How to Quote Kitchen Renovation Jobs

Why kitchen renovation quoting is the highest-stakes room in the house

Kitchens involve more trades, more material decisions, and more customer emotion than any other room. A bathroom has one benchtop, one splashback, and a wet area. A kitchen has cabinetry across three or four walls, a benchtop with cutouts and joins, plumbing for the sink and dishwasher, electrical for a dozen power points and the rangehood, a splashback that ties the room together, flooring that transitions into the living area, and appliances worth $3,000 to $15,000 that the customer has been researching for months.

The builders who profit from kitchen work quote every one of those layers as a separate line item. The ones who struggle lump everything into a round number, absorb the demolition and electrical costs to keep the headline figure competitive, and then discover they have no margin left when the plumber finds galvanised pipes behind the wall.

This guide covers each component with real 2026 Australian benchmarks so you can build profitable kitchen quotes on every job.

Step 1: Calculate your true cost per hour

Before pricing any kitchen job, work out what an hour of your time actually costs the business. This is your loaded hourly cost, covering everything required to have your crew on site with tools ready.

For a sole operator with one labourer, total annual costs typically land between $120,000 and $190,000. At 1,600-1,700 billable hours per year (allowing for quoting time, travel, admin, and holidays), your loaded cost per hour sits between $70 and $120.

Kitchen work is indoor, so rain delays are rare, but lead-time gaps between trades (waiting for the plumber, waiting for the electrician, waiting for cabinets) can leave your crew idle. Schedule trades tightly and price dead time into your overheads rather than absorbing it on each job.

Step 2: Assess and price the demolition

Every kitchen renovation starts with removing what is already there. The demolition scope sets the baseline cost that every other line item builds on.

Kitchen demolition costs (2026)

The asbestos question

Any home built before 1990 (and some built up to the mid-1990s) may contain asbestos in splashback sheeting, vinyl flooring, wall and ceiling sheeting, or insulation behind the oven. You are legally required to have an asbestos assessment done before demolition work on pre-1990 properties. If asbestos is found, a licensed asbestos removalist must handle the material. Removal costs $50-150 per square metre for bonded (non-friable) asbestos, with a minimum charge of $1,500-2,500 for most contractors.

Include a provisional sum or exclusion clause in your quote for asbestos in older homes. A line reading "Excludes asbestos removal. If asbestos-containing materials are found during demolition, removal will be quoted separately by a licensed removalist" protects both you and the customer.

Step 3: Price the cabinetry

Cabinetry is the largest single cost in most kitchen renovations, typically 30-40% of the total project. The gap between flat-pack and fully custom joinery can be $15,000 to $30,000 on the same footprint. A standard kitchen runs 6-8 linear metres of cabinetry (base units, wall units, and a pantry or tall unit).

Cabinetry costs by type (per linear metre, installed)

Flat-pack cabinets require 1-2 days of assembly labour (for a standard kitchen) on top of the unit cost. Factor this into your quote at your crew rate. Semi-custom and custom cabinets arrive assembled or part-assembled, reducing on-site labour but shifting cost into the cabinet supply price.

Cabinet hardware (hinges, drawer runners, pull-out bins, lazy susans, spice racks) adds $500-2,500 depending on quality. Soft-close hardware is now standard on anything above flat-pack. Specify the hardware brand and level in your quote.

Cabinet lead times

Lead times drive project scheduling. If cabinets take 8 weeks, demolition cannot start until week 6 at the earliest (assuming 2 weeks for demo, plumbing rough-in, electrical rough-in, plastering, and painting before cabinets arrive). Communicate lead times to the customer in your quote and build them into the project timeline.

Step 4: Quote the benchtop

Benchtops are the second largest material cost and the surface the customer will touch and see every day. The engineered stone ban has changed the benchtop conversation in Australia since mid-2024.

The engineered stone ban

On 1 July 2024, Australia banned the manufacture, supply, and installation of engineered stone products containing crystalline silica. On 1 January 2025, importation was also banned. This covers the brands that dominated the market for 15 years (Caesarstone, Smartstone, Essastone, and similar). The ban is a workplace health and safety measure to prevent silicosis in stonemasons and fabricators.

