Replace · Mid-range tier
Replace: A whole new kitchen in the same footprint
Replacing a kitchen in the same footprint is the most common New Zealand renovation and sits in the mid-range tier of $25,000–45,000, with a national typical of about $35,000 (CheckMyBuilder, July 2026). Because the sink, waste and cooktop stay in their existing positions, there is no plumbing relocation cost and usually no building consent.
Not taking payment for this yet. We are contracting our launch joinery workshop now, so Replace enquiries are held until it is signed. Send us your kitchen and we will tell you honestly where things stand.
What changes
- All cabinetry removed and replaced, made by our partner joinery workshop
- New benchtop and splashback
- New sink, tap and waste in the existing positions
- New appliances, installed by the trade each one needs
- Power and lighting renewed and certified by a registered electrician
- GIB make-good, painting and a new kickboard line
What stays
- The room's footprint
- The positions of the sink waste, gas point and range
- Walls and windows
- Flooring, unless you add it
What is not included
- Moving the sink, waste, gas or range to a new wall (that is Remodel)
- Removing or altering walls
- Flooring, unless quoted as an addition
- Structural repairs found once the old kitchen is out (held in the contingency)
Who this suits
A 1990s or 2000s kitchen that has done its time
Wanting drawers instead of cupboards without moving a wall
A layout that works, in a room that does not look it
Layouts this works with
All layoutsSingle-wall
Everything against one wall: fridge, sink and cooktop in a row.
What it costs →Galley
Two parallel runs of bench with a working corridor between.
What it costs →L-shape
Two adjacent runs of bench meeting at a corner.
What it costs →U-shape
Three runs of bench enclosing the cook on three sides.
What it costs →Island
An L or U with a freestanding island as the social centre.
What it costs →Replace questions
Will I need a building consent?
Usually not, when fixtures are replaced in the same positions and nothing structural changes. Consent rules depend on what you are altering, so check canibuildit.govt.nz and your council before you commit. We do that check as part of the consult.
Can I keep my appliances?
Yes. Cabinetry is built around whatever you keep, and we record model numbers at the measure so the openings are right the first time.
What is the contingency for?
What is behind the old cabinets: soft floor under the dishwasher, undersized wiring, a waste that will not fall the right way. We hold 10–15% of the budget for it and return what is not spent.
Sources
- CheckMyBuilder, kitchen renovation cost (updated July 2026)
- Superior Renovations, kitchen renovation cost Auckland (2026)
Checked 15 September 2026. We re-check every published figure quarterly.
Want the real number for your kitchen?
$595 buys two layouts drawn to scale and a line-item budget you can price anywhere.
Book a design consult →