Renovating a kitchen is an exciting investment for homeowners. While a kitchen renovation can be expensive, it can also deliver plenty of other benefits such as making the home more comfortable to live in and increasing the value of the property.

Before you embark on a kitchen renovation, it’s important to gain a thorough understanding of the various costs involved so you can make an informed decision about whether a renovation is the right option for you.

Having renovated thousands of homes across Melbourne, the team at Mint Kitchen Group have an in-depth understanding of the various costs involved with a kitchen renovation. However, asking how much a kitchen renovation in Melbourne costs is like asking how long is a piece of string.

There are numerous factors (that we’ll discuss in detail in this article) that contribute to the finished cost of a new kitchen, and it goes without saying that no two kitchen renovations will cost the same. Having said that, we understand it is still helpful to have a general idea of cost before you get the ball rolling on your renovation plans.

In this guide, we provide an overview of how much you can expect to pay for a kitchen renovation in Melbourne and discuss the various factors that can affect the total cost of your renovation.

Lucky for you, this guide has all the elements associated with a kitchen renovation that will help you figure out how much it costs to renovate a kitchen and what projects are worth your investment. Check out our tips for kitchen renovations if you need more information.

How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen?

Currently, the estimated average kitchen renovation cost in Melbourne is $63,500.

While this figure provides an indication of the average amount homeowners in Melbourne tend to spend on their kitchen renovation, this estimate can be further broken down according to the type of renovation as shown in the following table.

 

Type of renovation	Estimated average cost in Melbourne
All kitchen renovations	$63,500
Mid-range kitchen renovations	$40,000 – $60,000
Luxury kitchen renovations	$60,000+

 

When considering these figures, it’s important to remember these are only cost estimates and will be affected by factors such as:

• the type of renovation
• the size of the kitchen, and
• the materials used.

Read on for more information about how kitchen renovation costs are calculated based on the type of renovation and the materials used.

How the type of renovation impacts cost

There’s no such thing as a ‘standard kitchen renovation’. A cosmetic kitchen renovation can differ significantly from a kitchen remodel or redesign in an existing home, while a kitchen designed for a brand-new home can be vastly different again.

 

Let’s take a look at what’s involved with each of these types of renovations and how this can affect cost.

Cosmetic kitchen renovation ($)

A cosmetic kitchen renovation typically involves making some simple updates to an existing kitchen to make it more visually appealing. An example of this type of kitchen renovation might include painting the walls, updating cabinet hardware or tapware, making some basic cabinetry updates and replacing benchtops.

While a cosmetic kitchen renovation can cost significantly less than a full renovation, it generally provides little benefit in terms of enhancing functionality or incorporating more modern conveniences. While a cosmetic update may also allow you to get a couple of extra years out of your kitchen, it’s likely that a full renovation will still be needed down the track (therefore increasing your total financial investment).

Full kitchen remodel or redesign ($$ – $$$)

A full kitchen remodel usually involves entirely replacing the existing kitchen with new cabinets, drawers, benchtops, splashbacks, fittings and fixtures. Homeowners often also make other improvements such as incorporating new appliances and technology to transform the space into a high-end kitchen.

It also gives you the opportunity to redesign the kitchen from scratch. You can completely re-work the space to enhance its functionality and find smart ways to maximise storage by installing things like drawers, pull-outs in corner base cabinets and other innovative solutions.

While a full kitchen remodel will be more expensive than a more modest cosmetic kitchen renovation, it should perform well for many years.

A full remodel also comes with the additional cost of having to remove/demolish the existing kitchen and shift or remove any internal walls, however, you’ll have far greater flexibility to customise the space to suit your specific needs and incorporate a layout that celebrates the kitchen as the true heart of the home.

Kitchen design for a new home ($$ – $$$)

A kitchen design for a new home will be comparable in cost to a full kitchen redesign, without the additional cost to remove/demolish the existing kitchen.

If you’re building a new home, you may also have greater flexibility to play around with the scale and layout of the kitchen. Newly constructed homes also tend not to struggle with some of the challenges of renovating an older home, which can have implications from a cost perspective.

