How to Quote a Laundry Renovation in Australia
A laundry is a wet area with cabinetry, plumbing and tiling packed into a tiny footprint. Here's how to quote a laundry renovation so the scope is tight, the trades are covered and your margin survives.
A laundry is small, but it's still a wet area — plumbing, electrical, cabinetry and tiling squeezed into a few square metres, all needing to be done right. It's the kind of job that looks quick and quietly runs over when the old tub comes out and there's water damage behind it. This guide walks through what a laundry quote should cover, what materials and labour cost in 2026, and the mistakes that turn a tidy little job into a break-even one.
What a laundry quote covers
A good laundry quote starts with a detailed scope of works. Itemise it fully and keep labour, materials and subcontractor costs separate so the client can see where the money goes:
- Demolition and waste removal — stripping the old laundry and carting the rubbish away.
- Plumbing rough-in — new supply and waste for the tub, washing machine and any relocations, to AS/NZS 3500.
- Electrical alterations — power points, lighting and any new circuits, to AS/NZS 3000.
- Plastering — patching and new wall sheet where needed.
- Tiling — floor and splashback, with tile, adhesive and waste allowed for.
- Cabinetry and fixtures — new units, benchtop, tub and tapware installed and fitted off.
Spell out your payment schedule, warranty and explicit exclusions on the quote. In a small wet area, a clear scope is what keeps 'I thought that was included' from becoming a dispute at handover.
Laundry renovation costs in 2026
Laundry costs cover a wide range. A basic refresh — paint, a standard tub, tapware and a laminate benchtop — runs $5,000–$10,000. A mid-range job with custom cabinetry, a tiled splashback and some plumbing or electrical relocation sits at $10,000–$20,000. High-end laundries with stone benchtops, premium appliances and a new layout reach $20,000–$40,000+. Labour and materials each tend to make up 40–50% of the total.
| Item | Budget / basic | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry | Flat-pack $150–$300/lm | Custom two-pack $400–$800+/lm |
| Benchtop | Laminate $80–$150/lm | Engineered stone $300–$600/lm |
| Tiling | Ceramic $20–$60/m² | Porcelain or feature $60–$150+/m² |
On top of that, allow for fixtures — tubs at $200–$700 and tapware at $100–$500 — plus any appliance provisions. And carry a 10–15% contingency for what you find behind the old cabinetry.
Working out labour
Break labour down by task and by trade, in hours or days, for your own team and any subbies. Standard skilled rates in Australia sit around $60–$100/hour. The trades you'll be pricing are:
- Demolition — stripping out and cleaning up before the trades start.
- Plumbing — a licensed plumber for the rough-in and fit-off (AS/NZS 3500).
- Electrical — a licensed electrician for any alterations (AS/NZS 3000).
- Carpentry — cabinetry install and any framing work.
- Plastering and tiling — wall repairs, then floor and splashback.
Sequence the trades to minimise downtime between stages, and always allow prep and clean-up time. For an urgent or awkward job, a slightly higher rate is fair — it covers the extra effort and any overtime.
Common mistakes that eat your margin
- Underquoting the job. A small room feels quick, so it's easy to price it light. Cost every task honestly — underquoting hurts your margin and your reputation.
- Skipping the site inspection. Water damage, asbestos and tricky plumbing or electrical relocations only show up in person. Inspect before you finalise a number.
- Vague scope and exclusions. Poor communication on what's in and what's out creates headaches. Get the scope, inclusions and exclusions in writing.
- No contingency for variations. Without a buffer, every surprise comes out of your margin. A 10–15% contingency keeps the unexpected from being your problem.
- Relying on manual calculations. Hand-adding a quote invites errors. A quoting app keeps the numbers accurate and the finished quote polished.
Pro tips for a laundry quote that holds
- Do a detailed on-site assessment before quoting to catch hidden issues and scope the job properly.
- Get everything in writing — scope, materials, payment terms and timeline.
- Warn the client up front about likely variations and hidden costs, like asbestos or unexpected plumbing repairs.
- Build in a 10–15% contingency so minor surprises don't dent your profit.
- Spell out who's responsible for waste disposal and price it in.
- Send a consistent, detailed, professional-looking quote — presentation wins jobs.
ServiceYak keeps your cabinetry, tiling, plumbing and fit-off rates in a reusable kit, so you can build an itemised laundry quote on site and send a polished PDF before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laundry renovation cost in Australia?
A basic refresh runs $5,000–$10,000, a mid-range job with custom cabinetry and a tiled splashback sits at $10,000–$20,000, and a high-end laundry with stone and a new layout can reach $20,000–$40,000+.
Do I need licensed trades for a laundry reno?
Yes — plumbing must meet AS/NZS 3500 and be done by a licensed plumber, and electrical work must meet AS/NZS 3000 and be done by a licensed electrician. Price both as their own lines.
How do labour and materials split on a laundry?
Roughly evenly — labour and materials each tend to make up 40–50% of the total, with the balance in waste removal, contingency and your margin. Keep them itemised so nothing gets buried.