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The 10 best new home builders in Sydney

Sydney builders for custom homes, project homes and knockdown rebuilds, including duplex and dual occupancy builds on a single lot. We checked every builder's NSW contractor licence.

Updated October 2026.

Builders listed
10
Licences confirmed on the register
10 of 10
Average Google rating
4.1
Google reviews, combined
556
Builders paying to be here
None
  • LicenceA current Building Commission NSW builder licence, matched to the business.
  • ReputationIndependent reviews, awards and years trading.
  • Right kind of workNew homes, knockdown rebuilds or custom builds in Sydney, shown on their own site.
  • No paid placesNobody pays to be listed or to move up.

New home builders in Sydney, ranked

Every licensed builder below shows new home or knockdown rebuild work on its own site. The order weighs fit for new builds, reputation and years trading, and no builder paid to be here.

  1. 1

    Chateau Architects + Builders

    Castle Hill. Sydney, with a focus on the North Shore

    4.9 from 9 Google reviews

    Best for Architect-designed custom homes on the North Shore

    • Building in Sydney since 1969, according to its website.
    • In-house architects and builders run a six step design and build process.
    • Won HIA NSW Custom Built Home in 2023.
    NSW builder licence
    6323 Checked
    Building since
    1969
    Builds
    Custom homes, Architect-designed homes, Luxury homes, Design and build
    Member of
    Master Builders NSW, HIA
    More about Chateau Architects + Builders

    Chateau is a family-run architect and builder that has been building custom homes in Sydney since 1969. Its in-house architects, designers and builders take each home from site review and concept through approvals, construction and handover, and its process includes a comparison of the DA and CDC pathways.

    The firm says it has won more than 20 industry awards, including Master Builders NSW Master Builder of the Year in 2023 and HIA NSW Home of the Year twice. Recent work includes homes in Seaforth, Northbridge, Killara, Pymble and Vaucluse.

    Awards: 2023 HIA NSW Housing Awards: Custom Built Home, winner; 2023 HIA NSW Housing Awards: Custom Built Home over $2.5m, winner; 2023 Master Builders NSW Excellence in Housing Awards: Master Builder of the Year, winner (according to the firm); 2023 HIA NSW Home of the Year, winner (according to the firm)

    1300 347 128Visit website
  2. 2

    Better Built Homes

    Cranebrook. Greater Sydney, the Hawkesbury, Central Coast, Southern Highlands and Wollongong

    4.2 from 35 Google reviews

    Best for Project homes from a multi-award professional builder

    • Won the 2025 HIA NSW Professional Medium Builder award.
    • Six display homes across greater Sydney and the regions.
    • ISO and iCIRT certified, according to its website.
    NSW builder licence
    244242C Checked
    Builds
    Display homes, Knockdown rebuild, Custom homes, Duplexes, Granny flats
    Member of
    HIA, Master Builders NSW
    More about Better Built Homes

    Better Built Homes is a western Sydney project builder that marks 15 years of building in 2026. It has six display homes, including Menangle Park, North Richmond, Figtree Hill and Watagan Park, and builds single and double storey homes, duplexes, granny flats, knockdown rebuilds and custom designs.

    The firm says it gives clients weekly build updates. HIA named it the NSW Professional Medium Builder in 2025, and the firm says it also won the national award in 2025 and 2026.

    Awards: 2025 HIA NSW Professional Medium Builder/Renovator, winner; 2025 and 2026 HIA Australian Professional Medium Builder, winner (according to the firm); 2020, 2023 and 2024 HIA NSW Most Professional Medium Builder, winner (according to the firm)

    1300 100 922Visit website
  3. 3

    Horizon Homes

    Bella Vista. Sydney, including the inner west, North Shore and Hills District

    4.8 from 26 Google reviews

    Best for Custom knockdown rebuilds in the inner west

    • Won the 2025 HIA NSW Custom Built Home $1m to $1.5m category.
    • Design and construction run as one process, from concept to handover.
    • Builds a limited number of homes each year, according to its website.
    NSW builder licence
    99163C Checked
    Builds
    Custom homes, Knockdown rebuild, Duplexes, Basements, Difficult blocks
    More about Horizon Homes

    Horizon Homes is a boutique builder of individually designed homes, with a display home at Bella Vista and a design studio at North Strathfield for knockdown rebuild clients. It also builds duplexes, homes with basements and homes on difficult blocks.