 

Scoping your kitchen renovation: Cost breakdown

The scope of your project will have a big impact on the total cost of the renovation. For example, a full renovation that involves making structural changes to the home (such as moving walls or extending the home) will cost significantly more than if you were to stick to the same general layout as the original kitchen.

However, it’s important that cost isn’t your only consideration when scoping the project. Most homeowners only ever want to undertake a kitchen renovation once, and are willing to invest quite a bit if it will mean they can get the kitchen they want with more space, a better layout, premium finishes or extra storage.

While there are many moving parts that can affect the finished cost of a new kitchen, we know it can be helpful to understand where the majority of your money will go when renovating a kitchen.

As a kitchen renovation company, when we quote a project the key things we will provide a cost estimate for include:

• cabinets
• benchtops, and
• installation

While there are a range of additional costs (such as appliances, flooring, tiling, adding skylights, any structural works/extending the home etc.) that you’ll need to consider depending on the scope of the project, here’s a general breakdown of where a kitchen renovation budget would typically go:

Percentage breakdown of main costs involved with a kitchen renovation.

 

Let’s take a more detailed look at how much you can expect each of these elements to cost.

Cost of kitchen cabinets

Kitchen cabinets can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $70,000 depending on the size of the kitchen, the cabinet materials and what internal hardware you choose.

Common kitchen cabinet materials include laminate/melamine, solid timber, vinyl/vinyl wrap and 2-pac paint. Each of these materials offers its own pros and cons, which will in turn affect the aesthetics, performance and final cost of your new kitchen.

Cost of kitchen benchtops

Benchtops can range in cost from $5,000 to $40,000 depending on whether you choose laminate, quartz stone, porcelain, marble or granite.

The size (per square metre) and edge detail of your chosen benchtop material will also affect the cost. Different benchtop materials will offer different benefits such as resistance to heat and UV damage, resistance to stains and abrasions, impact resistance and ease of cleaning and maintenance, and the quality is usually reflected by the cost.

 

Cost of trades

Trades and labour costs can form a major part of the overall cost of your new kitchen.

If you’re looking at installation costs only, this should be around $3,200 but can go right up to $20,000 (or more) for full trade services including rip-out/demolition of existing kitchen cabinets, plumbing, electrical, installation of cabinets and benchtops, plastering, tiling for floor and walls, floor protection, insurances and certificates of compliance.

The extent of the required structural work will impact the base cost of the renovation, and for larger renovations, you’ll also need to allow for the cost of structural engineering as well as any required planning permits.

Here are some helpful tips on how to choose the right tradespeople.

Cost of kitchen appliances

Appliances can also consume a large part of your renovation budget, so it’s important to do your research early on in the planning process. Not only will you need to have the appliance dimensions early in the piece so the cabinets can be built to specification, but appliances can also vary significantly in terms of cost between brands and depending on the features you want.

At Mint Kitchen Group, we work together with a wide range of leading brands like Miele, Siemens, Bosch and Fisher Paykel to ensure you get the best possible price for your appliances.

Cost of flooring

Flooring is often an afterthought, but it can be a major component of the total cost of a renovation. While you may be able to keep your existing flooring, you may need or want to update it to complement your new kitchen design.

There are plenty of different flooring options to choose from that can work well in a kitchen, including tiles, solid timber, engineered floorboards and even hybrid vinyl planks.

Is a kitchen renovation worth the investment?

The kitchen is one area of the home where many homeowners are willing to invest a significant amount of capital—and when there are numerous lifestyle and financial benefits associated with renovating your kitchen, it’s completely understandable.

Build a home for the future

The primary benefit of a kitchen renovation is that you will be future-proofing your home by creating a functional and stylish kitchen that will work well for your family for many years to come.

The kitchen is the heart of any home. It’s where we spend many hours preparing and eating meals with family, friends and guests, and a kitchen renovation can have a profound impact on our overall quality of life.

Designing a new kitchen to meet the specific needs of your family will ensure the space will continue to support you well as your family grows or your circumstances change, and it could even allow you to stay in your home for longer.

Increase the value of your home

Did you know a kitchen renovation can increase the value of your home by up to $100,000 or more? While this won’t be the case for every home and renovation, if you invest in a premium quality renovation complete with luxury finishes, in most cases, you can add a significant amount of value to your property.

