What should you budget for a kitchen renovation?
Archicentre Australia's 2026 guide gives a $23,000-$49,000 kitchen fit-out reference, including GST, with appliances extra. It assumes standard selections, a sound room and good access. Your full budget depends on the existing kitchen, chosen products and work included. Use the examples below for context, then compare quotes for your project.
Published kitchen cost examples
These references cover different work. Compare the included scope before comparing the totals.
| Source | Scope | Published amount | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archicentre Australia 2026 guide, page 4 | Kitchen wet-area fit-out reference | $23,000-$49,000 including GST | Standard selections, sound room and good access assumed. Appliances are extra; confirm strip-out, repairs and other project work separately. |
| Plaza Works | Advertised small mid-finish kitchen, Brisbane/Gold Coast | $7,900-$20,100 including GST | Under 8 lineal metres of kitchen run. Confirm the exact materials, appliances and work included in your written quote. |
| Perth Kitchen Crafters | Advertised Modern-style installed joinery, Perth | $38,000-$55,000; GST basis not stated | Covers design, cabinetry, hardware, delivery and installation. Benchtops, appliances, other trades and demolition need separate allowance. |
Checked 13 October 2026. These are published references and businesses' own advertised ranges, not Wombat quotes or verified customer bills. Confirm current inclusions and the full amount payable with the publisher.
Start with the work your kitchen needs
Tell contractors what you want to keep, replace or move. A small kitchen can still involve substantial preparation and trade work.
| Scope | What it means | Confirm in the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh the existing kitchen | Keep a workable layout and update selected finishes or fittings. | Confirm which cabinets, appliances and surfaces can stay, and what needs repair. |
| Replace in the same layout | Install a new kitchen without planning new fixture positions. | Compare cabinetry, benchtops, splashbacks, trade work and reinstatement. |
| Redesign the space | Change the layout, storage or connection to other rooms. | Price the proposed design, service relocation, building work and approvals. |
Share room measurements and photos, then have the contractor assess the existing kitchen. Floor area alone does not show the amount of cabinetry or the work needed.
What your kitchen quote should cover
Ask for enough detail to compare the same work and products, not just the headline total.
| Work | Ask for |
|---|---|
| Strip-out and preparation | Protection, service disconnection, waste removal, surface repairs and how hidden damage or hazardous materials are handled. |
| Cabinetry and storage | Dimensions, door and carcass finishes, hardware, internal fittings, delivery, assembly and installation. |
| Benchtops and splashbacks | The exact products, measured quantities, joins, edges, cut-outs, fabrication and installation. |
| Appliances and services | Chosen models, supply allowances, installation, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and who completes each part. |
| Room finishes | Flooring, wall repairs, painting and any work left outside the kitchen supplier's scope. |
| Completion and management | Design, trade coordination, schedule, warranties, exclusions, payment terms and how changes are agreed. |
Check which selections are fixed, which are allowances and what is excluded. Confirm the full amount payable, its tax basis and how additional work will be priced before it proceeds.
Choose the exact benchtop product
Ask for the product name, finish, thickness, joins, edges, cut-outs and installation work to be specified. Compare those details with the cabinetry and appliances they need to fit.
Australia's engineered-stone ban covers benchtops, panels and slabs that meet the legal definition. Resin-free porcelain and sintered stone, and artificial-stone products below 1% crystalline silica, are outside that definition. Check the exact product and current guidance with the supplier; a brand name or 'stone look' label is not enough.
Replacing an existing top? Have its material assessed before removal or alteration. Work on legacy engineered stone has specific rules, and permitted products can still create hazardous dust when processed. Leave that assessment and work to appropriately qualified contractors.
Ways to manage your kitchen budget
Choose what matters most to you, then have the alternatives priced before you commit.
- Keep a workable layout if it meets your needs, and compare it with the cost of moving services.
- Decide on cabinetry, benchtops and appliances early so quotes use the products you want.
- Ask for simpler finishes or storage options to be priced as alternatives.
- Check whether existing appliances or parts of the kitchen can be retained.
- Agree how hidden issues and design changes will be assessed and priced.
Compare what each proposal includes rather than judging quality by price or brand alone. Before strip-out, have existing materials and services assessed. If asbestos may be disturbed, seek professional advice; see official guidance for home renovators.
Check the site and approval requirements
Give contractors the property address, access details and the proposed layout. Ask about deliveries, parking, stairs or lifts, service access and any building work so those items are included in the quote.
Check the proposed work with your council or building certifier before booking. Planning exemptions have conditions; NSW's exempt-development guidance is one example, not a nationwide rule. In strata, check the scheme's permissions separately; see NSW's strata renovation guidance.
Confirm who does the building and trade work, then check relevant licences, insurance and written terms before hiring.
Plan the schedule before work starts
Agree when the kitchen will be unavailable and plan an alternative place to prepare food. The programme should cover:
- Design, approvals and ordering cabinets, surfaces and appliances.
- Strip-out, assessment and preparation.
- Trade work, cabinetry and benchtop measurement, fabrication and fitting.
- Splashbacks, finishes, appliance connections, checks and handover.
Confirm lead times for your chosen products, who coordinates the trades, and how changes or delays will be handled.
Sources and further reading
- Archicentre Australia 2026 Cost Guide, page 4
- Plaza Works kitchen renovation prices
- Perth Kitchen Crafters pricing
- Safe Work Australia engineered-stone ban
- NSW Planning exempt development
- NSW strata renovation rules
- QBCC finding contractors and getting quotes
- Asbestos guidance for householders and renovators
These links support the examples and planning questions above. Named businesses are examples, without a Wombat endorsement or partnership implied. Confirm current prices and terms with the publisher and requirements with the relevant authority for your property.
