The best builders in Perth
Three separate lists of Perth builders, each checked against the WA builder register, and no builder pays to be on them. In WA a builder can take no more than a 6.5% deposit on a home building contract from $7,500 to $500,000.
- Registration regulator
- Building and Energy
- Registered builder needed from
- $20,000
- Home indemnity insurance over
- $20,000
- Maximum deposit
- 6.5%
- Average new house cost (WA)
- $1,585 per sqm
Choose the kind of builder you need
Each list is researched separately, so a great renovation builder isn't padded onto the new home list.
Renovation builders in Perth
Extensions, second storeys, raise and build under, and whole-house renovations.
See all 10New home builders in Perth
Custom and project homes, knockdown rebuilds and builds on tricky blocks.
See all 10Commercial builders in Perth
Fitouts, retail, medical, industrial and small multi-residential projects.
See all 9What building costs in Perth
Construction costs only. None of these figures include land.
| Project | Indicative cost | What the figure is |
|---|---|---|
| Ground floor extension | $2,000 to $4,000 per sqm | National consumer guide (indicative). A Perth guide puts it at $2,500 to $5,000 per sqm including GST. |
| Second storey addition | $200,000 to $450,000 | National consumer guide, typical total. Indicative. |
| Kitchen renovation, mid-range | $26,250 to $47,250 | Perth consumer guide, typically $36,750. Includes GST. |
| Bathroom renovation, mid-range | $21,000 to $36,750 | Perth consumer guide, typically $28,350. Includes GST. |
| New house, average | $1,585 per sqm | WA average for new detached houses in 2024-25 (ABS data). Statewide. |
| New house, custom or architectural | $3,100 to $5,100 per sqm | RLB Perth rate, excludes GST, site works and fees. |
| Office fitout | $1,180 to $3,200 per sqm | RLB Perth rate, excludes GST. |
| Warehouse or industrial | $840 to $1,600 per sqm | RLB Perth rate, single storey, excludes GST. |
WA's average new house cost of $1,585 per sqm is the lowest state figure on this site, and WA's new homes are big (256.8 sqm on average against 241.5 sqm nationally). Custom work is a different market: RLB puts architectural homes in Perth at $3,100 to $5,100 per sqm. Perth tender prices rose 5.4% in 2025, the fastest of any city on this site, with 5.3% forecast for 2026.
Consumer guide figures are indicative. RLB rates exclude GST, land, site works and professional fees.
Compare renovation builders in Perth, new home builders in Perth and commercial builders in Perth, or read our building costs guide.
Approvals in Perth
In WA, building permits are granted by the local government, the council acting as permit authority. There are two ways in:
- Certified application: you lodge plans with a certificate of design compliance from a registered building surveyor. This is how most builders do it.
- Uncertified application: the council's own building surveyor assesses the plans.
Some projects also need development (planning) approval from council first. Perth is made up of many local governments and the City of Perth covers only the centre, so check with the council for your suburb.
From 1 July 2026, sheds, garages, carports and patios (Class 10a buildings) under $50,000 no longer need a registered builder. The $20,000 threshold still applies to all other building work that needs a permit.
Home indemnity insurance and contracts in WA
WA calls it Home Indemnity Insurance (HII). It is required for residential building work that needs a building permit and is worth more than $20,000. The builder takes it out in your name and must give you the certificate before starting work or taking any payment, deposit included.
It is last resort cover: it pays only if the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent. Then it covers loss of deposit up to $40,000 and incomplete or defective work up to $200,000.
- Contracts with a fixed price from $7,500 to $500,000 fall under the Home Building Contracts Act 1991. They must be in writing, dated and signed by both sides, and the builder must give you the Notice for the homeowner before you sign.
- Deposit: 6.5% for those contracts.
- Progress payments after the deposit can only be for work already done or materials already supplied. WA sets no standard stages.
- Disputes: you can lodge a building service complaint (generally within 6 years of completion) or a home building contract complaint (within 3 years) with the Building Commissioner as an alternative to court.
More in our home warranty insurance guide.
Checking a WA builder's registration
Search the WA licence register
Use the WA Online Licence Search and look up the builder by name or registration number. You can also download the full register of builders. WA Online Licence Search
Check registration is current
Inactive builders stay on the register but show a blank address, so a listing alone doesn't mean they can work.
Match the number and the type
A registered practitioner (a person) and a registered contractor (the business) can share the same number. Check the name, number and licence type all match, and look for conditions that limit the building classes the builder can work on.
Match the entity on the contract
Building and Energy doesn't publish trading names. If the contract names a trading name, look it up on ASIC to confirm it belongs to the registered entity. WA Government: find a registered builder
Building in Perth: common questions
How much does it cost to build a house in Perth?
The WA average for a new detached house in 2024-25 was $1,585 per square metre (ABS data), about $407,000 for a 257 sqm home, before land. Custom and architectural homes run $3,100 to $5,100 per sqm on RLB's Perth rates.
Do I need a registered builder for a renovation in WA?
Yes, if the work needs a building permit and is worth $20,000 or more. From 1 July 2026, sheds, garages, carports and patios under $50,000 are an exception.
What is the maximum deposit for a building contract in WA?
6.5% of the contract price, for home building contracts from $7,500 to $500,000. It can be higher where off-site cabinetry work is more than half the contract value.
When is home indemnity insurance required in WA?
For residential building work that needs a building permit and is worth more than $20,000. The builder must give you the certificate before starting or taking any money.
Who issues building permits in Perth?
Your local council, as permit authority. Most builders lodge a certified application backed by a certificate of design compliance from a registered building surveyor.
Where do I complain about a builder in WA?
To the Building Commissioner, through Building and Energy. You can lodge a building service complaint about defective work, or a home building contract complaint for contracts of $7,500 to $500,000.
Ready to talk to builders?
One form, up to three builders that suit your project.
Sources
- WA Online Licence Search
- WA Government: Find a registered builder
- WA Government: Building and Energy licence and registration search
- WA Government: Do I need to be a registered building contractor? (PDF)
- WA Government: Home indemnity insurance fact sheet (PDF)
- WA Government: Notice for the homeowner (PDF)
- WA Government: Building contracts and progress payments (PDF)
- WA Government: Building dispute resolution
- WA Government: Building approvals
- Master Builders NSW: Cost of constructing Australian homes (ABS data, 2024-25)
- RLB Riders Digest 2026, Perth
- hipages: How much do house extensions cost?
- hipages: How much does a second storey addition cost?
- What's The Damage: Kitchen renovation cost Perth
- What's The Damage: Bathroom renovation cost Perth