How Much Does a Home Renovation Cost in Australia in 2026?

Renovating your home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make outside of buying the property itself. Whether you’re updating a tired kitchen, adding a second bathroom, or doing a full gut-reno, understanding the real costs involved helps you budget properly and avoid nasty surprises.

We’ve compiled pricing data from thousands of real quotes across Australia to give you an honest picture of what home renovations cost in 2026.

Average Home Renovation Costs by Project Type

Here’s what Australians are actually paying for common renovation projects in 2026:

Renovation Type	Low End	Average	High End
Kitchen renovation (mid-range)	$15,000	$25,000	$45,000+
Bathroom renovation	$10,000	$20,000	$35,000+
Full house repaint (interior)	$3,000	$7,000	$15,000+
Full house repaint (exterior)	$5,000	$10,000	$20,000+
New flooring (tiling, whole house)	$5,500	$12,000	$25,000+
Electrical rewiring	$3,000	$8,000	$15,000+
Switchboard upgrade	$1,500	$2,800	$4,500
Full plumbing rough-in (new bathroom)	$5,000	$9,000	$15,000
Landscaping (front & back)	$5,000	$15,000	$50,000+
Full house renovation	$100,000	$200,000	$400,000+

Prices are in AUD and include labour and standard materials. Premium finishes, heritage homes, and difficult access will push costs higher.

What Drives Renovation Costs?

The final price of your renovation depends on several key factors that can swing costs dramatically:

1. Location

Tradespeople in Sydney and Melbourne typically charge 15–30% more than regional areas. A bathroom reno that costs $18,000 in Bendigo could easily hit $28,000 in Sydney’s inner west. This reflects higher operating costs, parking challenges, and demand.

2. Scope of Structural Work

Moving walls, relocating plumbing, or modifying the roofline turns a cosmetic refresh into a structural project. The moment you involve engineers and council approvals, expect costs to jump by $10,000–$30,000 or more.

3. Quality of Finishes

A basic kitchen with laminate benchtops and flat-pack cabinetry costs $12,000–$18,000. Swap to stone benchtops, custom cabinetry, and premium appliances and you’re looking at $30,000–$50,000. The same principle applies to every room — tiles, tapware, lighting, and paint quality all compound.

4. Age of the Home

Older homes (pre-1980s) almost always cost more to renovate. You’ll encounter asbestos removal ($2,000–$10,000), outdated wiring that needs full electrical rewiring ($3,000–$15,000), and plumbing that doesn’t meet current code. Budget an extra 20–30% contingency for homes built before 1980.

5. Access and Site Conditions

Inner-city terraces with no rear access, multi-storey homes, and properties on steep blocks all attract premium labour charges. If materials can’t be delivered by truck to the work area, expect manual handling surcharges of $500–$2,000.

Breaking Down the Trades: What Each One Costs

A typical renovation involves multiple trades. Here’s what each one charges so you can estimate the cost of your specific project:

Electrician

Expect to pay $80–$130/hour for a licensed electrician. Common renovation electrical jobs include:

New power points: $150–$350 each
LED downlight installation: $80–$200 per light
Switchboard upgrade: $1,500–$4,500
Full house rewiring: $3,000–$15,000

Plumber

Licensed plumbers charge $80–$200/hour in Australia. For a bathroom renovation, plumbing costs typically run $3,000–$8,000 depending on whether you’re keeping fixtures in the same location or relocating them.

Painter

Professional painters charge from $200+ per room for interior painting, including prep, undercoat, and two top coats. A full interior repaint of a 3-bedroom home runs $5,000–$10,000. Exterior painting is more expensive due to scaffolding, weatherproofing prep, and multi-coat systems.

Tiler

Tiling costs range from $55–$140 per square metre depending on tile size and pattern complexity. A standard bathroom floor and wall tile job costs $3,000–$6,000, while a kitchen splashback runs $800–$2,500.

Room-by-Room Renovation Guide

Kitchen Renovation

The kitchen is typically the most expensive room to renovate, but also delivers the strongest return on investment (up to 70% value uplift according to property analysts).

Budget kitchen reno ($12,000–$20,000): New flat-pack cabinetry, laminate benchtops, standard appliances, fresh paint, basic splashback. Keep plumbing and electrical in the same locations.

Mid-range reno ($20,000–$35,000): Custom or semi-custom cabinetry, stone benchtops (Caesarstone or similar), quality appliances, tiled splashback, new lighting, and potentially moving a gas or water point.

