How Much Does Kitchen Renovation Cost in Melbourne 2026
If your kitchen still has laminate benchtops from the early 2000s, a rangehood that barely works, and cabinetry that's falling apart at the hinges, you're probably doing the mental maths on what a new kitchen actually costs in Melbourne. The short answer: anywhere from $15,000 for a cosmetic refresh to $70,000+ for a full custom gut-and-rebuild. The real number depends on the size of your kitchen, the materials you choose, and whether your home decides to throw you a few curveballs — and if you own a Victorian terrace, it probably will.
This guide breaks down real 2026 pricing for every component of a Melbourne kitchen renovation so you can set a realistic budget before a single tradie walks through the door.
Want a quick ballpark right now? Try the free kitchen renovation quote calculator — it takes about 30 seconds and gives you an itemised estimate.
Melbourne kitchen renovation costs at a glance
Here's what Melbourne homeowners are paying in 2026 across three common tiers:
| Renovation level | Typical cost (inc. GST) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget refresh | $15,000 – $25,000 | New doors/panels on existing carcasses, replacement benchtop, updated splashback, new tapware. No layout changes. |
| Mid-range full reno | $28,000 – $50,000 | Full strip-out, new cabinetry, stone or solid-surface benchtop, quality appliances, new flooring, electrical upgrade. |
| Luxury / custom | $55,000 – $90,000+ | Custom joinery, butler's pantry, premium integrated appliances, stone splashback, feature lighting, structural changes. |
These figures assume a standard kitchen of roughly 10–16 m². Galley kitchens under 8 m² can still hit $25,000–$35,000 for a mid-range job because minimum charges on plumbing, electrical and cabinetry don't shrink with the floorplan.
Price disclaimer: This is a price indication only. Your tradie will confirm the final price after assessing the job.
Itemised cost breakdown — where does the money go?
Here's a realistic line-by-line breakdown for a mid-range Melbourne kitchen renovation in 2026:
| Item | Cost range |
|---|---|
| Demolition and strip-out | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Cabinetry (supply and install) | $8,000 – $18,000 |
| Benchtops (supply and install) | $3,000 – $9,000 |
| Splashback (tiled or glass) | $1,200 – $4,000 |
| Appliances (oven, cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher) | $3,500 – $12,000 |
| Plumbing (sink, dishwasher, gas) | $1,800 – $4,500 |
| Electrical (lighting, powerpoints, rangehood) | $1,500 – $4,000 |
| Flooring | $1,200 – $3,500 |
| Painting and finishing | $600 – $1,500 |
| Skip bin / waste removal | $400 – $800 |
| Total | $22,700 – $60,800 |
Melbourne labour rates run about 10–15% lower than Sydney across most building trades, which helps keep the overall bill down. Material costs — cabinetry, stone, tiles, appliances — are comparable across both cities though.
Need a separate tiling quote for your splashback or floor? Or want to know what the electrical work will cost on its own? Those calculators break it down by specific trade.
The engineered stone ban — what it means for your kitchen
Since July 2024, the manufacture, supply and installation of engineered stone benchtops (brands like Caesarstone, Silestone, Essastone) has been banned across Australia due to the silicosis risk to stonemasons. This is the single biggest change to kitchen renovation pricing in Melbourne over the last two years.
Here's how it affects your renovation:
- Engineered stone is no longer an option. If you had your heart set on a Caesarstone benchtop, you'll need to look elsewhere.
- Natural stone (granite, marble, quartzite) is still available but costs 20–40% more than engineered stone used to. Expect $4,500–$9,000 installed for a standard L-shaped kitchen.
- Porcelain slab benchtops (Dekton, Neolith) have become the most popular alternative. They cost roughly the same as engineered stone did — $3,500–$7,000 installed — and are heat, scratch, and stain resistant.
- Solid surface (Corian) works well for seamless sinks and curved designs. Pricing sits at $3,000–$6,000 installed.
- Laminate benchtops remain the budget option at $1,200–$2,500 installed. Modern laminates look far better than the stuff from 20 years ago.
If you're comparing quotes from different kitchen companies, make sure they're specifying what benchtop material is included. A $35,000 quote with laminate benchtops and a $38,000 quote with porcelain slab are very different propositions.
