How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Melbourne?
Melbourne's kitchen renovation market is one of the busiest in Australia, driven by the city's love of food culture, entertaining at home, and a strong property market where kitchen upgrades deliver genuine resale value. As of 2026, a complete kitchen renovation in Melbourne typically costs between $20,000 and $80,000+, with the average mid-range project landing around $35,000–$55,000 including labour, materials, and appliances.
Melbourne prices generally sit 5–15% below equivalent Sydney projects, thanks to slightly lower trade rates and better access to local cabinet manufacturers. The city's robust manufacturing base — with dozens of kitchen fabricators in the south-east industrial corridor from Dandenong to Moorabbin — means you can often get custom cabinetry at semi-custom prices if you shop smart.
We've compiled data from the HIA Kitchens & Bathrooms Report, local Melbourne renovators, and trade cost databases to give you the most accurate picture of kitchen renovation costs in Melbourne for 2026. Whether you're refreshing a compact apartment galley or gutting a sprawling family kitchen, every dollar figure below reflects real Melbourne metro pricing.
| Service | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh (reface + paint) | $8,400 | $21,000 | $14,700 total |
| Budget renovation (flat-pack) | $12,600 | $26,250 | $18,900 total |
| Mid-range renovation | $26,250 | $47,250 | $36,750 total |
| Premium renovation | $47,250 | $84,000 | $63,000 total |
| Luxury / high-end | $84,000 | $157,500 | $105,000 total |
| Custom cabinetry | $8,400 | $26,250 | $15,750 total |
| Benchtop — laminate | $840 | $2,100 | $1,260 total |
| Benchtop — stone | $2,100 | $6,300 | $3,675 total |
| Splashback (tiled) | $840 | $2,625 | $1,575 total |
| Splashback (glass) | $1,575 | $4,200 | $2,625 total |
| Plumbing rough-in | $2,100 | $5,250 | $3,150 total |
| Electrical rough-in | $1,575 | $4,200 | $2,625 total |
| Flooring (per sqm) | $42 | $126 | $74 /sqm |
| Demolition & disposal | $1,575 | $4,200 | $2,625 total |
Prices include GST. Based on Melbourne metro area, Feb 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Melbourne's sprawl means your suburb affects both the trade rates you'll pay and the type of renovation challenges you'll encounter. Inner-city renovations typically cost 15–25% more than outer suburban projects, even with identical finishes.
Inner Melbourne
Fitzroy, Richmond, Carlton, South Yarra, Brunswick. Victorian and Edwardian terrace houses with narrow kitchens, lath-and-plaster walls, and heritage overlay restrictions. Limited vehicle access for deliveries. High-demand area means longer wait times for quality builders — book 3–6 months ahead. Benchtop templating is often complex due to irregular wall angles in pre-war homes.
Eastern Suburbs
Hawthorn, Camberwell, Box Hill, Glen Waverley. Mix of 1950s–70s brick veneer homes and newer builds. Generally good access, established trade networks, and strong competition among renovators. Many homes in this belt have original 1960s kitchens with asbestos-containing materials — always test before demolition. Popular area for island bench additions given the typically larger floor plans.
Western Growth Corridors
Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Melton. Predominantly newer homes (2000s–2020s) with builder-grade kitchens ready for an upgrade after 10–15 years. Slab-on-ground construction makes plumbing relocation more expensive, but generally straightforward renovations. Lower trade rates and high competition among local cabinet makers. Flat-pack to semi-custom upgrades are particularly popular here.
Bayside & Mornington Peninsula
Brighton, Sandringham, Frankston, Mornington. Coastal environment means moisture-resistant materials are advisable (marine-grade hardware, sealed MDF). Higher-end demographic means premium finishes are expected. Longer travel times for city-based trades push costs up slightly. Sand-belt areas can have challenging foundations that affect under-floor plumbing access.
Kitchen renovations in Melbourne fall into three broad tiers. Understanding which tier suits your goals — and what you actually get at each level — prevents budget blowouts and mismatched expectations.
