A laundry renovation in Sydney typically costs between $8,000 and $25,000, depending on the scope of work, materials selected, and whether plumbing needs to be relocated. That range covers everything from a basic cosmetic refresh through to a complete gut-and-rebuild with new cabinetry, tiling, and waterproofing. Dura Group Building & Renovations completes laundry projects across the Sutherland Shire and Georges River areas where older homes frequently have outdated, poorly laid-out laundries that waste space and lack storage.
If you are planning a broader project, understanding home renovation costs will help you see where a laundry fits within your total budget.
What are the different levels of laundry renovation?
Laundry renovations fall into three broad categories: a basic refresh, a full renovation, and a laundry relocation. Each comes with a different price band and level of disruption.
What does a basic laundry refresh include?
A basic refresh replaces surface finishes and fixtures without altering the layout or plumbing positions. This might involve new splashback tiles, repainting walls, replacing tapware, and installing a new benchtop over existing cabinetry. Expect to spend $8,000 to $12,000 for this level of work. It suits laundries where the plumbing and waterproofing are still in good condition but the room looks tired.
What does a full laundry renovation involve?
A full renovation strips the room back to the framing and rebuilds it with new waterproofing, plumbing, tiling, cabinetry, and fittings. This is the most common scope Dura Group delivers. Costs sit between $15,000 and $22,000 for a standard-sized laundry. You get a completely new room designed around how you actually use the space, with proper drainage falls, compliant waterproofing, and purpose-built storage.
How much does it cost to relocate a laundry?
Relocating a laundry to a different part of the house adds $3,000 to $6,000 on top of the renovation cost because new drain lines, water supply, and ventilation runs need to be installed. Relocation is common in homes where the laundry currently occupies prime living space or where owners want to convert a hallway cupboard into a European-style laundry. The total project cost for a relocated laundry typically lands between $20,000 and $25,000.
What is included in a laundry renovation cost?
A standard laundry renovation price includes demolition, plumbing rough-in and fit-off, waterproofing, tiling, cabinetry, benchtop, tapware, and appliance connections. Here is how the costs break down by trade and component.
How much does laundry plumbing cost?
Plumbing for a laundry renovation runs between $1,500 and $3,500. This covers disconnection and reconnection of hot and cold water supplies, waste and overflow connections for the tub or trough, washing machine taps, and any modifications to drainage. If you are combining the job with a bathroom project, your plumber is already on site, which brings the per-room cost down. For more on wet-area pricing, see our guide to bathroom renovation costs.
How much does laundry tiling cost?
Tiling a laundry costs between $1,500 and $3,000, covering floor tiles and a wall splashback. Floor-to-ceiling tiling pushes costs toward the higher end. Tile selection matters too. Large-format tiles reduce grout lines and look cleaner but require a flatter substrate, which can add to preparation costs.
How much does laundry cabinetry cost?
Custom cabinetry for a laundry ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the number of units, materials, and whether you include overhead cupboards. A typical layout includes a base cabinet with a tub or undermount sink, benchtop workspace above the washing machine and dryer, and overhead storage. Polyurethane or laminate doors in a satin finish are the most practical choice for a wet environment.
How much does laundry waterproofing cost?
Waterproofing a laundry costs between $1,000 and $2,000. This is not optional. In NSW, laundries have the same waterproofing requirements as bathrooms under AS 3740. The membrane must be applied to the floor and up the walls to the required height before any tiling can begin. A certificate of waterproofing compliance is issued and retained for your records. Our bathroom waterproofing guide explains the technical requirements in detail, as they apply equally to laundries.
What are the most common laundry layouts?
The three most popular laundry configurations in Sydney homes are the European laundry (concealed in a cupboard), the combined bathroom-laundry, and the standalone laundry room.
A European laundry hides a stacked washer and dryer inside a hallway or kitchen cupboard with bi-fold doors. It works well in apartments and smaller homes where floor space is limited. Renovation costs are lower because the footprint is small, but per-square-metre costs are higher because you still need full waterproofing and plumbing in a compact space.
A combined bathroom-laundry is common in older homes across Sutherland Shire suburbs like Cronulla, Caringbah, and Kogarah. The washer and dryer sit in the same wet area as the shower and vanity. When renovating this layout, the entire room is treated as a single project. This is where combining both renovations delivers real savings.
A standalone laundry room gives you the most storage and workspace. It is the preferred layout for families and suits homes with enough floor area to dedicate a full room to laundry.
