How Much Does a Renovation Cost on the Gold Coast? (2026)
A realistic 2026 price guide to renovating on the Gold Coast - kitchen, whole-home, flooring, decking and improvement budgets, the factors that move the number, and how to read a renovation quote properly.
On the Gold Coast in 2026, a kitchen renovation typically costs $18,000-$45,000, a cosmetic whole-home refresh $40,000-$90,000, and a full structural home renovation $150,000-$400,000+. Flooring runs $45-$90 per square metre supplied and installed, and a new deck $350-$700 per square metre depending on material.
- Kitchen renovation
- $18,000 - $45,000
- Cosmetic home refresh
- $40,000 - $90,000
- Full home renovation
- $150,000 - $400,000+
- Quoting
- Free fixed-price quote
Overview
Renovation pricing on the Gold Coast varies more than most people expect, and the difference usually comes down to scope rather than the builder's margin. A kitchen that keeps its existing plumbing and layout is a fundamentally different project from one that moves services, opens a wall and re-levels a floor - even though both get called "a kitchen renovation". This guide sets out the real 2026 ranges we quote across the Gold Coast, what pushes a project to the top or bottom of each range, and the questions to ask so you can compare quotes on equal terms. Orange Projects quotes fixed price after a site inspection, so the number you sign is the number you pay unless you change the scope.
What's included
- Kitchen renovation cost ranges for 2026
- Cosmetic versus structural whole-home renovation budgets
- Flooring, decking and outdoor living costs per square metre
- The hidden costs that blow renovation budgets
- How Gold Coast conditions affect pricing
- How to compare renovation quotes fairly
Kitchen renovation costs on the Gold Coast
A like-for-like kitchen replacement that keeps the existing layout and service locations generally runs $18,000-$28,000 with laminate benchtops and quality flat-pack or custom carcases. Moving plumbing and electrical, adding an island with services, or upgrading to stone and integrated appliances typically lifts the figure to $30,000-$45,000. Removing a wall to open the kitchen into living areas adds engineering and structural work, usually $6,000-$20,000 on top. Most Gold Coast kitchens are on site for three to fourteen days depending on scope.
Whole-home renovation budgets
A cosmetic refresh - flooring, painting, joinery, new kitchen, lighting and fixtures with no structural change - generally lands between $40,000 and $90,000 for a typical three or four bedroom Gold Coast home. Once you add structural change such as removing load-bearing walls, reworking the roofline, re-stumping, or reconfiguring the floor plan, budgets move to $150,000-$400,000 and beyond on larger waterfront or hinterland properties. Full home renovations typically run four to sixteen weeks on site.
Flooring, decking and outdoor living
Hybrid flooring is $45-$90 per square metre supplied and installed, engineered timber $90-$160, and solid timber higher again once sanding and finishing are included. Subfloor levelling adds $15-$40 per square metre where an older slab or timber floor has moved. Timber decking runs $350-$550 per square metre installed and composite $450-$700, with elevated decks, stairs and balustrades adding cost. Pergolas and roofed alfresco structures generally start around $8,000 and rise with span, roofing type and council approval requirements.
What drives Gold Coast renovation pricing up
Access is the biggest single factor. High-rise apartment work in Surfers Paradise or Main Beach carries lift bookings, building inductions, protected common areas and restricted work hours that can add days of labour. Hinterland and hillside blocks in Highland Park, Bonogin or Tallebudgera bring steep driveways and difficult material handling. Coastal exposure in Palm Beach, Bilinga and Nobby Beach requires marine-grade fixings and corrosion-resistant hardware. Older homes are rarely square, so every scribe, mitre and level takes longer than in a new build.
The costs people forget to budget for
Temporary accommodation or a makeshift kitchen, waste removal and skip hire, asbestos testing and removal in homes built before the late 1980s, hidden repairs discovered once linings come off, electrical compliance upgrades to old switchboards, and the contingency you should carry for the unknowns. We recommend holding ten to fifteen percent of the project value in contingency on any renovation of a home older than thirty years.
