When embarking on a kitchen renovation, likely one of the first questions you’ll ask is: ‘How much does a kitchen renovation cost in South Africa?’ We take a look at the considerations that you’ll need to make, plus the average kitchen price in South Africa for different sized spaces.
Every great renovation starts with the same thing: a budget. But figuring out what a kitchen renovation costs in South Africa can be tricky. Most renovation companies don’t include price lists on their websites and those that do provide massive cost brackets for projects.
To help you establish what your planned kitchen redo will set you back, we’ve used our decades of experience to create this extensive guide.
We’ll delve into what goes into a kitchen renovation as well as the various aspects of the revamp you need to consider. What’s more, we’ll give you kitchen revamp cost estimates based on the size of your space and the finishes you can choose.
What affects the cost of a kitchen revamp in South Africa?
‘How much does a typical kitchen cost?’ might seem like a simple question. In reality, though, it’s quite complicated.
Your design, finishes, hardware choices and other factors will have an impact on how much your kitchen renovation will cost. Which makes it difficult to give an accurate figure that can be applied to a majority of kitchens.
Although there isn’t really a ‘typical’ kitchen, there are a few factors that will always have an impact on the cost of your kitchen reno.
Size
The size of your space will affect the cost of your renovation. The larger the space, the more design options you’ll have. Plus, you’ll need more materials and labour to fit it out. All of which will have an effect on the price of your redesign.
At Select-a-Kitchen, we categorise kitchens as small, medium or large based on the square meterage of the entire space (i.e. the total floor size). You can use the following measurements as a rough guide:
- Small: Up to 12sqm
- Medium: 12–18sqm
- Large: 18sqm+
Design
Size and design are closely linked to one another. A bigger kitchen will often open up more design options, like having a kitchen island or a scullery, which require additional materials and will affect the total cost.
Adding features like pocket doors, pull-out pantries and integrated appliances require specialist materials and manufacturing. Plus, you’ll need highly skilled artisans to install these items. All of which will increase the price of your kitchen renovation.
Major layout changes – like moving electrical or plumbing points – is another factor that will have a significant effect on the cost of renovating a kitchen in South Africa. It’s also good to note that unless services like plumbing and electric are expressly included in your kitchen renovation quote, you’ll pay extra for them.
Finishes
Kitchen finishes refer to all of the features you can see in your kitchen when it’s complete. These choices arguably have the greatest effect on the cost of your kitchen renovation.
For example, the type of door profiles and covering you choose can make a huge difference in the price of your cabinets. The cost for kitchen countertops will also be determined by the finish you go for.
We’ll have a closer look at how different finishes change what you’ll pay for a kitchen renovation in South Africa a bit later. In the meantime, here’s an outline of the price categories for some of the most popular finishes on the market:
| Budget | Mid range | High end | |
| Cabinetry | Melamine | Wrap | Spray |
| Countertops | Postform | Granite | Caeserstone, wood |
| Hardware & kitchen solutions | Plastic | Stainless steel | Ceramic |
Materials
Not to be confused with finishes, materials refers to the timber and other raw materials that are used to construct the cabinet carcasses. These will have a huge impact on how sturdy and hard wearing your kitchen is, as well as the cost of kitchen cupboards.
Beware of any contractor who uses masonite or similar materials to construct the interiors of your cupboards or drawers. Although it’s a lot cheaper than other timber options, masonite is very flimsy and won’t stand up to the same amount of wear and tear.
To ensure that your kitchen lasts a lifetime, Select-a-Kitchen uses A-grade Melamine to construct our kitchen carcasses and drawer boxes. We also use height-adjustable legs to suspend base units (the cupboards that sit on the floor) to ensure they’re perfectly level and safe from damage in the event of accidental flooding.
Hardware & kitchen solutions
Lovely looking handles, knobs and pulls can make all the difference to a kitchen renovation. A pricier handle on a simple cupboard can elevate the look of your space. What’s more, the low price variability between budget or entry-level handles means that these accessories are a great place to splurge in your kitchen renovation.
It’s not only the visible fittings that affect the cost of a kitchen renovation, though. Soft-close hinges and drawer runners, interior lighting, and storage solutions will also affect the final price on your quotation.
While this might not be the most ‘fun’ place to spend your budget, the internal hardware will have a massive impact on the functionality and longevity of your kitchen. When you work with Select-a-Kitchen, your remodel quote includes top-quality hardware that comes with a two-year warranty.
Labour
Kitchen installation is a specialised craft. While you can DIY your own kitchen, it’s best to get the experts in to ensure that your space is fitted without any flaws.
We advise using a kitchen renovation company with plenty of experience and a great track record. Avoid any jack-of-all-trade providers who claim that they’re able to take care of all of your renovations, plus install the kitchen sink.
Select-a-Kitchen has been designing and installing kitchens for more than 25 years. Our teams of highly skilled artisans are passionate about their craft and construct flawless spaces that become the heart of every home we work in.
What’s not included in the average kitchen price in South Africa?