How does combining a laundry and bathroom renovation save money?
Renovating your laundry at the same time as your bathroom can save 15 to 25 percent on the laundry portion because you share trade mobilisation costs across both rooms. Your plumber, tiler, and waterproofer are already on site. Materials can be ordered in a single batch. Skip bins and scaffolding (if needed) serve both projects. Dura Group regularly packages these jobs together for clients, and our renovation budget breakdown shows exactly how bundling reduces your per-room spend.
The savings come from eliminating duplicate call-out fees, reducing idle time between trades, and ordering tiles and fittings in larger quantities. If your laundry shares a wall with your bathroom, the plumber can run supplies from the same manifold and the waterproofer membranes both rooms in one mobilisation.
What hidden costs should you watch for in a laundry renovation?
The most common unexpected costs in laundry renovations are asbestos in older wall linings, non-compliant existing waterproofing that needs full replacement, and structural damage behind tiles. Homes built before 1990 in the Georges River and Sutherland Shire regions frequently contain asbestos sheeting in wet areas. Removal and disposal by a licensed assessor adds $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the extent.
Other potential additions include upgrading old copper or galvanised pipes to modern PEX or copper, adding a floor waste where one does not currently exist, and electrical work for new power points or ventilation fans. Our article on hidden costs of renovating covers how to plan a contingency so these items do not blow your budget.
Understanding building costs in Sydney more broadly will also help you set realistic expectations before your project begins.
How does Dura Group price laundry renovations?
Dura Group prices every laundry renovation as a fixed lump sum so you know the total cost before work starts. There are no hourly rates, no provisional sums on standard items, and no surprise variations for work that was visible during the quoting process. The fixed price covers all trades, materials, project management, and council compliance where required.
The process starts with a site inspection where we measure the space, assess the existing plumbing and waterproofing, check for potential asbestos, and discuss your layout preferences. You receive a detailed scope document and a single lump-sum figure. If you approve, we lock in a start date and complete the work within the agreed timeframe.
This approach suits homeowners who want cost certainty. Our Sydney laundry renovations covers everything from design through to handover. It also means Dura Group carries the risk on material price movements and unforeseen minor issues, not you.
For context on how a laundry renovation compares to other room projects, see our breakdown of kitchen renovation costs, which follows the same fixed-price model.
Which Sydney suburbs commonly need laundry renovations?
Homes built in the 1960s through 1980s across the Sutherland Shire and Georges River council areas are the most likely to have outdated laundries that need a full renovation. These properties often have small, dark laundries tucked under stairs or in garages with minimal ventilation, poor drainage, and failing waterproofing.
Our team of builders in Cronulla regularly renovates laundries in fibro and brick homes where the original fit-out has not been touched in 30 to 40 years. We also work with clients through our Caringbah home builders team and our Kogarah builders to modernise laundries as part of larger home renovation projects.
Common issues we find in these older laundries include:
- Concrete or vinyl floors with no waterproof membrane underneath
- Single cold-water taps with no mixer
- Asbestos cement sheet walls behind laminate panels
- Inadequate ventilation causing mould growth
- No designated dryer vent, with lint exhausting into the ceiling cavity
- Undersized hot water supply unable to service a modern washing machine
What questions should you ask before starting a laundry renovation?
Before committing to a laundry renovation, you should clarify the scope, confirm waterproofing compliance, and understand what is included in the quoted price. Here are the questions worth asking any builder:
- Is waterproofing included and will I receive a compliance certificate?
- Does the quote include all plumbing, or are rough-in and fit-off quoted separately?
- Are appliance connections (washing machine, dryer, dishwasher if adjacent) included?
- What happens if asbestos is found during demolition?
- Is the price fixed or are there provisional sums that could increase?
- What is the expected timeline from demolition to handover?
- Can I select my own tiles and tapware, or must I choose from a supplied range?
Dura Group answers all of these during the initial site inspection so there are no grey areas once the contract is signed.
Ready to get a fixed price for your laundry renovation?
If your laundry is overdue for an upgrade, a site inspection is the first step toward a fixed-price quote with no surprises. Dura Group completes laundry renovations across Sydney’s south, from standalone rooms to European laundry conversions and combined bathroom-laundry projects. Get in touch through our contact page to book a time that works for you.
Mark Dura is the founder of Dura Group Building & Renovations, a licensed builder (Lic 381531C) with 27+ years of experience in residential renovations, home extensions, and knockdown rebuilds across Sydney. Mark oversees every project from design through to completion.