    The firm manages design and construction as one process, from concept and approvals through selections, building and handover, and says it limits the number of homes it builds each year. Its work won the HIA NSW Custom Built Home $1m to $1.5m category in 2025.

    Awards: 2025 HIA NSW Housing Awards: Custom Built Home $1m to $1.5m, winner

    02 8882 9111Visit website

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  5. 4

    Kaplan Homes

    Smeaton Grange. Sydney

    4.9 from 163 Google reviews

    Best for Display homes and knockdown rebuilds in Sydney's south west and north west

    • Seven display home locations across Sydney's north west and south west growth areas.
    • Licensed NSW builder since 2006, and its founder has worked in construction since 1992.
    • Backs every home with a Lifetime Structural Guarantee, according to its website.
    • Its affordable brand, Sundancer Homes, was named NSW Affordable Housing of the Year at the 2021 HIA NSW awards.
    NSW builder licence
    184812C Checked
    Builds
    Display homes, Knockdown rebuild, House and land, Double storey, Dual living
    More about Kaplan Homes

    Kaplan Homes is a family-owned Sydney builder based at Smeaton Grange. It builds on clients' own land, in new estates and as knockdown rebuilds, from a range of more than 100 single storey, double storey and dual living designs. The company has held its NSW builder licence since 2006, and founder Andrew started in construction in 1992. Display homes are open at Box Hill, Melonba, Leppington, Smeaton Grange, Menangle Park, Menangle and Wilton.

    The firm says it offers what it calls its Big 4 Guarantees and backs every home with a Lifetime Structural Guarantee. Its affordable brand, Sundancer Homes, was named NSW Affordable Housing of the Year at the 2021 HIA NSW awards.

    Awards: 2021 HIA-CSR NSW Housing and Kitchen and Bathroom Awards: NSW Affordable Housing of the Year, winner (Sundancer Homes, the firm's affordable brand)

    1800 527 526Visit website
  6. 5

    Practical Homes

    Prestons. Sydney

    4.6 from 32 Google reviews

    Best for Family-owned knockdown rebuilds in south west Sydney

    • Family owned and building in Sydney since 1994, the firm says.
    • Sets out a 10 step knockdown rebuild process.
    • Fixed price contracts, according to its website.
    NSW builder licence
    310536C Checked
    Building since
    1994
    Builds
    Knockdown rebuild, Display homes, Duplexes, Granny flats
    Member of
    HIA
    More about Practical Homes

    Practical Homes is a family-owned Sydney builder that says it has been building since 1994. From its Prestons head office and display homes at Leppington, it builds single and double storey homes, duplexes, house and granny flat combinations and acreage homes.

    Knockdown rebuilds are a core service, with a 10 step process from demolition to handover. The firm says it builds at a fixed price to a 7 star energy rating, with a structural guarantee and a maintenance period after handover, and it is an HIA member.

    02 9606 8255Visit website
  7. 6

    Meadan Homes

    Castle Hill. Sydney and Brisbane

    4.9 from 41 Google reviews

    Best for Custom homes and duplexes in the Hills District

    • Family business founded by brothers who are licensed builders.
    • Two pathways: full design and build, or build to your own plans.
    • Licence numbers shown in its website footer.
    NSW builder licence
    264398C Checked
    Builds
    Custom homes, Knockdown rebuild, Duplexes, Design and build
    Member of
    HIA
    More about Meadan Homes

    Meadan Homes is a family business founded by brothers, with a showroom in Castle Hill and another in Brisbane. The firm says it has more than 13 years of experience and builds custom homes, knockdown rebuilds, duplexes and triplexes, as well as some extensions and renovations.