Comparing renovation quotes without getting caught
Check whether the quote is fixed price or an estimate, whether provisional sums and allowances are hiding future variations, whether materials are specified by brand and grade rather than described generically, who is responsible for removal and disposal, and whether painting and making good are inside the price. Confirm the contractor holds a current QBCC licence and carries insurance - building work over $3,300 in Queensland must be carried out by a licensed contractor. Orange Projects works under QBCC licence 15620733.
Why choose Orange Projects
Licensed and insured
Orange Projects holds QBCC Licence No. 15620733 and carries the insurance needed for our work.
Local experience
We understand Gold Coast homes, coastal conditions and the practical details that affect local building work.
Clear written quotes
You receive an itemised quote after we inspect the site and confirm the scope.
Careful workmanship
Our carpenters and trade partners focus on solid work, clean details and a tidy site.
One point of contact
We coordinate the work and keep you informed from the first visit through to handover.
Straight answers
We explain the work, timing and decisions in plain language.
Suitable materials
We choose materials that suit the job and local weather conditions.
Workmanship support
We stand behind our work and explain the warranties that apply to your project.
Our process
- 1
Site visit
We inspect the property, measure the area and talk through what you need.
- 2
Written quote
You receive a clear, itemised quote with the agreed scope and inclusions.
- 3
Planning
We confirm timing, order materials and arrange approvals or certification where needed.
- 4
Construction
We complete the work, keep the site tidy and update you as the job moves forward.
- 5
Handover
We check the finished work with you and provide the documents and warranties that apply.
Areas we service on the Gold Coast
Servicing the Gold Coast and Logan, including these Gold Coast areas:
- Robina
- Burleigh Heads
- Mermaid Waters
- Helensvale
- Hope Island
- Coomera
- Southport
- Broadbeach
- Palm Beach
- Miami
- Varsity Lakes
- Ashmore
We also service Logan:
Renovation pricing by service and area
Detailed pricing for each renovation service, plus local renovation pages across South East Queensland.
Other cost guides
Gold Coast
- Renovations Gold Coast
- Renovations Surfers Paradise
- Renovations Main Beach
- Renovations Isle of Capri
- Renovations Chevron Island
- Renovations Paradise Waters
- Renovations Runaway Bay
- Renovations Biggera Waters
- Renovations Labrador
- Renovations Sovereign Islands
- Renovations Sanctuary Cove
- Renovations Currumbin
- Renovations Currumbin Waters
- Renovations Elanora
- Renovations Reedy Creek
Frequently asked questions
How much does a renovation cost on the Gold Coast in 2026?
A cosmetic whole-home refresh generally costs $40,000-$90,000, while a full structural renovation runs $150,000-$400,000 or more. Single-room projects such as a kitchen typically fall between $18,000 and $45,000.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost on the Gold Coast?
$18,000-$28,000 for a like-for-like replacement keeping the existing layout, and $30,000-$45,000 where plumbing and electrical move, an island is added, or stone and integrated appliances are specified.
How long does a Gold Coast renovation take?
Kitchens are typically three to fourteen days on site. Full home renovations generally run four to sixteen weeks depending on scope, approvals and material lead times.
What adds the most unexpected cost to a renovation?
Asbestos in pre-1990 homes, hidden damage found once linings come off, subfloor levelling, and electrical compliance upgrades. Carry ten to fifteen percent contingency on older homes.
Is a fixed-price renovation quote better than an estimate?
Yes for defined scopes. A fixed price puts the risk of the job taking longer on the builder rather than on you. We quote fixed price after a site inspection.
Does a Gold Coast renovation need council approval?
Cosmetic work generally does not. Structural change, decks over a certain height, and anything affecting the building envelope usually requires approval or certification, which we arrange as part of the project.
Do you charge for a renovation quote?
No. Site inspections and fixed-price quotes are free across every Gold Coast and Logan suburb.
Does renovating add value to a Gold Coast home?
Kitchens, flooring and outdoor living generally return the strongest value on the Gold Coast, where indoor-outdoor living is a major buyer priority.