How much does a knockdown rebuild cost in Sydney?
As an indicative 2026 range, a new house (knockdown rebuild) in Sydney costs about $3,200 to $3,800 per m² at standard finish, $4,000 to $5,000 at mid finish and $5,500 to $7,600 at luxury finish, excluding GST.
Price yours in the calculator Get a fixed priceA knockdown rebuild replaces the house on your block with a new one. Demolition is extra to the rate below. Before you commit, it is worth checking whether the block could carry two homes instead of one: on many Sydney blocks a duplex costs only a little more and produces two titles. A new house is a light build (timber or steel frame on a slab), the cheapest construction per square metre there is; the finish level and the site decide most of the number.
Sydney rates, 2026
| Finish | Per m² of floor area | For 200 m² |
|---|---|---|
| Standard project-home specification | $3,200 to $3,800 | $640k to $760k |
| Mid where most owner-occupier work lands | $4,000 to $5,000 | $800k to $1.00m |
| Luxury architect-detailed, bespoke joinery | $5,500 to $7,600 | $1.10m to $1.52m |
Excluding GST. The 200 m² example is one home, gross floor area across all levels, garages and balconies excluded.
What the three levels of finish mean for knockdown rebuild
Standard
A project-home plan and a builder's range of finishes. The volume builders' advertised prices sit here, before site costs and upgrades.
Mid
A custom or semi-custom design, stone benches, engineered timber, better glazing, a proper landscape. Where most owner-occupier rebuilds land.
Luxury
Architect-designed, bespoke joinery, high-performance envelope, pool and landscape, a basement on a sloping block.
Worked examples
| Floor area | Standard | Mid | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180 m² | $576k to $684k | $720k to $900k | $990k to $1.37m |
| 250 m² | $800k to $950k | $1.00m to $1.25m | $1.38m to $1.90m |
| 350 m² | $1.12m to $1.33m | $1.40m to $1.75m | $1.93m to $2.66m |
Build cost only, excluding GST and the items below. Run your own floor area through the calculator.
What drives the number
- Demolition and site preparation: asbestos, tree removal, and the retaining and drainage a sloping block needs.
- The design: a project-home plan on a flat block is the floor of the range; every custom element moves the rate up.
- Two storeys cost a little more per square metre than one (scaffold, stairs, structure) but far less land.
- Where you live during the build: 10 to 14 months of rent is a real cost that is not in the per-m² rate.
On top of the build
- Demolition of the existing house: about $40k to $70k.
- A steep or difficult site: add about 8% to 15%.
- Bushfire construction on bushfire-prone land: add about 3% to 6%.
- Not included: GST, design and council fees, connections and contributions, landscaping, finance and holding costs.
Which kind of knockdown rebuild is yours?
The advertised price plus site costs; the cheapest route to a new house.
A designer or architect, an individual plan, better finishes.
More floor on the same land; the stair and structure add a little to the rate.
Excavation, retaining, piers and a basement level push the rate up.
Bespoke everything; the rate per square metre is set by the detailing.
What these look like
Design studies, not Estier projects.
Questions people ask
What does a 250 m² knockdown rebuild cost in Sydney?
About $800,000 to $950,000 at standard finish, $1.0m to $1.25m at mid and $1.38m to $1.9m at luxury in 2026, excluding GST and demolition (about $40,000 to $70,000).
Should I rebuild one house or build a duplex?
If the block can carry a duplex, two homes cost about 10 to 20% more than a large single house and produce two titles. Block Checker shows whether your block qualifies.
Do I need a DA to knock down and rebuild?
A new house on a standard residential block usually goes as complying development through a private certifier in a few weeks. Heritage, flood, bushfire and unusual sites go to council.
How long does a knockdown rebuild take?
Allow three to six months for design and approval, then ten to fourteen months on site for a two-storey house, including demolition.
What is not in the per-m² rate?
GST, demolition, design and council fees, service connections, landscaping, pool, driveway, finance and the rent while you are out of the house.
Before you price it
Make sure the block can take it. Check what your block can carry before you rebuild — enter the address and see the lot, the zone and what it can carry under the rules today.
Want the real number?
These are planning ranges, not a quote. Estier designs and builds in Sydney and gives a fixed price against a drawn scheme. Send the brief.
Other Sydney build costs: Duplex · Terraces · Manor house · Granny flat · Apartments · Renovation
Indicative only. Rates are built off the RLB Riders Digest (Sydney, 2026 edition) and cross-checked against current Sydney builder pricing. They are a planning range, not a quote.