Kitchen renovation cost in NZ (2026)

Updated 11 November 2026. Prices are published NZ figures, linked to their source. Your tradie quotes after seeing the job.

A mid-range kitchen renovation in NZ typically costs about $25,000 to $45,000 (CheckMyBuilder, 2026), with Auckland towards the top of that range. Basic refreshes that keep the layout start around $15,000, and premium kitchens run to $90,000 and well beyond.

The published figures come from renovation companies, cost-guide sites and a benchtop supplier. They do not agree with each other, and most do not say whether GST is included. Treat every figure as a guide, then get an itemised written quote.

The quick answer

CheckMyBuilder is a vendor cost guide and says its figures are 2026 estimates for guidance only. Superior Renovations and Refresh Renovations are Auckland renovation companies. Laminex is a surfaces and benchtop supplier, so its article is promotional too. Its page is dated 11 March 2026.

The Auckland sources disagree widely. Superior Renovations says an Auckland mid-range kitchen is $26,000 to $35,000 plus GST. Refresh Renovations says mid-range starts at $60,000 and entry level at around $40,000. Part of the gap is scope: Refresh Renovations describes custom cabinetry, made-to-fit storage and electrical and plumbing changes. Ask each tradie or supplier to list what is included.

What changes the price

Region. CheckMyBuilder gives indicative typical figures of $40,000 for Auckland, $37,000 for Wellington, $34,000 for Christchurch and $32,000 for regional NZ. Superior Renovations quotes Auckland at $2,500 to $4,000 per square metre, and Auckland labour at $120 to $150 an hour. For a 10 square metre kitchen with custom cabinets and a stone benchtop it gives $35,000 in Auckland, $28,000 in Christchurch and $25,000 in rural NZ with pre-made cabinets and laminate.

Keeping or changing the layout. Superior Renovations says keeping the existing layout saves $2,000 to $10,000 overall, and $500 to $1,000 on plumbing labour alone. CheckMyBuilder adds $3,000 to $8,000 for moving plumbing or gas, and $5,000 to $15,000 for removing a structural wall.

Benchtops. CheckMyBuilder says stone rather than laminate adds $2,000 to $6,000. Superior Renovations gives laminate at $200 to $500 per square metre and engineered stone or granite at $500 to $1,200.

Cabinets. Superior Renovations gives $3,000 to $7,000 for basic cabinetry and $5,000 to $10,000 mid-range. CheckMyBuilder says refacing existing cabinets costs about 40% to 60% of full replacement.

Appliances. CheckMyBuilder adds $3,000 to $20,000 depending on entry-level or premium packages. Superior Renovations gives about $2,000 for a basic oven, hob and rangehood, and $5,000 to $10,000 for a quality mid-range set.

Plumbing and gas. Superior Renovations puts plumbing at about $900 on a $30,000 plus GST budget when the layout stays. It says gas line work is up to $2,500 and relocating plumbing in a large kitchen is $5,000 to $20,000 including consent.

Electrical. Superior Renovations quotes $500 to $2,000 for electrical and lighting labour (recessed lights, appliance wiring, under-cabinet LEDs), and $200 to $500 for each power point not scoped upfront.

Hidden costs. Superior Renovations warns that unscoped plumbing, electrical and permit costs can add $2,000 to $5,000 mid-project.

Time. CheckMyBuilder says 3 to 8 weeks on site.

A worked example

Using the figures above, take a 10 square metre Auckland kitchen at mid-range.

• Base price from Superior Renovations’ 10 square metre table: $20,000 to $30,000 plus GST.
• Contingency at Laminex’s 15% rule of thumb: 15% of $20,000 is $3,000, and 15% of $30,000 is $4,500. That makes $23,000 to $34,500.
• If you also move the sink, add CheckMyBuilder’s $3,000 to $8,000 for moving plumbing or gas. The total becomes $26,000 to $42,500.

These figures come from different sources with different GST bases (Superior Renovations plus GST, CheckMyBuilder excluding GST unless stated), so add GST on top and ask for a written breakdown.

