How Much Does It Cost To Remove An Internal Wall? [2024]

 One of the most popular trends of recent years has been to remove internal walls to open up a home. This allows a more airy feel to a home which brings in more light and a more comforting feeling. 

There’s one problem though: internal walls are often structural load-bearing walls. They carry the whole weight of your home. Take down the wrong one, without the right precautions, and you could have a huge problem on your hands. 

That’s why it’s best to leave a job like this to the professionals. That means you’ll have a bill to pay, so it’s wise to know how much it costs to remove a wall. 

A builder may charge $1350 per square metre to remove a wall in a timber frame home, and 

$1500 per square metre for a brick home. This does not include the cost of permits, engineers’ reports and any payments to council.

Interfere with the structural integrity of your home and you could be putting the health and safety of you and your family at serious risk. Which is why this is definitely one job you cannot legally DIY.

If you want to remove an internal wall you must use a licensed builder to carry out the work.

This article will help you figure out:

• Who can carry out the work for you
• What to look for when hiring a builder
• What it might cost to remove a wall

Make sure your builder is licensed and insured

All states require builders to be licensed and insured to carry out work in your home.

Depending on where you live, builders will typically hold a particular class of licence. This specifies what scope of work they are allowed to carry out. The class may, for example, restrict the licence holder to only working on kitchen renovations. This will be detailed on the builder’s licence, alongside their name, licence number and the expiry date. Hiring an unlicensed builder is against the law and could lead to a fine or worse.

Builders should also carry valid insurance, including professional indemnity, public liability insurance and builders warranty insurance

Hiring a builder

When it comes time to hire a builder to remove a wall in your home, make sure they are right for your job. Some questions to ask them include:

• Are you appropriately qualified and registered or licensed?
• Do you hold valid insurance (professional indemnity and public liability insurance)?
• Have you removed an internal wall before?
• How much will it cost to remove my wall?
• How long will my job take?
• Do you have references I can follow up on?

Signing a contract with your builder

It is essential you have a contract with your builder. This protects your investment and also gives you peace of mind that you know exactly what is to be done. 

A building contract is a legal agreement between you and your builder. It is designed to protect the interests of you and your contractor. It should clearly detail all aspects of your job, including:

• Full scope of works
• Timeframe and schedule for work to be completed by
• Detailed costing of the job
• Schedule for when payments are due
• What happens if there are delays
• Total contract price

It is essential that you get legal advice before signing a contract with your builder, as it must comply with the relevant legislation where you live.

Read: Your essential guide to building contracts

Getting approval to remove a wall

You will generally need approval if you are changing the structure or shape of your home, and this includes reconfiguring your internal floorplan. This is for your own health and safety.

The HIA states that, “Every time you build or renovate a home you will need a building approval. As no two houses are the same, every job needs to be designed properly to ensure you can get building approval.”

Building approval is generally given by your local council and comes with a permit fee.

Read more: Council approvals for home renovations

How much does it cost to remove an internal wall?

The requirements for renovation work change for every project, but a ballpark figure for the cost to remove an internal wall might be:

• $1350 per square metre for a timber project
• $1500 per square metre for a brick veneer project

With most building projects, it’s wise to give your budget a 15% buffer to cover any unexpected costs.

If you want to knock out a wall, you will need a building permit and the work will have to be carried out by a licensed building practitioner.

How much is the job going to cost you? It will depend on the size of the project, but as a rule of thumb, expect to pay:

• 50% for materials
• 35% for labour
• 15% for council fees and permits

There are also numerous other costs you may be liable for, including:

• If you need a structural engineer’s report, this can cost between $#00 and $1000, depending on the complexity of your job.
• You will need a copy of your land title, which costs between $25 and $35.
• You'll need to submit a plan to council. This must be drawn by a drafter or registered architect and can cost up to $1000 or more.
• A building permit will cost around $700 in most areas of Australia.
• If the cost of the renovation exceeds $12,000, your building contractor may have to take out Home Warranty Insurance. This can cost up to $1000 and the cost will be passed on to you.

Once the paperwork is in order, your building contractor can go to work. 

Don't forget to budget for associated costs

If you are removing an internal wall there are also other costs to factor in. These could include:

• An interior designer can help integrate your new open plan space to look like an integral part of your home.
• An electrician to install or move any electrical wiring in the wall.
• If you are installing storage, cabinets or shelving a cabinet maker or carpenter can make all that happen.
• You may need a painter to make it all look like new again.

Getting quotes from builders

The best way of finding out the cost of your project is to get quotes from local builders. This will give you a sense of what market rates currently are. In most cases, it’s a good idea to get three quotes for a job. 

To make sure you get the right quote, tell potential builders what you need in as much detail as possible. If the quoted prices are within your expectations and budget, contact the builder or builders of your choice in person and finalise the details.

* All the costs and prices quoted were sourced at the time this article was written. They are indicative, may vary locally, are subject to market forces and should only be used as a guide.