Add each room, pick a material type, then adjust prices to your supplier quotes.
Custom prices loaded from PRICE_CONFIG.
Settings
10%
— quotes generated
No rooms yet — click + Add room to begin.
Price confidence range
Based on ±20% low / +38% high variability typical for Australian trades and materials.
Best case (DIY / trade discounts)Your estimateWorst case (premium trades)
Hidden costs you might have missed
Check these
These common costs are not included in most renovation estimates. Tick any that apply to your project to add them to your total.
Hidden costs subtotal:A$0
Total project estimate
A$0
Rooms
0
Total area
0 m²
✅ Got your estimate? Learn how to get accurate quotes and avoid dodgy tradies.
Important: These are indicative estimates only, not formal quotes. Actual costs vary with site conditions, access, waste removal, and individual tradie rates. Always obtain at least three written quotes before committing to any work. Prices reflect current Australian market rates and should be verified with local suppliers. RenoCalc accepts no liability for decisions made based on these estimates.
Floor Plan View
All rooms drawn to scale — a quick sanity check on proportions.
Live floor plan
Add rooms first to see the floor plan.
Shopping List
Every material and line item, with quantities including waste factors.
Send to Tradie
Copy this formatted quote to send via email or message to your builder or tradie.
Saved Quotes
Save named scenarios and compare them side by side.
💾 Quotes saved locally in your browser. Export to keep a permanent copy.
Share & Export
Share your estimate with your partner, builder, or bank.
🔨 Are you a tradie or builder? Add RenoCalc to your website for free.
Enter a name to identify this quote
How RenoCalc works
Add your rooms, pick materials, and get an instant cost estimate — with waste factors, regional labour rates, and GST built in.
Quick start
1
Add a room
Click + Add room, pick the room type and material, and enter the dimensions. Repeat for every space in your project.
2
Adjust prices
Every price field is editable. Override the defaults with your own supplier quotes for a more accurate estimate. Select your state to adjust labour rates.
3
Save your quote
Go to Saved Quotes and name your estimate. Save a second version with different materials to compare budget vs premium options side by side.
Waste is added automatically
You always see the order quantity — the amount to actually buy — not just the room area. Every material has a built-in waste factor for cuts and offcuts.
Labour rates vary by state
Select your state in the Settings bar. Labour rates adjust for your region — WA and SA are typically 10–12% lower than NSW/ACT. Material costs are unaffected.
Confidence range
Every estimate shows a best case (−20%) and worst case (+38%) range. Use the contingency slider to add a buffer for the unexpected.
Waste factors by material
How much extra is added to your order quantity above the room area.
Material
Waste
Why
Timber / hardwood
8%
Board cuts at walls
Laminate
7%
Board cuts at walls
Vinyl plank / carpet
5%
Flexible, fewer cuts
Parquetry / herringbone
12%
Diagonal pattern cuts
Tiles 600×600mm
12%
Perimeter cuts
Tiles 300×300mm
15%
More cuts per m²
Large format 1200×600mm
8%
Fewer pieces, precise cuts
Mosaic / herringbone tile
20%
Complex pattern
Decking (pine / hardwood)
10–12%
Board ends, gaps
Composite decking
5%
Precision cut lengths
Concrete slab
10%
Overpour buffer — never order less
Common questions
Are these estimates accurate enough to use for a real budget?
Yes — as a starting point. The estimates are accurate enough to know whether a project is in the $5,000 or $25,000 range and to sense-check a tradie quote. They are not a substitute for a written quote — always get at least three before committing.
Why is the order quantity higher than my room area?
Because every material needs extra for cuts, offcuts, and breakages. The order quantity is what you give your supplier — the room area alone is never enough to order. See the waste factors table above for the exact percentage by material.
Does this include strip-out or demolition costs?
Each room card has an optional strip-out / demolition toggle. Enable it and enter the cost if you need to remove existing materials first. Strip-out typically adds A$10–30/m² for flooring and A$500–800 flat for kitchens and bathrooms.
Important: These are indicative estimates only, not formal quotes. Actual costs vary with site conditions, access, waste removal, and individual tradie rates. Always obtain at least three written quotes before committing to any work.
Contact RenoCalc
We're a small Australian team building free tools for homeowners. We read every message and reply within 2 business days.
General enquiries
Questions about the calculator, found a bug, or have a suggestion? We'd love to hear from you.
About RenoCalc
RenoCalc is a free Australian home renovation cost estimator. We help homeowners understand what their renovation might cost before calling a tradie — with waste factors, state-based labour rates, and GST built in. No signup required, no data collected.
Response time: Within 2 business days. Location: Australia 🇦🇺 Website:renocalc.com.au
Disclosure: RenoCalc may earn a commission when you click affiliate links on this site — at no extra cost to you. This helps keep the calculator free. We only link to products and services we believe are genuinely useful for Australian homeowners.
Add a free renovation calculator to your website in 2 minutes.
Your clients want to know what things cost before they call you. Give them an answer on your own website — and be the tradie they call first.
✅ WordPress✅ Squarespace✅ Wix✅ Webflow✅ Shopify✅ Any HTML website
Common questions from tradies
Is this really free? What's the catch?
