Getting an idea of your kitchen and bathroom renovation costs is critical to planning an overall budget for your project.

Not only are these two rooms the most expensive rooms to renovate, but they are also spaces that we spend a lot of time in – so you want to make sure you spend your cash wisely. The investment you make in your kitchen and bathroom is also going to add the most value to your property.

Our guide to kitchen and bathroom renovation costs is here to help you develop a realistic budget to work from and know how much you can expect to outlay on these two rooms.

Let’s start with your plan – because without a plan your project has no hope of success.

Planning your kitchen and bathroom renovation

The first step is to plan your kitchen and bathroom renovation. This should begin with:

• An outline of what you want from these rooms and what features are on your must-have list.
• Think about how you want to use these spaces, and how they relate to the rest of your home.
• Get inspiration and design ideas for your project from sites like Houzz
• Start researching materials, specs, appliances and fittings to get an understanding of what your desired style will cost
• You can then develop a budget to work from

Remember – budget blowouts usually occur due to a lack of planning. We can’t stress this enough.

When it comes time to choosing materials, appliances and fittings you will find that you have to strike a balance between stuff that you really want (nice-to-haves), and those that you can afford (must-haves). This is often an exercise in adjusting your expectations to fit your budget. The trick is to research prices in advance so you have a clear idea of the material costs.

Plan to divide your costs into three main buckets:

• Materials including bathroom fittings & fixtures, tiles and kitchen appliances
• Project Management, direct labour & installation costs
• Lawyers, consultants, designers & engineers fees

It is also useful to know what sorts of projects or features can push your costs up – so let’s take a look at some of these.

Projects that will make your kitchen or bathroom renovation cost more

It is good to know upfront about any works that are going to escalate your costs, so you can decide if they are worth doing. Some jobs simply take more time and/or we need specialised equipment to get the work done. For a kitchen and bathroom renovation any of the following works will make your project cost more:

1. Undertaking any structural work

Structural work is any job that impacts the walls, ceilings and floor of your building, such as removing an internal wall. For this we would need our structural engineers to come and assess what walls are load bearing.

They will then prepare drawings that confirm what size beam and columns are required, and how we should install these elements. On top of their cost is the labour required to remove the wall and change the layout of the room.

2. Changing the layout of current designs – Moving plumbing/or electrical   

Installing new plumbing in an existing home or moving plumbing and electricals can also be labour intensive projects.

So be prepared to factor the extra cost into your budget, as you may need to commission structural drawings and x-ray the floors to determine the location of steel and/or other services. In terms of the works, we typically have to jackhammer the floors and/or walls to install the new pipework and/or electricals.

To keep costs down you should consider keeping services where they are, but if relocating services is a must, it is usually possible but be prepared to pay additional fees for this type of work.

3. The materials you choose – Tiles, fixtures and fitting, appliances  

For your bathroom renovation, the costs of your fixtures and fittings will impact your budget. As an example, you get a modern back to wall toilet pan for $350 with the same warranty and lifespan and you could pay $760 for the exact same toilet pan in a different brand! They are both identical. We have provided a table below in the next sections to help you out with approximate costs of certain materials.

The tiles you choose can also increase your overall renovation costs, be aware that if you opt for smaller tiles – like mosaics and subway tiles – this will take the tiler longer to lay, so cost more; the same applies for tiles which have a pattern which needs to be followed for example tile pattern images or actual tile layout as with the herringbone, chevron or cobblestone styles. We have the right tilers for the job and can get it done but expect an increase in total cost.

The same applies when installing floating vanities where we will need to relocate floor pipes behind walls, which could involve time jackhammering and finding a way to make this work. Frameless shower screens are another potential budget buster, as the toughened glass used costs more than that of a semi-frameless version.

4. Kitchen finishes that cost more – Premium & thicker stone, polyurethane, special doors

In the kitchen opting for more expensive ranges of stone – as opposed to laminate – can also inflate your budget. If you want to have a Caesarstone kitchen benchtop, be aware that the fancier Deluxe, Premium, Supernatural and Supernatural Ultra are all pricier.

You also pay more for thicker stone and non-standard edge profiles – like a mitred apron edge or shadow line edge join. Other projects that involve more work also include integrated appliances, pull out pantries, and any special doors such as pocket doors and pull up hinges.

5. Changing your mind

If you want to avoid a budget blowout then you also need to stick to what you have chosen and not change your mind. This could be selecting new materials, fittings or fixtures which cost more or changing the scope of the job. This will usually involve more work to redesign the scope of works and carry the work out- especially if it impacts other parts of the renovation.