Budget Kitchen Refresh — $10,000–$25,000
This tier covers cosmetic upgrades without structural changes: refacing or painting existing cabinets, new laminate benchtops ($800–$2,500), replacing handles and hinges, a tiled or acrylic splashback ($600–$1,500), and potentially new budget appliances. You're keeping the existing layout and plumbing positions. Flat-pack cabinetry from suppliers like Kaboodle (Bunnings) orDERA can stretch this budget further. Labour at this tier is typically $3,000–$6,000, covering an installer, electrician for new powerpoints, and a plumber for tap replacement. Best suited for investment properties, rentals, or homes where you like the layout but hate the look.
Mid-Range Renovation — $35,000–$55,000
The sweet spot for most Melbourne homeowners. This tier includes new custom or semi-custom cabinetry (30–40% of budget), engineered stone benchtops like Caesarstone or Essastone ($2,500–$5,500 installed), quality mid-range appliances ($3,000–$8,000 for oven, cooktop, rangehood, and dishwasher), new tiled splashback, LED lighting, and moderate layout tweaks. At this level, you can typically relocate the sink or add an island bench, though moving gas lines adds $800–$2,500. Labour and trades account for 35–45% of total cost. The HIA reports this is the most common renovation bracket in Melbourne, and it offers the best return on investment at resale.
Premium Renovation — $55,000–$90,000+
Full-scale transformation with structural changes: walls removed to create open-plan living, bespoke joinery with soft-close everything, natural stone or porcelain slab benchtops ($5,000–$12,000), integrated European appliances (Miele, Fisher & Paykel, orDERA), butler's pantry fit-out, and designer lighting. At the top end, Melbourne homeowners are increasingly adding walk-in pantries ($8,000–$15,000), wine fridges, and boiling water taps (Zip HydroTap from $2,500 installed). Projects above $80,000 often involve architect or kitchen designer fees ($3,000–$8,000), structural engineer sign-off for wall removal ($600–$1,500), and building permits from local council ($500–$1,200).
The quoted renovation price rarely tells the full story. Melbourne's older housing stock — particularly in inner suburbs — carries risks that only emerge once demolition begins. Build a contingency of 10–15% into your budget for these common surprises.
Asbestos in older homes
Any Melbourne home built before 1990 may contain asbestos in splashbacks, vinyl flooring underlay, or wall sheeting behind cabinets. Testing costs $50–$150 per sample. Licensed removal (required by WorkSafe Victoria) adds $1,500–$6,000 depending on the extent. Never let a renovator "work around it" — it's illegal and dangerous. Check the Victorian asbestos register or contact your local council.
Electrical compliance upgrades
Victorian electrical regulations require safety switches (RCDs) on all circuits. If your switchboard is the old ceramic fuse type, a full upgrade runs $1,200–$2,800. Additional powerpoints for modern kitchens (you'll want at least 6–8 doubles) cost $150–$250 each installed. Under-cabinet LED strip lighting adds $300–$800. If you're adding an induction cooktop, your existing wiring may need a dedicated 32-amp circuit ($400–$800).
Plumbing relocation
Moving a sink to a new position requires extending water supply and waste lines. If you're on a concrete slab (common in Melbourne's west and north), cutting into the slab for drainage relocation costs significantly more than timber-floor homes. Gas line extension for a relocated cooktop adds $800–$2,500. A dishwasher in a new position needs both plumbing and electrical, typically $500–$1,000 combined.
Structural work for wall removal
Creating that open-plan kitchen-living flow often means removing a load-bearing wall. A structural engineer's report ($600–$1,500) determines what steel beam is needed. The beam, installation, and make-good typically runs $3,000–$8,000 for a standard opening. If the wall contains plumbing stacks or electrical mains, costs can reach $12,000+. A building permit from council ($500–$1,200) is mandatory for structural changes.
Make-good and finishing
Painting walls and ceilings around the new kitchen ($800–$2,000), new flooring transitions ($300–$1,200), patching where old cabinets were removed, and connecting to existing cornices. These costs are frequently left out of renovation quotes but add up quickly. Also budget for temporary cooking arrangements — a microwave, electric frypan, and portable cooktop setup for 6–10 weeks.