Completely free. No subscription, no hidden fees, no revenue share. RenoCalc earns money through affiliate links inside the calculator (e.g. links to material suppliers). These don't cost you or your clients anything extra.
Will it always show my trade type?
RenoCalc covers all renovation types — flooring, tiling, painting, decking, concrete, kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. When a client opens it on your website, they can select the relevant room type. If you'd like a version pre-set to your trade, email us at hello@renocalc.com.au.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes — RenoCalc is fully responsive and works on any device. On mobile, we recommend setting the iframe height to at least 800px so clients can scroll through the calculator comfortably.
How do I add it to my WordPress site?
In WordPress, create or edit a page, add a Custom HTML block, and paste the embed code. That's it. If you're using Elementor, Divi, or another page builder, use their HTML widget. Not sure? Email hello@renocalc.com.au and we'll walk you through it.
Will RenoCalc change or disappear?
RenoCalc is hosted on AWS CloudFront with 99.99% uptime. Prices are reviewed quarterly and updated automatically — your embedded calculator will always show current Australian market rates without you doing anything.
Ready to add RenoCalc to your website?
Takes 2 minutes. Free forever. No account needed.
What to do next
You have your estimate. Here's how to turn it into a real, accurate quote — and avoid the traps that catch most Australian homeowners.
Step 1 — Prepare before you call anyone
The more prepared you are, the better quotes you'll get — and the less likely tradies are to pad their prices.
1
Know your budget range — not just one number
Tell tradies you're "budgeting around $X–$Y" rather than a single figure. If you say $50,000 and the job could be $35,000, you'll get a $50,000 quote. Use RenoCalc's confidence range (best case to worst case) as your bracket.
2
Write a simple scope of works
Before calling tradies, write 1 page listing exactly what you want done — room sizes, materials (budget/mid/premium), and what's out of scope. This forces all quotes to be comparable.
💡 Pro tip: Print your RenoCalc Shopping List and use it as your scope of works. It already has room sizes, quantities and material types.
3
Get at least 3 written quotes
Never accept a verbal quote. Get at least 3 from licensed tradies — not family friends or unlicensed operators. Written quotes protect you legally and give you negotiating power.
Step 2 — What to ask every tradie
These questions separate professional tradies from cowboys. A good tradie will answer all of them without hesitation.
Licence & insuranceAre you licensed in [your state]? Do you have public liability and workers compensation insurance?
InclusionsWhat exactly is included in this price? What's not included?
TimelineWhat's your expected start date and how long will the job take?
SubcontractorsWill you use subcontractors? If so, are they also licensed and insured?
Payment termsWhat are your payment stages? (Never pay more than 10% upfront for jobs over $20k in most states)
VariationsHow do you handle variations if something unexpected comes up? Will you get written approval before proceeding?
ReferencesCan you provide 2–3 recent references from similar jobs I can contact?
WarrantyWhat warranty do you provide on your workmanship? How long and what does it cover?
Step 3 — Red flags to watch for
Walk away if a tradie does any of these. Thousands of Australians lose money every year to dodgy operators.
🚩Asks for large upfront payment — In most Australian states, tradies can only ask for a maximum 10% deposit on jobs over $20,000. Anything more is illegal and a warning sign.
🚩Won't provide a written quote — A verbal quote is unenforceable. If they won't put it in writing, don't proceed.
🚩No licence or insurance — Check your state's licence register before paying anything. In NSW: licence.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au. VIC: plumberslicence.vic.gov.au. QLD: QBCC.qld.gov.au.
🚩Quote is drastically lower than others — If one quote is 40%+ cheaper than the rest, it's likely missing scope, using inferior materials, or they'll hit you with variations later.
🚩Pressure to decide immediately — "This price is only good today" is a sales tactic. A good tradie has a full schedule and doesn't need to pressure you.
🚩No written contract for jobs over $5,000 — In most states, a written contract is legally required for residential building work over $5,000–$20,000. Insist on one.
Step 4 — How to read a tradie's quote
Most quotes look similar but hide very different things. Here's what to look for.
A
Check what's explicitly excluded
Good quotes list exclusions. If there are no exclusions listed, ask the tradie to add them — "excluded: council approval, asbestos testing, waste disposal." This protects both of you.
B
Understand fixed price vs. estimate
A fixed price quote means that's what you pay (plus approved variations). An estimate can go over. Always ask: "Is this a fixed price?" If not, ask what conditions could make it higher.
C
Compare your RenoCalc estimate to the quote
If a quote is significantly higher than RenoCalc's estimate, ask the tradie to break it down by line item — materials, labour, and margins. This isn't confrontational, it's professional. Good tradies do this routinely.
⚠️ Important: RenoCalc's estimates are indicative starting points. Real quotes will vary based on site access, existing conditions, material selections and tradie availability. A 10–30% variance from our estimate is normal and expected.
Check your tradie's licence — by state
It takes 2 minutes and could save you tens of thousands. These are the official government registers.
Important: This guide is general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Building regulations, licence requirements and payment terms vary by state. Always consult your state's building authority and consider seeking independent legal advice before signing a building contract.
Clear all rooms?
This will remove all rooms from your current estimate. Save a quote first if you want to keep this estimate.