As you can see avoiding these types of jobs will help you keep your budget in check. But there are also other ways to minimise costs and ensure you stick to your budget.

Smart kitchen and bathroom renovation budgeting

Looking for ways to save on your kitchen or bathroom renovation? Here are some ideas to get you going:

• As we have just seen, keeping all your plumbing – shower, sink, bathtub, toilet and basin – in one place is going to save you a heap
• Make sure you coordinate your trades so they follow each other in a logical way. This will make sure you avoid delays which will cost you. If you work with us we actually do all this for you!
• Choose consistent materials – like tiles – so these can be used throughout your kitchen and bathroom. Buying in bulk normally gets you a discount.
• Shop at auctions or online for bargains. Sites like 2nds World can help you save a heap if you are not bothered by an appliance that is a factory second, carton damaged or refurbished.

We will work with you to get a more accurate picture of your costs. You can make informed decisions about where you can save, as well as the areas where you want to spend a little more.

Now, let’s take a look at kitchens and bathrooms to give you an idea of what costs you can expect.

New Kitchen Costs Guide– How much does a kitchen cost?

Here we are going to take you through your options and give you a ballpark idea of costs. Use this as a guide, as your home is unique, so costs will vary depending on the size and condition of your property as well as the quality of materials you choose. The only way we will definitely know the cost breakdown for your kitchen is to visit your home, measure up and work with you to select all the materials, fittings and appliances.

A useful starting point is to look at kitchens in three different price brackets, and see what you can expect to get in terms of materials, in each.

• Economical: $25,000 – $30,000
• Mid-range: $30,000 – $35,000
• Premium: $35,000 – $40,000

Plan to divide your costs into two main buckets:

• Material costs such as kitchen appliances, sink & tap etc (TABLE 1)
• Project Management, direct labour & installation costs (TABLE 2)

Table 1. Appliance costs

Below are approximate only costs. These are items which need to be designed, fabricated, & installed by professional trades people only. We have added cost impacting items to allow you a better understanding of what will affect the final price.

Table 2. Project management, labour and direct materials

Economical Kitchen Renovation Costs: $25,000 – $30,000

As you can see from the table, a budget kitchen renovation package gets you laminate cabinets and benchtops. Laminate is a paper compressed at high pressure with a durable top layer, which is fused to HMR board and is acost-effectivee and long lasting surface. It is also easy to clean and comes in a wide variety of designs. Visit Laminex to get an idea of a laminate finish and the range of designs available. To cut costs a budget kitchen will also have a tile splashback, which is cheaper than glass or engineered stone. Tiles can give a more rustic or custom feel, like the current trend for subway tiles. Kitchen flooring needs to be practical and look good – and there are a wide range of budget materials to choose from. These include vinyl and laminate, as well as ceramic tiles. We recommend tiles as they are more practical for an area that gets a lot of foot traffic and could get wet. When it comes to shopping for your kitchen appliances, entry level brands include Chef, Westinghouse, Kelvinator, LG and Beko.

Mid-range Kitchen Renovation Costs: $30,000 – $35,000

For a mid-range kitchen the extra outlay gets you engineered stone benchtops, polyurethane fronted cabinets and a glass splashback. Glass makes a great splashback as it is easy to clean, and you can choose from any number of Dulux colours to customise it or opt for a mirror or a metallic finish.  Engineered stone like Caesarstone or Qauntum Quartz ($$) makes a great option for your kitchen benchtops. Not only does engineered stone looks fantastic, but it is non-porous and can take a beating. Both manufacturers have a wide range of colour choices on offer and are always bringing new versions to the market. For your flooring, mid-range option includes hardwood or tiles. When it comes to shopping for your appliances mid-range brands include Electrolux, Bosch, Fisher & Paykel, Omega, Asko and Panasonic.

Premium Kitchen Renovation Costs: $35,000+

If you are going to spend big on your kitchen reno then you expect the best – and rightly so. Here you can choose between engineered stone or natural stone – like marble or granite – benchtops. These could extend to to you splashback if you like this look. Your cabinetry will also be polyurethane, but can be more themed – like retro Shaker or heritage style doors. For your floors, either tiles or hardwood flooring will suit a premium kitchen.  You will also be looking for top drawer appliances for your premium kitchen, and here look at AEG, Miele, Neff and Smeg.

Note that all our kitchens come with quality soft closing hinges and runners from Blum.

How long will my kitchen renovation take?

