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 change to the work and price.
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 internal fit-outs all add to a cabinet that is otherwise the same size. With custom kitchens, the cabinetry is specified to the room rather than selected only from standard module sizes.
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 for the work it needs. 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.
For kitchen renovations, the measured plan, cabinet specification, materials and installation requirements should be worked through together. The quote should also make clear who is responsible for each related trade.
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.
- The work you want done: 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 the work, 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 when appropriate and prepare a detailed quote. To get started, use contact with your photos and a few notes about the space.
Before comparing final quotes, confirm the contractor details, applicable licence class, current insurance, warranty position, exclusions and the responsibility for each related trade.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't you give me a price over the phone?
Because the price follows the work, and the work 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 products sold as quartz stone, has been banned in Australia since 1 July 2024. It can no longer be manufactured, supplied or installed. Current stone-look options include natural stone, porcelain and sintered surfaces, alongside laminate where it suits the budget and specification.
Does made-to-measure cabinetry make a difference to cost?
It keeps the cabinet design, manufacturing and installation connected and means the kitchen is made to the measured room and confirmed specification rather than standard cabinet sizes.
