How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Sydney?
Kitchen renovations are the most expensive single-room project in any Sydney home — and also the one with the greatest potential to overcapitalise if you're not careful. In 2026, Sydney kitchen renovation costs range from $15,000 for a cosmetic refresh to $80,000+ for a premium custom build, with most mid-range renovations landing between $35,000 and $55,000.
What makes Sydney kitchen renovations expensive compared to other Australian cities? Labour rates are 30–40% above the national average, trades are in high demand (expect 4–8 week lead times for quality cabinet makers), and many Sydney kitchens are in terrace houses and apartments where access constraints add time and complexity to every stage.
This guide breaks down exactly where your money goes, what drives costs up (and down), and how to get the kitchen you want without blowing your budget. We've drawn on HIA data, renovation contractor quotes, and publicly available pricing from Sydney-based kitchen companies to compile these figures.
| Service | Low | High | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh (reface + paint) | $9,200 | $23,000 | $16,100 total |
| Budget renovation (flat-pack) | $13,800 | $28,750 | $20,700 total |
| Mid-range renovation | $28,750 | $51,750 | $40,250 total |
| Premium renovation | $51,750 | $92,000 | $69,000 total |
| Luxury / high-end | $92,000 | $172,500 | $115,000 total |
| Custom cabinetry | $9,200 | $28,750 | $17,250 total |
| Benchtop — laminate | $920 | $2,300 | $1,380 total |
| Benchtop — stone | $2,300 | $6,900 | $4,025 total |
| Splashback (tiled) | $920 | $2,875 | $1,725 total |
| Splashback (glass) | $1,725 | $4,600 | $2,875 total |
| Plumbing rough-in | $2,300 | $5,750 | $3,450 total |
| Electrical rough-in | $1,725 | $4,600 | $2,875 total |
| Flooring (per sqm) | $46 | $138 | $81 /sqm |
| Demolition & disposal | $1,725 | $4,600 | $2,875 total |
Prices include GST. Based on Sydney metro area, Feb 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
Budget Refresh — $15,000–$25,000
At this level, you're refreshing the existing kitchen without changing the layout. The plumbing and electrics stay exactly where they are. Typical inclusions:
New doors and drawer fronts on existing cabinet carcasses (or painting them), a new laminate or entry-level engineered stone benchtop, a tile or glass splashback, replacement handles and hinges, possibly a new sink and mixer. You keep your existing appliances or replace one or two at budget brands (Westinghouse, Chef).
Best for: Rental properties, homes you plan to sell within 2 years, or functional kitchens that just look dated. A makeover at this level can increase sale appeal significantly without overcapitalising — real estate agents consistently say kitchens and bathrooms sell houses.
Mid-Range Renovation — $35,000–$55,000
This is where most Sydney renovations land. You're getting a genuinely new kitchen: fully new cabinetry (custom or quality flat-pack like Kaboodle Professional or Freedom Kitchens), engineered stone benchtops (Caesarstone, Essastone, Smartstone — $700–$1,200/m²), a quality appliance package (Fisher & Paykel, Bosch, Smeg — $4,000–$8,000 for oven, cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher), new tiling, new lighting, and fresh paint.
At the upper end, you can include modest layout changes — moving the sink along the same wall, or converting a closed kitchen to a breakfast bar opening. Moving the sink or cooktop to a different wall enters expensive territory because it means relocating plumbing, gas, and electrical services ($2,000–$5,000 per service relocated).
Materials breakdown at this tier: Cabinetry absorbs 30–40% ($10,000–$20,000), benchtops 10–15% ($3,000–$7,000), appliances 10–15% ($4,000–$8,000), trades labour 35–45% ($12,000–$22,000), and everything else (splashback, lighting, paint, bin systems, tapware) fills the remainder.
Premium Custom — $55,000–$90,000+
Bespoke joinery built to your exact specifications, premium natural stone benchtops (marble, quartzite, porcelain — $1,200–$2,500/m²), fully integrated appliances (hidden behind cabinet panels — Miele, V-ZUG, Gaggenau — $10,000–$25,000 for a full suite), structural changes like removing a wall to create open-plan living, custom lighting design, butler's pantry, and designer tapware (Brodware, Sussex, Astra Walker — $800–$3,000 for a mixer).
At this level you're typically working with a kitchen designer ($3,000–$8,000 for a design package) or an architect if structural walls are involved. Projects take 8–14 weeks from sign-off to completion, and the kitchen will be out of commission for 3–6 weeks during construction.
