How Much Does a Renovation Cost in Melbourne?(2026 Guide)
In Melbourne in 2026, a bathroom renovation typically costs between $25,000 and $35,000, a kitchen renovation between $25,000 and $55,000, a home extension between $2,500 and $4,500 per square metre, and a whole-home renovation from around $250,000 depending on scope and finish. At ONQ Building Group, bathroom renovations start at a fixed $23,000, and every project comes with a clear, itemised quote before any work begins. No surprises, no blowouts.
Renovation pricing has a reputation for being murky, and we get why. Ask three builders the same question and you'll often get three very different answers, with none of them written down.
That's not how we work. We're a family-owned renovation builder, and we believe you should be able to understand the numbers before you commit to anything. This guide lays out what renovations genuinely cost across Melbourne in 2026, what drives the price up or down, and how we keep things transparent from the very first conversation.
Think of it as the honest chat you'd want to have over a cuppa before you spend a dollar.
Bathroom Renovation Cost Melbourne
A full bathroom renovation by a licensed builder in Melbourne generally costs between $25,000 and $35,000 in 2026, with premium bathrooms climbing higher. You'll sometimes see bathrooms advertised for less, occasionally under $20,000, but it's worth checking who's actually behind the work, because at that price it usually isn't a registered builder. At ONQ Building Group, our bathroom renovations packages start at a fixed $23,000, completed by a registered building practitioner, which puts you right in the mid-range sweet spot for quality and genuine peace of mind.
If a bathroom quote comes in under $20,000, ask one simple question: is a registered builder standing behind it? Genuinely low prices often mean the job is being run by unlicensed trades, which can leave you without the warranties and consumer protections a registered builder is required to provide. Cheaper upfront has a habit of becoming very expensive later. It's exactly why we complete every bathroom as a registered building practitioner, with the price fixed in writing before we start.
What moves the price
The size of the room, whether you relocate plumbing (moving the toilet, shower or basin can add $2,000 to $5,000), the quality of tiles and fixtures. Waterproofing is legally required and never the place to cut corners.
How long it takes
Most full bathroom renovations run three to six weeks from demolition to finish.
Do you need council approval?
In most cases, a like-for-like bathroom renovation doesn't need council approval. We'll tell you upfront if yours does.
Kitchen Renovation Cost Melbourne
A kitchen renovation in Melbourne typically costs between $25,000 and $55,000 in 2026, with cosmetic refreshes starting lower and premium custom kitchens climbing well beyond. Kitchens generally cost more than bathrooms, and cabinetry is the reason. It's the single biggest line item in most kitchen budgets, taking up 30 to 45 per cent of the total, so it's where your choices make the biggest difference to the final number.
Engineered stone benchtops were banned across Australia in 2024, so the popular alternatives now are porcelain slab, natural stone and solid surface. We'll walk you through the options.
What moves the price
The size and layout of your kitchen, whether you move plumbing or remove a wall to open up the space, your choice of benchtop and cabinetry, and your appliance package. Keeping the existing layout is one of the biggest ways to save.
How long it takes
Most mid-range kitchens take three to six weeks on site, plus lead time for custom cabinetry, so it pays to order early.
HOME RENOVATION COST MELBOURNE
A home renovation in Melbourne is usually priced per square metre, ranging from around $2,200 per square metre for cosmetic work to $7,200 per square metre for high-end finishes in 2026. A whole-home renovation commonly starts from around $250,000 and climbs from there, depending on the size of your home and how much you're transforming.
Cosmetic (paint, flooring, surface updates)
Standard quality
High-end finishes
WHAT MOVES THE PRICE
The scope is everything. A single-room refresh sits at one end, a full structural transformation at the other. Wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms carry the biggest share of any budget because of the plumbing, waterproofing and detailed finishes involved.
HOW LONG IT TAKES
Anywhere from a few weeks for a single room to several months for a whole-home renovation. We give you a clear timeline before we start.
Home Extension Cost Melbourne
A home extension in Melbourne typically costs between $2,500 and $5,500 per square metre in 2026. Ground-floor additions sit at the lower end, while second-storey additions cost 30 to 50 per cent more per square metre because of the extra structural work involved.
As a rough guide, a 40 square metre ground-floor extension usually lands between $100,000 and $140,000 for the build itself, before design, permits and finishes.