Kitchen size
A standard 10–15sqm kitchen costs less to renovate than a large open-plan kitchen. Every extra linear metre of cabinetry adds $1,000–$3,000.
Cabinetry quality
The biggest cost driver. Flat-pack from Bunnings vs. custom-built by a cabinet maker can be a $10,000–$20,000 difference.
Benchtop material
Laminate ($800–$2,000) vs. engineered stone ($2,000–$6,000) vs. natural stone ($4,000–$10,000). This is where budgets blow out.
Layout changes
Moving the sink, stove, or fridge position requires new plumbing and electrical, adding $3,000–$8,000 to the job.
Appliances
Appliances are often excluded from renovation quotes. Budget $3,000–$15,000 on top for oven, cooktop, rangehood, and dishwasher.
Structural work
Removing walls, adding windows, or changing ceiling height adds significant cost and requires engineering.
Kitchen renovations in Melbourne typically return 50–80% of their cost at resale, making them one of the highest-ROI home improvements. But the relationship between spend and return isn't linear — overcapitalisation is a real risk in many Melbourne suburbs.
The general rule: keep your kitchen renovation to 5–10% of your property's current value. On a $900,000 home in Melbourne's west, spending $35,000–$50,000 on the kitchen is sensible. Spending $90,000 won't return proportionally more. For a $1.5M home in the inner east, a $55,000–$75,000 renovation is well justified.
Highest-ROI upgrades according to Melbourne real estate agents: engineered stone benchtops (buyers expect them), soft-close drawers, a dishwasher (still missing in many older Melbourne homes), under-cabinet lighting, and a modern rangehood. Surprisingly, ultra-premium appliances (Wolf, Sub-Zero) rarely return their cost premium — buyers appreciate quality but won't pay $15,000 more for a home just because it has a $12,000 oven.
Smart compromises that save thousands: Use engineered stone instead of natural marble ($2,000–$4,000 saving), choose semi-custom cabinetry over full custom ($3,000–$7,000 saving), keep plumbing in its existing location ($1,500–$4,500 saving), and select a quality Australian brand like Fisher & Paykel over European imports for appliances.
A mid-range Melbourne kitchen renovation typically takes 10–14 weeks from design sign-off to completion. Here's the realistic breakdown — note that cabinetry manufacturing is usually the longest wait, not the onsite work.
Weeks 1–3: Design and planning. Finalise layout with your designer or renovator. Select materials, benchtop stone, splashback, appliances. Confirm building permits if structural work is involved. If you need council approval in heritage-overlay areas (common in inner Melbourne), allow an extra 4–8 weeks.
Weeks 4–8: Manufacturing. Custom cabinetry is built to your specifications. Melbourne's manufacturing base means turnaround is typically 4–6 weeks — faster than Sydney or Brisbane. Stone benchtops are templated after cabinets are installed, then fabricated in 5–10 business days.
Week 9: Demolition and preparation. Strip-out of old kitchen takes 1–2 days. Asbestos removal if required. Electrical and plumbing rough-in for new layout. Any structural work (wall removal, beam installation) happens this week.
Weeks 10–12: Installation. Cabinetry installation (1–2 days), followed by benchtop templating and installation (5–10 day gap), then splashback tiling, appliance fitting, plumbing and electrical connections.
Week 13–14: Completion. Final plumbing and electrical connections. Touch-up painting, silicone sealing, cleaning. Inspection and sign-off. Compliance certificates issued for gas and electrical work. You're cooking in your new kitchen.
Our Methodology
Prices on this page are compiled from publicly available cost guides, tradie marketplaces (ServiceSeeking, hipages, Airtasker, Service.com.au), industry body data (HIA, Master Builders), and individual tradesperson websites across Australia. We cross-reference ranges from multiple sources and adjust for city-specific cost differences based on advertised rates, salary data, and cost-of-living indicators. Our guides are independently produced — we don't employ tradespeople and have no financial incentive to inflate or deflate prices. All prices are estimates and will vary based on your specific job. Always get at least 3 quotes. Last reviewed February 2026. Read our full methodology →