Brett Field
Most full kitchen renovations in Australia cost between about $20,000 and $50,000 in 2026. A cosmetic refresh can cost less, and a large custom kitchen with a new layout can go well past $50,000.
Below are the published price ranges, what cabinets and benchtops cost per metre, how long a kitchen takes, and the Queensland rules to know. These are market prices from cost guides, checked on 4 October 2026. They are not a quote from us.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in 2026?
A full renovation with mid-range finishes usually lands between $20,000 and $50,000. The cost guides agree on the middle and spread out at the top end.
| Source | Budget | Mid-range | High-end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archicentre Australia Cost Guide 2026 | - | $23,000-$49,000 | - |
| Canstar, quoting hipages | - | $22,000-$40,000 average | - |
| Yellow Pages (2025) | $10,000-$25,000 | $25,000-$50,000 | $50,000-$150,000 |
| Three Birds Renovations (2026) | $15,000-$30,000 | $35,000-$65,000 | $65,000-$130,000+ |
Archicentre's range assumes standard materials and leaves out upgrades to the plumbing and electrical services. If your kitchen is older or the layout changes, expect to be higher in the range.
Does a kitchen cost more on the Gold Coast?
We could not find a survey of real Gold Coast kitchen prices. The cost sites that show Gold Coast figures mostly adjust their national averages, so use the national ranges above. Your layout, cabinets and benchtop will move the price far more than your suburb.
How much do kitchen cabinets cost?
Cabinets are the biggest single item, at about 30-40% of a kitchen budget (What's The Damage). Price depends on how they are made. These figures are per lineal metre, supplied and installed, from 2026 Brisbane cost guides.
| Cabinet type | What's The Damage | Sparky |
|---|---|---|
| Flat-pack, installed | $400-$900 per metre | From about $350 per metre (materials from $250, plus $100-$200 to install) |
| Semi-custom | $800-$1,800 per metre | $800-$1,500 per metre |
| Full custom | $1,400-$3,200 per metre | $1,200-$2,200 per metre (custom melamine) |
Yellow Pages puts a whole flat-pack kitchen at about $4,500 to $15,000 or more, with installation adding roughly $2,800.
How much do kitchen benchtops cost?
Benchtops range from about $120 per square metre for budget laminate to $2,500 or more for natural stone. Here is what each material costs.
| Material | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | About $120 per m2 budget, $250-$350 per m2 for premium brands | Three Birds Renovations, 2026 |
| Timber (hardwood) | About $600-$1,200+ per m2 | Three Birds Renovations, 2026 |
| Natural stone | $700-$2,500 per m2, installed | Yellow Pages, 2026 |
| Granite | About $650-$2,000 per m2 | Three Birds Renovations, 2026 |
| Marble | About $800-$2,500+ per m2 | Three Birds Renovations, 2026 |
| Porcelain slab | $800-$1,800 per m2, installed | What's The Damage, 2026 |
| Stainless steel | $1,200-$3,600 per lineal metre | Yellow Pages, 2026 |
Can I still get an engineered stone benchtop?
No. Since 1 July 2024 it has been illegal in Australia to make, supply, process or install engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs. The federal government and every state and territory brought in the ban together, because of the silica dust engineered stone creates when it is cut (Safe Work Australia). Queensland had no transition period.
The ban does not cover natural stone, or porcelain and sintered stone that contain no resin. Some cost guides still list engineered stone as an option, so ignore those lines when you are pricing your kitchen.
What else goes into a kitchen budget?
- Splashback. Tiles cost about $45-$250 per m2 and glass about $330-$420 per m2, plus $450-$900 to install (Canstar).
- Appliances. A mid-range package of oven, cooktop, rangehood and dishwasher runs about $4,000-$10,000 (What's The Damage). Check whether a quote includes them.
- Plumbing, gas and electrical. Every kitchen needs some. How much depends on whether the sink, cooktop or dishwasher moves.
- Flooring, painting and rubbish removal. Check these are in the quote.
What makes a kitchen renovation cost more?
According to hipages, as quoted by Canstar, labour is likely to be the biggest expense in a kitchen renovation. So anything that adds trade time adds cost:
- Changing the layout. Moving the sink, cooktop or dishwasher means new plumbing, gas or wiring.
- Custom cabinets over flat-pack or semi-custom.
- Stone benchtops over laminate or timber.
- An island bench, especially one with a sink or cooktop in it.
- Premium appliances and integrated fridges or dishwashers that need panels made to fit.
Keeping the same layout is the easiest way to save. You can see a few of our kitchens on our kitchen renovations page.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
Canstar puts the average at four to six weeks, and suggests allowing anywhere from two to nine. Custom cabinets and stone benchtops are made to measure, so there is usually a wait between signing and the first day of work.
With us, you get a timeline with your proposal, before any work starts, so you know when you will be without a kitchen.
What Queensland rules apply to a kitchen renovation?
The same rules apply as for any home renovation. This is a short summary, not legal advice.
- Building work over $3,300, counting labour, materials and GST, must be done by a QBCC licensed contractor. Plumbing, drainage and gas fitting need a licence at any value.
- Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician.
- Work over $3,300 needs a written contract and Queensland Home Warranty insurance. The most a builder can ask as a deposit is 10% for jobs under $20,000, and 5% for jobs of $20,000 or more.
Our bathroom renovation cost guide goes into these rules in more detail.
Where do these prices come from?
Checked on 4 October 2026: the Archicentre Australia Cost Guide 2026, Canstar (quoting hipages), Yellow Pages (2025 and 2026), Three Birds Renovations (2026), What's The Damage (2026), Sparky (2026) and Safe Work Australia. Rules from the QBCC. We will check the prices again every three months.
See our kitchen renovations work, or check what your job will cost.