How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in Sydney?
What actually drives the cost of a kitchen renovation in Sydney — from layout changes and cabinetry to benchtops, appliances and access — so you can budget with confidence before you get a quote.
There is no single price for a kitchen renovation in Sydney. What you pay depends on three things: the size and shape of the room, how much you change behind the walls, and the finishes you pick. A small refit that keeps the same layout sits at one end. A full rebuild with new plumbing and natural stone sits at the other.
That is the honest starting point for any kitchen renovation cost Sydney homeowners ask us about. Below we explain what actually moves the price, where a typical budget tends to go, and how to get a quote you can rely on rather than a guess off the back of a napkin.
What drives the cost of a kitchen renovation
Two kitchens of the same floor area can cost very differently. The variables below are the ones that matter.
Size and layout. A larger room needs more cabinetry, more benchtop and more labour. Changing the layout, say moving from a single run to an island, adds work too, because the new arrangement has to be designed, built and fitted around it.
Whether you move plumbing, electrical or walls. Keeping the sink, the cooktop and the power points roughly where they are keeps the trades simple. Relocating the sink, adding power for an island, moving a gas line or taking out a wall pulls in licensed plumbers, electricians and sometimes a builder. That is usually the single biggest swing in scope.
How much cabinetry, and the finish. More cupboards and drawers cost more than fewer. Within that, the door finish matters. A painted or timber-veneer finish, soft-close hardware and clever internal fit-outs all add to a cabinet that is otherwise the same size. Because we build our custom kitchens in-house, the cabinetry is made to your room rather than bought in standard sizes, so the spec is yours to set.
Benchtop material. This is one of the clearest cost levers. Laminate sits at the budget-friendly end. Natural stone such as granite or marble, and porcelain or sintered stone, sit higher, and the edge profile and number of joins change the figure again. One thing to know before you plan: engineered or reconstituted stone (often sold as quartz stone) has been banned in Australia since 1 July 2024, so it can no longer be made, supplied or installed. We do not offer it. Our guide to kitchen benchtops walks through the materials that are still legal side by side.
Splashback, appliances and flooring. A tiled splashback, a glass panel or a stone return each cost differently. Appliances are your choice and your budget, supplied by you or specified together. New flooring, or repairing what is under the old kitchen, is easy to forget until the old units come out.
Site access and the age of the home. A ground-floor kitchen with an easy path in is simpler than a third-storey unit with a narrow stair and a lift booking. Older homes can hide out-of-square walls, tired wiring or plumbing that needs bringing up to standard once it is opened up.
| What you choose | Tends to cost more | Tends to cost less |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Moving the sink, cooktop or walls | Keeping the existing layout |
| Cabinetry | More cupboards, painted or veneer doors, full internal fit-out | Fewer cabinets, simpler door finish |
| Benchtop | Natural stone or porcelain, thick edge, more joins | Laminate, standard edge |
| Splashback | Full-height stone or feature tile | Standard tiled splashback |
| Site | Upper storeys, tight access, older home | Ground floor, easy access, sound structure |
The honest answer
Every kitchen is priced on its own scope. The only accurate number is the one that follows a measure-up of your room and a clear brief for the finishes you want.Where a renovation budget usually goes
It helps to picture the budget in rough layers rather than exact percentages, which we will not invent.
Cabinetry is typically the largest share. It is the most labour-intensive part of the job. It is designed, cut, assembled and installed, and it is what makes the room work day to day. When people compare quotes, this is where most of the difference lives.
Surfaces come next. Benchtops and splashbacks are the second visible layer, and your material choice here can move the total more than almost anything else of similar size.
Appliances and trades fill out the rest. Appliances depend entirely on what you buy. The plumbing and electrical are a smaller share when the layout stays put and a larger one when things move. Then there is delivery, fitting and the finishing touches that pull it together.
Because kitchen renovations are built in-house at H&R, the cabinetry and joinery are not subcontracted out and marked up through a middle party. You are dealing with the team that designs and makes the kitchen.
How to get an accurate kitchen renovation quote
A real quote starts with real information. The more you can share up front, the closer the first conversation gets to your project.
Send us:
- Photos of the existing kitchen from a few angles, plus the room it opens into.
- Rough measurements of the space if you have them. Even a hand sketch helps.
- Your suburb, so we can plan access and our visit.
- Your scope: same layout or a new one, whether you are moving the sink or cooktop, taking out a wall, replacing flooring.
- Your finishes and timing: the look you are after, any must-haves, and when you would like the work done.
A ballpark conversation
Based on photos and a brief, we can talk through scope, options and what tends to drive the cost up or down for a room like yours. Useful for planning, not a fixed price.A fixed written quote
Follows a measure-up on site, with the layout, cabinetry, benchtop and finishes confirmed. This is the number you build your plans around.From there, the path is simple. We talk through your brief, arrange a measure-up, and put a written quote in front of you. To get started, request a free quote at contact with your photos and a few notes about the space.
H&R Kitchens has been designing, building and installing kitchens for Sydney homes since 2005. We hold NSW Contractor Licence 487713C and carry $20 million in public liability insurance, and our work is covered by NSW statutory warranties, six years on major defects and two years on others.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't you give me a price over the phone?
Because the price follows the scope, and the scope is specific to your room. Two kitchens the same size can differ a lot once you account for layout changes, cabinetry and benchtop material. We are happy to talk through ballpark thinking from photos, but a real number needs a measure-up.
What's the biggest thing that changes the cost?
Usually two things: whether you move plumbing, electrical or walls, and what you choose for cabinetry and benchtops. Keeping the existing layout and a simpler benchtop keeps the figure down. Relocating services and specifying natural stone or porcelain moves it up.
Can I still get an engineered stone benchtop?
No. Engineered or reconstituted stone, including the products sold as quartz stone, has been banned in Australia since 1 July 2024. It can no longer be manufactured, supplied or installed. For a stone look we fit natural stone such as granite or marble, or porcelain and sintered stone, alongside laminate for budget-friendly jobs.
Does building in-house make a difference to cost?
It removes a layer of mark-up that comes with subcontracting cabinetry to a third party, and it keeps the design, build and install with one team. It also means the kitchen is made to your room and your spec rather than to standard sizes.
