How much do kitchen renovations cost?

Kitchens are the heart of every home. But if your kitchen doesn’t make your heart sing, it might be time to renovate. Kitchen renovations are a great way to add value to your home while tailoring the space to your needs. Before you dive in, let’s look at some approximate costs from a budget reno to a full makeover.

Kitchen renovation cost guide

A kitchen renovation can cost anywhere from $10,000 to well over $40,000 depending on whether you’re dreaming of the ultimate entertainer’s kitchen or simply looking to spruce up a tired space with some more modern choices. Here are some ballpark costs for the type of renovation you might be looking for.

A quick refresh: $10,000

For a small kitchen that needs a little tweaking to make the space a bit more functional, you’ll need a budget of $5,000 to $15,000. You should be able to resurface or replace your cabinetry with a flatpack kitchen along with a laminate benchtop, stainless steel sink and some simple tiling. You’ll likely need to stick to your existing layout (keeping plumbing and electricals in place) with vinyl or laminate flooring and low-cost appliances.

A standard reno: $20,000

A medium-sized budget of $15,000 to $35,000 will give you a little more flexibility. You could consider more expensive engineered stone benchtops and slightly fancier cabinetry (think polyurethane or a 2PAC finish). Your budget should extend to a designer tile or glass splashback, and you could look at large format tiles or hardwood timber flooring. When it comes to appliances, you should be able to choose a quality big brand.

A full makeover: $40,000+

If you live and breathe food and entertaining, a substantial budget of over $40,000 should give you the premium look and high-end functionality you’re after. From custom cabinets made from timber or high-end 2PAC to premium engineered or natural stone bench tops, your kitchen will ooze style. Enjoy the flexibility of moving the plumbing and electricity to suit your designer layout and choose top-quality appliances with all the bells and whistles.

What you’ll spend your money on

There are many elements you’ll need to consider when planning your kitchen renovation to help you understand your budget. Kitchen renovation costs may include:

• Cabinetry
• Surfaces including benchtops, flooring and splashback
• Sink and taps
• Appliances including oven, cooktop and dishwashing
• Lighting
• Design
• Trade costs
• Demolition and rubbish removal
• Plastering
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Tiling
• Carpentry
• Painting

Here’s a price range for key items in your kitchen¹:

• Tiles: from $20 to $100 per square metre
• Oven: from $400 to $5,000
• Dishwasher: from $400 to $2,000
• Benchtop: from $100 to $2,000 per metre

How to stretch your budget

Looking to get the most bang for your buck? Try these top dollar saving tricks.

• Tackle tasks yourself– every bit of work you do yourself saves you money on trades. Consider removing old cabinetry, bench tops and flooring yourself and take the waste to the tip. Just remember, plumbing and electrical needs to be removed by licensed trades.
• Keep your plumbing and electrical services in place – moving plumbing and electrical services is considerably more expensive than installing new connections. If you can, stick to the same layout and save.
• Cut down on cabinetry – good storage is essential in a well-functioning kitchen, but not everything has to be tucked away out of sight. Integrate open shelving into your design and you could slash hundreds off your cabinetry bill.
• Skip the big brands – while quality appliances are a must, don’t feel pressure to buy the most expensive brands. Do your research and you might find a lesser known brand that rates well at a fraction of the cost. Or, peruse Facebook Marketplace for a second-hand steal.
• DIY the little things – while going it alone for the whole reno might be a bridge too far, think about the easier jobs like painting you can do yourself.

How to pay for your kitchen renovation

If you’ve got your head around your budget and you’re ready to start renovating, the last step is to work out how to pay for it. A renovation loan can be a great way to get into your dream kitchen sooner, no matter how big or small your design ideas.

At Plenti, we offer personal loans up to $50,000 for kitchen renovations. Get started by submitting a rate estimate today.

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