How much does a home renovation cost in Brisbane?
Cost is usually the first real hurdle once you’ve decided to renovate. Most people have a rough number in mind, but the reality is it can shift quite a bit depending on what you’re doing.
If you’re asking how much home renovation costs in Brisbane or trying to set a budget, the honest answer is that it varies. Scope, finishes, and how much you’re changing all play a part. Still, there are some reliable ranges that can help you plan properly.
What does a typical renovation cost?
For a full home renovation in Brisbane, most projects land between $300,000 and $750,000 depending on size and complexity.
That’s a wide range, but it reflects how different renovations can be. A light internal update is very different to a full remodel or extension.
It’s usually easier to break costs down by area rather than trying to pin one number on the whole project.
Bathroom renovation costs
Bathrooms are one of the most common upgrades, and also one of the easiest places to underestimate.
Across Australia, the average bathroom renovation sits around the mid-$20,000 mark. In Brisbane, most projects fall into a similar range.
As a guide:
- Around $20,000 to $27,000 for a standard bathroom
- $25,000 to $35,000 or more for higher-end finishes
You can spend less for a basic refresh, but once waterproofing, tiling, plumbing, and electrical are involved, costs add up quickly.
Bathrooms tend to look simple on the surface, but they’re one of the most trade-heavy parts of the home.
Kitchen renovation costs
Kitchens follow a similar pattern but with a wider spread depending on size and materials.
A typical kitchen renovation often sits between $22,000 and $40,000, though it can go lower or higher depending on the scope.
In Brisbane, most kitchens range between:
- $15,000 for a smaller, simple update
- $40,000 to $50,000+ for larger or more customised designs
Cabinetry, benchtops, and appliances take up a big portion of the budget. Custom joinery and layout changes will push things higher.
We often see homeowners start with a modest plan, then upgrade finishes along the way. That’s usually where costs start creeping up.
Home extensions and larger renovations
Once you move beyond single rooms, pricing changes significantly. For extensions on their own, our recent completed projects give a clear picture. A bedroom, deck, laundry and ensuite came in around $300,000. A new portion of driveway, double garage and enclosed patio deck above came in around $375,000.
The majority of our work involves both a renovation and an extension to the existing home. Those projects vary in cost from $300,000 to $750,000, with $400,000 to $550,000 being the median range. The costs vary with every project due to different levels of finishes and scope of works.
High-end reno and extension projects can creep up to $1.3-1.4m due to site access, scope, the level of finishes to be achieved and variations.
House raising and building under
For homeowners looking to raise an existing home and build underneath, costs vary considerably depending on the site, the scope, and the level of finish required.
Our completed raise and build-under projects have ranged from $450,000 to $1.2 million, with $600,000 to $800,000 being the median. Current budgets for these projects are running between $600,000 and $1.2 million for the same reasons: every site is different, and the scope and finishes change the number substantially.
What actually drives the cost?
Two renovations can look similar on paper and end up very different in price. A few factors usually explain why.
How much you’re changing
Keeping the existing layout is almost always cheaper. Moving walls, plumbing, or structural elements increases labour and complexity.
Level of finish
There’s a noticeable jump between standard and high-end materials. Tiles, cabinetry, and fixtures can shift your budget quickly.
Age of the home
Older homes like Queenslanders or post-war homes often come with hidden issues. Outdated wiring, plumbing, or structural problems can add costs once work starts.
Site conditions
Access, slope, and working space around the home can affect how easily trades can do their job. Tight or difficult sites tend to cost more.
Where budgets usually blow out
This is the part many people don’t expect. The biggest cost increases usually come from:
- Changing plans after work has started
- Upgrading finishes mid-project
- Fixing hidden issues uncovered during the build
Even small changes can add up when they happen across multiple areas.
How to budget properly
If you want to avoid surprises, a bit of planning goes a long way. Allow a contingency of around 10 to 20 percent. It gives you breathing room if something unexpected comes up.
Get detailed quotes rather than rough estimates. Breaking the project down properly makes it easier to see where your money is going. It also helps you spot early where you might need to scale things back or adjust finishes to stay within budget.
Final thoughts
There isn’t a single answer to how much a renovation costs in Brisbane. A bathroom might sit in the mid-$20,000 range, a kitchen can vary widely, and larger renovations or extensions can move into the hundreds of thousands.
What matters most is matching your budget to what you’re actually trying to achieve. If you’re clear on your priorities early, it’s much easier to keep the project on track and avoid surprises.
