For a one-bed apartment kitchen at mid specification, the 2027 benchmark is about $3,500–5,500 per unit for cabinets only, excluding benchtop, appliances and installation. The range is wide because specification moves cost more than size. Use it to test whether a quote is plausible, not to replace one.
$3,500–5,500 per unit, mid-spec, cabinets only.
Specification moves cost more than size.
Excludes benchtop, appliances and installation.
Compliance is included in the range.
Use it to test a quote, not to replace one.
1. What the benchmark is
A benchmark is a reference point for a budget. It is built from a representative unit type, a defined specification and current costs. It is not a quote, and it should be replaced by one as soon as the design is fixed.
2. Unit and specification
| item | referência | Observação |
|---|---|---|
| Tipo de unidade | Apartamento de 1 quarto | Somente cozinha |
| Carcaça | 18 mm, E0/E1 | HMR in wet areas |
| Hardware | Soft-close, 50k+ | Named or equal |
| portas | Slab or shaker | Mid-range finish |
| Custo | $ 3,500–5,500 | Cabinets only |
The specification is deliberately mid-range. A premium door or a stone benchtop moves the number well outside the range.
3. What moves the cost
Door style, hardware brand, finish and order size move the cost more than the unit size. A shaker door with a premium hinge can add 20–30% to a slab door with a standard hinge. A 20-unit order can cost 20–30% more per unit than a 60-unit order, because setup spreads less.
4. What is excluded
Benchtop, appliances, installation, plumbing and electrical are excluded. Each is a separate line, and together they can exceed the cabinet cost. The landed cost guide shows how to add them.
5. Conformidade
The benchmark assumes a compliant board and the standard documents: AS/NZS declaration, board report, labels and packing. Compliance adds a small amount per unit, but it is real and it is included in the range. The compliance guide lists the documents.
6. Tempo de espera
The benchmark assumes a 16-week door-to-door schedule. A compressed schedule costs more, either through a production premium or through air freight. The lead time guide covers the schedule.
7. Using the benchmark
Test a quote against the range. A number far below usually means a scope gap; a number far above usually means a premium specification or a small order. Neither is wrong, but both should be explained.
8. Updating the benchmark
Update it annually with current factory, freight and duty inputs. A benchmark that is two years old is a guess. The Australia sourcing guide covers the route inputs.
9. Uma lista de verificação antes de se comprometer
Antes de assinar, confirme seis itens: a qualidade da madeira, o modelo do hardware, o sistema de acabamento, o padrão de embalagem, o escopo da inspeção e o cronograma de pagamento. Cada um deles deve ser confirmado por escrito, não por telefone. A lista de verificação do orçamento transforma esses seis itens em uma comparação de uma única página.
10. Erros comuns
The most common mistake is comparing a factory price with a landed cost. The second is leaving the inspection out of the budget. The third is paying the balance before the inspection is signed off. Each is avoidable with a written scope and a pre-shipment inspection.
11. Como medir o quarto
Measure each wall at three points, top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest. Walls are rarely square, and a 10 mm bow over three metres changes the filler. Measure the ceiling at each corner and note sockets, radiators and soil pipes before drawing. A measured survey saves more time than a faster drawing, and the measuring guide has a printable sheet.
13. Uma lista de verificação de especificações
Escreva quatro linhas para cada material: o produto, a classe, a espessura e o tratamento da superfície ou da borda. Um material especificado apenas pelo nome deixa a classe a cargo da fábrica, e é na classe que residem o custo e o desempenho.
14. Perguntas que a fábrica fará
Espere quatro perguntas: qual a qualidade, qual a espessura, qual o tipo de borda e qual o lote. As respostas já devem estar na especificação. Caso contrário, a fábrica escolherá, e a opção escolhida será a mais barata que atenda ao desenho.
Perguntas frequentes
What does the benchmark cover?
A one-bed apartment kitchen at mid specification: cabinets only, excluding benchtop, appliances and installation. It is a budget test, not a quote.
Why a range rather than a number?
Because specification moves the cost more than size. Door style, hardware and finish can move the unit cost by 30–40%.
Is the benchmark for 2027?
It is a forward-looking benchmark based on current costs and expected input inflation. Treat it as a planning figure and update it with a quote.
Does it include compliance?
It assumes a compliant board and the standard documents. Compliance cost is small per unit but real, and it is included in the range.
Does it include installation?
No. Installation is a separate line, typically 10–18% of the cabinet cost.
Como devo usar?
Test a quote against it. A number far below the range usually means a scope gap; a number far above usually means a premium specification or a small order.
