At a Glance
A custom bathroom vanity in Sydney costs $1,500–$8,000 per job. Compact wall-hung vanities for inner-city ensuites and powder rooms sit toward the lower end. Double-basin vanities with engineered stone benchtops for larger bathrooms push toward the upper range. Sydney's apartment stock creates strong demand for space-efficient wall-hung designs.
What's Included in the Price
A standard vanity quote from a Sydney Cabinet Maker covers design and measure, cabinet carcass in moisture-resistant board, benchtop supply and fabrication (with basin cutout), doors and drawer fronts, soft-close hardware, delivery, and installation. Wall-hung units include wall fixing but require structural backing to already be in place. Basin supply may or may not be included — clarify upfront.
Not included: plumbing connections (licensed plumber, ~$300–$600), tapware, waterproofing if within a wet zone, tiling behind or beneath the vanity, electrical work, and demolition of the existing vanity.
What Affects the Cost
- Size. A 600mm powder room vanity starts at ~$1,500. A 1200mm+ double-basin unit runs $3,500–$6,000+. Benchtop fabrication scales with width.
- Benchtop material. Laminate ($150–$400/m) vs engineered stone ($500–$1,000/m) is the biggest variable. Caesarstone and Essastone are the most common engineered stone brands specified in Sydney.
- Wall-hung vs freestanding. Wall-hung installation needs structural backing. In apartments, this may require strata-approved modifications, adding $200–$500.
- Access and delivery. Inner-city apartments without goods lifts mean stair carries. Tight doorways and corridors in older buildings add labour time. Street parking permits for delivery vans in suburbs like Surry Hills and Potts Point may be needed.
- Custom vs semi-custom. Fully custom sizing costs 20–40% more than modifying a standard-width unit. Australian brands ADP, Timberline, and Marquis offer semi-custom options with fixed depths but adjustable widths.
A simple 900mm freestanding vanity with laminate benchtop in a suburban house with easy access sits toward $1,500. A 1500mm wall-hung double-basin vanity with Caesarstone benchtop, Blum undermount runners, and polyurethane doors in a Surry Hills apartment with strata requirements pushes toward $8,000. Most Sydney vanity jobs land around $4,000.
Sydney-Specific Considerations
Compact ensuites and powder rooms. Sydney apartments, particularly in the inner west (Newtown, Marrickville) and eastern suburbs (Bondi, Randwick), often have bathrooms under 4 square metres. Wall-hung vanities are the default choice here — they free up floor space, make the room feel larger, and allow easier cleaning. A 600–750mm wall-hung vanity with a single deep drawer is the most common configuration in Sydney ensuites.
Strata renovation compliance. Apartment renovations in NSW require strata approval under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015. For bathroom work, this typically means providing a scope of works, engaging a strata-approved waterproofer, and obtaining a waterproofing certificate before the vanity is installed. Some strata schemes restrict renovation hours (typically 8am–5pm weekdays) and require protective coverings in common areas during delivery. Budget 2–4 weeks for strata approval before your cabinet maker can start.
Heritage bathrooms. Older homes in suburbs like Balmain, Paddington, and Mosman sometimes have original bathroom features worth preserving. A skilled Cabinet Maker can build a vanity that complements heritage proportions — traditional shaker-profile doors, timber benchtops, or a freestanding console style — while providing modern storage and plumbing compatibility.
Lead times. Sydney's renovation market is the busiest in Australia. Custom vanity lead times of 4–8 weeks are standard, stretching to 10–12 weeks during peak season (September–March). If your bathroom renovation has a fixed timeline, order the vanity early — it is often the longest lead-time item after shower screens.
Hiring a Licensed Cabinet Maker in NSW
In NSW, residential building work valued at $5,000 or more (including labour and materials) requires a licence from NSW Fair Trading. Jobs valued at $20,000 or more also require the contractor to hold Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) insurance. Verify your Cabinet Maker's licence through the NSW Fair Trading licence check. Your cabinet maker should manufacture to AS 4386:2018 Cabinetry in the Built-in Environment. Plumbing connections require a separately licensed plumber — verify through NSW Fair Trading's plumber register.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on current trade rates for licensed Cabinet Makers in NSW, adjusted for Sydney labour costs and typical material prices. All figures include GST. Ranges cover compact freestanding vanities with budget materials through to large custom wall-hung units with premium benchtops and hardware. Plumbing is quoted separately.