High-end reno ($35,000–$60,000+): Fully custom design, premium natural stone, integrated appliances, butler’s pantry, pendant lighting, complete relocation of services.

Bathroom Renovation

Bathrooms are the second most common renovation project. The tight space means plumbing, waterproofing, and tiling dominate the budget.

Key costs:

Demolition and strip-out: $1,000–$2,500
Waterproofing membrane: $800–$2,000 (legally required)
Tiling (floor and walls): $3,000–$6,000
Plumbing rough-in: $2,000–$5,000
Fixtures (vanity, toilet, shower screen): $1,500–$5,000
Electrical (exhaust fan, lighting, heated towel rail): $500–$1,500

Living Areas and Bedrooms

Cosmetic updates to living spaces are the most affordable renovation category:

Paint: $200–$500 per room
New flooring: $55–$140/m² for tiles, $40–$100/m² for timber/laminate
New lighting: $80–$300 per fitting installed
Built-in wardrobes: $2,000–$6,000 per unit

How to Save Money on Your Renovation

Get at least 3 quotes: Prices for the same job can vary 40–60% between tradies. Our cost comparison guides help you understand fair pricing before you even call anyone.
Keep wet areas in place: Moving a kitchen sink or shower wastes $2,000–$5,000 on plumbing relocation alone. If possible, keep the existing layout.
Time your reno for winter: Tradies are quieter in June–August. You may get better rates and faster scheduling.
Be your own project manager: Hiring a builder to coordinate trades adds 15–25% margin. If you’re organised and can schedule tradies yourself, you’ll save thousands.
Don’t skimp on waterproofing: A $1,500 waterproofing job done properly saves you from a $15,000 water damage repair later. This is never the place to cut corners.
Buy materials yourself: Tradies often mark up materials by 10–20%. Buying tiles, paint, or fixtures directly from suppliers can save hundreds or thousands.

What’s Included vs. What’s Extra

When you get a renovation quote, make sure you understand exactly what’s included. Common items that are often quoted separately:

Usually Included	Often Extra
Labour for the quoted scope	Asbestos testing and removal
Standard materials (as specified)	Council permits and approval fees
Basic site cleanup	Skip bin hire ($250–$800+)
Minor patching and prep	Structural engineering reports
Standard fittings	Temporary plumbing/electrical

Do You Need Council Approval?

In most Australian states, you don’t need council approval for cosmetic renovations (painting, tiling, replacing fixtures, new flooring). However, you do need approval for:

Structural changes (removing or altering walls, changing rooflines)
Extensions or additions
Changes to the building envelope
Plumbing that connects to council mains
Work in heritage-listed zones

Council approval (Development Application or Complying Development Certificate) costs $1,000–$5,000 and takes 2–12 weeks to process. Factor this into your renovation timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a full house renovation cost in Australia?

A full renovation of a 3-bedroom home typically costs $100,000–$250,000 for a mid-range finish, or $250,000–$400,000+ for a high-end result. Cosmetic-only renovations (paint, flooring, fixtures) run $30,000–$60,000.

What renovation adds the most value to a home?

Kitchen and bathroom renovations consistently deliver the best return on investment. A well-executed kitchen reno can recoup 60–80% of its cost in added property value, while bathroom upgrades typically return 50–70%.

How long does a home renovation take?

A bathroom renovation takes 2–4 weeks, a kitchen reno takes 4–8 weeks, and a full house renovation takes 3–8 months depending on scope. Allow extra time for council approvals, material lead times, and inevitable delays.

Should I renovate or rebuild?

If your renovation budget exceeds 50–60% of the cost of a new build, rebuilding often makes more financial sense. A new build also gives you modern insulation, wiring, and plumbing from the ground up. However, heritage overlays, sentimental value, and council restrictions may make renovation the better choice.

Do I need a builder or can I hire trades directly?

For jobs involving multiple trades (kitchen renos, bathroom renos, extensions), a licensed builder coordinates everything and takes responsibility. For single-trade jobs like repainting or retiling, hiring the trade directly saves you the builder’s 15–25% margin.

How We Collect These Prices

The pricing data in this guide comes from real quotes and invoices submitted by Australian homeowners and verified by licensed tradespeople. We update our figures quarterly to reflect current material costs, labour rates, and market conditions. Prices shown are indicative — your actual costs will vary based on location, scope, and finishes chosen.

For detailed pricing on specific trades, explore our free cost guides: