What's Included
A kitchen plumbing job typically covers the labour to disconnect old fittings, install new fixtures, test for leaks, and confirm drainage flow. All work must comply with AS/NZS 3500:2025 Plumbing and Drainage (updated April 2025, mandatory from October 2025). Every tap, valve, and fitting that contacts drinking water must carry WaterMark certification, confirming it has been tested against AS/NZS 4020 for health effects on water quality. Your plumber supplies isolation valves, flexible hoses, and waste connections. The fixture itself (tap, sink, or appliance) is either supplied by the plumber or purchased separately by the homeowner.
Not typically included: the cost of the fixture itself unless quoted as a package, benchtop modifications for sink replacement (stone cutting is a separate trade), cabinetry adjustments for under-sink work, or gas fitting for cooktop connections.
Kitchen Plumbing Jobs Compared
The cost of kitchen plumbing varies widely depending on whether you are replacing an existing fixture or installing something new. Here is how common jobs compare.
| Job | Typical Labour Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mixer tap replacement (like-for-like) | $150–$300 | 30–60 min. Includes disconnecting old tap, fitting new mixer, connecting hoses, and leak testing |
| Sink replacement (same position) | $300–$800 | 1–3 hours. Involves disconnecting waste and supply, removing old sink, fitting new sink with clips or silicone, reconnecting |
| Dishwasher connection (existing points) | $150–$250 | 30–60 min. Connecting water supply hose, waste hose to spigot, and checking for leaks |
| New dishwasher point (no existing connection) | $400–$800 | 1–2 hours. New hot/cold supply tee, waste spigot, and possibly a new isolation valve |
| Under-sink filtration install | $200–$500 | 1–2 hours. New dedicated tap hole (or separate spigot), filter bracket, supply line tee |
| Boiling water tap (Zip/Billi) install | $300–$600 (labour only) | Plus unit cost ($2,500–$6,500). Stone cutting for tap hole, plumbing connections, and coordination with electrician for dedicated circuit |
| InSinkErator / waste disposal | $200–$400 (labour only) | Plus unit cost ($200–$600). Requires waste trap modification and sometimes electrical connection |
| New water point (fridge, coffee machine) | $250–$600 | Depends on pipe run length. PEX or copper branch from nearest supply |
Mixer Taps: What They Cost
The mixer tap is the most frequently replaced kitchen plumbing fixture. Australian homeowners have a wide range of options.
| Brand | Type | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caroma | Standard mixer | $170–$350 | Acqua and Elegance ranges. Solid mid-range choice, widely available at Bunnings |
| Methven | Pull-down mixer | $350–$500 | Culinary Gaston range. Spring-neck and pull-down styles |
| Phoenix Tapware | Standard / pull-out mixer | $200–$450 | Reva and Bailey ranges. Good for modern finishes (matte black, brushed nickel) |
| Dorf | Standard mixer | $120–$250 | Budget-friendly. Widely available. Part of the GWA Group (same parent as Caroma) |
| Zip / Billi | Boiling/chilled water tap | $2,500–$6,500 | Integrated under-bench unit with filter. Requires plumber + electrician for installation |
Coloured finishes cost more. Matte black, brushed brass, and gunmetal finishes typically add $50–$150 over chrome for the same tap model. They also require more careful cleaning to avoid scratching.
Sinks: Materials and Price Ranges
If you are replacing the sink at the same time as the tapware, material choice drives both the fixture cost and the installation complexity.
| Material | Price Range | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel (Oliveri, Clark, Franke) | $200–$800 | Durable, lightweight, easy to install. Oliveri and Clark are Australian brands | Can scratch, shows water marks in hard water areas |
| Granite/quartz composite | $400–$1,200 | Heat resistant, scratch resistant, modern look | Heavier, requires secure mounting |
| Fireclay (farmhouse/butler) | $400–$1,500 | Statement piece, deep bowl, stain resistant | Very heavy (30–50 kg), needs reinforced cabinetry and careful installation |
| Undermount (any material) | Add $100–$300 to install | Clean benchtop line, no lip to trap dirt | Requires stone or solid-surface benchtop. Cutout is a stone mason's job |
What Affects the Cost
- Scope of work. A single tap replacement is a half-hour job. Adding a dishwasher connection, filtration system, and new water point in the same visit turns it into a half-day job.
- Existing plumbing condition. Homes built before 1970 may have galvanised steel supply pipes or lead-soldered copper joints. These need replacing when exposed during the work, adding time and materials.
- Pipe material upgrade. Modern kitchens use PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) or copper for supply lines and PVC for waste. Older homes with galvanised or lead pipework require section replacement at minimum.
- Access. Under-sink spaces in modern kitchens are often cramped, especially with an InSinkErator, filtration unit, and dishwasher connections all competing for room. Tight access adds labour time.
- Sink relocation. Moving a sink from its current position requires extending supply and waste pipes. On a concrete slab, this means slab cutting for the waste line (similar costs to bathroom renovation relocation work). On timber floors, pipe runs are simpler.
- Stone benchtop modifications. If the new sink or tap requires a different cutout size, a stone mason must visit to cut the benchtop. This is typically $200–$500 and is a separate trade from plumbing.
- After-hours and emergency work. A burst flexi hose under the kitchen sink is one of the most common household water damage events. Emergency callouts carry premium rates, significantly more than scheduled business-hours work. If the leak can be contained by turning off the isolation valve, waiting until morning saves money.
A straightforward mixer tap swap in a modern kitchen with good isolation valves and accessible plumbing sits toward $150. A new dishwasher connection plus under-sink filtration in an older home with galvanised pipes and limited access pushes toward $1,000.
City and Regional Price Comparison
City-level differences: Sydney (NSW) sets the baseline for kitchen plumbing costs. Melbourne tracks within 5% of Sydney. Brisbane sits at or slightly below Sydney, with many elevated Queenslander homes providing excellent sub-floor access that reduces labour time for pipe modifications. Perth and Adelaide run 10–15% higher due to smaller trade pools and logistics costs.
Water quality considerations: Perth (121–180+ mg/L calcium carbonate) and Adelaide (90–160 mg/L) have significantly harder water than Sydney (~50 mg/L) or Melbourne. Hard water accelerates limescale buildup in tapware cartridges, reduces the lifespan of mixer taps, and makes under-sink filtration a more common request. Plumbers in Perth and Adelaide replace more tap cartridges and install more filtration systems per capita than their east coast counterparts.
Suburb and property-level differences: Within any city, property age is the biggest variable. Pre-1970 homes in suburbs like Leichhardt (Sydney), Brunswick (Melbourne), or Prospect (Adelaide) may still have galvanised steel supply pipes that need replacing when the kitchen plumbing is opened up. New-build estates in Oran Park (Sydney), Tarneit (Melbourne), or Springfield (Brisbane) have modern PEX plumbing and standard isolating valves, making tap and sink replacements quick and predictable.
How We Calculate
Estimates are based on current licensed Plumber rates adjusted for each state, standard material costs, and typical job complexity. All prices include GST. Ranges reflect the spread between a simple like-for-like fixture swap and more complex work involving new connections, pipe upgrades, or fixture relocation. Fixture costs (taps, sinks, appliances) are quoted separately unless noted.