How much it costsCost by sizeCost breakdownCabinet material comparisonWet vs dry kitchenWhat affects cost mostWorked example — KL condoRenovate all at once or in phases?How to save without cutting cornersHow to choose a contractorMistakes to avoidHow long does it take?
Prices below are indicative Klang Valley ranges for guidance. Your actual cost depends on size, layout and finishes — get an exact quote on WhatsApp.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Malaysia?
Kitchen renovation pricing in the Klang Valley depends mostly on three things: the size of your kitchen, whether you build a wet-and-dry layout, and the quality of materials — especially cabinets and worktops. Here are realistic 2026 ranges:
| Tier | What’s included | Indicative cost (KL) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic refresh | Repaint, retile splashback, refurbish existing cabinets, new sink/tap | RM8,000 – RM15,000 |
| Mid-range | New cabinets, worktop, full tiling, wet & dry split, lighting | RM20,000 – RM35,000 |
| Premium | Custom cabinetry, quartz/solid-surface tops, island, built-in appliances | RM45,000 – RM80,000+ |
Kitchen renovation cost by size
| Kitchen size | Typical home | Indicative mid-range cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small (≤ 40 sq ft) | Apartment / small condo | RM12,000 – RM20,000 |
| Medium (40–80 sq ft) | Terrace / standard condo | RM20,000 – RM35,000 |
| Large (80+ sq ft) | Semi-D / bungalow, island layout | RM35,000 – RM70,000+ |
Kitchen renovation cost breakdown
Understanding which items carry the most weight helps you decide where to invest and where to pull back:
| Item | Typical share | Cost driver |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinets | 30–45% | Material (melamine vs plywood vs solid) |
| Worktop | 10–20% | Quartz/solid surface > tiles/laminate |
| Tiling & flooring | 10–15% | Wall + floor area |
| Plumbing & electrical | 10–15% | Moving points costs more than reusing |
| Wet & dry partition | 5–10% | Glass / aluminium |
| Labour & disposal | 10–15% | Demolition + haulage |
Kitchen cabinet material comparison
Cabinets are the single biggest line item — typically 30–45% of the total budget. The material you choose affects not just cost but longevity, especially in the wet kitchen where moisture and grease are constant. Here is how the main options compare:
| Material | Cost / running ft | Moisture resistance | Lifespan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melamine board | RM180 – RM350 | Low — swells if wet | 5–8 years | Budget dry kitchen |
| Moisture-resistant plywood | RM350 – RM600 | Good | 10–15 years | Wet kitchen best value |
| Solid surface / PVC | RM500 – RM900 | Very good | 12–20 years | Mid-premium wet kitchen |
| Aluminium frame | RM600 – RM1,200+ | Excellent | 20+ years | Premium, long lifespan |
For a wet kitchen, moisture-resistant (MR) plywood is the go-to choice — it offers near-solid-surface durability at roughly half the price. Using standard melamine in a wet kitchen is the single most common expensive mistake homeowners make.
Wet vs dry kitchen — does it cost more?
A wet-and-dry kitchen adds a partition (usually glass or aluminium) plus a second set of plumbing and ventilation. In the Klang Valley this typically adds RM5,000–RM12,000 to the project versus a single open kitchen.
For households that cook frequently — especially with a wok and high-heat cooking — the wet-and-dry layout is almost always worth it. It keeps grease, heat and odour out of the living area and protects your dry-kitchen finishes from humidity. If you only cook occasionally, you can skip it and save the money.
What affects your kitchen renovation cost the most?
Three factors move the price more than anything else:
- Cabinet material and run length. Cabinets are 30–45% of the budget, so the jump from melamine to solid surface — or adding a few extra feet of cabinetry — changes the total quickly.
- Whether you move plumbing or electrical points. Keeping the sink, hob and power points where they are can save thousands; relocating them means hacking, re-piping and re-wiring.
- Wet-and-dry layout. A second cooking zone with its own sink and ventilation adds RM5,000–RM12,000 but suits the way most Malaysian households cook.
Beyond those three, worktop material (quartz vs tile vs laminate) and the extent of tiling are the next biggest levers.
