How Much Does A New Kitchen Cost?
Renovating a kitchen is arguably one of the most exciting and popular home renovations you can undertake. The shiny new appliances, new backsplash, new cabinets, a whole new layout… remodeling a kitchen is a whole lot of fun.
However, there’s no denying the cost of a new kitchen can be pricey, especially if you don’t plan and budget ahead of time. So, how much does a new kitchen cost? This isn’t an easily answered question until you know the size of your space, you’ve chosen your materials, appliances and other inclusions.
It will also depend on the home improvement contractor you hire to do the job.
The good news is if you do your research, budget effectively and hire the right team for the job, you’ll end up with your dream kitchen and without any shock bills at the end of it all. And, there are also tips and tricks to save on the costs of a new kitchen, which we’ll reveal in this article.
The Average Cost of a New Kitchen
Like we said before, how much a new kitchen costs depends on several factors, and overall you could be paying anywhere between $12,000 to $30,000 or more (without factoring in your appliances). When beginning your research, we suggest starting with Archicentre , which has detailed costing reports for each room of the house for you to download. It explains costs in a reasoned manner and provides you with independent and informed advice. They estimate a kitchen renovation will cost anywhere from $12,000 to $30,000 thousand dollars - not including white goods!
Meanwhile, a recentHIA (Housing Industry Association) survey determined the average cost to renovate a kitchen is $26,280 (not including appliances). For budget kitchens, you might be looking between $10,000 to $25,0000, while mid-range kitchens range between $20,000 to $45,000 and luxury questions can start at $45,000 and exceed $100,000.
It’s also important to remember that quotes are only estimates of what the renovation is expected to cost. Oftentimes, these estimates change as the project progresses, which is especially true if there are delays caused by supply issues or changes to original plans. Also, new work often uncovers existing problems like water-damage house frames or mold, which means more delays and more work and more money. That’s why when budgeting your kitchen renovation, always allow room for unforeseen problems and extra costs.
How Materials Affect Price
The first question many homeowners have when thinking about renovating their kitchen is how to get a beautiful new kitchen without breaking the bank. Well, apart from the size of the space you’re renovating, a lot of costs come down to materials and other inclusions. For example:
- Melamine doors and drawer fronts are inexpensive options, while solid timber or high gloss two-pack polyurethane doors will cost you a lot more.
- A laminate benchtop can cost around $3,000 whie a natural stone benchtop might set you back $10,000 or more.
- Choose acrylic splashback and you're looking at a few hundred dollars, while high quality tiles can cost thousands.
Then, of course, you need to think about appliances which can range from low-end budget to high-end white goods that cost two to three times more than its budget counterparts. You also have to think about plumbing costs and electricity costs, flooring and painting. You also have to consider the cost of sinks, taps and other accessories. Each of these items can be inexpensive or very expensive.
When it comes to budgeting for a new kitchen, you can always make compromises. You might choose expensive backsplash and opt for cheaper flooring, for example. However, the one thing you should never compromise on is the quality of construction. For example, you must be willing to spend more for quality and well-built cabinets and drawers. If these fall apart, your whole kitchen will fall apart so it’s worthwhile investing in quality from the get-go.
How to Save When Renovating Your Kitchen
There are several ways to save on costs when installing a new kitchen, but one of the biggest cost-saving measures is having the sink, taps, cooktop, oven and fridge installed in the same location. If you start moving around sinks and taps, a plumber will need to move the pipes and an electrician will have to move or add more powerpoints for your cooktop, oven and fridge. Flooring is another place where you can save – you might not even need new flooring. Or, if you do, you can choose an inexpensive option like vinyl flooring. Tiled is more expensive, as is wood.
Labour Costs of Kitchen Renovation
Homeowners often get caught up in the costs of materials for a new kitchen and forget about labour costs. Building a new kitchen takes a team of tradesmen, including plumbers, electricians, carpenters and painters. Below is a table from HIREtrades Australia on the average cost of tradesmen per hour depending on which capital city you live in. The below prices include overheads and profit.
Plumber
- Sydney $97 – $125
- Perth $95 - $101
- Melbourne $79 – $87
- Brisbane $88 – $92
- Adelaide $78 – $87
Electrician
- Sydney $95 – $125
- Perth $89 – $95
- Melbourne $79 – $87
- Brisbane $93 – $97
- Adelaide $81 – $89
Carpenter /Joiner
- Sydney $76 – $107
- Perth $82 – $88
- Melbourne $79 – $87
- Brisbane $85 to $89
- Adelaide $68 – $75
Painter / Glazier
- Sydney $74 – $107
- Perth $82 – $87
- Melbourne $79 – $87
- Brisbane $84 – $88
- Adelaide $68 – $75
Average Costs for Different Kitchen Elements
Different parts of the kitchen will have differing costs. Here’s a good breakdown from Canstar on what parts of the kitchen cost what.
Benches
Kitchen benchtops come in different materials and at different price points. There’s most commonly laminate, bamboo, quartz, timber, stainless steel, granite and marble. Kitchen benchtop installation costs anywhere between $100 to $3,000 per m2.
- Laminate bench top, approx $200/sqm
- Stone bench top, approx $450/sqm
- Hardwood timber or stainless steel bench top, approx $900/sqm
- Natural stone or marble bench top, approx $1500/sqm
Splashback
Splashback is optional and can cost anywhere from $400 to $700 per m2 depending on the size, style and glass type. Splashback is a beautiful addition that can really transform a basic kitchen into a sophisticated and functional space.
- Tile splashback, approx $45-$250/sqm
- Acrylic splashback, approx $150/sqm
- Glass splashback, approx $450/sqm
Cabinets
Quality kitchen cabinets are vital to any kitchen renovation. They’re the most visible feature and you want them to be sturdy, well-assembled and properly installed. The cost of cabinets varies based on the quality of drawers, handles, hinges and other accessories.
- Melamine, approx $4,500
- Polyurethane, approx $7,000
- Two-pac, approx $13,000
Lighting
Lighting is another factor to consider and can cost anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars. Prices vary based on the quantity, quality and type of lighting used. General and task lighting are most commonly used in kitchens. The labour costs will depend on the duration of the installation.
Flooring
Finally, we have flooring. Kitchen floors can either be vinyl, concrete, wooden or tiled. If you like the look and functionality of tiled surfaces, the average cost of tile flooring ranges from $130 to $205 per m2.
In Conclusion
To sum it all up, there isn’t a way to definitively answer how much a new kitchen costs as it depends on a variety of factors. What we can say is that a new kitchen typically has a great ROI, especially if you’re looking to sell soon. Either way, whether you have a small kitchen or large kitchen to renovate, it’s always best to choose quality materials that will last you for decades, and not wear and tear after a few years. We hope this has helped you get a better idea of how much a new kitchen costs! If you have any questions or would like a quote for a new kitchen, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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