Cost calculator
Kitchen renovation cost calculator
for Melbourne, 2026.
Pick your kitchen size, the finish level and whether the layout changes. Get a cost range with a breakdown across cabinetry, benchtops, appliances, trades and contingency.
Three inputs
Answer three questions. See a real range.
No email required. No form gate. Results update as you change the inputs.
Estimated Melbourne cost range
— to —
Where the money goes
| Category | Share | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry & joinery | 35% | — | — |
| Benchtops & splashback | 15% | — | — |
| Appliances | 20% | — | — |
| Plumbing, electrical & labour | 20% | — | — |
| Design, project mgmt & contingency | 10% | — | — |
Every renovation also costs you four to eight weeks of no kitchen. The eating-out calculator prices what a family typically spends on takeaway and cafés across that stretch.
How it's calculated
Ranges from the HIA report, applied to Melbourne rates.
Base rates by finish tier
Per-square-metre installed rates for a full renovation, Melbourne 2026. Ranges reflect what most established local trades quote for a like-for-like scope; the lower end assumes disciplined choices, the upper end assumes premium selections and unexpected finds behind the wall.
- Budget $1,500 – $2,500 / sqm
- Mid-range $2,500 – $4,500 / sqm
- Premium $4,500 – $8,000 / sqm
Size and layout multipliers
Size uses the midpoint of the range shown on each option (8sqm, 15sqm, 25sqm). Layout change adds a compounding multiplier — moving plumbing and electrical fixtures adds roughly 15% to a standard renovation total; a full gut with structural change adds around 30%.
- Same layout ×1.00
- Some moved ×1.15
- Full gut ×1.30
Category breakdown
Total is split across five categories using long-standing industry-standard percentages. Real jobs vary — a kitchen with a single expensive appliance choice will pull the appliance share higher — but this is the shape of a typical Melbourne quote.
- Cabinetry & joinery 35%
- Benchtops & splashback 15%
- Appliances 20%
- Plumbing, electrical & labour 20%
- Design, PM & contingency 10%
Sources: HIA Kitchens & Bathrooms Report (industry rates and category splits) — hia.com.au. Licensing and consumer-quote guidance — vba.vic.gov.au, consumer.vic.gov.au.
Common questions
Reading the number in context.
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How accurate is this estimate?
It's a range, not a quote. The three variables in the calculator explain most of the variance in Melbourne kitchen jobs, but individual quotes still swing on things like appliance brand choice, tile selection, floor levelling and access. Treat the low figure as achievable with disciplined choices and the high figure as realistic if anything unexpected shows up behind the wall.
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What's not included in the estimate?
The figure covers the kitchen itself — cabinetry, benchtops, appliances, connections and labour. It doesn't include floors extending into adjacent rooms, painting the rest of the house, structural work to remove a load-bearing wall (that's a separate engineering scope), or the cost of eating for the weeks the kitchen is out. The eating-out calculator handles that last one separately.
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Why is finish quality the biggest lever?
Because everything scales with it. Flatpack cabinetry runs $500-1,200 per linear metre installed; the same run in custom two-pack finish is $2,000-4,000. A standard 60cm oven is $800-1,500; an integrated European oven with matching cooktop is $6,000+. Multiply those choices across a full kitchen and finish quality alone can double the total.
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How much does moving plumbing add?
Relocating the sink typically adds $1,500-3,500 in plumbing rough-in and finishing work, plus tiling and cabinetry adjustments around the new position. Moving the stove or dishwasher is similar for gas or electrical rough-in. If the change requires notifying a licensed plumber under Victoria's water regulations, that adds compliance certification work — details on the VBA's licensing pages.
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How do I keep the estimate honest with builders?
Get three like-for-like quotes on the same written brief — same cabinetry finish, same benchtop material, same appliance model numbers, same layout. Verbal quotes drift; itemised written quotes on identical scope are directly comparable. Consumer Affairs Victoria publishes guidance on getting building work quoted.
Renovating soon? Book the kitchen weeks now.
Melbourne bookings for popular weeks lock in six to eight weeks ahead. Send dates and address and you'll have a firm quote the same day.