Low-silica engineered stone alternatives have entered the market from some manufacturers. These are compliant and available at similar price points. Natural stone (granite, marble, quartzite), porcelain slabs, laminate, timber, concrete, and stainless steel are all unaffected by the ban.

Benchtop costs by material (per sqm, supply and install)

A typical kitchen benchtop area is 2.5-5 square metres (L-shape or U-shape with island). Cutouts for sinks and cooktops add $100-300 each. Edge profiles (waterfall ends, bullnose, mitred) add $50-150 per lineal metre on stone benchtops. Specify the exact material, thickness, edge profile, and number of cutouts in your quote.

Step 5: Price the plumbing

Kitchen plumbing covers the sink, tap, dishwasher connection, and (if applicable) gas line for the cooktop. Whether services stay in the same location or move to a new position makes a large difference to cost.

Kitchen plumbing costs (2026)

Always subcontract plumbing to a licensed plumber and include their quote as a line item. Do not absorb plumbing into a round "trades" figure. If the customer changes the sink position during the build, the plumbing cost changes significantly. A clear line item makes variations easy to price and justify.

Step 6: Price the electrical

Kitchen electrical is often underquoted. A modern kitchen requires more circuits and power points than most other rooms in the house, and the existing wiring in an older home may not be compliant.

Kitchen electrical costs (2026)

Induction cooktops are increasingly popular in Australian kitchen renovations. A high-powered induction cooktop (7.2-8.4 kW) needs a dedicated 32A or 40A circuit. If the existing switchboard is full, a switchboard upgrade is required before the electrician can add new circuits. Include a provisional sum for switchboard work in your quote for older homes.

Step 7: Price the splashback

The splashback covers the wall between the benchtop and wall cabinets, plus the area behind the cooktop. A typical kitchen splashback area is 2-5 square metres.

Splashback costs by material (per sqm, installed)

Glass splashbacks require a site measure after the cabinets and benchtop are installed, adding a second visit for the glazier. Factor this into your project schedule. Tile splashbacks can be installed before or after cabinets depending on the design, but most kitchen tilers prefer to tile after cabinets are in place for a cleaner finish line.

Step 8: Price the flooring

Kitchen flooring needs to handle water, dropped items, and heavy foot traffic. A typical kitchen floor area is 8-15 square metres. Many renovations include the adjoining dining or living area for a seamless transition.

Kitchen flooring costs (per sqm, installed)

Old flooring removal adds to the demolition cost. Tiles on a concrete slab cost $25-50 per sqm to remove. Vinyl or timber over timber subfloor is faster at $10-25 per sqm. If the existing floor is level and sound, some materials (vinyl plank, engineered timber) can be installed directly over the top, saving removal costs.

Step 9: Handle appliances clearly

Appliances are the most common source of kitchen quote disputes. Be explicit about who is supplying them and what your installation allowance covers.

Two approaches

Customer-supplied appliances: The customer buys their own oven, cooktop, rangehood, and dishwasher. You include an installation allowance per appliance ($100-300 each). This keeps your quote lower and avoids warranty responsibility for the appliances. State clearly in your quote: "Appliances to be supplied by the client. Installation allowance of $X per appliance is included. Appliances must be on site before the scheduled installation date."

Builder-supplied appliances: You source the appliances, mark them up 10-20%, and include them as line items. This gives you control over the schedule (no waiting for the customer's delivery) and adds margin. Specify the exact make, model, and price for each appliance. If the customer changes their mind after you have ordered, your quote should include a restocking or cancellation clause.

Typical appliance installation costs (labour only)

Step 10: Include painting, plastering, and finishing

After demolition, plumbing and electrical rough-in, and before cabinet installation, the walls and ceiling need patching and painting. This step is often underquoted or forgotten entirely.

