PlumberUpdated September 2026

How Much Does Kitchen Plumbing Cost in Australia?

At a Glance

Sydney guide range

$150–$1,100per job

Mid point $400 per job

Sydney/NSW · Built 1990–2010 · Other factors typical · Not a personalised quote

Location

Property age

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Kitchen plumbing in Australia typically costs $150–$1,100 per job, covering work from a straightforward tap swap to a new dishwasher connection or water point installation. The final price depends on the scope of work, your existing plumbing condition, and whether you are replacing like-for-like or adding new services.

Pricing by City

Kitchen Plumbing guide ranges, per job, for five major cities, using the same state and territory adjustments. Select a city to open its guide.

Ranges use each city’s state or territory adjustment to the Sydney baseline, rounded to the nearest $50. They are not quotes.

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. If the drainage check finds a blockage, drain clearing costs $100–$850 per job and is quoted separately from fixture installation. 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 (guide range: $200–$4,200 per job, from appliance connections to new gas lines). If the kitchen refresh also includes splashback tiling, allow $500–$3,600 per job separately for tile supply and installation.

What Homeowners Reported Paying

Price reports shared by Australian homeowners.

Community price reports

Homeowner-reported amounts, with badges showing whether each was paid, quoted or unspecified.

Individual price reports

Most of these reports come from public discussions questioning whether a price was too high. They are not a representative sample of local jobs, so we do not calculate a typical price from them. Compare the work included, location and date before using a report as a reference.

Individual community price reports. Reference information only.
Year & location	Scope of work	Reported amount
2025Australia	Fix leaking mixer and replace cartridge	$100Price type unknown
2025Australia	Disconnect/reconnect taps for retiling	$850Price type unknown
2025Australia	Replace tap spindle (emergency callout)	$1,600Price type unknown
2025Australia	Replace Caroma Opal toilet seat	$600Price type unknown
2025Australia	Supply and install new tap breach	$2,145Price type unknown
2022Australia	Garden tap replacement	$680Price type unknown
2021Australia	install a water hammer arrestor and supply and replace a basic kitchen mixer tap (2 hours 15 minutes)	$1,739Reported paid
2021Australia	install a new kitchen mixer tap (owner-supplied)	$799Quoted
—Australia	Disconnect and reconnect sink	$1,300Price type unknown

Sparky collects public homeowner reports from forums such as Reddit, Whirlpool, OzBargain and PropertyChat, review sites such as ProductReview, and a few direct submissions. We read each source thread before adding a report but do not verify the underlying transaction. Reports include amounts paid, quotes received and amounts with an unknown price type. GST treatment is usually unknown, and inclusions vary. Amounts are in Australian dollars and are not adjusted for inflation. These reports are shown individually, without summary statistics. Compare scope, location and year before using a report as a reference.

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, with burst or leaking pipe repairs priced separately at $200–$2,200 per job before any emergency premium. 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 $1,100.

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. Smaller trade pools and logistics affect kitchen plumbing quotes in Perth and Adelaide; see the Pricing by City table for local ranges.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a plumber charge to replace a kitchen mixer tap?

Labour for a like-for-like kitchen mixer tap replacement typically runs $150 to $300, plus the cost of the tap itself. If the existing supply hoses and isolation valves are in good condition, the job takes 30 to 60 minutes. Older homes with seized shut-off valves or corroded copper connections take longer and cost more.

Do I need a plumber to connect a dishwasher?

If the hot and cold water connections and waste outlet are already in place from a previous dishwasher, you can connect a new one yourself. If you need new plumbing points, a licensed plumber must install them. All new water supply and drainage connections must comply with AS/NZS 3500 and use WaterMark-certified fittings.

Can a plumber install a boiling water tap like Zip or Billi?

Yes, a licensed plumber handles the water supply connections and drainage. Boiling water taps also require a dedicated power point, which must be installed by a licensed electrician. The under-bench unit needs adequate ventilation space, typically 50 to 100mm clearance on all sides.

How much does it cost to move a kitchen sink to a different location?

Relocating a kitchen sink involves extending or re-routing both supply and waste pipes, which typically costs $500 to $2,000 or more for the plumbing alone, depending on distance moved and floor construction. Moving a sink on a concrete slab requires slab cutting, which adds significantly to the cost compared to timber floor construction.

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