Buying guide

Full house renovation cost: Bathroom, kitchen, & the rest

Get your tools out and call your mortgage broker

Ben Tutty
Last updated: 6 May 2026 | 6 min read
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Planning a full house renovation? Costs vary, but a mid-range finish for a typical 3-bedroom home in New Zealand often costs between $130,000 and $190,000.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the biggest expenses. To control your budget, secure a fixed price contract and minimise PC sums (provisional cost sums) by specifying materials early. Your final spend depends on the level of finish, material choices, and the amount of DIY work you are willing to undertake.

Get a fixed price contract - not an estimate

NZ house renovation costs

Cost to renovate average 156 sqm, 3 bed, 2 bath home
Level of finishCost $
DIYDIY$20,000 to $90,000$20,000 to $90,000
Low costLow cost$90,000 to $130,000$90,000 to $130,000
Mid-rangeMid-range$130,000 to $190,000$130,000 to $190,000
PremiumPremium$190,000 to $250,000$190,000 to $250,000
LuxuryLuxury$250,000+$250,000+

Bathroom renovation cost​ - $36,000 to $65,000

Kitchen renos don't come cheap, but DYI could save you thousands of dollars.

Kitchen renovation cost - $25,000 to $75,000

Flooring - $11,700 to $30,000+

Flooring costs for materials and labour
Floor typeCost for material Cost for installation and finishing (per sqm)
CarpetCarpet$25-$100+$25-$100+$20 $20 
Engineered timberEngineered timber$150-$250$150-$250$75 to $165$75 to $165
Solid woodSolid wood$150-$300+$150-$300+$200+$200+
VinylVinyl$22-$87$22-$87$25-$50$25-$50
Polished concretePolished concrete$55-$150 including installati$55-$150 including installati--
TileTile$30 to $150+ per sqm$30 to $150+ per sqm$120 to $160 - floor under 10 sqm$180 to $220 - wall tiling up to 5 sqm$120 to $160 - floor under 10 sqm$180 to $220 - wall tiling up to 5 sqm

Interior painting - $15,000 to $20,000

Exterior painting - $15,000

Painting can be wildly expensive and choosing colours is tricky - but it makes a huge difference.

Blinds - From $4,108

Electrical rewiring and lighting - $8,000 to $10,000

Door hardware - $2,000 to $5,000

Insulation - $3,000 to 6,000+

On a reno-scale insulation doesn't cost much, but it could save you thousands of dollars every year.

Retrofit double glazing - $5,000 to $12,500

Heating systems $2,500 to $6,000

Recladding - $330,000 to $380,000

Adding a room or extending - $50,000 to $100,000

You can change anything when renovating if you've got enough money.

What's the total cost of a full house renovation?

Author

Ben Tutty Ben Tutty
Content Writer