Rules, licences and consents

Plumbing. MBIE says an authorised plumber may alter existing sanitary plumbing without a building consent, provided the number of sanitary fixtures in the building is not increased and no specified system is affected. Its listed examples include a homeowner remodelling an existing kitchen within the same space and leaving the sink in the same position, and moving an existing laundry tub into the adjacent kitchen (MBIE exemption 35). It says to apply for a consent rather than risk using the exemption wrongly if you are not sure.

Replacing like for like. A separate MBIE exemption covers replacing sanitary plumbing with a comparable component in the same position, done by an authorised plumber (MBIE exemption 32).

Where consent is likely. CheckMyBuilder says moving plumbing or gas involves certified tradies and possibly a consent, and that removing a structural wall needs an engineer, a beam and a building consent. Superior Renovations quotes building consent costs of $2,500 to $6,500 for structural or electrical modifications to a typical Auckland kitchen, with processing from 1 to 5 months. The MBIE sources above are more specific than these vendor pages, so ask your council which applies to your layout.

Restricted building work. MBIE’s page on restricted building work (updated 15 January 2026) says any work that alters a home’s primary structure is restricted building work and must be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner. Primary structure includes walls, lintels, beams and bracing, so taking out a structural wall falls under this. It also says fitting new sanitary fixtures where there were none before, such as in a new kitchen, is not restricted building work.

Electrical. The Electrical Workers Registration Board says electrical work in your home should be done by someone registered and licensed to do it, and that you should ask to see their licence ID and check the public register. See our guide to checking an electrician.

Plumbing and gas licences. The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board says to ask to see the licence and check the expiry date and class. It also says a certifying gasfitter must provide a signed gasfitting certificate within 20 working days of connecting the work to the gas supply, and keep a copy for seven years (PGDB advice for consumers). See our guide to checking a plumber or gasfitter.

Contracts and your rights. Building.govt.nz says you must have a written contract for residential building work costing $30,000 or more including GST, and your contractor must give you a disclosure statement and a consumer protection checklist before you sign. You also get a 12-month defect repair period, and implied warranties apply for 10 years (building.govt.nz, protection for homeowners).

Questions to ask before you say yes

• Is this a fixed price or an estimate, and does it include GST?
• Which items are provisional sums, and how will changes be priced?
• Are appliances, benchtops, splashback, flooring and painting in the price?
• Does the layout change, and who decides whether a consent is needed?
• Who is the licensed plumber, gasfitter and electrician, and what are their licence numbers?
• Will I get the gasfitting certificate and electrical certificate at the end?
• What contingency should I hold back for hidden plumbing and wiring?
• How long will the kitchen be out of use, and what warranty covers the work?

How GoodTradie helps

GoodTradie is free for homeowners. A kitchen renovation is bigger than any one trade, and we do not manage whole renovations or find builders or cabinetmakers. What we can do is find you one checked plumber, whose licence we confirm on the PGDB register, or one checked electrician on the EWRB register, for the licensed parts of the job. We then check their quote against published NZ figures like the ones above. We do not send your job to several tradies. That check is a guide, not a guarantee of the best price. Type the plumbing or electrical job into the box at the top of the page to get started.

Sources

• CheckMyBuilder, kitchen renovation cost, updated July 2026
• Superior Renovations, kitchen renovation cost NZ, published 10 August 2026, updated 4 November 2026
• Laminex, kitchen renovation cost, 11 March 2026
• Refresh Renovations, Auckland kitchen renovation cost guide 2026 (page date not stated)
• MBIE, 4.7 Alteration to existing sanitary plumbing (page undated)
• MBIE, 4.1 Repair, maintenance and replacement of sanitary plumbing and drainage (page undated)
• MBIE, restricted building work, updated 15 January 2026
• Building.govt.nz, protection for homeowners (page undated)
• Electrical Workers Registration Board, why use a registered electrical worker (page undated)
• Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, advice for consumers (page copyright 2025)

Need a plumber? See how we find and check one, or type the job in the box at the top.