150–$300 to buy), a microwave and electric kettle in the laundry, paper plates and disposable cutlery, and the sheer inconvenience tax of washing dishes in the bathroom sink.
2. Asbestos discovery — $1,500–$5,000+
If your home was built before 1990, there's a real chance your kitchen contains asbestos. It commonly hides in splashback sheeting (fibro), vinyl flooring underlay, textured ceilings, and the backing of old wall tiles.
Testing costs $150–$300 per sample. But removal is where the money goes — and it's non-negotiable. In every Australian state and territory, asbestos removal over 10m² must be done by a licensed asbestos removalist. Your builder will legally stop work until it's handled.
3. Electrical and plumbing upgrades — $2,000–$8,000
This is where budgets blow out most dramatically. The plumbing and electrical in your existing kitchen were designed for your existing layout. Change anything — and you almost certainly will — and the costs escalate fast.
Plumbing traps: Moving the sink even 300mm requires modifying drainage falls under the floor, which means pulling up flooring. Relocating a dishwasher to the other side of the kitchen adds a new water supply line and waste connection. Adding a pot-filler tap above the cooktop means running a new water line through the wall cavity.
Electrical traps: Switching from gas to induction is increasingly popular, but your switchboard may not handle the 32-amp circuit an induction cooktop requires. A switchboard upgrade runs $2,000–$4,500. Even adding under-cabinet LED lighting, extra power points, or a built-in microwave circuit adds $200–$600 per point.
| Common upgrade | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Move sink <1 metre (modify drainage falls) | $800–$2,000 |
| Relocate dishwasher (new supply + waste) | $500–$1,200 |
| Switchboard upgrade for induction | $2,000–$4,500 |
| Additional power point (per point) | $200–$400 |
| Under-cabinet LED lighting (full run) | $400–$900 |
| Relocate gas line for cooktop | $300–$800 |
| New rangehood ducting through roof | $600–$1,500 |
Getting a kitchen quote? Check what others are paying in your area before you sign.
Check Kitchen Renovation Costs in Your City →4. Structural surprises behind walls — $500–$8,000
Demolition day is when kitchens reveal their secrets. Once walls come down, you may find water damage from slow leaks you never noticed, termite trails or damage to framing, non-compliant wiring or plumbing from previous renovations, or the uncomfortable discovery that the wall you wanted to remove is load-bearing.
A structural engineer assessment costs $500–$1,500. If the wall is load-bearing, you'll need a steel beam (RSJ) installed to carry the load, which adds $2,000–$6,000 in materials and labour. The total remediation package for structural issues typically runs $2,000–$8,000.
✓ Good sign in a quote
Builder includes a contingency line item (usually 5–10% of the project value) specifically for "unforeseen structural or compliance issues discovered during demolition."
✗ Red flag in a quote
No mention of contingency. Fixed price with no exclusions listed. Builder says "we'll deal with anything that comes up" without putting a number on it.
5. Council permits and certifications — $500–$4,500
Not every kitchen renovation needs council approval. But many do, and the rules vary by state and council area. Generally, you'll need a permit if you're changing the building footprint (even slightly), removing or altering structural walls, significantly relocating plumbing, or making changes that affect fire safety or accessibility.
Building permits range from $500–$2,500 depending on your council and the scope of work. On top of that, you'll need a building surveyor or private certifier ($800–$2,000) to inspect the work at various stages and issue a compliance certificate when it's done.
6. Appliance delivery timelines — $500–$2,500
Your builder is on schedule. The cabinets are in, the benchtop is templated. Then you learn the Italian rangehood has a 12-week lead time, or the specific oven model you chose is backordered until next quarter.
The consequences are expensive. Idle tradies charge $400–$800 per day, because they've blocked out your job in their calendar and can't take other work. Rush shipping adds $500–$2,000 depending on the appliance and origin. Or worse, you compromise on a different model and it doesn't fit the cabinetry cutout — meaning modification costs.
7. Scope creep and finishing touches — $2,000–$5,000
This is the sneakiest hidden cost because it feels like a series of small, reasonable decisions rather than a budget blowout. Once the new kitchen starts taking shape, you'll notice everything around it that suddenly looks old or mismatched.
Common scope creep items and their costs:
| Addition | Cost |
|---|---|
| Repaint walls and ceiling in adjoining living area | $800–$1,500 |
| New flooring transition strip / threshold | $150–$400 |
| Replace pantry door to match new cabinetry | $300–$600 |
| New light fitting in dining area | $200–$500 |
| Window treatment update | $300–$800 |
| Extended splashback / feature tile | $400–$1,200 |
| Soft-close drawer upgrades (per drawer) | $30–$60 |
Each one is individually reasonable. Together, they add $2,000–$5,000 to your final bill. The way to manage this is to expect it: mentally allocate a "finishing touches" budget from day one.
Your pre-renovation checklist
Before you sign anything, make sure you've covered these bases:
- Get 3 detailed, itemised quotes — not ballpark estimates
- Ask each builder to list what's excluded from their quote
- Test for asbestos before signing (if home built pre-1990)
- Get plumbing and electrical scoped separately and in detail
- Check if you need council permits — call your local council's planning department
- Order appliances immediately and confirm lead times in writing
- Build a 15–20% contingency into your total budget
- Set up a temporary kitchen before demolition starts
- Agree on a variation process — how are unexpected costs approved and documented?
- Get everything in writing: scope, timeline, payment schedule, and what triggers a variation
The real budget formula
A $35,000 quote means mentally committing to $42,000. A $50,000 quote means $60,000. This isn't pessimism — it's how experienced renovators budget. The homeowners who feel "ripped off" at the end are almost always the ones who treated the original quote as a fixed price rather than a starting point.
For a full breakdown of kitchen renovation costs by city — including cabinetry, benchtops, appliances, and labour — see our Kitchen Renovation Cost Guide.