How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen?

The average cost of a full kitchen renovation in Australia is $17,000. However, this average can increase dramatically depending on the area. In Sydney, an average kitchen renovation is $23,000. Low end kitchen renovations begin at $10,000-$25,000, moderate kitchen renovations cost between $20,000-$45,000, and extensive/luxury kitchen renovations begin at $45,000 but can easily exceed $100,000.

New kitchen cost

“How much to renovate a kitchen?” – well, how long is a piece of string? A kitchen renovation will cost whatever you are willing to spend. Typical kitchen renovations are in the low $20,000 range, but you can decide to pay more or less for a different effect. The main factor of cost is directly related to the difficulty of what you want to accomplish.

There are three general categories of renovations: light, moderate, and extensive. For those on a tight budget, a light renovation is likely what you will be looking at. Light renovations are ones which do not require much work from a contractor, so completely changing the layout and plumbing system of your kitchen is not considered a light renovation. Light renovations mostly refer to cosmetic changes such as swapping out furniture, updating appliances, replacing benchtops and fixtures, repainting/devising a new colour scheme, and reorganizing the layout without making major structural changes. Light renovations usually cost between $10,000-$20,000 to complete, but this figure can be minimized if you choose to DIY as much of this work can be done at home.

A moderate or mid-range renovation will be more challenging to DIY. Moderate kitchen renovations will cost around $20,000-$45,000 and will usually require experienced contractors. Common touches that are added to a moderate remodel include the installation of feature walls, floating cabinetry, moving fixtures such as the sink around, and removing walls to create an open-plan kitchen. All of this work is in addition to the changes made for a light renovation.

The main difference between extensive and moderate renovations is the commitment to luxury. Extensive, high-end renovations will have the highest quality materials available, while moderate renovations will usually find quality affordable materials. Extensive renovations will also tend to be more dramatic, including moving the kitchen altogether or completely taking it apart and rebuilding from scratch. An extensive renovation begins at $45,000 but could easily reach $100,000 depending on the type of luxury materials used – marble being particularly popular – and the level of work that will need to be completed by contractors.

To help you get a sense of what updates might work best in your kitchen, here is an outline of some common kitchen renovation projects and what they are likely to cost.

New kitchen cost: kitchen renovation breakdown by job

Benchtops

Benchtops are often the first port of call for interior designers in the kitchen. This is because they will often set the tone, style and theme of the room depending on their appearance. There are many different types of kitchen benchtop materials, with the most popular being engineered stone. Other common choices include laminate, granite, marble, concrete, quartz stainless steel, timber, and a new material: Kompacplus. For more information on which kitchen benchtop material to choose, see here or consult Kaboodle Kitchen for a cost calculator and the opportunity to design your kitchen online.

Prices will vary greatly depending on the material that you choose for your benchtop. You should also factor in the installation costs and installer rates, which will be higher for a difficult material to install like granite or marble and much lower for laminate. Laminate is the cheapest type of kitchen benchtop material, usually priced at around $100-$400 per square meter. (High end laminate can be expensive but it is also capable of mimicking more luxurious materials to boost aesthetic value. Marble is usually the most expensive benchtop material, ranging from $800 - $2,200 per square meter. Stainless steel is also a costly material, usually priced at $900 per square meter.

Appliances

Buying new appliances is where much of your money will go in a kitchen renovation. Big ticket items like a fridge, oven and a dishwasher are likely to put you in the low thousands or high hundreds for brand new, high quality and energy efficient products. Smaller appliances like a toaster, rice cooker, and kettle will likely be in the low hundreds altogether as they are much more affordable (and usually available in sets). For a kitchen full of brand new appliances, you can expect to pay anywhere around $3,000 - $6,000. However, you may also choose to purchase second hand items from gumtree or other marketplace stores. This will significantly lower the cost.

Cabinets

To replace kitchen cabinet doors costs will likely range from $60-$500. This is a great way to save some money if your cabinets are perfectly functional but you want some cosmetic renovations to make them more aesthetically pleasing. Replacing cabinet doors is also a common project for those who want their kitchen to stay up to date with current styles.

Flooring

There are many different options for kitchen floors, but a few are preferred. Kitchens, like bathrooms, are highly likely to be exposed to liquid and water over time, so the best flooring material is waterproof substances such as vinyl, tile and hybrid flooring. Other possible choices include timber and laminate. Tile is a particularly popular feature of a kitchen floor because it can be matched with a tile splashback on the walls to create a sense of coherency within the design.

Architecture & Design Team

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