Laundry renovations in Canberra

What a laundry renovation costs in Canberra

Here are real figures from our recent Canberra projects (all prices exclude GST), so you have a realistic starting point rather than a guess. Treat them as a guide, not a quote. Every laundry is different, and size, finishes and what we find behind the old cabinets all move the number.

• Light refresh: around $6,000 to $7,000. The layout and cabinet boxes stay; you get a new benchtop, new cupboard doors and handles, a new sink and tapware, and fresh paint.
• Full new laundry in the same spot: around $11,000 to $12,000. New cabinetry, benchtop, sink, tapware and splashback, with the plumbing staying where it is.
• Moving the plumbing: add around $2,500. That includes plumbing approval where it's needed, and it's less when the change doesn't require it.
• Flooring is extra on all of the above, and depends on the size of the room and what's there now.

Because the room is small, a step up in finishes, such as a stone benchtop instead of laminate, often costs less than people expect. Moving things is where costs climb, so the cheapest laundry is nearly always one that keeps the plumbing where it is.

Why a laundry renovation is often better value than people expect

The laundry is easy to overlook, but it's one of the best-value rooms to renovate in a Canberra home. It's small, so materials and labour go further than in a kitchen or bathroom, and a tidy, well-organised laundry quietly lifts the impression of the whole house. Buyers notice when a home feels cared for down to the details. If you're staying put, a good laundry makes a daily chore genuinely easier.

What drives the cost

• Cabinetry and storage is the biggest driver of both cost and everyday usefulness. Refacing sound cabinets is the economical route; new full-height storage costs more but transforms a small room.
• Benchtop, sink and tapware. A durable bench and a deep sink make the room work harder, and the price ladder runs from laminate to engineered stone.
• Plumbing. Keeping the existing positions keeps costs down. Moving or adding fixtures adds trades, time and usually notification and inspection.
• Condition. Old laundries often hide water damage behind cabinets or under flooring, and older Canberra homes can have asbestos-containing sheeting that must be tested before it's disturbed.
• Flooring and tiling. These are priced separately. Hard-wearing, water-friendly and easy to clean is the goal.

Refresh or full new laundry? How to decide

A refresh makes sense when the cabinet boxes are sound, there's no water damage and the layout already works. You get most of the visual lift for roughly half the cost of a new laundry. A full new laundry makes sense when the cabinetry is swollen or damaged, the storage doesn't suit how you live, or you're already renovating the kitchen or bathroom and can share the trades. Moving the plumbing is only worth it if the current layout genuinely doesn't work. It rarely pays for itself before a sale.

When not to spend on the laundry

If you're selling and the laundry is clean, dry and working, it's usually not where your money should go. Paint, new handles, new tapware and a good clean often do the job. Buyers are put off by a laundry that's damaged or grubby, not by one that's simply plain. Put the bigger spend into the rooms buyers judge most closely, such as the kitchen, the main bathroom and overall presentation. Our guide to what pre-sale renovations cost shows how the laundry fits into a whole-house budget.

Do you need approval for a laundry renovation?

A like-for-like laundry update in an existing house usually doesn't need building approval. All plumbing must still be done by a licensed plumber, who provides a certificate of compliance. Moving or adding plumbing generally means the plumber notifies Access Canberra and the work is inspected, and drainage changes need updated plans. We explain the rules in plain English in Do I need building approval to renovate in the ACT?

Doing the laundry alongside a kitchen or bathroom

Laundries are often renovated at the same time as a kitchen or bathroom, and it's genuinely efficient: shared trades, one project to manage, one disruption rather than three. If you're planning a wider renovation, whether you're renovating to sell or to stay, folding the laundry in usually makes sense. All plumbing and electrical work is done by licensed trades, and we coordinate the whole project end to end.

Figures are a guide based on our recent Canberra projects (2026), exclude GST, and are not a quote. Your cost depends on your home, and we give you an itemised quote after seeing it.