The items and services included in a kitchen installation cost in South Africa will depend on the contractor you work with. Some offer end-to-end project management that includes demolition and ancillary services like plumbing. Others only design and install the kitchen.
It’s important to go through your kitchen renovation quotation thoroughly to understand what is and isn’t included. There are a few items you’ll want to keep top of mind when doing this:
- Appliances: Generally, your quote will be for the kitchen cost without appliances. You’ll need to buy these appliances yourself, but be sure to let your kitchen contractor know so that they can design your space to ensure everything fits.
- Demolition: Kitchen contractors will expect to start working in a clear space, but you’ll be required to break down and remove the old kitchen if this service isn’t included on your quote.
- Electrical: From moving plug points to making provision for additional task lighting, there’s plenty of electrical work to be done during a kitchen renovation. This is another task that will need to be completed before the installers arrive.
- Plumbing: Another item on the list of work that needs to be completed before your kitchen remodel kicks off but won’t generally be included in your quote is plumbing. This may include adding or rerouting pipes.
- Tiles & tiling: To ensure your cabinets are level, your floor tiles will need to be laid before your kitchen is installed. Then, when the cabinetry and counters have been fitted, you’ll need to add the backsplash.
When you work with Select-a-Kitchen, you’ll have the option of a full-service project management or a simple design and installation. We can source appliances, organise the demolition, and manage ancillary services like plumbing, electrical and tiling. Or you can take the lead on your project.
What is the average cost of a kitchen remodel in South Africa?
As we’ve already mentioned, the cost of a kitchen revamp in South Africa will depend on a variety of factors.
Using details from hundreds of successful Select-a-Kitchen installations we’ve completed over the past 25 years, we’ve put together some helpful estimates for the average kitchen price in South Africa based on the size of different spaces.
These kitchen renovation cost guidelines will give you an idea of what entry-level, mid-range and high-end finishes for cabinets and countertops are likely to cost. These amounts include the cost of installation, but do not include ancillary services like plumbing or electrical work.
As a general guide, small, medium and large kitchen renovations in South Africa will fall into the following ranges:
- Small kitchen: R48,500 to R97,500
- Medium kitchen: R61,000 to R166,000
- Large kitchen: R89,000 to R227,000+
It’s important to note that due to the nature of kitchen design and the price fluctuations of materials, these amounts are only estimates and may not be reflective of the actual market price of a kitchen renovation.
Small kitchen remodel cost without appliances
Small kitchens have a floor space of up to 12sqm. While there are some very tiny kitchens that are less than 8m2, these are few and far between. As such, our estimates are based on a floor space of about 10sqm.
A small kitchen renovation in South Africa can cost anything from R50,000 to R95,000, excluding appliances, plumbing, electrical and tiling.
| Finish | Estimated cost | |
| Cabinets | Entry-level: Melamine | R44,000–R49,500 |
| Mid-range: Wrap | R66,000–R71,500 | |
| High-end: Spray | R77,000–R82,500 | |
| Countertops | Entry-level: Postform | R4,500–R5,500 |
| Mid-range: Granite | R9,000–R11,500 | |
| High-end: Butcher’s block | R13,000–R15,000 |
Other costs to consider for your small kitchen remodel
As we’ve already mentioned, there are some items and services that you’ll likely have to cover in addition to the cost of your kitchen renovation.
| Demolition | R3,000 |
| Backsplash tiles | R1,250–R5,500 |
| Floor tiles | R1,500–R6,000 |
| Tiling | R7,000 |
| Plumbing | R5,000 |
| Electrical | R5,000 |
Medium-sized kitchen remodel prices
A medium kitchen ranges from about 12sqm to 18sqm. With more floor space, many homeowners choose to add an island to their kitchen. The kitchen cost with an island requires more materials, so is naturally slightly more than a space without one.
A medium-sized or average kitchen remodel cost without appliances can range from R61,000 to R165,000.
| Finish | Estimated base cost | Estimated cost with an island | |
| Cabinets | Entry-level: Melamine | R55,000–R67,500 | R57,500–R79,000 |
| Mid-range: Wrap | R65,000–R85,000 | R72,000–R105,000 | |
| High-end: Spray | R120,000–R135,000 | R132,000–R143,000 | |
| Countertops | Entry-level: Postform | R6,000–R7,500 | R7,000–R10,000 |
| Mid-range: Granite | R11,000–R14,000 | R13,500–R17,000 | |
| High-end: Butcher’s block | R16,500–R18,000 | R20,000–R23,000 |
Other costs to consider for your medium kitchen remodel
Once again, unless your quote expressly states that the below ancillary services are included in the cost of your kitchen renovation, you’ll likely want to set some of your budget aside to cover them.
| Demolition | R5,000 |
| Backsplash tiles | R1,300–R7,900 |
| Floor tiles | R1,750–R7,750 |
| Tiling | R11,000 |
| Plumbing | R9,000 |
| Electrical | R9,000 |
Large kitchen remodel cost in South Africa
We classify any space that’s larger than 18sqm as a large kitchen. As with medium kitchens, these spaces usually have a kitchen island and some may even have scullery.
