Bathroom & Kitchen Costs in New Homes: Sydney Price Guide (2026)

Why Bathrooms and Kitchens Cost So Much

Bathrooms and kitchens are the most expensive rooms in any home on a per-square-metre basis. A standard bedroom might cost $1,500–$2,500/sqm to build (walls, floor, ceiling, paint, carpet, one power point, and a light), but a bathroom costs $5,000–$12,000/sqm and a kitchen costs $4,000–$10,000/sqm — two to five times more than the rest of the house.

The cost density comes from the concentration of services and finishes in a small space:

• **Plumbing:** Hot and cold water supply, waste drainage (including shower wastes, basin wastes, toilet connections), and potentially gas for cooktops. Bathrooms have more plumbing connections per square metre than any other room. • **Waterproofing:** Every bathroom requires AS 3740 compliant waterproofing — a multi-layer membrane system that costs $1,000–$2,500 per wet area and requires mandatory certification. • **Electrical:** Downlights, exhaust fans (mandatory in bathrooms under BCA), heated towel rails, rangehoods, cooktops (induction or gas), ovens, dishwashers, and dedicated circuits for high-draw appliances. • **Tiling:** Floor-to-ceiling tiling in bathrooms ($60–$200/sqm supply, $70–$120/sqm installation), splashback tiling in kitchens. • **Cabinetry:** Custom vanities ($1,500–$6,000 each), kitchen cabinets ($8,000–$40,000+ for a full kitchen). • **Stone benchtops:** Engineered stone, natural stone, or porcelain surfaces ($350–$1,200 per linear metre installed). • **Fixtures and fittings:** Tapware, shower heads, toilet suites, sinks, and hardware — each piece individually specified and priced.

Understanding how these costs break down helps you make informed choices about where to invest and where to save in your new Sydney home.

Bathroom Costs Breakdown by Specification Level

Realistic bathroom costs for new homes in Sydney (2026), based on a standard 5sqm main bathroom:

**Budget specification ($12,000–$18,000 per bathroom):** • 600×600 porcelain floor tiles ($50–$70/sqm supply) • 300×600 wall tiles to 1.8m height ($40–$60/sqm supply) • Standard white acrylic bath ($400–$800) • Basic frameless shower screen ($600–$1,000) • White laminate vanity with polymarble top (single basin, $500–$900) • Chrome tapware pack ($300–$600) • Standard toilet suite ($300–$500) • Basic rangehood-style exhaust fan ($100–$200) • Includes waterproofing, tiling, plumbing, and electrical labour

**Mid-range specification ($18,000–$30,000 per bathroom):** • 600×600 or 300×600 rectified porcelain tiles ($70–$120/sqm) • Full-height (floor-to-ceiling) wall tiling • Freestanding acrylic or composite stone bath ($1,200–$3,000) • Semi-frameless or frameless shower screen ($1,000–$2,000) • Polyurethane vanity with stone benchtop and undermount basin ($2,000–$4,500) • Matte black or brushed nickel tapware ($800–$1,800 per bathroom set) • Wall-hung toilet ($800–$1,500) • LED mirror cabinet ($500–$1,200) • Heated towel rail ($400–$800 installed) • Niche shelving in shower with LED strip ($300–$600)

**Premium/luxury specification ($30,000–$55,000+ per bathroom):** • Large-format porcelain or natural stone tiles ($120–$250/sqm) • Feature tile or stone mosaic on accent wall • Freestanding natural stone or designer bath ($3,000–$8,000) • Custom-cut frameless screen with black hardware ($2,000–$4,000) • Custom joinery vanity with natural stone benchtop and designer basin ($4,000–$10,000) • Premium designer tapware — Brodware, Sussex, Astra Walker ($1,500–$4,000) • Smart toilet with bidet and heated seat ($2,000–$5,000) • Underfloor heating ($1,200–$2,500) • Custom LED lighting design with dimmer control

A typical four-bedroom, three-bathroom new home has one ensuite (usually mid-range to premium), one main bathroom (mid-range), and one powder room ($4,000–$8,000). Total bathroom budget: $35,000–$75,000+ depending on specification.

