Brett Field
Replacing a kitchen benchtop usually costs $1,500 to $8,000, and a typical job is about $3,500, according to QuickQuote's August 2026 guide. What's The Damage puts a whole laminate benchtop at $800 to $2,500, and a natural stone, porcelain or sintered stone one at $2,500 to $9,000.
Below are prices by material, per square metre and per metre, the extra costs of removal, cut-outs, splashbacks and plumbing, and why engineered stone is off the list. These are market prices from cost guides, checked on 5 October 2026. They are not a quote from us.
How much does it cost to replace a kitchen benchtop?
For most kitchens, between $1,500 and $8,000. The material and the length of bench move the price most.
| Source | Laminate | Natural stone, porcelain or sintered stone |
|---|---|---|
| What's The Damage (October 2026) | $800-$2,500, typical $1,600 | $2,500-$9,000, typical $4,800 |
| KitchenQuote, 5-7 m of bench (2026) | $1,500-$4,500 | Porcelain $5,000-$9,000; natural stone $6,000-$12,000+ |
QuickQuote sorts jobs into three bands: a small update at $200 to $1,200, a standard replacement at $1,500 to $8,000, and a full premium job at $6,000 to $25,000. These prices are for the benchtop. The plumber, electrician and splashback are extra, and are covered further down.
How much does a benchtop cost per square metre?
Laminate starts at about $120 per m2. Stainless steel, marble and porcelain can pass $1,500 per m2. Here is what three cost guides say.
| Material | Three Birds Renovations (April 2026), material only | What's The Damage (October 2026), installed | Yellow Pages (April 2025), installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | From about $120; $250-$350 for Laminex or Formica | $200-$500 | - |
| Timber | Bamboo $300-$400; hardwood $600-$1,200+ | $500-$1,000 | - |
| Granite | $650-$2,000 | $700-$1,500 | $700-$1,900 |
| Marble | $800-$2,500+ | $800-$2,000 | $900-$2,500 |
| Porcelain or sintered slab | - | $800-$1,800 | Porcelain $700-$1,050 |
| Stainless steel | $900-$1,500 | $1,000-$2,500 | - |
| Compact laminate | No published price found | ||
Three Birds adds installation on top: about $50 to $100 per lineal metre for laminate, $100 to $200 for timber and $150 to $250 for stainless steel. Laminex describes its compact laminate as "extremely scratch, wear, stain, moisture and impact resistant". Laminex prices it per square metre when you order, so ask for a quote.
How much does a kitchen benchtop cost per metre?
Many companies quote per metre of bench length instead of per m2. Laminate is $250 to $550 per metre installed, and natural stone $800 to $1,400 (KitchenQuote, 2026).
| Material (KitchenQuote, 2026) | Per metre, installed | Typical 5-7 m kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate, rounded front edge (postform) | $250-$450 | $1,500-$3,500 |
| Laminate, square edge | $350-$550 | $2,000-$4,500 |
| Solid timber | $500-$900 | $3,500-$7,000 |
| Porcelain slab, 12 mm | $700-$1,100 | $5,000-$9,000 |
| Natural stone (granite, marble) | $800-$1,400 | $6,000-$12,000+ |
Sparky's 2026 guide is close, at about $200 to $600 per metre for laminate, installed. To use these numbers, measure the length of every bench, including any island, and add it up.
How much does a stone kitchen benchtop cost?
Natural stone costs about $700 to $2,500 per m2, including making, polishing, sealing and installing it (Yellow Pages, April 2025). For a whole kitchen, What's The Damage puts stone at $2,500 to $9,000, with $4,800 typical.
Granite is usually cheaper than marble. Yellow Pages has granite at $700 to $1,900 per m2 and marble at $900 to $2,500. Porcelain costs less on its figures, at $700 to $1,050 per m2 installed. On stone, the extras add up fast:
- A thicker edge. A 40 mm edge profile adds $250 to $500 (Yellow Pages).
