Three rough bands
Every kitchen is different. These bands are a rough guide for budgeting, not a price for your job.
| Project type | As a rough guide (2026) | What it usually involves |
|---|---|---|
| Makeover or like-for-like replacement | Roughly $15,000 – $40,000 | New doors or cabinetry, benchtops, splashback and hardware in the same layout |
| Custom kitchen with island | Roughly $40,000 – $65,000 | Custom joinery, new or larger island, better hardware and surfaces |
| Showpiece kitchen | $65,000 and up | Butler's pantry, wall removal or layout change, premium finishes |
Butler's pantries and alfresco kitchens are priced on their size, services and finishes. Appliances are generally an allowance on top.
What sits inside the price
- Design and drawings.
- Demolition and waste removal.
- Plumbing, gas and electrical.
- Cabinetry supply and installation.
- Benchtops and splashback.
- Sink, tapware and appliance installation.
- Patching, painting and making good.
- Final clean.
The choices that move the budget
Layout. Keeping the plumbing and cooking positions is the biggest saving. Moving walls, sinks and gas adds trades, time and patching.
Cabinetry. Laminate, two-pack painted, timber veneer or thermoformed doors, the number of drawers, internal organisers and hinge and runner quality.
Benchtops. Laminate at one end, porcelain and natural stone at the other, with thickness, waterfall ends, mitred edges and cut-outs adding cost. Engineered stone has been banned since 1 July 2024.
Appliances. Integrated fridges, steam or combination ovens, ducted rangehoods and induction cooktops add up quickly.
Butler's pantry. A second workspace with its own benches, storage and potentially plumbing.
Structural changes. Load-bearing wall removal needs engineering, a beam and sometimes approval.
Extra costs in some Hills homes
- Asbestos testing and removal in homes built or renovated before about 1990.
- Switchboard upgrades for induction cooktops and extra circuits.
- Floor replacement where a wall has been removed or old cabinets sat on the slab.
- Removing existing engineered stone safely.
- Strata requirements in townhouses and apartments.
Payments in NSW
The maximum deposit for residential building work in NSW is 10 per cent. For work over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested, and there should be a written contract. Progress payments should line up with completed stages.
Why you need an on-site quote
Two kitchens of the same size can be priced very differently once the layout, joinery, benchtops, appliances and condition of the house are known. That's why we don't publish per-metre rates or "average" prices. A proper on-site quote is the only way to get a customised price for your kitchen — we measure, design around how you live and entertain, and give you a written, itemised quote. See the design and build process.
Book your quote
Call 02 4404 0243 or share your kitchen plans to book a measure and design consultation.
Questions people ask before they commit
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in the Hills District in 2026?
As a rough guide only: roughly $15,000 to $40,000 for a makeover or like-for-like replacement, $40,000 to $65,000 for a custom kitchen with an island, and $65,000 and up for a showpiece kitchen with a butler's pantry or layout changes. Every kitchen is different, so a customised price needs an on-site quote.
What costs the most in a kitchen?
Cabinetry is usually the largest single item, followed by benchtops and appliances. Structural changes, relocating plumbing and gas, and premium finishes are the biggest multipliers.
What deposit can be requested in NSW?
The maximum deposit for residential building work in NSW is 10 per cent. For work over $20,000, home building compensation cover must be in place before a deposit is requested.
Are appliances included in these bands?
Installation is included, but appliances themselves vary so much that they are usually shown as a separate allowance. Integrated and premium appliances can change the total considerably.
How can we keep costs down?
Keep the sink, cooktop and dishwasher roughly where they are, choose laminate or a mid-range door finish, balance a premium island benchtop with a simpler back bench, and finalise selections before manufacture.