What moves the price
Whether you build out or up, your site access, whether the extension includes a kitchen or bathroom, and the amount of glazing. Second-storey additions cost more because they need structural reinforcement, a staircase, and careful building above an occupied home.
Do you need a permit?
Almost always, yes. Every home extension in Victoria needs a building permit, and some need a planning permit too, depending on your council and block. As a registered building practitioner, Brendan handles all of that for you.
How long it takes
A single-storey extension typically takes four to six months, and a second-storey addition six to nine months.
What Affects Your Renovation Cost
No two renovations are the same, which is exactly why an honest quote always starts with a proper look at your home. A few things make the biggest difference:
Moving walls, relocating plumbing or altering your home's footprint adds cost, because it adds work behind the walls you can't see.
The same room can vary by tens of thousands depending on whether you choose standard or premium materials. We help you spend where it matters and save where it doesn't.
Older Melbourne homes can hide surprises like outdated wiring or plumbing. We plan for this so it doesn't derail your budget.
If your home was built before the mid-1980s, it is highly likely to contain asbestos-containing materials. Homes built between the mid-1980s and 1990 are also likely to contain asbestos, particularly in bathrooms, laundries, eaves and wall linings. Safe identification and removal must be completed by licensed professionals before renovation work can proceed, which can add to the overall project cost.
Apartment renovations often involve additional logistics, including lift access, restricted working hours, body corporate approvals, parking limitations, waste removal requirements and transporting materials and tools between multiple levels. These factors can increase labour costs and project duration.
Many older homes are constructed with double brick, solid brick or concrete walls. Unlike timber-framed homes, these require chasing walls for new plumbing and electrical services, specialised cutting equipment and significantly more labour, making renovations more complex and time-consuming.
Narrow access, tight blocks and multi-storey work all add labour time.
Some projects need permits, and all of them need to meet Victorian building standards. We manage this for you, start to finish.
A good rule of thumb: set aside a contingency of 10 to 15 per cent for the things no one can see until work begins. We'll always talk you through this honestly.
How ONQ Prices: Fixed and Transparent
Here's the part we're proud of. We don't do vague estimates or hourly rates that quietly climb.
A clear, itemised, fixed-price quote before any work starts, so you know exactly where your money is going and exactly what the number is.
Our bathroom renovations start at a fixed $23,000. For every other project, we visit your home, understand what you're after, and put it all in writing.
Because in a family business, your word is everything. And ours is that there'll be no surprises.
Renovation Cost FAQ
A full bathroom renovation by a licensed builder in Melbourne generally costs between $20,000 and $35,000 in 2026, depending on size, finishes and whether plumbing is relocated. You'll see cheaper advertised, but under $20,000 it's often not a registered builder, so always check the licensing. At ONQ Building Group, our bathroom renovations start at a fixed $23,000, completed by a registered building practitioner with a clear itemised quote before we begin.
A kitchen renovation in Melbourne typically costs between $25,000 and $55,000 in 2026. Cabinetry is usually the largest cost, and keeping your existing layout is one of the best ways to save. ONQ Building Group provides a fixed, itemised quote up front so there are no surprises.
Home extensions in Melbourne typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 per square metre in 2026. Ground-floor additions sit at the lower end, and second-storey additions cost more due to the added structural work. A 40 square metre ground-floor extension usually lands between $100,000 and $140,000 for the build.
Like-for-like bathroom and kitchen renovations usually don't need council approval, but home extensions almost always require a building permit, and sometimes a planning permit too. As a registered building practitioner, Brendan handles the entire permit process for you.
A bathroom renovation typically takes three to six weeks, a kitchen a similar timeframe plus cabinetry lead time, and a whole-home renovation several months. Extensions run four to nine months depending on whether you're building out or up. We give you a clear timeline before we start.
The biggest savings come from keeping your existing layout, retaining plumbing where it is, and choosing quality mid-range finishes over premium ones. We're always happy to show you where to save and where it's worth investing.
A registered building practitioner means your work is completed to code, properly insured, and backed by the warranties and consumer protections you're entitled to. ONQ Building Group is led by Brendan Cefai, a registered building practitioner, so you're covered from start to finish.
Let's Talk About Your Renovation
Numbers on a page are a great start, but the real answer to "what will mine cost?" comes from a proper look at your home. That's what we're here for.
Book a friendly ten-minute chat with Brendan. No pressure, no hard sell. Just honest advice, a clear next step, and a fixed-price quote you can actually trust.
Family-owned. People first. Quality always.