It’s slightly more difficult to estimate the cost of renovating a large kitchen because there’s no upper limit on the size of these spaces. We’ve calculated materials for a 20m2 space to reflect the cost of a large kitchen, which can cost anything from R90,000 for a simple redo to more than R220,000 for a luxe kitchen renovation with an island.
| Finish | Estimated base cost | Estimated cost with an island | |
| Cabinets | Entry-level: Melamine | R80,000–R100,000 | R90,000–R120,000 |
| Mid-range: Wrap | R120,000–R135,000 | R133,000–R157,000 | |
| High-end: Spray | R140,000–R150,000 | R160,000–R187,000 | |
| Countertops | Entry-level: Postform | R9,000–10,500 | R10,000–R12,000 |
| Mid-range: Granite | R15,000–R19,000 | R17,500–R22,000 | |
| High-end: Butcher’s block | R17,500–R20,000 | R25,000–R30,000 |
Other costs to consider for your large kitchen renovation
Large kitchens are no different from small or medium kitchens when it comes to ancillary costs. The below services and items are not usually included in a kitchen renovation quote unless your kitchen designer offers a full-service project management package.
| Demolition | R10,000 |
| Backsplash tiles | 2,500–9,500 |
| Floor tiles | R3,000–10,000 |
| Tiling | R14,500 |
| Plumbing | R12,000 |
| Electrical | R12,000 |
How to set a budget for a kitchen renovation in South Africa
A good rule of thumb to determine how much you should be spending on your kitchen renovation is to consider the value of your property. There are a few basic guidelines that you can follow here:
- A basic renovation, with flatpack melamine cabinetry and postform countertops, should cost about 10% of your home’s total value.
- A mid-tier renovation will set you back approximately 15% of the total value of your property. This type of renovation will include custom cabinetry and quartz counters.
- A high-end renovation, including custom cabinetry, granite tops and luxury fittings, will equal about 20% of the total value of your home.
If you find that your planned renovation exceeds 20% of the value of your home, you may be overinvesting in the project. However, if you don’t plan on moving or the renovation isn’t being undertaken to increase the value of your property, there needn’t be a limit to how much you might want to spend.
Having worked on hundreds of kitchens over more than 25 years, we’ve found that the following budget allocations work well for most projects:
| Item | Portion of budget |
| Kitchen and installation | 40% |
| Plumbing | 10% |
| Electrical | 10% |
| Tiling | 15% |
| Appliances (if purchasing) | 15% |
| Unexpected costs | 10% |
A good way to ensure that you have a realistic idea of how much your particular kitchen renovation will cost is to obtain multiple quotations. Having a few quotes will give you a general idea of how much your project should cost and allows for comparisons of costs, workmanship guarantees and terms of payment offered by the various contractors.
While cost is an integral factor in the project management triangle, you shouldn’t forget time and scope when planning your kitchen renovation. If cost is your only consideration, you risk compromising the quality and efficiency of your project.
There have been many occasions on which we’ve been asked to fix issues that arose from the use of non-specialised labour or subgrade materials in an effort to save on costs. These solutions seem to be cheap at first glance, but they inevitably end up taking extra time and money to remedy.
The bottom line: How much does it cost to renovate a kitchen in South Africa?
It’s difficult to nail down an average kitchen renovation cost for South Africa. There are a variety of factors that will affect the price of your kitchen remodel, including the size of your space, the finishes you choose, as well as the kitchen installer you choose to work with.
A small kitchen with top-of-the-range finishes, fixtures and fittings shouldn’t cost much more than R95,000. Medium spaces of the same quality should set you back around R165,000, while a large, luxe kitchen can cost R220,000 or more.
Measure your space and decide on the look and feel you want. When you have this information on hand, you can start collecting and comparing quotes from different companies.
Select-a-Kitchen has been designing and installing kitchens in Cape Town since 1993. Our expert team custom builds spaces that suit our clients’ wishes and budgets. Call us on 021 554 5290 or contact us for an obligation-free quotation today.
FAQs
What are kitchen renovation costs in Cape Town?
Kitchen renovation costs in Cape Town vary depending on the size of the space you’re looking to remodel as well as the finishes and fittings you’d like your kitchen to have. An average kitchen can cost anything from R55,000 to R220,000+ depending on these factors.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
When you work with Select-a-Kitchen, we aim to have your new kitchen installed in about a week. This timeframe may be longer or shorter depending on the size and complexity of the installation.
Does a kitchen renovation increase your home value?
In short, yes, a kitchen renovation increases the value of your home. A well-designed, high-quality kitchen will add value to your home and, if you’re looking to sell, could be the thing that sets your property apart from others on the market.
What does a kitchen renovation cost with an island?
Islands generally increase the cost of kitchen remodels. They require additional cabinetry and countertop materials, plus they take a little more time to install. As a general rule, a kitchen renovation with an island will cost anything from 12% to 20% more than one without.