Renovating can not only add extra marketable square footage, but it can also help you create more attractive spaces with the open floor plans that are so popular today. Many kitchen renovations also involve adding additional entertaining space such as an outdoor kitchen or bar area, which again adds to the appeal of your property.

How long will my Melbourne kitchen renovation take?

The length of time it takes to complete the renovation is another factor that can have cost implications. While some homeowners choose to continue to live in the property throughout the renovation, it’s not a suitable option for everyone, and you may prefer to seek alternative accommodation to escape the dust and noise.

Despite what you might see on popular renovation shows, a standard kitchen renovation in Melbourne will usually take between 6-8 weeks from demolition to “ready to cook”.

Again, the scope of work will play a key role in how long a kitchen renovation will take, and the length of the project can also have an impact on the kitchen renovation cost. In general, you will need to allow more time and a larger budget for a full renovation involving extra building work.

Remember that when you choose Mint Kitchen Group, you’re receiving a fully customised solution for the space, the home, your family, your lifestyle and your requirements, and the scope of the individual project will largely dictate the project timeline.

How long will my Melbourne kitchen renovation take?

Again, the scope of work will play a key role in how long the kitchen renovation will take. In general, allow more time for a full renovation with building work involved. A standard kitchen renovation in Melbourne will take between 6-8 weeks (despite what you see on your favourite renovation show) from rip-out through to “ready to cook”. The length of the project will generally impact on the kitchen renovation cost as well. 

Remember that with Mint Kitchen Group, you’re receiving a customized solution for the space, the home, your family, your lifestyle and your needs, so the scope of the project differs from customer to customer. 

 

Preparing for your kitchen renovation

It’s important to be aware that you’ll be without a main kitchen for at least a few weeks while your renovation is being completed. This can be a major challenge for some families.

To help you prepare for your renovation, here are some handy tips and tricks that our other clients have found helpful over the years:

• Cooking: In summer, an outdoor barbecue can be a great help. During winter, having a portable gas cooker, microwave or slow cooker at the ready could help you get by.
• Organisation: Setting up some temporary bench spaces (trestle tables or camping equipment are great options) in your home can also help to keep the home as functional and organised as possible in the interim.
• Cold storage: Consider if there is somewhere else you could locate the fridge temporarily (such as the garage), or see if you can set up a small bar fridge on your deck (for example) so you can store a few essential refrigerated items.
• Preparation: It’s a good idea to pack away or cover any valuables, use drop sheets and consider storing unneeded furniture in a storage facility. If you are planning to stay in the home, be prepared for early starts and, at times, a crowded home.

Before commencing your renovation, you’ll receive a full schedule of works specifying how long the renovation will take. It’s always smart to make some allowances for unanticipated impacts on the project timeline (for example, weather can be a key factor if you’re undertaking a larger-scale renovation).

Benchtops are usually the last of the major items to be installed, so it can also be helpful to know you won’t have a usable workspace until the very end of the project.

Choosing the right kitchen renovator

There are a variety of kitchen renovation companies across Melbourne providing varying levels of service and the company you choose to complete your renovation can have a significant impact on the final renovation cost.

Budget blowouts most commonly happen due to trades and trade scheduling, so it’s best to choose a kitchen design and renovation company that will oversee the booking and management of the multitude of trades involved in a kitchen renovation.

Many homeowners also find it difficult to decide where it is most worthwhile to invest their money, struggling to discern between what’s a ‘must have’ and what’s negotiable. That’s where our kitchen designers can be so helpful, providing their expert advice and up-to-date product knowledge to help you identify the best options to suit your needs and budget.

At Mint Kitchen Group, we can help you with every element of the project, including space planning, kitchen design and construction.

Our award-winning team will look after your kitchen renovation from concept to completion, keeping you informed at every stage of the process. We pride ourselves on our communication and know just how much our customers appreciate having their own Project Manager, who acts as a single point of contact throughout the entire process to ensure your dream kitchen is built on schedule and within budget.

If you’re thinking about renovating your kitchen in Melbourne, speak to the team at Mint Kitchen Group. Offering fully custom, end-to-end design and construct kitchen renovation solutions, find out more about who we are, take a look at some of what we can do or book a tour of a showroom near you.