Melbourne-specific cost factors
Victorian and Edwardian period homes
Melbourne's inner suburbs are packed with Victorian terraces and Edwardian weatherboards, and renovating their kitchens brings a set of challenges you won't find in a 2010 townhouse:
- Lath-and-plaster walls. These can't take the weight of overhead cabinetry without reinforcement. Your builder may need to install plywood backing or steel brackets behind the plaster, adding $800–$2,000.
- Uneven floors. Original timber floors in period homes are rarely level. New cabinetry needs to be scribed and shimmed to sit flat, which adds labour time.
- Non-standard room shapes. Kitchens in period homes were often small and oddly proportioned. Custom cabinetry (rather than modular flat-pack) is usually the only option that fits properly.
- Old wiring and plumbing. Homes built before 1960 often have original copper or even lead plumbing and outdated electrical circuits. A full rewire of the kitchen circuit and new plumbing rough-in can add $3,000–$6,000.
- Asbestos. Any Melbourne home built before 1990 could contain asbestos in wall linings, flooring, or eaves near the kitchen. If found, licensed removal adds $1,500–$4,500.
If your home is in Northcote, Fitzroy, Carlton, Brunswick, or similar inner-city pockets and was built before 1940, budget an extra 15–20% on top of standard quotes for period-home complications.
Suburb price variation
Kitchen renovation costs in Melbourne vary by area. Here's a general guide:
- Inner north (Northcote, Fitzroy, Collingwood): Mid to high pricing. Lots of period homes, tight site access, and street parking hassles for tradies. Expect mid-range jobs to land at $35,000–$50,000.
- Inner east (Hawthorn, Camberwell, Kew): Standard to high. Mix of period homes and post-war builds. $30,000–$48,000 mid-range.
- Premium suburbs (Toorak, Brighton, Armadale): Luxury-tier pricing is the norm. Tradies working in these areas know clients expect top finishes — quotes often start at $55,000 and run well over $80,000.
- Outer suburbs (Werribee, Cranbourne, Melton): Most competitive pricing. Newer homes with standard layouts make for straightforward jobs. Mid-range kitchens come in at $25,000–$38,000.
The gap between a Northcote kitchen reno and a Toorak one isn't just about suburb markup — it's about the scope of work that's expected and the quality of finish that clients in those areas demand.
Cabinetry — the biggest single cost
Cabinetry typically accounts for 35–45% of your total kitchen renovation budget. In Melbourne, you've got three main paths:
Flat-pack / DIY install ($4,000 – $8,000) Brands like Kaboodle (Bunnings) orDERA (DERA Kitchen) provide modular cabinets you assemble and install yourself — or pay an installer $1,500–$3,000 to fit them. Good for simple layouts in newer homes. Not ideal for period homes with uneven walls and floors.
Custom-made by a local cabinetmaker ($12,000 – $25,000) A Melbourne-based cabinetmaker measures, builds, and installs to your exact specifications. This is the standard approach for mid to high-end renovations and is essential for period homes where nothing is square. Lead times run 4–8 weeks.
Imported semi-custom ($8,000 – $15,000) Several Melbourne kitchen companies offer semi-custom cabinetry manufactured offshore (often in China or Vietnam) to your measurements. Quality has improved significantly, but check the warranty and understand that replacements can take 6–12 weeks if something arrives damaged.
Whichever path you choose, pay attention to:
- Soft-close hinges and drawer runners (standard now — don't accept anything less)
- Carcass material (moisture-resistant HMR board is minimum for kitchens)
- Door profile and finish (polyurethane spray-painted doors cost more than vinyl-wrapped but last longer)
How long does a Melbourne kitchen renovation take?
A full kitchen renovation in Melbourne typically takes 4–8 weeks from demolition to final clean. Here's a realistic timeline:
- Week 1: Demolition, strip-out, skip bin
- Week 1–2: Plumbing and electrical rough-in, any structural work, floor levelling
- Week 2–4: Cabinetry install (this is where lead times matter — cabinets should be ordered 4–8 weeks before demo starts)
- Week 4–5: Benchtop template and install (allow 5–10 working days after templating)
- Week 5–6: Splashback (tiling or glass), appliance install, second-fix plumbing and electrical
- Week 6–7: Painting, touch-ups, handles, final connections
- Week 7–8: Final clean, defect check, handover
The most common delay in Melbourne kitchen renovations is benchtop fabrication. With the shift away from engineered stone, porcelain slab fabricators are busier than ever — allow extra lead time.