    Clients can use its design and build service or bring their own plans. Its designs can include pools and landscaping from the outset, and it holds builder licences in NSW and Queensland, according to its website.

    1300 780 623Visit website
  8. 7

    Clarendon Homes

    Baulkham Hills. Sydney, regional NSW and South East Queensland

    3.2 from 98 Google reviews

    Best for Wide choice of display homes across Sydney

    • Display homes across Sydney, from Parklea to Sylvania.
    • Offers a lifetime structural guarantee, according to its website.
    • Won an HIA NSW display home category in 2025.
    NSW builder licence
    2298C Checked
    Builds
    Display homes, Knockdown rebuild, House and land, Double storey, Acreage
    More about Clarendon Homes

    Clarendon Homes has been building homes for more than 44 years, the firm says, with display homes in Sydney suburbs including Parklea, Forestville, West Pymble, Sylvania, Box Hill, Leppington and Oran Park, as well as regional NSW and South East Queensland.

    It builds single storey, double storey and acreage designs, knockdown rebuilds and house and land packages. The firm says its homes carry a lifetime structural guarantee and are checked by independent quality inspections. Its Riverdale 33 display won an HIA NSW award in 2025.

    Awards: 2025 HIA NSW Housing Awards: Display Home $800,000 to $1m, winner (Riverdale 33)

    13 63 93Visit website
  9. 8

    Mojo Homes

    Baulkham Hills. Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and Hunter, Illawarra and South Coast

    3.3 from 24 Google reviews

    Best for Contemporary project homes with many display villages

    • Won an HIA NSW display home category in 2025.
    • Display homes at Box Hill, Leppington, Oran Park and Figtree Hill.
    • Licence number set out in its published terms.
    NSW builder licence
    269829C Checked
    Builds
    Display homes, Knockdown rebuild, House and land, Granny flats
    More about Mojo Homes

    Mojo Homes is a NSW project builder with display homes at HomeWorld Box Hill, Leppington and Oran Park, Figtree Hill and Hunter estates. It builds new homes, knockdown rebuilds, granny flats and house and land packages across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Illawarra.

    Clients choose finishes through its MyChoice design studio and can follow their build through an online customer portal. Its Essence 26 display won an HIA NSW display home category in 2025.

    Awards: 2025 HIA NSW Housing Awards: Display Home $500,000 to $600,000, winner (Essence 26)

    1300 006 656Visit website
  10. 9

    Allworth Homes

    Rydalmere. Greater Sydney and wider NSW

    3.3 from 21 Google reviews

    Best for Value-focused project homes from a long-running family builder

    • Family owned and building in NSW since 1978.
    • More than 30 display homes, including HomeWorld Oran Park.
    • Licence and ABN shown in its website footer.
    NSW builder licence
    34459 Checked
    Building since
    1978
    Builds
    Display homes, Knockdown rebuild, Granny flats, Acreage
    More about Allworth Homes

    Allworth Homes is a three-generation family business that has built homes in NSW since 1978. From its Rydalmere office it offers more than 200 designs, from narrow-lot and single storey homes to double storey, acreage and granny flat designs, along with knockdown rebuilds.

    The firm says it has built more than 15,000 homes and has 31 display homes, including new displays at HomeWorld Oran Park. It also offers virtual tours of many of its designs.

    1300 769 988Visit website
  11. 10

    Wisdom Homes

    Gregory Hills. Sydney, the Hunter and Illawarra

    3.0 from 107 Google reviews

    Best for Fixed price project homes in south west Sydney

    • Owned by Sumitomo Forestry since 2022, the firm says.
    • Offers a 25 year structural guarantee, according to its website.
    • Won an HIA NSW display home category in 2024.
    NSW builder licence
    488468C Checked
    Building since
    1999
    Builds
    Display homes, Knockdown rebuild, House and land, Dual living, Acreage
    More about Wisdom Homes

    Wisdom Homes was founded in 1999 and has built thousands of homes across NSW, the firm says. Sumitomo Forestry became a joint owner in 2016 and took full ownership in 2022. It has display homes at Leppington, Box Hill, Oran Park, Menangle Park and West Pymble.

