Caveat lector! (Reader beware!)
This kitchen construction cost calculator is only designed to give a preliminary estimate on the cost of constructing a new kitchen which has an existing floor, wall and roof structure in place. For accuracy you will require detailed plans, exact prices for the PC items you select and the services of a kitchen installation specialist (assuming you are not doing-it-yourself).
Step 1: Choose a kitchen size & layout
You can select your kitchen's size by clicking on one of the layout's shown below. This will set various parameters in the calculator, which you can then change as you see fit. Note that DIY values include materials only. Select the "custom" option to enter your own values rather that the predefined defaults.
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Step 2: Specify kitchen's size & contents
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More on kitchens
You may find it beneficial to have a look at these kitchen web pages:
- Find a kitchen specialist in our online kitchen and bathroom directory.
- Kitchen cost estimator A useful tool to help you get a rough cost for your new bathroom project.
- Australian kitchen designs & appliances.In the last decade living spaces in homes have thankfully become much more open-plan. The modern kitchen has in fact re-invented itself. Once considered a utilitatian room solely for food preparation and a quick breakfast, the kitchen has become more exposed, more used and is now often the epicentre of the house...
- DIY kitchen design. Does your kitchen need a full re-design or just a makeover?
- Blog article: Kitchen splashbacks. Why do we use them, are they really needed, and what kinds are out there? The kitchen is a fairly messy area in many households and...
- Blog article: Rangehoods. What a range there is in rangehoods. I thought doing a blog on rangehoods would be fairly dull but I have been pleasantly surprised! Recently there have been significant changes to kitchen exhausts and listed below are 6 different systems available on the market...
Size of kitchen
Clicking on one of the radio buttons shown here is the same as clicking on one of the kitchen plans shown in the previous step, with the exception of "custom" which allows you set your own values for the splashback and bench top, etc.
Splashbacks
Splashbacks can be made of a variety of products and vary greatly in price. The standard splashbacks are made of tile or acrylic. Premium splashbacks can be made of stainless steel, glass, stone composite, natural stone or acrylic sheeting.
To work out the area you need measure the lengths of all your bench space by the height you prefer. It can be 200mm high as show below or 600mm high it will depend on what is taking place in particular area of the kitchen. The most cost affective splashback for the DIY kitchen renovator is tiles as no trades are involved and tile splashbacks are back in vogue!
Benchtops
Tiled DIY benchtops can look fantastic and are the most economical option. For more benchtop options consider laminate (the most popular), stainless steel, granite, marble, terrazzo or even timber for a rustic look.
Sinks
There are four basic types of sinks. The standard is a drop in sink made of stainless steel and is very light in weight. The second is also a stainless steel but the sheet metal is thicker and stronger (premium). Undermounted sinks and ceramic sinks come into the "opulent" range.
Mixers
There are a million mixers to chose from and also many moving parts inside these devices which can make them less reliable than a standard tap and spout.
Taps & spout
This is a classic option and less liable to break than when compared to a mixer with all its moving parts.
Cabinet doors
There are many creative options. A great cost effective DIY option is curtain doors. Preformed and laminated MDF doors (premium) are the next most economical door option. Polyurethane coated doors are an "opulent" option as are glass inserts and hand painted solid timber doors.
Drawers
Everybody loves having drawers in the kitchen but it will cost you, and there are some areas such as under the sink where standard drawers just don't work. Yes there is the nifty drawer with cut-out options but remember anything non-standard is extra.
Soft drawer closers
These devices stop drawers from slamming shut. When pushed close they stop 20mm short of closing and then the drawer self closes.
Other cabinetry
Includes carcases, open shelving and all cabinetry that sits behind the door and drawer fronts.
Cabinet handles
There is a virtual cornucopia of handles on the market so choose ones that will best suite the style of your kitchen.
Bins
Bins, bins, bins. Make sure you don't forget about integrating the bin into your cabinetry and if you choose not to integrate make sure that you design the kitchen plan with a good space for the bin, out of site, not in the pantry and out of the way of kitchen traffic. And do not forget about recycling and composting!
Dishwashers
The lower end dishwashers need regular maintence and cleaning and are generally very noisy so if you can afford a good quality machine, buy one!
Cooking ranges or uprights
Combined cook top and oven units are very popular at present and the higher end units can set you back many thousands of dollars. However if you are on a budget and just need a "cheapy to get you through" the lower end ranges are very economical and do their job just fine.
Range hoods
These devices help ventilate or circulate air in the kitchen over the cooking area. The ventilated options will need to be ducted to the roof or an external wall and are more expensive to buy and fit than a circulating unit. The circulating option does not vent any air out of the kitchen it just filters the air and pushes the air back into the kitchen.
Refrigerators
Most people already own a fridge so if that is the case, just put "0" (zero) in this field but if you don't have one, or the one you have is going to become a beer fridge and sit in the garage then happy shopping! Full size kitchen fridges vary in price from $450.00 to over $13,000 (hard to believe, but true nevertheless).
Kickboards
A vertical panel usually made of particle board covered with laminate and located above between the floor and the bottom of the cabinetry.
Microwaves
Microwaves can almost be categorised as a plug-in appliance like a toaster, but given the space they take up it is worth having a kitchen designed with a spot set aside for one.