Kitchen Costs Breakdown by Specification Level

Realistic kitchen costs for new homes in Sydney (2026), based on a standard 12–15sqm kitchen:

**Budget specification ($18,000–$28,000):** • White or basic colour laminate doors on particleboard carcasses • Laminate benchtop (Laminex or equivalent, $200–$400/lm installed) • 600mm stainless steel freestanding cooker ($800–$1,500) • Basic rangehood ($300–$600) • Single bowl stainless steel sink ($200–$400) • Basic chrome mixer tap ($150–$300) • Dishwasher space provision only (no dishwasher supplied) • Standard subway tile splashback ($60–$90/sqm installed)

**Mid-range specification ($28,000–$50,000):** • Polyurethane (2-pac) or Shaker-profile doors on quality carcasses • Engineered stone benchtop — Caesarstone, Smartstone, or Essastone ($350–$600/lm installed) • 900mm induction cooktop ($1,000–$2,500) • 600mm built-in oven ($1,000–$2,000) • Integrated rangehood or canopy hood ($600–$1,500) • 1.5 bowl undermount sink ($500–$900) • Pull-out mixer tap in matte black or brushed nickel ($400–$800) • Bosch or Fisher & Paykel dishwasher ($800–$1,500) • Butler's pantry or large pantry cabinet with internal drawers • Soft-close drawers and doors throughout • LED strip lighting under overhead cabinets

**Premium/luxury specification ($50,000–$90,000+):** • Custom joinery — hand-sprayed 2-pac with shadow-line detail or natural timber veneer • Natural stone benchtop — marble, granite, or premium quartzite ($600–$1,200/lm) • Full appliance suite — Miele, Fisher & Paykel, or Sub-Zero Wolf • Integrated refrigerator ($4,000–$8,000) • Zip tap or Billi tap for instant boiling/chilled/sparkling water ($2,500–$5,000 installed) • Statement island bench — waterfall edge, contrasting stone, integrated power • Designer pendant lighting over island • Full butler's pantry with secondary sink, dishwasher, and prep area • Automated bin drawer systems • Wine storage — built-in wine fridge ($1,500–$3,500)

The kitchen is typically the single most expensive room in a new home. Most Buildana clients sit in the mid-range to premium bracket, investing $35,000–$65,000 in a kitchen that anchors their home's interior design.

How to Save Without Sacrificing Quality

Smart choices can save $15,000–$40,000 across all bathrooms and kitchens without visible quality reduction:

**1. Standardise tile sizes across all bathrooms:** Using one floor tile and one wall tile across all wet areas generates bulk pricing from the tile supplier and reduces tiling labour costs. A common approach: 600×600 floor throughout, 300×600 wall throughout, with one feature tile used sparingly in the ensuite only.

**2. Choose engineered stone over natural stone for benchtops:** Engineered stone (Caesarstone, Smartstone) costs 30–50% less than natural marble/granite and requires no sealing. It's more durable for kitchens and nearly indistinguishable in a bathroom vanity application.

**3. Limit butler's pantry scope:** A butler's pantry with a sink, dishwasher, and overhead storage adds $8,000–$15,000. If your budget is tight, a generous walk-in pantry with open shelving achieves 80% of the functionality at 30% of the cost.

**4. Choose mid-range tapware from premium brands:** Phoenix, Methven, and Caroma offer excellent matte black and brushed nickel ranges that look identical to ultra-premium brands at 40–60% of the cost.

**5. Avoid unnecessary double vanities:** Unless both partners genuinely use the ensuite simultaneously each morning, a single large vanity with a wide benchtop is more practical and saves $2,000–$4,000.

**6. Select appliances strategically:** Invest in the cooktop and oven (you use these every day), but go mid-range on the rangehood and dishwasher — the performance difference at the premium level is marginal.

Buildana includes a detailed kitchen and bathroom specification schedule in every contract, with clear pricing for each item. Our design team helps you allocate budget where it creates the most impact — ensuring your bathrooms and kitchens look and perform at a level above what you paid. Call 0476 300 300 for a design consultation.

What Buildana Includes as Standard

Every Buildana custom home, duplex, and knockdown rebuild includes the following as standard specification in bathrooms and kitchens:

**Bathrooms (standard inclusion):** • Full-height wall tiling in all wet areas • AS 3740 compliant waterproofing with certification • Soft-close polyurethane vanity with engineered stone benchtop • Frameless shower screen • Wall-hung toilet • Quality mixer tapware (choice of chrome, matte black, or brushed nickel) • Heated towel rail in ensuite • LED mirror cabinet or framed mirror • Niche shelf in shower • Exhaust fan (ducted to exterior)

**Kitchen (standard inclusion):** • 2-pac polyurethane doors with soft-close hardware • Engineered stone benchtop (20mm or 40mm with mitred edge) • 900mm induction cooktop • 600mm built-in pyrolytic oven • Canopy or integrated rangehood (ducted to exterior) • Undermount 1.5 bowl stainless steel sink • Pull-out mixer tap • Dishwasher provision (wiring, plumbing, and space) • LED strip lighting under overheads • Pull-out bin drawer • Pantry storage

All inclusions are specified in your contract with make, model, and colour — no allowances, no surprises. Upgrades are individually priced so you can customise exactly where your budget goes. This transparency is core to how Buildana operates. Discover the difference at buildana.com.au or call 0476 300 300.

Buildana builds across Sydney. Visit /homes/custom-homes to learn more or /design-build/design-and-construct to discuss your project.