    It offers knockdown rebuilds, house and land, dual living and acreage designs, plus fixed price builds for clients with registered land and finance approval. The firm says its homes carry a 25 year structural guarantee.

    Awards: 2024 HIA NSW Housing Awards: Display Home $450,000 to $500,000, winner (Wyndham 25, Leppington)

    1300 855 775Visit website

What a new home costs to build in Sydney

Build cost only, before land. NSW averages and Sydney QS rates.

WorkTypical cost
Average new house, NSW (ABS, 2024-25)$565,749 for 236 sqm
Average build cost per sqm, NSW (ABS)$2,396 per sqm
Project home, single level (QS rate, Sydney)$2,176 to $3,140 per sqm
Custom or architectural home (QS rate, Sydney)$2,500 to $7,600 per sqm
Demolition for a knockdown rebuild (QS rate, Sydney)$170 to $280 per sqm
Knockdown rebuild, 3 to 4 bed single storey (indicative)$450,000 to $1,000,000

ABS figures are NSW averages for 2024-25, as calculated by Master Builders NSW; Sydney is likely higher. Project home rates are BMT's 2026 Sydney table as quoted by Feasly. Custom and demolition rates are RLB Riders Digest 2026 for Sydney, excluding GST, site works, fees and asbestos removal. The knockdown rebuild total is a national consumer guide figure. None include land.

Project home or custom builder in Sydney?

On Sydney prices, the wrong kind of builder is an expensive mistake.

A project builder works from a catalogue of designs, often with facades and floor plans sized to standard Sydney lot widths. Repeat plans and bulk buying keep the per square metre rate down, which is why QS tables put a Sydney single level project home well below a custom one. It suits a regular lot, a buyer who's happy to pick from options, and a fixed budget.

A custom builder builds plans drawn for your lot by your own architect or designer. Sydney has plenty of sites where that's the only sensible option: steep harbour and northern beaches blocks, narrow inner west lots, battle-axe lots and heritage streets. The range is wide, from about $2,500 to $7,600 per sqm on RLB's 2026 rates, so the finish level you choose matters as much as the builder.

Knockdown rebuilds sit in between. Many project builders offer designs drawn for them, and many custom builders specialise in them. What changes is the site work: demolition, asbestos checks on older houses, tree protection and keeping neighbours' services live.

What a base price leaves out

  • Site costs: excavation, rock, retaining, piers on sloping or filled ground, and stormwater systems council may require.
  • Demolition and asbestos removal on a knockdown rebuild. QS demolition rates exclude asbestos.
  • BASIX items: rainwater tanks, insulation, glazing or hot water upgrades the BASIX certificate commits you to.
  • Upgrades and externals: display home finishes, driveway, landscaping, fencing and window coverings.

Ask for site costs to be fixed after the survey and geotechnical report. Our building costs guide covers the rest.

Approvals and the build process in Sydney

A new home in NSW goes through one of two approval paths:

  • Development application (DA) then construction certificate (CC). Council grants development consent, then council or a registered certifier issues the construction certificate, confirming the plans match the consent and the Building Code.
  • Complying development certificate (CDC). A fast track approval from council or a registered certifier for a design that meets set standards. No separate CC is needed.

Either way, every new home needs a BASIX certificate, uploaded with the DA or CDC application. The BASIX standards were raised on 1 October 2023, with thermal performance now equivalent to a 7 star NatHERS rating plus higher energy targets.

You, not the builder, appoint the principal certifier, who carries out critical stage inspections and decides whether an occupation certificate can be issued at the end. Your builder can recommend one, but the contract must be between you and the certifier, the builder can't sign it for you, and it's illegal for a builder to influence your choice.

