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Dishwasher installation cost: How much is it?
19 May 2023
Dishwashers can make short work of one of the most repetitive daily chores, so it’s no wonder more than half of households in Australia have one. But how much do they cost to install? We take a look.
Australians are increasingly choosing to ditch the age-old ritual of filling up the kitchen sink and scrubbing the dishes clean, with dishwashers an increasingly popular feature of our kitchens. With dishwasher manufacturers continually coming up with ways to make their systems more energy and water-efficient, you may be thinking of purchasing a new one, or replacing your existing one. If you do so, how much might you expect to may? Here, we consider dishwasher installation cost around Australia.
How much does it cost to install a dishwasher?
The cost to install a dishwasher depends largely on if you are replacing an existing one or if it’s a new installation. It’s typically much cheaper if it’s a replacement, as installing one from scratch could mean making adjustments to your kitchen and hiring a plumber and an electrician. The below costs are in addition to the price of buying the appliance.
Replacing an existing dishwasher
Online trade website hipages says that if you are replacing an existing dishwasher and you have existing plumbing connections, you may attempt a DIY job, but says that hiring a plumber or installer can be a safer way to ensure that nothing goes wrong during installation. They say that plumbers can charge between $100 to $150 per hour, in addition to a call-out fee of $60 to $100, on top of their hourly rate.
If you are hiring professionals to replace a dishwasher, you may also want to factor the cost of removal into the equation. At the time of writing, The Good Guys Home Trades advertise a cost of $169 to install a new dishwasher and remove an old one, while installation only – for homes with existing cabinetry, electrical and plumbing infrastructure – costs $139.
A new installation
It is generally more expensive to install a dishwasher in a new spot in the kitchen or if there hasn’t been one in the kitchen previously. That’s because you may need to have a power point installed, drainage and water lines connected, and kitchen cupboards altered or added to accommodate it. You could therefore need a plumber, an electrician and a cabinetmaker, which, according to Hipages, could cost you:
- Plumber: $500-$1,500, depending on the time and materials needed, and there could also be a callout fee of $60 to $100 or so.
- Electrician: $140-$180, depending on the scope of the job. There could also be a callout fee of between around $60-$100.
- Cabinetmaker: Difficult to estimate, as there are many factors that could influence the price, such as the difficulty of the job, how easy it is to adapt a cupboard, the amount of changes needed to the existing kitchen, or if you were planning on replacing the entire set of kitchen drawers and cabinets.
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Owner occupied
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Owner occupied
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Owner occupied
20% min deposit
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Owner occupied
40% min deposit
Redraw facility
What types of dishwashers are on the market?
Dishwashers are available in a few main design types, which naturally can also impact the cost of installation:
- Freestanding – this style of dishwasher has an outer shell to protect its contents
- Underbench – typically has no outer shell on the top and sides, and is designed to slot in snugly under a kitchen bench
- Integrated – designed to slide in under a bench and the door looks like one of your kitchen cupboards;
- Semi-integrated –- designed to slide in under a bench and the door looks like one of your kitchen cupboards, but leaves room for the dishwasher’s electronic controls to show on the door;
- Dishdrawer – offers all the above options but is divided into to pull-out drawers;
- Benchtop – usually smaller units that can sit on top of a bench.
In Australia, freestanding dishwashers are the most prevalent, according to Euromonitor International, although built-in units have increased in popularity in recent years.
Adding a dishwasher to your home may increase your energy use, which could mean it’s a good time to compare your energy provider to see if you are getting the best deal.
Cover image source: Budimir Jevtic/Shutterstock.com
This article was reviewed by our Editor-in-Chief Nina Tovey before it was updated, as part of our fact-checking process.
Owner occupied
40% min deposit
Redraw facility
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