You'll be without a kitchen for most of this period. Set up a temporary kitchen in the laundry or garage with a microwave, kettle, and portable cooktop. Your family will survive on takeaway for a few weeks — budget $50–$100 per week extra for eating out.
How to save money on your kitchen renovation
You can bring costs down without ending up with a kitchen you hate. Here are practical ways Melbourne homeowners keep budgets in check:
Keep the existing layout. Moving the sink means moving drains. Moving the cooktop means rerouting gas. Every layout change adds $2,000–$5,000 in plumbing and electrical costs. If the current layout works, keep it.
Spend on what you touch, save on what you don't. Invest in quality benchtops and tapware (you use them daily). Save on things like internal carcass material or basic shelving where cheaper options perform identically.
Consider a benchtop replacement only. If your cabinets are structurally sound and you just hate the look, replacing doors and benchtops alone can transform a kitchen for $8,000–$15,000.
Buy appliances during EOFY or Boxing Day sales. Melbourne kitchen renovations booked for winter (May–August) align well with these sales. Save 20–30% on appliances by timing your purchase.
Get multiple quotes and compare line by line. Three quotes minimum. Use Leadkit's free calculators to get an independent baseline before you talk to anyone.
Do your own demolition. If you're handy, stripping out the old kitchen yourself saves $1,500–$3,000. Just be careful of asbestos in older homes — get it tested first.
Browse the full range of construction and building calculators to price up individual components of your project.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How much does a basic kitchen renovation cost in Melbourne? A: A basic kitchen refresh in Melbourne — new cabinet doors, replacement benchtop, updated splashback and tapware with no layout changes — costs $15,000–$25,000 in 2026. A full mid-range renovation with new cabinetry and appliances runs $28,000–$50,000.
Q: Is a kitchen renovation cheaper in Melbourne than Sydney? A: Yes, generally. Melbourne labour rates are about 10–15% lower than Sydney for most building and finishing trades. Material costs are similar across both cities, so the overall saving usually works out to 8–12% on a like-for-like job.
Q: What replaced engineered stone benchtops in Melbourne? A: Since the 2024 ban on engineered stone, the most popular alternatives are porcelain slab (Dekton, Neolith), natural stone (granite, marble, quartzite), and solid surface (Corian). Porcelain slab has become the go-to for mid-range renovations — similar price to what engineered stone used to cost, with excellent durability.
Q: Do I need a permit for a kitchen renovation in Melbourne? A: If you're only replacing cabinetry, benchtops, and appliances without structural or layout changes, you typically don't need a building permit. If you're removing walls, changing the roofline, or altering the structure, you'll need a permit from a registered building surveyor. Plumbing and electrical work always requires licensed tradies regardless.
Q: How long will I be without a kitchen during renovation? A: Plan for 4–8 weeks without full kitchen access. Most Melbourne tradies can get a basic sink and temporary benchtop running within 2–3 weeks if needed, but the full completion takes longer. Set up a temporary cooking station elsewhere in the house.
Q: What's the biggest hidden cost in Melbourne kitchen renovations? A: In period homes, it's the structural work behind the walls — reinforcing lath-and-plaster for cabinetry, rewiring old circuits, replacing lead or corroded plumbing. In any pre-1990 home, asbestos removal can add $1,500–$4,500. Always get a pre-renovation inspection.
Q: Should I renovate my kitchen before selling my Melbourne home? A: A well-executed kitchen renovation typically adds 1.5–2x its cost to a Melbourne home's sale price in desirable suburbs. In inner-city and eastern suburbs, an outdated kitchen is the number one turnoff for buyers. In outer suburbs, a cosmetic refresh (new doors, benchtop, paint) often delivers better ROI than a full gut job.
Q: Can I claim kitchen renovation costs on tax? A: If it's your primary residence, no — kitchen renovations aren't tax-deductible. If it's an investment property, you can claim depreciation on new items (appliances, cabinetry) and may be able to claim some costs as capital improvements. Talk to your accountant about the specifics.
A Melbourne kitchen renovation in 2026 comes down to understanding your home, your layout, and where to allocate budget for maximum impact. Whether you're dealing with a heritage terrace in Northcote that needs custom everything, or a straightforward layout in a newer outer-suburbs home, you've now got a solid picture of what each component costs — and where the surprises tend to hide.
Want an instant price estimate? Use the free kitchen renovation quote calculator — takes 30 seconds, no signup.