Once work starts, the average new NSW house took about 9 months to complete in 2025-26 (ABS), slightly longer than the national average of about 8.5 months.

Rules that protect you in NSW

  • Licence: the builder needs a NSW contractor licence for general building work. Check the name and number on the contract match the licence holder exactly.
  • Contract: a new home is a large job contract (over $20,000), which must include a checklist and a progress payment schedule.
  • Deposit: no more than 10% of the contract price, and none at all until the builder has bought Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) cover and given you the certificate.
  • Cooling-off: 5 clear business days after you're given a copy of the contract.
  • Progress payments: set out in the contract as stages, as work is done and costs are incurred, or a mix. They should track work actually completed, not time on site.
  • HBCF cover: run by icare. It's last resort cover for incomplete or defective work if the builder becomes insolvent, dies, disappears or has their licence suspended for not paying a money order, up to $340,000 per dwelling.

For defects, raise them with the builder in writing, notify the HBCF insurer early, and use Building Commission NSW dispute resolution. NCAT claims must be made within the statutory warranty periods: 6 years for major defects and 2 years for other defects.

More in our home warranty insurance guide and fixed price vs cost plus.

Checking a NSW builder's licence

It takes a couple of minutes, and it's the same check we ran for every builder above.

  1. Search the NSW licence check

    Search by the builder's name or licence number on the NSW Government's licence check. NSW home building licence check

  2. Check status and expiry

    The licence should be current. Note the expiry date, especially on a long job.

  3. Check the category covers the work

    For an extension or a new home you want general building work. A licence in one trade, such as carpentry or waterproofing, doesn't cover the whole job.

  4. Look for warnings and match the contract

    The record shows conditions, cancellations, suspensions, public warnings and penalty notices. The name and licence number on your contract must match the licence holder exactly. NSW Government: checking your contractor

How we chose these builders

We started from builders working across Sydney, then kept only those with a current Building Commission NSW licence, a clear record of new home work on their own site, and a solid independent reputation. Order weighs fit for this kind of project, reviews and awards, years trading, and how openly each builder explains its process, licence and warranty. Size and advertising spend don't count.

No builder pays to be listed or ranked. If you request quotes through this page, we pass your project to builders that suit it. Read the full method.

New home builders in Sydney: common questions

How much does it cost to build a house in Sydney?

The average new NSW house cost $565,749 to build in 2024-25, about $2,396 per sqm across 236 sqm (ABS), and Sydney typically runs higher. On 2026 QS rates, a single level Sydney project home is about $2,176 to $3,140 per sqm and a custom home about $2,500 to $7,600 per sqm. Land, GST and site works are extra.

How much does a knockdown rebuild cost in Sydney?

Demolition runs about $170 to $280 per sqm of existing house on 2026 Sydney QS rates, before asbestos removal. A national consumer guide puts a full 3 to 4 bedroom single storey knockdown rebuild at $450,000 to $1,000,000, typically around $650,000. Sydney sites with slope, rock or poor access sit at the top end.

Can I use a CDC instead of a DA for a new house in Sydney?

Often, if the design meets the complying development standards for your lot. A CDC comes from council or a registered certifier and replaces both the DA and construction certificate. Not every lot can use the CDC pathway, so check yours on the NSW Planning Portal before you choose a design.

Do I need a BASIX certificate for a new home in NSW?

Yes. Every new home needs one, uploaded with the DA or CDC application. Since 1 October 2023, BASIX requires thermal performance equivalent to a 7 star NatHERS rating.

How long does it take to build a house in Sydney?

The average new NSW house took about 9 months from start of work to completion in 2025-26 (ABS). Add design and approval time before that, which on a DA can be several months.

How much deposit can a Sydney builder take?

No more than 10% of the contract price. The builder also can't take any money, deposit included, until they've given you the HBCF certificate of cover.

This list is a guide only. Check the builder's licence, insurance and contract yourself before you sign.