Laundry renovations in Sydney range from a $4,000 cosmetic refresh to a $25,000-plus full gut. Here is what each price point actually gets you, what drives costs up, and how to spend your budget where it counts.
TL;DR: A laundry renovation in Sydney costs $4,000-25,000 depending on scope. A cosmetic refresh (new cabinet doors, taps, paint) sits at the lower end. A full gut with new cabinetry, benchtop, tiling and plumbing sits at the top.
Laundry renovations in Sydney span a wide range — and the difference between tiers is mostly about how much you touch behind the walls. <strong>Cosmetic refresh — $4,000 to $8,000.</strong> This is fresh paint, new tap ware, replacement cabinet doors and handles, and a new laundry tub. The layout stays the same. Plumbing connections do not move. It is the right choice when the bones are good and you just need the space to look and feel current. <strong>Mid-range renovation — $8,000 to $15,000.</strong> New flat-pack or semi-custom cabinetry, a laminate or Caesarstone benchtop, a new tub, tiling to splash-back height, and updated tapware. Plumbing stays roughly in place. Most Sydney homes land here when they want a proper upgrade without a full gut. <strong>Full renovation — $15,000 to $22,000.</strong> Full demolition, new waterproofing membrane, large-format floor and wall tiles, custom or semi-custom joinery, stone benchtop, new sink, new tapware, relocated plumbing if needed. This is what our team does end to end across <a href="/laundry">laundry renovations</a> all over Sydney. <strong>Premium fit-out — $20,000 to $30,000.</strong> Full custom joinery to ceiling, stone bench, integrated appliances, heated flooring, high-spec tapware, feature tiles. Every material is selected and specified. Larger laundries or ones combined with a butler's pantry often sit here.
A few factors move the needle more than anything else. <strong>Moving plumbing</strong> is the biggest one. If the washer outlet, cold supply or tub drain needs to shift more than half a metre, budget an extra $2,000 to $6,000. That covers breaking the slab or opening walls, re-running waste and supply, and making good. It is worth it when the new layout genuinely works better. It is not worth it when you are just moving things slightly. <strong>Room size</strong> matters for tiling and cabinetry. A 3 m² laundry and a 7 m² laundry are priced very differently for tile supply and lay alone. <strong>Waterproofing</strong> is non-negotiable in any wet area. If the old membrane is compromised or was never done properly, that adds cost but protects the structure long-term. <strong>Machine configuration</strong> affects joinery design. A stacked washer-dryer needs a tall tower with a shelf. A side-by-side pair needs a wider run of cabinetry and a longer benchtop. Both are manageable — but each has a different price. <strong>Custom vs flat pack</strong> joinery is typically a 30 to 50 per cent cost difference. Custom gives you better use of odd dimensions and ceiling height. Flat pack is a solid choice in a standard-sized laundry with square walls.
A proper laundry renovation quote from a licensed contractor should cover everything in writing. Here is what ours includes. <strong>Demolition</strong> — removing the old cabinetry, tub, tile or vinyl, and disposing of waste. <strong>Waterproofing</strong> — applying a compliant membrane to floor and wet walls, with inspection before tiling. <strong>Tiling</strong> — floor and wall tiles supplied at trade cost and laid, including adhesive and grout. <strong>Cabinetry</strong> — supply and install of flat-pack or custom joinery, including shelving, doors and handles. <strong>Benchtop</strong> — laminate, engineered stone or timber, cut and fitted. <strong>Sink or tub</strong> — supply and install with waste connection. <strong>Tapware</strong> — new mixer or separate taps, supplied and fitted by our plumber. <strong>Appliance connection</strong> — washer and dryer reconnected to water and power. <strong>Electrical</strong> — new power points at the right height, updated lighting if required. <strong>Painting</strong> — walls, ceiling and any timber work in your chosen colour. Being a family-run business with one team across all trades means we do not hand off between subcontractors mid-project. Everything above is coordinated by us, which keeps the three-week turnaround realistic.
