A practical guide to laundry renovations in Sydney — real costs, layouts that work in small rooms, storage that earns its place, and what to look for in a contractor.
TL;DR: A laundry renovation in Sydney typically costs $8,000–$20,000 depending on size and scope. The right layout and storage can turn even a small laundry into a genuinely useful space.
Most laundry renovations in Sydney fall between $8,000 and $20,000, with the full range running from a light refresh to a complete rebuild. <strong>Cosmetic refresh — $4,000 to $8,000:</strong> New cabinetry fronts or a compact new cabinet run, a new benchtop, a new trough and tapware, and paint. The plumbing stays where it is. This suits a laundry where the layout already works and the finishes are just tired. <strong>Mid-range renovation — $8,000 to $15,000:</strong> A full strip-out and rebuild in the same footprint — new custom cabinetry top and bottom, a stone or quality laminate benchtop, a new trough, tapware and splashback, with minor plumbing adjustments. This is where most laundry renovations land and where the room genuinely starts working harder. <strong>Full renovation — $15,000 to $25,000:</strong> New layout, relocated plumbing, floor-to-ceiling storage, stone benchtops, integrated hampers and a room that doubles as a mudroom or storage zone. Often done as part of a broader renovation. What drives the cost up is plumbing relocation, stone over laminate, and the amount of cabinetry. Moving the trough and waste alone can add a few thousand because it brings a plumber and waterproofing into play. A small room with lots of joinery can cost more than a large room with little — the cabinetry, not the floor area, is the spend.
Sydney laundries are often small, tucked off a hallway, garage or kitchen, so the layout has to be deliberate. <strong>Single-wall layout:</strong> Everything on one wall — trough, bench, machines and storage in a line. It is the most space-efficient option and suits a narrow laundry or a cupboard-sized European laundry. It keeps the floor clear and the plumbing simple. <strong>L-shape layout:</strong> Two connected runs, which gives you more bench and storage and a logical flow from machine to bench to storage. It works where the room has a bit of width. <strong>Galley layout:</strong> Two facing runs in a larger laundry, with machines and trough on one side and storage and folding bench on the other. Good for family homes with a dedicated laundry room. For small Sydney laundries, the big decision is <strong>stacked versus side-by-side machines.</strong> Stacking a dryer above a front-loader frees up a whole bay for bench or storage and is often the right call in a tight room. Side-by-side gives you a continuous bench over both machines, which is better if you have the width. Put the trough next to the machines so plumbing stays grouped, and plan a drying option — a wall-mounted fold-down rack or a retractable line — so wet-weather drying is not an afterthought.
A laundry holds more than people expect — detergents, cleaning gear, linen, the vacuum, the iron, the dog's lead. Good storage is what separates a useful laundry from a cluttered one. <strong>Overhead cabinets</strong> above the machines and bench use the wall that would otherwise be wasted. Take them to the ceiling and you gain a full extra shelf for the things you rarely reach for. <strong>Under-bench storage</strong> with deep drawers or a mix of drawers and a cupboard keeps detergents and cleaning products to hand but out of sight. <strong>Pull-out hampers</strong> built into the cabinetry — two or three baskets for sorting darks, lights and towels — are one of the most appreciated features in any laundry. They keep washing off the floor and sorting effortless. <strong>A built-in ironing board</strong> that folds down from a drawer or cabinet saves dragging one out every time. In a small home it is a genuine space-saver. <strong>Broom and utility cupboard integration:</strong> A tall, narrow cupboard for the mop, broom, vacuum and ironing board keeps the bulky gear contained. If the laundry sits near the back door, the same run can absorb coat hooks, shoe storage and a bag shelf so the room works as a mudroom too.
