How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Sydney?

Nationally, kitchen renovations average about $42,600 installed, with a median around $35,000. In Sydney, a like-for-like quality refresh — new joinery, decent appliances, stone-look benchtop, nothing structural — realistically runs $45,000–$90,000. Budget cosmetic updates can be done for $15,000–$25,000, and premium or structural kitchens run well past $100,000.

The honest headline: Sydney kitchens cost more than the national averages you'll read elsewhere, mostly because of labour and joinery. At Aurum Built, full kitchen renovations start from $16,500 + GST — with every allowance itemised in writing before you sign.

Where the money goes

Component	Typical range
Cabinetry / joinery	$6,000 – $18,000
Benchtops	$2,000 – $9,000
Appliances	$3,000 – $15,000+
Plumbing & electrical	$2,000 – $5,000
Splashback	$500 – $2,000
Flooring	$1,500 – $4,000
Labour / installation	$6,000 – $15,000

Cabinetry is the single biggest line — commonly 35–40% of the project. It's also where quotes hide the most: "custom joinery" can mean anything from melamine carcasses with custom doors to fully made-to-measure cabinets. Ask what yours means.

The benchtop question (2026)

Engineered stone benchtops are banned in Australia (since 1 July 2024, over silicosis risk). The mainstream replacements:

• Porcelain / sintered stone: $300–$700/m² installed — the closest look-alike, exempt from the ban;
• Laminate: $142–$440 per lineal metre made-to-order in Sydney;
• Granite $700–$1,700/m²; marble $800–$3,000/m².

Extras to budget: sink cut-out around $250, drainage grooves around $350. Any quote still offering "engineered stone" is a red flag on compliance.

What pushes a kitchen past $60k

Moving services (gas, water, drainage), knocking through walls (engineering + approvals), premium appliance packages (a mid-range whole-kitchen set is ~$15,000; luxury sets $50,000+), stone waterfalls and integrated appliances. Keeping the existing layout is the single biggest saving — often $10,000+.

How Aurum quotes kitchens

Same method as our bathrooms: a written scope with a dollar allowance for every element — joinery, benchtop material and metreage, appliances, splashback — so you can compare any competing quote line-for-line, and any upgrade is priced as the difference, nothing more. NSW licence 481876C (verify with Fair Trading); jobs over $20,000 carry HBCF insurance with your deposit capped at 10% by law. All work is covered by our 6-year workmanship warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Is $25,000 enough for a Sydney kitchen?

For a cosmetic update in the existing layout — flat-pack or semi-custom carcasses, laminate benchtop, existing appliances — yes. For new custom joinery and a stone-look benchtop, budget from the mid-$40s.

What's the best-value benchtop since the engineered stone ban?

Porcelain/sintered stone at $300–$700/m² installed gives the closest look and performance; premium laminate has closed the style gap at a third of the price.

Do kitchen renovations add value?

Sydney agents and builders typically cite 70–90% cost recovery plus faster sale times — strongest when the spend matches the street (don't put a $120k kitchen in a $1.2m house).

Can you reuse my existing layout?

Usually yes, and it's the biggest saving available — if the work triangle already works, we keep services where they are and put the budget into joinery and surfaces.

Ready to start? Aurum Built handles kitchen & bathroom renovations across Sydney. You might also like our bathroom renovation cost guide and kitchen renovation checklist. For a selection-based starting figure, use our Sydney kitchen renovation cost calculator. You can also compare these figures with the renovation threads we summarise in our lessons-from-Reddit roundup.

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Renovations Kitchens Budgeting