Common kitchen renovation benchmarks (2026)

These benchmarks cover complete renovations including demolition, all trades, and clean-up. They exclude appliances (customer-supplied) and assume services remain in the same location.

Small kitchen (5-8 sqm, galley or single-wall, apartment or unit)

Standard kitchen (10-15 sqm, L-shape or U-shape, typical house)

Large kitchen (15-25 sqm, island, open-plan, large house)

Council approvals and compliance

Most like-for-like kitchen replacements (same layout, same services, no structural changes) do not require council approval. However, several common kitchen renovation scenarios do trigger approval requirements.

When council approval is typically required

• Removing or modifying a load-bearing wall (opening up to a dining area) requires a structural engineer's certificate and council approval in all states.
• Changing the building footprint (extending the kitchen into a courtyard, closing in a verandah) is regulated building work in every state.
• Relocating plumbing to a position outside the existing wet area may require hydraulic design certification.
• Heritage overlays can restrict even cosmetic changes in listed homes or heritage precincts.

Compliance costs

Include council fees in your quote as a separate line item. If the scope of work might trigger an approval requirement, note it as a provisional item with an estimated cost rather than leaving it out entirely.

Licensing requirements by state

Builder licensing in Australia is managed by each state and territory separately. The thresholds, licence classes, and insurance requirements differ.

Regardless of the builder licence threshold, plumbing work always requires a licensed plumber, electrical work always requires a licensed electrician, and gas work always requires a licensed gasfitter. These are separate licences from the builder's licence.

Home indemnity insurance (also called home warranty insurance) is required in most states for residential renovation work above certain thresholds (typically $12,000-$20,000). Check your state's requirements and factor the premium into your overheads.

Regional price variation across Australia

Kitchen renovation costs vary by city due to differences in labour rates, trade availability, and property values.

Regional and rural areas have a wider cost range because travel time and limited trade availability can push costs 10-20% above metro rates, while lower overheads and land costs pull some components down. Always price for your local market rather than using national averages.

Worked example: mid-range L-shape kitchen renovation in Melbourne

A homeowner in Melbourne's inner east wants to renovate their 12 sqm L-shape kitchen. The home was built in 1985 (asbestos survey required). The layout stays the same. Cabinetry is semi-custom with vinyl-wrap doors. Benchtop is low-silica engineered stone. Subway tile splashback. Vinyl plank flooring. Customer supplies appliances.

This falls within the national mid-range benchmark ($25,000-$45,000 inc GST) and the Melbourne regional adjustment (5-10% above national average). The 35% margin yields $12,153 gross profit on this job, from which the builder covers overhead costs before net profit.

If the asbestos survey finds asbestos in the splashback sheeting, add $1,500-3,000 for licensed removal. If the switchboard needs upgrading, add $1,500-3,000. Both are noted as exclusions in the quote with estimated costs for customer awareness.

7 common kitchen quoting mistakes

1. Absorbing demolition costs. Demolition and waste removal cost $1,500-5,500 on a full kitchen strip-out. Rolling this into a round number hides a real cost that the customer should see and understand.
2. Underquoting electrical. Kitchens need more circuits, more power points, and often a switchboard upgrade that older homes do not have capacity for. Budget $1,500-8,000 for electrical, not $500.
3. Forgetting the engineered stone ban. Quoting a benchtop material that is banned wastes your time and the customer's. Specify compliant materials from the start.
4. Leaving appliances ambiguous. "Appliances not included" is not enough. State whether your quote includes installation labour for customer-supplied appliances, and if so, how many and what type.
5. Ignoring cabinet lead times. Custom cabinets take 4-10 weeks. If your project timeline does not account for this, you have dead time on site (costing you) or overlap problems with other trades.
6. No provisional sum for concealed conditions. Old houses hide surprises: asbestos, non-compliant wiring, rotted framing, missing noggings. A provisional sum or exclusion clause protects your margin.
7. Confusing markup with margin. A 30% markup gives you a 23% margin. If your target is a 35% gross margin, your markup needs to be 54%. Track actual margins by back-costing every completed kitchen against the original quote.