Worked example: a typical KL condo kitchen
To make the ranges concrete, here is an illustrative mid-range budget for a ~50 sq ft condo kitchen in the Klang Valley. Your actual figures will vary — treat this as a planning guide, not a quote.
| Item | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MR plywood cabinets (top + bottom) | RM12,000 | ~20 running ft combined |
| Quartz worktop | RM4,500 | Including edge profile |
| Wall & floor tiling | RM4,000 | Mid-range 60×60 tiles |
| Sink, tap, hood & hob | RM3,000 | Mid-range brands |
| Wet-and-dry glass partition | RM2,500 | Sliding glass panel |
| Plumbing, electrical & labour | RM4,500 | No point relocation |
| Total | ~RM30,500 |
Swap plywood for melamine and skip the wet-and-dry split, and the same kitchen could come in nearer RM18,000. Go premium with custom cabinetry and a kitchen island and it climbs past RM60,000.
Renovate the kitchen all at once or in phases?
If you are renovating the kitchen as part of a wider home refurbishment, doing everything in one mobilisation is cheaper — you share hacking, debris disposal and labour call-out costs. If you are doing only the kitchen now and the rest later, that is fine — just ensure the contractor finishes the flooring junction neatly so it can be extended later without looking patched.
Phasing can also help spread cost: some homeowners do cabinets and tiling first, then add an island or built-in appliances 12–18 months later. This works well if you leave provision (wiring, space) for the later addition upfront.
How to save without cutting corners
- Keep plumbing and electrical in place. Moving the sink or hob is one of the most expensive changes you can make. Work with the existing layout where possible.
- Choose MR plywood over solid wood or aluminium for wet-zone cabinets. Similar durability at roughly half the cost.
- Tile only wet zones with premium tiles; use more economical tiles in the dry kitchen where splash risk is lower.
- Bundle with adjacent works. Combining the kitchen with painting or flooring across the living area shares labour mobilisation and reduces total cost.
- Get three itemised quotes of comparable scope — not just a per-job lump sum. Itemised quotes reveal where prices differ so you can negotiate or swap materials.
- Reuse appliances where they are still functional. A new hood and hob costs RM1,500–RM3,000; if yours works, keep it.
Planning more than the kitchen? See our house renovation service →, or read about bathroom renovation cost →.
How to choose a kitchen renovation contractor in Malaysia
- Ask for an itemised quotation — cabinets, worktop, tiling and labour listed separately, not one lump sum.
- Check they handle plumbing and electrical in-house or coordinate licensed trades.
- See photos of completed local kitchens and, ideally, speak to a past client.
- Confirm the cabinet material in writing — moisture-resistant plywood for all wet-zone cabinets.
- Agree a payment schedule tied to milestones — never pay the full amount upfront.
- Check that warranty on workmanship is included — at least 12 months on cabinets and tiling.
Common kitchen renovation mistakes to avoid
- Choosing standard melamine for the wet kitchen — it swells and warps within 2–3 years when exposed to steam and grease.
- Relocating the sink or hob without budgeting the full plumbing and wiring cost — this alone can add RM3,000–RM8,000.
- Under-speccing ventilation in the wet kitchen — an undersized hood means grease migrates to the living area and settles on all surfaces.
- Skipping a written contract with an agreed timeline and material spec sheet — verbal agreements lead to disputes over what was “included.”
- No contingency budget — always hold back 10% for surprises (old wiring, leaks behind tiles, unforeseen hacking).
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
A typical Klang Valley kitchen renovation takes 3–6 weeks from start to handover, with custom cabinetry usually the longest lead item (2–3 weeks fabrication). Wet-and-dry builds and any structural changes or point relocations add time. The rough timeline looks like this:
- Week 1: Hacking, waterproofing (if wet zone), chasing and rewiring.
- Weeks 2–3: Tiling walls and floor; plumbing rough-in.
- Week 3–4: Cabinet installation and worktop templating.
- Week 4–5: Worktop fabrication and installation, wet-and-dry partition, hood and hob.
- Week 5–6: Snag fixing, cleaning, final appliance connections and handover.
We provide a detailed timeline with every quote so you can plan around it.