How Much does a Kitchen Renovation Cost?

Kitchen renovations are one of the most common jobs we do at JM Homes, and the first question is almost always the same: what’s this going to cost me? Fair question. The honest answer is that it varies a lot depending on what you want to change, how big your kitchen is, and what finish you’re after.

There are still real numbers we can work from. Here’s what we’re seeing in Brisbane and South East Queensland in 2026.

What does a kitchen renovation cost in Australia?

According to the 2024 HIA Kitchens and Bathrooms Report, the national median for a kitchen renovation is around $28,000. Most of the jobs we do in Brisbane fall somewhere between $20,000 and $45,000, with a smaller number going above that for larger or more complex projects.

Here’s a rough guide to the three main price tiers. These ranges assume a standard kitchen size of around 10–15 square metres. Larger kitchens or those requiring structural work will sit at the higher end or above.

What drives the cost up (or down)?

Most people have a budget in mind, get a quote, and want to know why the number is what it is. Here’s where the money actually goes.

Layout changes

Keep the same footprint and costs stay manageable. Move the sink, shift the island, knock out a wall, and that’s where it gets expensive. Relocating plumbing alone can add $3,000–$8,000, and that’s before the plastering and tiling that follows. For example, layout changes can add $10,000–$15,000 to an otherwise straightforward job.

Cabinetry

Flatpack cabinets from suppliers like IKEA or Kaboodle are significantly cheaper than custom-made joinery, but they’re not always the right fit. Older homes and kitchens with irregular dimensions often need custom cabinetry just to fill the space properly. Even where flatpack works dimensionally, the finish is usually noticeably different once it’s installed.

Benchtops

Laminate benchtops start around $150–$300 per linear metre installed. Engineered stone (the most popular choice right now) runs from about $600–$1,200 per linear metre. Natural stone (marble, granite) starts at around $1,000 and goes up sharply from there. For a typical Brisbane kitchen, the benchtop alone can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000+ depending on what you choose.

Appliances

There’s a big gap between a $1,500 oven and a $6,000 one. Most mid-range kitchen renovations budget $5,000–$12,000 for appliances. If you already have good appliances and just want a visual refresh around them, that’s a legitimate way to keep costs down.

Trades

A typical renovation needs at minimum a licensed plumber, electrician, and tiler. Add structural work and you’re also looking at an engineer’s report, a building approval, and potentially a builder’s licence. We coordinate all of this on jobs we manage, but if you’re trying to do it yourself, the trade coordination alone is where most DIY renovations stall or blow out.

Should you go flatpack or custom?

People sometimes assume we’ll always push them toward custom joinery. We don’t. Flatpack can be the right call, particularly if you’re renovating to sell, your kitchen has a straightforward layout, or you’re genuinely budget-constrained. It’s not a compromise so much as a different product.

The catch is installation. Flatpack cabinets don’t install themselves, and a poor install looks worse than cheap cabinets deserve. If you’re doing it yourself, be honest about your skill level and your weekend availability. A job that drags on for three months while you live without a kitchen gets old fast.

Custom joinery fits better, holds up better over time, and gives you more control over the result. For kitchens with ceiling height variation, awkward angles, or where the kitchen is a real feature of the home, it’s usually worth the extra cost.

How long does a kitchen renovation take?

A like-for-like replacement (same layout, new everything else) usually takes 3–5 weeks once work starts. Layout changes, extensions, or structural work push that to 6–10 weeks. 

Appliances and stone benchtops are the two things most likely to delay a job right now. Both have had supply issues in recent years, so it’s worth confirming lead times before you lock in a start date.

What about a kitchen renovation as part of a home renovation?

Some of the best kitchen renovations we’ve done in Brisbane have been part of a wider renovation or extension project. When you’re already opening up walls, it’s often a good opportunity to reconfigure the whole ground floor, giving the kitchen more space, better flow through to a living area, or access to an outdoor entertaining space. 

We did exactly this for a client in Albany Creek: a small home extension allowed us to completely rethink the layout and install a brand-new kitchen as part of the build. The results made the whole home feel different.

If that’s the kind of project you’re considering, it’s worth talking early. The design and approval process takes time, and the decisions you make at the start affect everything that follows.

Getting an accurate quote

There’s no shortcut here. The only way to get an accurate price is to have someone measure your space, understand what you want, and put together a proper scope of work. The figures in this article give you a rough sense of what to budget, but they’re not quotes.

A few things that will help when you get to that point:

• Know your non-negociables. If you’ve always wanted a 900mm rangehood or a particular stone, say so upfront. It’s easier to design around them than to retrofit.
• Be clear about the extent of what you want changed. A ‘refresh’ (new doors and benchtop) is very different from a full gut-and-rebuild.
• Ask about the project management approach: who coordinates the trades, who’s on-site, and how variations are handled.

At JM Home, we do kitchen renovations as part of renovation and extension projects across Brisbane and South East Queensland. 

If you have plans finalised and are ready to get started, then talk to us.