Build a budget for your kitchen
In short
Your kitchen renovation cost depends on its size, condition, finishes and the work involved. A cosmetic refresh keeps usable cabinets and the existing layout; a full replacement adds new cabinetry and installation; a layout change can also add plumbing, electrical, structural and approval costs. Build your budget from local quotes for the same scope, then add purchases outside the quote and a separate allowance for unexpected work. This guide does not give a national average that could hide those differences.
Step 1
Choose a refresh, replacement or new layout
A refresh might mean painting, replacing handles or changing sound cabinet doors. Replacing the whole kitchen in the same position is a larger job, even when the sink and cooktop stay put. Moving them, adding an island or removing a wall changes what needs to be assessed and priced.
Ask for separate prices for the essentials and optional upgrades. Keep useful parts of the kitchen where practical, but have damaged cabinets or water-affected areas checked before committing to a cosmetic fix.
What belongs in the kitchen budget?
| Cost category | What to have priced |
|---|---|
| Cabinets and installation | Retained cabinet condition, new doors or complete units, standard or custom sizes, drawers, hardware, delivery and fitting. |
| Benchtops and splashbacks | Named material, thickness, edges, joins, cut-outs, measuring, fabrication, installation and removal of the old surface. |
| Plumbing, electrical and gas | Disconnection and reconnection, moved service points, new circuits, lighting, rangehood ducting and any gas changes. |
| Appliances and fittings | Exact appliance models, sink and tap, delivery, installation, ventilation clearances and disposal of replaced items. |
| Building work and approvals | Wall changes, structural advice, required approvals, flooring repairs, plastering and painting after the kitchen is removed. |
| Removal and disruption | Demolition, waste disposal, access restrictions, protection of nearby rooms and temporary cooking arrangements. |
Step 2
Give each company the same project brief
Photograph the whole kitchen and problem areas. Add a rough measured plan showing doors, windows and existing services. Label measurements as approximate so the installer knows a site check is still needed.
Use the example below as a starting point, then replace it with your actual choices. Set your total spending limit and say whether it includes appliances and money reserved for unexpected work.
Step 3
Resolve material and approval questions early
Check the proposed work with your council or building certifier before ordering. Approval requirements depend on the property, location and changes involved. In a strata property, also check the scheme's rules. NSW, for example, requires approval for kitchen renovations such as installing or removing cupboards; a cosmetic refresh is not automatically the same category.
Have appropriately licensed trades handle electrical, plumbing and gas work. If you want induction cooking, ask the electrician to assess the supply and circuit requirements for the selected appliance. Have proposed structural changes assessed before a wall is removed.
Step 4
Compare the full cost before signing
Compare quotes against your brief line by line. A cabinet supply price cannot be compared directly with a price that includes demolition, fitting and trade connections. Add anything you will buy separately, required fees and temporary living costs to see the total project commitment.
Ask which amounts are fixed and which are allowances. A prime cost item is an allowance for an item not yet selected or finally priced; a provisional sum is an estimate for work whose cost cannot yet be determined. Ask how actual costs, labour and margins will change the final price. Keep money aside for unexpected work based on the condition and uncertainties identified at the site visit.
Get the agreed scope, exclusions, payment stages and timing in writing. If something changes during the job, record the work, price and effect on completion before agreeing to it.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 6 October 2026
- Your Home: renovations and additions
Australian Government guidance on project goals, retained materials, approvals and licensed trade work.
- Your Home: appliances and technology
Appliance placement, ventilation and lifetime running costs.
- Safe Work Australia: engineered stone ban
National prohibition and guidance for previously installed engineered stone; check your state or territory regulator for local requirements.
- NSW Government: strata renovation rules
NSW example only. Approval requirements elsewhere depend on local law and the scheme's rules.
- QBCC: prime cost and provisional sum items
Queensland guidance explaining building contract allowances.
- QBCC: unpacking quotes, contracts and variations
Queensland consumer guidance; contract obligations vary by state and territory.