Not all spending in a laundry renovation returns the same value. Knowing where to invest and where to hold back makes the budget go further. <strong>Spend on waterproofing.</strong> Cutting corners here causes water damage inside walls and subfloors. The rectification bill later is always worse than doing it right the first time. <strong>Spend on the benchtop.</strong> A stone or quality laminate bench makes the room feel solid and holds up to years of folding, ironing and general use. It is also what people notice first. <strong>Spend on storage.</strong> A well-designed laundry with proper cabinet depth, a linen tower or overhead shelving turns a frustrating room into one that actually works. <strong>Save on appliances.</strong> We supply appliances at trade cost if needed, but the laundry renovation itself does not require top-spec machines. A mid-range washer and dryer does the job. <strong>Save on handles and paint.</strong> These are easy to change later. Choose something clean and neutral rather than spending premium dollars here. For resale, buyers notice a laundry that is tidy, functional and dry. A quality tiled floor and proper storage add more appeal than an expensive tapware brand. For a full walkthrough of the planning process, see our <a href="/blog/laundry-renovations-sydney">laundry renovations guide</a>.
These are two different jobs and they should not be confused. <strong>A facelift</strong> works when the underlying structure is sound — no water damage, no rotted substrate, no cracked tiles hiding a failed membrane. If the layout suits the way you use the space and the plumbing is in reasonable condition, replacing doors, painting, adding new tapware and a fresh tub can completely change how the room feels for $4,000 to $7,000. It takes three to four days. <strong>A full renovation</strong> is the right call when the waterproofing has failed, the layout genuinely does not work, the plumbing is old galvanised pipe, or the cabinetry is particle board swollen from moisture. Trying to facelift over a damaged substrate is money wasted. The problems come back. We inspect before we quote. If the bones are good, we say so and price a facelift. If there is hidden damage, we show you before we start. That transparency is part of how we have worked for 12 years across Sydney. If you want a straight answer on which your laundry needs, call us on 02 5000 0402. We are Liverpool-based, licensed under NSW Contractor 383725C, and we cover all of Sydney.
Most laundry renovations take two to three weeks from start to finish. A cosmetic refresh — new doors, tapware, paint — can be done in three to four days. A full gut with waterproofing, tiling, new cabinetry and plumbing work typically runs ten to fifteen working days. The timeline depends on how much trades need to coordinate. Because InsideOut Joinery runs one team across all trades, we do not lose time waiting on separate subcontractors. Waterproofing cure time is the main fixed variable — the membrane needs at least 24 to 48 hours before tiling can begin, and that is non-negotiable for compliance.
Yes. Under Australian Standard AS 3740, any wet area in a home — including laundries — requires a compliant waterproofing membrane before tiling. If you are doing a cosmetic facelift without touching tiles or walls, the existing membrane may be left in place. But if you are removing tiles, replacing cabinetry that sits against wet walls, or doing any floor work, new waterproofing is required. This is not optional and a licensed contractor will not skip it. We inspect the existing membrane during demolition and replace it if there is any sign of failure, cracking or age-related degradation before laying a single tile.
Yes, and most laundry renovations do not move plumbing at all. If the washer, dryer and tub stay in roughly the same positions, the existing waste and supply connections are reused or slightly extended. That keeps costs down considerably. Moving a drain or supply line even half a metre adds $2,000 to $4,000 in plumbing costs. We only recommend moving plumbing when the current layout creates a genuine problem — such as a tub that blocks the door, or a washer position that makes the room unusable. If the layout works, we work around it.
Storage, waterproofing and a quality benchtop are the three things that add real functional and resale value to a laundry. Buyers and renters notice whether a laundry is dry, organised and practical. A well-sealed tiled floor, a generous overhead cabinet run and a solid stone or laminate bench make a strong impression. Feature tapware and premium appliances add very little resale value by comparison. If your budget is limited, prioritise the structure and storage over finishes. A laundry that works well and stays dry is always more valuable than one that looks expensive but has hidden water problems.
Call InsideOut Joinery on 02 5000 0402 or send us photos and measurements of your laundry through our website. We visit the site before quoting — no quote is issued without seeing the space. That way the price we give you is the price you pay, with no surprises when demolition reveals what is behind the walls. We service all of Sydney from our Liverpool base and can usually arrange a site visit within the week. Our licence number is NSW Contractor 383725C and we have been doing this for 12 years.
InsideOut Joinery & Renos is a family-run custom joinery and renovation business based in Liverpool, Sydney NSW 2170, serving homeowners Sydney-wide. Call 02 5000 0402 or email info@insideoutjoinery.au. One team covers every trade, with a typical 3-week turnaround, trade-cost appliances and 12 years of experience. Licensed contractor — licence 383725C, ABN 62 912 909 739.