You should allow about 3 to 4 weeks for a full kitchen renovation. Do not make the mistake of trying to live through the renovation. We advise you budget for alternative accommodation during this time or going to live with family and friends. You should also seriously consider renovating the bathroom and kitchen concurrently, to minimise disruption and save on labour costs.

In terms of keeping tabs on the progress of your project, we advise you should check in at least once a week to observe progress and provide input. We believe strongly in communicating and consulting with you throughout the process to ensure your job gets done on time.

Bathroom Renovation Cost Australia: How much does a bathroom renovation cost Australia?

Bathrooms actually cost as much as a kitchen, even though they often have a smaller footprint. Why? Kitchens are often dominated by cabinetry, which is fairly easy to install once it is built. Bathrooms on the other hand have a lot of tiling – walls and floors – which are often difficult to remove. So besides the cost of the tiles, you are also being charged for the time it takes to remove them. Then the room will need to be relevelled and waterproofed ready for the new tiles to be laid. And if you are thinking of changing the layout, be aware moving plumbing takes more time and costs more.

Just like our kitchen section, we break our bathrooms into three different price brackets:

• Economical: $25,000 – $30,000
• Mid-range: $30,000 – $35,000
• Premium: $35,000 – $40,000

Plan to divide your costs into two main buckets:

• Material costs such as fixtures and fittings, tiles, taps etc (TABLE 1)
• Project Management, direct labour & installation costs (TABLE 2)

Table 1: Bathroom material costs

Below are some approximate costs for the total project management, labour and direct materials associated with a bathroom renovation. We have added cost impacting items to allow you a better understanding of what will affect the final price.

Table 2. Project management, labour and direct materials

Economical Bathroom Renovation Costs: $25,000 – $30,000

A budget bathroom renovation is all about keeping the costs down. Start by choosing porcelain or ceramic tiles in the $20-$30/sqm range. A decent quality vanity with storage is going to cost anywhere from $300 (600-700mm) to $400 (1200mm), a toilet $250 and a freestanding bathtub $650. At this price point expect to budget for a framed ($400) or semi-framed ($800) shower screen.

Mid-range Bathroom Renovation Costs: $30,000 – $35,000

For a mid-range bathroom you can look to update some elements, including mixer taps, shower heads with more features, semi-frameless shower screens, large format tiles, floor mounted vanities, in-cradle or freestanding bathtubs and back to wall toilets.

For a mid-range bathroom, you can look at tiles in the $30-$50/sqm range, and focus on porcelain which is more durable. Bathroom vanities are going to be in the $400 (600-700mm) to $500 (1200mm) range, with a toilet ($400+) and freestanding bathtub ($800+). At this price point you will want or semi-framed ($800) or frameless ($1000+) shower screen.

Premium Bathroom Renovation Costs: $35,000+

A premium bathroom is all about having the best, which includes installing items like ceiling shower heads, full frameless shower screens, mosaics and subway tiles, wall hung vanities, in-cradle or freestanding bathtubs and in wall cisterns.

In terms of approximate costs, top quality porcelain tiles ($60+sqm) for your floor and walls. A high spec vanity (600-700mm) will cost $500+ with a larger 1200mm version ($600+), a luxurious freestanding tub $1000+ and a high end toilet anywhere from $600+.  Finish it off with a frameless ($1000+) shower screen to give it that seamless look.

How long will my bathroom renovation take?

You should allow about 3 to 4 weeks for a full bathroom renovation. Do not make the mistake of trying to live in your home during this time, and instead look to find alternative accommodation or go to live with family or friends.

You should also seriously consider renovating the bathroom and kitchen concurrently, to minimise disruption and save on labour costs.

Suppliers we recommend

Ready to start getting ideas and looking at products and materials for your kitchen and bathroom reno?

We are based in Alexandria, so are lucky to have access to a huge range of suppliers in the local area, including:

Appliances Online

Bunnings

Reece

Alternatively view our other suppliers list page here.

Why renovate with us?

The main thing we do is take the stress off your shoulders.

How?

By working with you in the planning phase to help work out a detailed budget that takes everything into account. We then project manage your kitchen and bathroom reno from start to finish, and deliver your project on time and to budget.  And you get to deal directly with us, which mean no sales reps or chasing tradies – we coordinate everything and make it happen. We also use a network of top notch tradesmen and contractors for all our projects. Needless to say they are experienced licensed professionals who take pride in the work they carry out.

Complete kitchen and bathroom renovations are our bread and butter and we have lost count how many we have worked on. We also handle everything from apartment renovations to terraces and complete home renovations.

To get an idea of the renovation fee options we offer please click here.