Renovation costs, Australia

How much does a laundry renovation cost in Australia?

Laundries are the cheapest wet area in the house to renovate well. The numbers below price a typical 5 m² laundry floor and 6 m² of wall tiling in eight interior styles, using real products at current supplier pricing: tiles by the box with wastage, matched grout, adhesive, a sink mixer, a 900 mm wall cabinet and tiling labour at wet-area rates. Because the areas are small, upgrading to a beautiful tile costs far less here than anywhere else.

Laundry renovation cost by style

Based on a 5 m² floor and 6 m² of wall tiling, priced live from current supplier data. AUD, ex-GST.

StyleThe lookEstimated total
ContemporaryClean lines, neutral palette, the reno everyone wants right now$6,695
Modern HamptonsWhite shaker, honey oak, marble bench, matte black tapware$6,742
Heritage ModernPeriod bones, marble, coloured joinery, brass$6,742
Hotel LuxeBook-matched marble, brushed gold, freestanding bath$6,742
BiophilicRaw stone, living green, timber grain, nature brought inside$6,769
Modern CoastalSandy neutrals, pale oak, honed stone calm$6,773
Modern FarmhouseWhite subway, shaker doors, black iron handles$6,773
Mid-Century ModernTerrazzo, bold colour, tapered legs, retro confidence$6,849
Modern MediterraneanSun-baked terracotta, limewash, soft arches$7,108
Earthy BohoTerracotta, zellige, rattan, layered earthy warmth$7,108
Earthy AustralianaSage, terracotta, brushed brass, raw clay$7,248
Neo-DecoCurves, fluted panels, zellige, jewel tones$7,253
JapandiWarm greige, matte stone, charcoal, zero gloss$7,285
French ProvincialCream cabinetry, carved timber, aged brass, effortlessly romantic$7,638
IndustrialExposed concrete, raw steel, black pipe, warehouse meets home$8,211
Modern ClassicHalf traditional, half modern, warm, timeless, never trendy$8,255
Warm MinimalistVein-cut travertine, warm greige, honed everything$8,786
Dark & MoodyCharcoal tiles, matte black tapware, cave-like drama$9,094
Cheapest

Contemporary at $6,695. Clean lines, neutral palette, the reno everyone wants right now.

Dearest

Dark & Moody at $9,094, a spread of $2,399 across the eight styles for the same room.

What is included: an example schedule

Here is the full line-item schedule behind the Earthy Boho figure above. Covers floor and wall tiling, grout, adhesive, laundry sink mixer, a 900 mm wall cabinet and tiling labour. Demolition, waterproofing, the trough and cabinet plumbing, and appliances are excluded.

Material schedulelaundry · Earthy Boho
MATFloor: Cotto Grazia (100x100mm, matte)4 box @ $140$561
MATGrout: Kerakoll Fugabella Color 02 — Natural White for floor1 bag @ $45$45
MATWall: Cotto Corte (280x70mm, matte, tiled to 1200mm half-height)14 box @ $58$807
MATGrout: Kerakoll Fugabella Color 05 — Antique Linen for wall1 bag @ $45$45
MATAdhesive: Kerakoll Biogel No Limits (gel-technology, 25kg)2 bag @ $71$142
MATWaterproofing: Kerakoll Aquastop Nanoflex (wet area membrane)1 kit @ $166$166
LABFloor tiling labour (laundry, supply-fix band)5 m² @ $85$425
LABWall tiling labour (laundry, supply-fix band)6 m² @ $85$510
LABWaterproofing labour (AS 3740 wet-area membrane, 2 coats)1 job @ $500$500
FURLaundry cabinetry & joinery (custom, Australian-made)1 item @ $2,500$2,500
FIXLaundry trough 45L, stainless steel + cabinet1 item @ $395$395
FIXExhaust fan, ducted (AS 3740 ventilation)1 item @ $280$280
FIXMeir Round Basin Mixer, Matte Black1 item @ $335$335
FIXLaundry wall cabinet 900, white1 item @ $349$349
FIXWall paint — Dulux Natural White (low-sheen)1 L @ $16$16
FIXCeiling paint — Dulux Vivid White (flat)1 L @ $16$16
FIXTrim & door enamel — Dulux Vivid White (semi-gloss)1 L @ $16$16
Estimated total, ex-GST$7,108

On a tighter budget?

The same engine can work to a number. Give it a budget and it swaps the dearest tile lines for honest cheaper alternates, smaller formats or ceramic instead of porcelain, then steps the labour band down a tier if it still needs to. Asked to bring the Earthy Boho laundry in at $6,042, it lands at $6,549, saving $559 against the standard schedule (the closest it can get with real products). The swapped lines are flagged as budget picks so nothing is hidden.

The costs that catch people out

Demolition and skip bins

Strip-out labour plus bin hire. Allow $800 to $1,500 for a wet area, less for a dry room.

Waterproofing

Mandatory in wet areas under the NCC. Allow $500 to $900 for a bathroom, $300 to $500 for a laundry.

Contingency, 15 to 20%

Walls and floors hide things: out-of-level slabs, old leaks, surprise plumbing. Price it in up front, not after.

Lead times

Imported stone and feature tiles run 3 to 6 weeks. Order when the schedule is locked, not when demolition starts.

Frequently asked questions

Why renovate the laundry at all?

It is the highest-impact, lowest-cost wet area in the house. The tiled areas are a quarter of a bathroom's, so a feature tile that would stretch the budget in a bathroom is affordable here, and buyers notice a finished laundry.

Does a laundry need waterproofing?

Yes. Australian standards require waterproofing where fixtures can leak; allow $300 to $500 for a standard laundry. It is not in the figures above because it is quoted with the wet-trades work, not the finishes.

Can I use the same tiles as my bathroom?

Often a smart move. Running one floor tile through bathroom and laundry lets you share wastage between rooms, sometimes saving a whole box, and the house reads as one considered scheme.

Are these prices GST inclusive?

No, every figure is AUD ex-GST. Add 10 per cent for the GST-inclusive total, and a 15 to 20 per cent contingency on top for surprises behind the old tiles.

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Keep reading

Laundry renovation costs by city

Costs for other rooms

The eight styles, in depth