A kitchen is the most expensive room in most homes per square metre, and it is also the easiest place to compare two quotes and misread what you are getting. This guide sets out the ranges we quote on the Gold Coast in 2026, what each level of spend buys you, and how long you will be living without a kitchen.
A kitchen renovation on the Gold Coast generally costs between $25,000 and $80,000, depending on the size of the kitchen, the cabinetry, the benchtop material and whether the layout or walls change. Most kitchens take 7 to 21 days on site once cabinetry is manufactured.
What each budget level buys
| Type of kitchen | Typical cost | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Straight replacement, same layout | $25,000 to $40,000 | New cabinetry in the existing footprint, engineered stone benchtop, splashback, standard appliances, plumbing and electrical fit-off |
| Full custom kitchen | $40,000 to $60,000 | Custom joinery, larger island, upgraded hardware and drawers, better appliances, some plumbing or electrical relocation, new flooring in the kitchen zone |
| Premium or open plan kitchen | $60,000 to $80,000 | Butler's pantry, feature stone, integrated appliances, bespoke detailing, and often a wall removal to open the kitchen to living |
Where the money actually goes
- Cabinetry is normally the largest single line. Carcass quality, door finish, soft-close hardware and drawer systems all change it.
- Benchtops vary widely. Laminate, engineered stone, porcelain and natural stone sit at very different price points, and so does the edge detail.
- Appliances are entirely your call. Two kitchens can be identical in build cost and thousands apart in appliances.
- Plumbing and electrical rise sharply once the sink, dishwasher or cooktop move to a new position.
- Trades and coordination cover the carpenter, cabinetmaker, plumber, electrician, tiler, stonemason and painter, all sequenced so nobody stands idle.
The wall removal question
Opening a kitchen to the living area transforms how a home feels, and it is the most common upgrade we are asked about alongside a new kitchen. If the wall is structural it needs an engineer and a beam, which is a separate cost worth pricing before you fall in love with the idea. Our wall removal page explains how that work runs.
How long will you be without a kitchen?
On site, most kitchens take 7 to 21 days. The part people underestimate is what happens before that: cabinetry is manufactured to measure after a check measure, and stone is templated only once the cabinets are installed. Plan for a few weeks of lead time before demolition day, and set up a temporary kitchen with the fridge, microwave and kettle somewhere else in the house.
- Design, selections and a fixed price.
- Check measure and cabinetry manufacture.
- Demolition and removal of the old kitchen.
- Plumbing and electrical rough-in, plus any wall or structural work.
- Flooring, patching and painting where needed.
- Cabinetry installation, then stone template and fabrication.
- Benchtop installation, splashback, appliance fit-off and handover.
Lock your appliance choices in early. A late change to a different oven or fridge size can mean altering a cabinet that is already built, and that is the kind of variation nobody enjoys paying for.
What a complete kitchen quote should include
Compare quotes on these items, not just the total
- Demolition of the existing kitchen and removal of waste
- Cabinetry specification: carcass material, door finish, hardware brand
- Benchtop material, thickness and edge profile
- Splashback material and installation
- Named appliance allowances, or the exact models
- Plumbing and electrical work, including any new circuits
- Flooring, patching, painting and making good
- Sequencing and the expected time on site
If you are weighing up builders, our list of questions to ask a renovation builder will tell you a lot more than the headline price will.
Getting value without cutting corners
Keeping plumbing near its existing position, choosing a good engineered stone instead of an exotic slab, and spending on drawers rather than decorative detail will give you a kitchen that works beautifully for a long time. Save the money on things you can change later, not on the carcasses and the installation.
Planning a new kitchen on the Gold Coast or in Logan? We measure up, talk through the layout options and give you a fixed price with every allowance written down.
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