Strip out pricing in Sydney has shifted hard since 2022. Tipping fees have gone up. Asbestos disposal has gone up. Wages, fuel, insurance - all up. Quotes that sounded reasonable two years ago are well below market now. Here's what real pricing looks like in 2026 across the most common strip out jobs.
Bathroom strip out
A standard Sydney bathroom strip out - around 5 to 8 square metres, full removal back to bare structure including tiles, screed, fixtures, and waterproofing - typically runs $2,500 to $4,500. Add asbestos and that climbs to $4,500 to $7,000+ depending on quantity and disposal requirements. Apartment bathrooms tend to sit at the upper end because of lift access, restricted hours, and waste flow constraints.
Kitchen strip out
Standard kitchen strip out, including cabinetry, benchtop, splashback, appliances, and floor preparation, generally runs $1,800 to $3,800. Larger open-plan kitchens with structural soffit removal or non-load-bearing wall demolition go up from there. Gas isolation by a licensed gas fitter is sometimes a separate line item.
Flooring strip out
Per-square-metre pricing is the honest way to look at floor work. In 2026, expect roughly:
Carpet and underlay removal: $8 to $15 per square metre
Tile and screed removal: $35 to $65 per square metre depending on bed thickness
Vinyl with adhesive removal: $20 to $40 per square metre
Timber overlay removal: $15 to $30 per square metre
Asbestos vinyl tile removal: $80 to $150+ per square metre with full disposal documentation
Full home strip out
A complete strip out of a Sydney three-bedroom home - all rooms back to studs and slab, no asbestos, no structural work - typically runs $18,000 to $32,000 depending on size and access. Add asbestos remediation across multiple rooms and the job can climb to $40,000 to $55,000. A genuinely fixed-price quote should specify exactly what's included and what would trigger a variation.
Commercial and retail strip out
Office strip outs typically priced per square metre based on fitout density. Light fitouts - workstations and perimeter offices - run from $30 to $60 per square metre back to base building. Heavy fitouts with extensive joinery, raised access flooring, and complex services run $60 to $120+ per square metre. Retail tenancies vary widely depending on shopfront, signage, and joinery complexity.
What drives the price up
Asbestos - testing, licensed removal, disposal, clearance certification
Apartment access - lift bookings, restricted hours, waste flow constraints
Heritage requirements - documentation, retention of features, slower methods
Structural work - engineering certification and temporary support
Out-of-hours work - after hours, weekends, public holidays
Tipping fees - now a major line item on every job
Red flags in a strip out quote
No mention of asbestos testing in a pre-1990 home
A price well below the rest of the market - usually means waste is being dumped illegally or the quote is missing scope
No public liability or workers compensation insurance certificate provided
No clear scope of work, just a bottom-line dollar figure
No tipping receipts or waste tracking documentation
A licensed asbestos removalist licence number not provided when asbestos is involved
How to get a fair quote
Get three quotes from Sydney-based strip out specialists. Send the same drawings or photos to each. Compare scope line by line, not just total price. A $3,000 bathroom quote that excludes waste removal, capping, and waterproofing removal is not cheaper than a $4,500 quote that includes everything - it's just hiding work that you'll pay for later.