The quote you get for cabinetry and benchtops is just the start. These are the costs that blindside first-time renovators:
Asbestos ($1,500–$6,000): If your Sydney home was built before 1990, there's a strong chance the original splashback, floor tiles, or backing board contains asbestos. Disturbing it without proper removal is illegal and dangerous. An asbestos test costs $50–$150 per sample. Licensed removal starts at $1,500 for a small kitchen and can exceed $5,000 if it's in the floor sheeting or wall cavities. Budget for this before demolition day.
Electrical compliance upgrade ($800–$3,000): Older kitchens often have insufficient circuits, no safety switches, and powerpoints in locations that don't meet current standards. Your electrician is legally obligated to bring everything they touch up to the current Wiring Rules, even if the rest of the house stays as-is. This can mean a partial switchboard upgrade or additional circuits you didn't plan for.
Plumbing relocation ($1,500–$4,000 per service): Moving the sink or dishwasher? The plumber needs to extend or redirect water supply and waste lines. In slab-on-ground homes (common in Western Sydney), this means cutting into the concrete slab — $2,000–$4,000 just for the slab work, before the actual plumbing.
Structural engineer ($600–$1,500): Want to remove a wall to open up the kitchen? You'll need a structural engineer to assess whether it's load-bearing and design a beam solution. The engineer's fee is separate from the builder's cost to actually install the beam ($3,000–$8,000).
Temporary kitchen setup ($200–$500): You'll be without a functional kitchen for 3–6 weeks during a full renovation. A temporary setup (folding table, electric hotplate, bar fridge, portable sink) in the laundry or garage makes this liveable. Factor in extra takeaway costs too — families routinely spend $1,000–$2,000 more on eating out during a renovation.
Make-good and painting ($1,000–$3,000): New cabinetry never perfectly matches the old wall lines. You'll need patching, plastering, and painting of adjacent walls, ceiling, and any exposed areas where old cabinets were removed. This is often not included in the kitchen company's quote.
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.
The honest answer: it depends on what you spend and where you live. Research from the HIA and CoreLogic suggests that a well-executed kitchen renovation adds 50–80% of its cost to the property's sale price in Sydney — but only if you don't overcapitalise.
The overcapitalisation trap: In a suburb where homes sell for $1.2 million, spending $100,000 on a kitchen is unlikely to add $100,000 to the sale price. The general rule: keep your kitchen renovation budget to 5–10% of your property's value. For a $1.5M Sydney home, that's $75,000–$150,000 total renovation budget, with the kitchen as a portion of that.
Highest ROI upgrades: Based on real estate agent feedback in Sydney, the changes that add the most perceived value relative to cost are: engineered stone benchtops replacing laminate (60–80% ROI), replacing original 1980s/90s cabinet doors with a modern flat or shaker profile (50–70% ROI), a quality dishwasher where there wasn't one (buyers notice this immediately), and under-cabinet lighting (cheap to install, disproportionate visual impact).
Lowest ROI upgrades: Ultra-premium appliances (Gaggenau, V-ZUG) in a mid-market home, imported Italian marble benchtops, and custom wine fridges. These are enjoyment upgrades, not investment upgrades — budget for them if you love them, but don't expect to recoup the cost at sale.
A realistic timeline for a mid-range kitchen renovation in Sydney in 2026:
Weeks 1–3: Design & quoting. Measure up, finalise layout, select materials, get 3 quotes. Don't rush this — the decisions you make now lock in 80% of the cost.
Weeks 4–10: Manufacturing lead time. Custom cabinetry takes 4–8 weeks to manufacture once you've signed off on the final design. Use this time to order appliances (some brands have 6–12 week lead times), select your benchtop slab, and confirm trades scheduling.
Week 11: Demolition & preparation. Strip out old kitchen (1–2 days), remove asbestos if present (add 2–3 days), patch walls, rough-in any plumbing or electrical relocations.
Weeks 12–13: Installation. Cabinetry install (2–3 days), then benchtop template and install (allow 5–7 days between template and fit), splashback tiling (1–2 days), appliance fitting, electrical and plumbing final fix, painting and touch-ups.
Week 14: Completion. Final clean, snagging inspection, handover. Total elapsed time from "yes" to cooking dinner: 10–14 weeks for a standard mid-range renovation. Premium projects with structural work or imported materials can take 16–20 weeks.
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 →