A laundry takes more moisture and daily wear than almost any other room, so the materials matter more than the look. <strong>Cabinet finishes:</strong> Two-pack polyurethane or high-pressure laminate both handle humidity well and wipe clean. The substrate underneath matters more than the finish — moisture-resistant board, not standard MDF, which swells and peels within a couple of years in a wet room. We do not cut corners here because the failures show up fast. <strong>Benchtop:</strong> Laminate is the most practical choice for most laundries — it is hard-wearing, cheap to replace and comes in solid colours and stone looks. Stone is worth it if the laundry is on show or you want a premium finish that will not stain or warp, but laminate is no compromise in a utility room. <strong>Splashback:</strong> Tile or a glass panel behind the trough handles the constant splatter. A painted wall in washable enamel is fine elsewhere. <strong>Flooring:</strong> Vinyl plank, tiles or sealed flooring that copes with water and the occasional overflow. Avoid anything that stains or lifts when wet. Properly sealed flooring and a benchtop on a moisture-resistant substrate are what let a laundry survive a decade of daily use without looking tired.
A laundry is small but it touches plumbing, electrical, cabinetry and sometimes waterproofing, so the contractor matters. <strong>Check the licence.</strong> In NSW you can look up any contractor on the Fair Trading website and confirm the licence is current and covers the work. It takes two minutes. InsideOut is a licensed NSW contractor — licence 383725C — and we are happy for you to check it. <strong>Get a fixed-price quote</strong> that itemises the job — cabinetry, benchtop, trough, tapware, plumbing, splashback and flooring — rather than one lump number. That is what lets you compare quotes honestly and avoid surprises. <strong>Ask who manages the project.</strong> A laundry needs trades sequenced correctly, and someone has to own that schedule. <strong>Look for waterproofing knowledge.</strong> A laundry is a wet area and the substrate and sealing decisions affect how long the joinery lasts. <strong>One team versus multiple trades</strong> is the difference between a smooth job and a stalled one. We are family-run and run the plumber, electrician, cabinetmaker and tiler as one team, scheduled in order, with a typical three-week turnaround on site. You deal with one point of contact, not five separate trades. See our <a href="/laundry">laundry renovations</a> page for examples of how we approach it.
Almost never. A laundry renovation within the existing footprint — new cabinetry, benchtop, trough and finishes — does not need council approval because you are not altering the structure or the building's footprint. Approval or certification only comes into play if you are moving plumbing significantly, knocking out a load-bearing wall, or working on a heritage or strata property with extra rules. Waterproofing in the wet area still has to meet NSW standards regardless. Your contractor should confirm whether your specific job needs anything before work starts, so there are no surprises.
Most laundry renovations take one to three weeks on site, depending on scope. A like-for-like refresh keeping the plumbing in place is at the quick end. If the trough and waste are being relocated, or the room is fully stripped and rebuilt, add time for the plumber and any waterproofing to cure. Before site work, allow a couple of weeks to confirm the design and order cabinetry and the benchtop. Because we run one team across all the trades, the laundry is not sitting idle waiting on a separate contractor, which keeps the job tight.
Yes, more than people expect. A well-finished, well-organised laundry signals to buyers that the whole home has been looked after, and it is a relatively low-cost room to renovate compared with a kitchen or bathroom. Buyers notice good storage, a quality bench for folding, and a layout that flows. You will not recoup the spend the way a kitchen does, but a tidy modern laundry removes a small objection at sale and supports the overall impression. If you are renovating to sell, it is a sensible, affordable room to bring up to standard.
Laminate is the most practical choice for most laundries. It is hard-wearing, water-tolerant, inexpensive and now comes in convincing stone looks and solid colours. In a utility room that takes daily wet use, it is no compromise and easy to replace down the track. Stone — engineered or porcelain — is worth it if the laundry is on display, doubles as a mudroom you want to look sharp, or you simply prefer a premium finish that will not stain or scorch. For a hidden European laundry or a tight budget, laminate is the sensible call and lets you spend elsewhere.
Send us a few photos of the existing laundry, rough measurements or a floor plan, and a short description of what is not working and what you want. From that we can give you a realistic budget range quickly. For a detailed fixed quote we will arrange a site visit to measure up and confirm the plumbing, finishes and scope. You can call us on 02 5000 0402 or send your details through the contact form. We are Liverpool-based, work Sydney-wide, and there is no obligation to proceed. If you are also planning a bathroom, see our <a href="/blog/bathroom-renovation-cost-sydney">bathroom renovation cost guide</a>.
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.