- A thicker slab. Going from 20 mm to 40 mm adds about 30-40% to the material cost (KitchenQuote).
- Waterfall ends, where the stone runs down the side of an island: $1,500 to $4,000 (KitchenQuote).
- An undermount sink cut-out: $200 to $400 (KitchenQuote).
Stone is made to measure. KitchenQuote says the template visit takes 30 to 60 minutes, making a stone top takes 1 to 2 weeks, and fitting it takes half a day to a day.
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 (Safe Work Australia). Since 1 January 2025 they have also been banned imports.
Natural stone is not engineered stone, and porcelain and sintered stone made without resin are not covered by the ban. Some cost guides still print engineered stone prices. We have left those out.
If your old benchtop is engineered stone, it can still be taken out and thrown away. But the business doing it must tell the work health and safety regulator first, and must keep any cutting or grinding under control (Safe Work Australia). Ask about this when you get quotes.
What else do you pay for when you replace a benchtop?
The new top is only part of the bill. Here are the other lines to expect.
- Removing the old top. Few guides price this on its own, so ask for it as a separate line. For scale, Sparky puts removal of a whole old kitchen at $500 to $2,000.
- Cut-outs. A cooktop cut-out is in most quotes (KitchenQuote). If you change the sink or tap later and a stone top needs a new cut-out, a stonemason visit costs $200 to $500 (Sparky).
- The splashback. A stone splashback is priced separately (KitchenQuote). A new tiled splashback is $400 to $2,500 and glass is $800 to $1,800 (What's The Damage). Our glass splashback cost guide has more detail.
- Plumbing. The sink and tap must be disconnected and reconnected by a licensed plumber. Sparky's September 2026 labour prices: a sink in the same spot $300 to $800, a mixer tap $150 to $300, and reconnecting a dishwasher $150 to $250.
- The cooktop. An electric cooktop needs a licensed electrician, and a gas one needs a licensed gas fitter.
What rules apply to a benchtop job in Queensland?
The licensing rules apply even to a small job. This is a short summary, not legal advice.
- Plumbing, drainage and gas fitting need a QBCC licence at any value. Other building work over $3,300 must be done by a QBCC licensed contractor.
- Installing, removing or replacing electrical equipment is electrical work, which the Electrical Safety Office says needs a licensed electrician.
- The most a contractor can ask as a deposit is 20% for work of $3,300 or less, 10% for $3,301 to $19,999, and 5% for jobs over $20,000 (QBCC).
- The engineered stone ban and its removal rules apply in Queensland as everywhere else.
How do I compare benchtop quotes?
Quotes only compare if they cover the same job. Check that each one says:
- the material, brand and thickness (20 mm or 40 mm)
- the price per m2 or per metre, and how many metres
- the edge profile, and any waterfall ends
- every cut-out: sink, cooktop and tap holes
- removal and disposal of the old top
- whether the splashback has to come off, and who replaces it
- the plumber and electrician or gas fitter costs
- the template visit and the lead time
We replace benchtops as part of partial kitchen refits on the Gold Coast, along with doors, cupboards and island benches. We book the licensed trades and give you a timeline with the proposal. See our kitchen renovations page. If the benchtop is part of a bigger job, our kitchen renovation cost guide covers cabinets, appliances and the rest.
Where do these prices come from?
Checked on 5 October 2026: QuickQuote (kitchen benchtop replacement, August 2026), What's The Damage (kitchen renovation cost, October 2026), Three Birds Renovations (benchtop costs, April 2026), Yellow Pages (stone benchtop cost, April 2025), KitchenQuote (kitchen benchtop cost, 2026), Sparky (kitchen plumbing and kitchen cabinetry, September 2026) and Laminex (compact laminate, undated). Rules from Safe Work Australia, the QBCC and the Electrical Safety Office. We will check the prices again every three months.
See our kitchen renovations work, or check what your job will cost.
