How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in Malaysia? 2026 Price Breakdown
Kitchen renovation in Malaysia starts around RM15,000 for a basic layout. Here is the cost broken down line by line — cabinets, countertops, tiling and plumbing.
Published August 19, 20262 min read
In this article
Every homeowner asks the same first question: what does a kitchen renovation actually cost? The answer you usually find online is a range so wide it tells you nothing. This article breaks that cost down into the line items that actually appear on your contractor's quotation.
Kitchen renovation cost by scope
Kitchen cost depends almost entirely on two things: how much cabinetry you install, and what material you pick for the countertop. Structural work like knocking down a wall adds cost but is rarely the biggest line.
Based on real projects across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, these three tiers cover most jobs.
| Scope | Cost range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic kitchen | RM15,000 – RM25,000 | Base cabinets, laminate top, standard tiling |
| Mid-range kitchen | RM25,000 – RM40,000 | Upper + base cabinets, quartz, backsplash |
| Full custom kitchen | RM45,000 and up | Custom carpentry, island, built-in appliances |
Cabinets — the biggest line on the quotation
Cabinetry typically absorbs 40% to 55% of a kitchen budget. It is priced per running foot, not per unit, so a longer L-shaped kitchen costs more automatically even with the same number of doors.
The price gap between materials is large, and this is where most of the mark-up hides.
- Melamine — RM180 to RM280 per running foot, the budget option
- Plywood with a melamine finish — RM300 to RM450 per running foot
- Solid plywood with 4G or aluminium doors — RM450 to RM750 per running foot
- Custom carpentry with Blum or Hafele hardware — RM800 and up
If your quotation just says "kitchen cabinets" with no material and no running-foot figure, ask the contractor to itemise it. An un-itemised line is the easiest place to bury a mark-up.
Countertops, tiling and plumbing
Quartz is now the most popular countertop because its price has fallen close to solid surface. Marble looks more premium but needs upkeep and can cost double.
Kitchen floor and wall tiling normally runs RM8 to RM18 per square foot including labour and screeding. Plumbing work to move a sink or add a water point is usually RM180 to RM280 per point.
- Quartz — RM180 to RM280 per running foot, sink cut-out included
- Solid surface — RM160 to RM240 per running foot
- Marble — RM300 and up, needs periodic sealing
- Tile backsplash — RM12 to RM25 per square foot
Where kitchen quotations get marked up
Three patterns keep showing up in the quotations we review. First, cabinetry quoted as one large sum with no running-foot figure. Second, a "hacking and debris disposal" line at RM3,000 to RM5,000 when the real work on a normal kitchen rarely exceeds RM1,500.
Third, electrical work bundled as a lump sum. Wiring is priced per point, so ask for the actual point count. Ten points at RM95 each is RM950, not RM3,000.
What to do next
Before you sign anything, compare your quotation against market pricing line by line. A 30% gap on even one item can be worth several thousand ringgit across the full job.