A kitchen is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your home, and one of the hardest to price without seeing the space. The right number depends on your layout, your finishes, and how much of the kitchen is actually changing.
At Cummins Joinery, we’ve been designing, building and installing custom kitchens for Sydney homes since 1960. Every kitchen is made to measure in our own Sydney workshop, no flat-packs, no compromises, with one team managing everything from design through to installation.
So, what should you actually budget for a kitchen renovation in Sydney?
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As a general guide, what does a kitchen renovation cost in Sydney?
As a broad planning guide, most Sydney kitchen renovations fall somewhere between $30,000 and $80,000+, depending on the size of the kitchen, the quality of finishes, and whether the layout is changing.
A kitchen makeover, new cabinetry, benchtops, splashback and hardware within the existing footprint, typically sits at the lower end.
A full kitchen renovation, reconfiguring the layout, upgrading appliances, moving plumbing or electrical, adding an island, will usually sit higher, and a high-end custom kitchen with premium stone, integrated appliances and detailed joinery can go beyond this range.
The real question isn’t just the number. It’s what’s included in it. A cheaper quote may leave out design time, trade coordination, installation, or warranty support. We’ll come back to that.
Why kitchen renovation costs vary so much
No two kitchens cost the same, even at a similar size, because so much of the price is decided by choices rather than square metres:
- Whether the layout is staying the same or changing
- Custom cabinetry and drawer systems
- Benchtop material and thickness
- Appliance upgrades and integrated joinery
- Plumbing and electrical changes
- Lighting, flooring and finishing
- Site access
- Project management and trade coordination
This is why two quotes for the “same” kitchen can look wildly different. One may cover full design, custom cabinetry, benchtops, licensed trades, installation and warranty. The other may only cover part of the job.
Kitchen makeover or full renovation?
The first thing worth deciding is which one you actually need.
Kitchen makeover
Best suited to a kitchen where the layout still works but the finish and storage need a refresh: new cabinetry, doors and drawer fronts, benchtops, splashback, hardware, and updated lighting, without touching the footprint.
Full kitchen renovation
Better suited when the layout no longer suits how you live: reworking the floor plan, improving flow into dining and living areas, upgrading appliances, relocating plumbing or electrical, adding an island or breakfast bar, and increasing storage.
A full renovation costs more than a makeover, but it’s also your chance to fix a kitchen that’s cramped, disconnected or short on storage for good, rather than refreshing around the same problems.
Custom cabinetry: where most of the budget goes
Cabinetry is usually the single largest line item in a kitchen renovation, and it’s worth understanding why. It’s not just storage. It shapes how the kitchen looks, how it functions day to day, and how long it lasts.
Every kitchen we build is made to measure, rather than built around standard cabinet sizes, which matters in Sydney homes where kitchens are often older, narrower, or opening into an existing living space. That can include tall pantry storage, appliance and bin cupboards, pull-out storage, integrated fridge joinery, feature islands, breakfast bars and open shelving.
More customisation means more design and manufacturing time, but it’s also what makes the difference between a kitchen that merely looks good and one that actually works for your household.
Benchtops, splashbacks and finishes
Benchtops and splashbacks can move the total cost of a renovation more than people expect. A laminate benchtop sits at a very different price point to stone, and the number of joins, waterfall ends, island benches and edge profiles all affect the final figure.
Other finish decisions that influence budget: cabinetry finish, handles vs. handle-free, sink and tapware, lighting, flooring and hardware quality.
It’s tempting to choose finishes on looks alone, but a kitchen is one of the hardest-working rooms in the house, and durability matters as much as appearance. We supply and install stone and solid surface benchtops from Caesarstone, Essastone, Silestone and Smartstone, with hardware from Blum and Häfele, so you’re working with brands built for daily use, not just showroom appeal.
Appliances and integrated joinery
Some homeowners keep their existing appliances to manage the budget. Others use the renovation as the moment to upgrade the oven, cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher or fridge.
Integrated appliances give a cleaner, more seamless look, but they need to be designed into the cabinetry from day one: think integrated dishwasher panels, fridge surrounds, appliance cupboards, microwave niches, concealed bins and power points inside cupboards. The earlier appliance decisions are locked in, the more precisely we can build the joinery around them.
Plumbing, electrical and trade coordination
A kitchen renovation is rarely just cabinetry. Depending on scope, it can involve plumbers, electricians, tilers and plasterers. Costs rise if you’re relocating the sink, adding power points, upgrading lighting, or changing the layout.
Keeping the existing footprint can help control costs where the plumbing and electrical already work well. But if the layout is inefficient, forcing everything to stay in place isn’t always the better long-term call.
This is where having one team manage the job matters. We coordinate all licensed trades, plumbing, electrical, tiling and plastering, so you’re not left juggling contractors or chasing schedules yourself.
What a fully managed renovation should include
When you’re comparing quotes, it’s worth checking whether the price includes:
- Design advice and site measurement
- Cabinetry drawings and manufacturing
- Delivery and installation
- Plumbing, electrical, tiling and plastering
- Waste removal and project management
- Warranty support
A fully managed renovation can cost more up front than piecing trades together yourself, but it removes the risk of gaps, delays and mismatched finishes between trades.
Keeping your renovation on budget
A few things make the biggest difference to staying on budget:
- Decide early what’s staying and what’s changing
- Choose appliances before cabinetry is finalised
- Invest in quality cabinetry and hardware, it’s what determines longevity
- Avoid changes once manufacturing has started
- Compare finishes in person before committing
- Build in a contingency for the unexpected
Seeing cabinetry, benchtops and hardware in person, rather than deciding from photos, is one of the easiest ways to avoid expensive changes later. That’s exactly what our showroom is set up for.
Is a custom kitchen renovation worth it?
For most Sydney homeowners, the kitchen isn’t just where you cook. It’s where the household actually lives: where the family gathers, where guests end up, and where storage and flow either work or don’t.
A well-built custom kitchen improves daily functionality, storage, natural light, entertaining space, and, over time, the value of the home itself. It’s why we’ve been building them the same way, made to measure, for over 60 years: because a kitchen built around how you actually live tends to be the one that still works a decade on.
Ready to plan your kitchen renovation?
If you’re weighing up a kitchen renovation in Sydney, we can talk you through what’s realistic for your space, your layout and your budget, with no hidden costs and no guesswork.
From custom kitchen joinery and cabinetry through to layout, finishes, installation and full trade coordination, our team manages the process start to finish, backed by a 7-year written warranty on cabinetry and a lifetime warranty on Blum hardware.
Book a free consultation or visit our Sydney showroom at 1 Lorraine Street, Peakhurst (Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm, Fridays and Saturdays by appointment).
Get a Free Quote | Book a Showroom Appointment | Call 02 9533 1066
We proudly build kitchens across Sydney CBD, the Inner West, South Sydney, St George, the North Shore, Western Sydney and the Northern Beaches.
