At a Glance
Built-in wardrobes and custom cabinetry across Australia typically cost $2,000–$12,000 per job, using Sydney as the baseline. The range is wide because it covers everything from a flat-pack wardrobe installed by a carpenter through to a fully custom floor-to-ceiling joinery fitout. Perth and Adelaide tend to run 10–15% higher due to smaller trade pools.
What's Included
A built-in wardrobe or cabinetry quote covers measurement and design, materials (carcass panels, shelving, hanging rails, drawers), assembly and installation, fixing to wall studs, and door fitting (hinged, sliding, or mirrored). For custom-built work, the carpenter or joiner fabricates the unit to fit the exact dimensions of the space. For flat-pack installations, the quote covers assembly and professional fitting of a pre-manufactured unit. All built-in furniture should be securely fixed to wall studs (not plasterboard alone) for safety. If the job includes internal lighting, a licensed electrician is needed for the wiring, which is a separate cost.
What Affects the Cost
- Custom-built vs flat-pack. This is the single biggest cost fork. A flat-pack wardrobe (IKEA, Bunnings) installed by a carpenter costs a fraction of a custom-built unit, but offers limited design flexibility and shorter lifespan.
- Linear metres. Cabinetry is priced per linear metre of wall coverage. A single 1.8m opening is a different budget to a 4m wall of floor-to-ceiling storage.
- Material and finish. White melamine is the budget option. Wood-look laminate and timber veneer step up the price. Painted MDF in a custom colour costs more again. Solid timber is the premium tier.
- Door style. Hinged doors are the cheapest. Sliding doors (requiring head and floor tracks) cost more. Mirrored sliding doors add a further premium.
- Internal fitout complexity. Shelves and a hanging rail are standard. Adding drawers, pull-out shoe racks, tie holders, and adjustable shelving increases both material and labour costs.
- Ceiling height. Floor-to-ceiling wardrobes eliminate the dust-collecting gap on top but require taller panels, more material, and often a scribe to the ceiling to account for unevenness.
- Wall condition. Older homes with out-of-plumb walls require more scribing and adjustment time. Every panel needs to be individually fitted rather than butted against a straight wall.
A flat-pack wardrobe installed in a standard 1.8m opening in a modern home sits toward $2,000. A custom-built floor-to-ceiling wardrobe system across a full wall in an older home with out-of-plumb walls, timber veneer finish, drawers, and sliding doors pushes toward $12,000.
City and Regional Price Comparison
Sydney sets the baseline for cabinetry pricing. Melbourne tracks close to Sydney and has a strong custom joinery sector. Brisbane is comparable, with humidity considerations affecting material choice (moisture-resistant boards are recommended). Perth and Adelaide typically run 10–15% higher, with Perth's newer housing stock meaning more straightforward installations on average.
Within any city, the biggest price variation comes from the choice between flat-pack and custom. A flat-pack installation in a new-build estate home is predictable and efficient. A custom joinery fitout in a pre-war home with irregular walls and high ceilings is a different category of work entirely. Inner-city apartments in any capital often have compact spaces where every millimetre matters, favouring custom solutions that maximise storage.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on surveyed trade rates for licensed carpenters and joiners across Australian capital cities, adjusted for regional labour markets and typical material costs. All prices include GST. Figures cover standard residential built-in wardrobes and cabinetry. Kitchen cabinetry, bathroom vanities, and commercial fitouts are not included.