Price evidence · October 2026
AUD Build material prices: factory-direct against Sydney quotes and retail
AUD Build’s materials come from its own supply chain platform, www.audbuild.net. This page compares factory-direct prices with Sydney quotes and retail prices for materials of the same size and type, using dated and sourced figures, and sets out what has to be added to land them in Sydney. AUD Build clients can log in to www.audbuild.net and check the material unit prices in their quote.
Short answer
Size for size, audbuild.net factory-direct public prices are well below Sydney retail: 750×1500 marble-look tile at A$18.48/m² against A$49–76.45 retail, plain PU moulding at A$2.96/m against A$24–43, and thermally broken aluminium casement windows at A$225.31/m² against A$900/m² and up for Australian-made. The 900×1800×12 sintered stone AUD Build bought in October 2026 cost about A$19.12/m² at the factory; with packing, freight and clearance under conservative assumptions it lands at about A$47.69/m² ex GST, still 27% below a Sydney supplier quote of A$65/m² ex GST. Factory-direct items need ordering ahead (40–50 days for mouldings, for example); for small or urgent orders Australian stock may suit better.
1. audbuild.net public prices against Sydney retail
Anyone can check the audbuild.net prices below in the store; they include GST. Factory-direct items add a flat A$500 freight charge per order. Retail prices come from each retailer’s public page, read on 28 October 2026.
| Material and size | audbuild.net public price | Sydney and Australian retail | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750×1500 marble-look porcelain tile | A$20.79 per tile, A$18.48/m² (product page); factory-direct, minimum 50 tiles | TFO A$49.00/m² (clearance, incl. GST); Tilemall 10 mm A$76.45/m² (incl. GST); Design Tiles Italian brand A$208/m² (GST basis not stated) | The store page does not list thickness or surface grade; specifications come with the quote. Retail items differ in brand, origin and finish |
| 600×1200 marble-look porcelain tile | A$21.61/m² (sale; was A$27.01; A$15.56 per tile, product page) | TFO A$28.00/m² (incl. GST); Beaumont Tiles 9 mm A$59.95/m² (GST basis not stated); Tilemall 10 mm A$65.78/m² (incl. GST) | As above |
| SPC click-lock waterproof flooring | A$20.32/m² (sale; was A$25.40, product page) | Bunnings 5 mm A$27.95/m², 7 mm A$38.00/m²; MyHomeware 8 mm A$35.01/m²; Beaumont Tiles 7 mm A$54.95/m² (GST basis not stated on these pages) | The store page does not list thickness or wear layer; specifications come with the quote |
| Plain PU flat moulding, 40×20 mm | A$7.10 per 2.4 m length, A$2.96/m (product page); factory-direct, 40–50 days | Archiprofiles (Orac) P5021 31 mm PU A$24.21/m; P2020 45 mm A$26.35/m; P9040 50 mm decorative A$43.16/m (incl. GST) | Orac is a European brand; profiles are not identical |
| Thermally broken aluminium casement window (made to size) | A$225.31/m² (sale; was A$281.64, product page); factory-direct, made to size | uPVC.com.au Australian-made 105 mm thermally broken casement A$900/m² (incl. GST, 6-12Ar-6 glass, screens and delivery extra); Meichen indicative 600×1200 thermally broken casement A$764–2,361/m² (supply only, GST basis not stated) | AUD Build confirms the window system complies with AS 2047; glazing (for example double glazing), opening direction and size are confirmed with the quote, and the price follows the chosen configuration |
2. AUD Build’s sintered-stone purchase price against Sydney supplier quotes
On 17 October 2026 AUD Build bought sintered-stone wall panels for four Sydney homes in one purchase. The table shows the factory material price of that order (per piece, excluding Chinese tax, packing, freight, clearance and import GST), converted at the RBA rate, against the same-size quotes AUD Build received from a Sydney supplier on 28 September 2026.
| Size | AUD Build factory purchase price | Sydney supplier quote (28 Sep 2026) | Sydney retail reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 900×1800×12 mm sintered stone (soft matte) | CNY 145 per piece, CNY 89.51/m², about A$19.12/m² | A$65/m² ex GST (A$71.50 incl. GST) | Fantaci 900×1800×6 mm A$55.71/m² (GST basis not stated) |
| 900×1800×9 mm sintered stone (matt) | CNY 83 per piece, CNY 51.23/m², about A$10.94/m² | A$65/m² ex GST (A$71.50 incl. GST) | Fantaci 900×1800×6 mm A$55.71/m² (GST basis not stated) |
| 750×1500×10 mm sintered stone (soft matte) | CNY 58 per piece, CNY 51.56/m², about A$11.01/m² | A$35/m² ex GST (A$38.50 incl. GST) | See section 1: A$49–76.45/m² |
3. From factory to Sydney: a landed-cost example (900×1800×12 slab)
Packing, port and clearance charges at both ends, sea freight and import GST have to be added. China-side and Australian-side charges come from a June 2026 forwarder rate table (per 40-foot high-cube container); sea freight is quoted live, so two assumed scenarios are shown.
| Item | Typical scenario | Conservative scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Factory material price | A$19.12/m² | A$19.12/m² |
| Timber crates (this order: CNY 2,180 / 274.77 m²) | A$1.69/m² | A$1.69/m² |
| China side (loading, trucking, declaration, fumigation, port, CNY 6,550 per container) + Australian side (port, clearance, A$1,350 per container) + sea freight | Sea freight A$5,000 per container, 600 m² per container: A$12.92/m² | Sea freight A$8,000 per container, only 400 m² per container: A$26.87/m² |
| Customs duty (HS 6907, 0% under ChAFTA with origin documents) | A$0 | A$0 |
| Landed total (excl. GST) | A$33.73/m² | A$47.69/m² |
| With 10% import GST | A$37.10/m² | A$52.45/m² |
| Against the Sydney supplier quote for 900×1800 (A$65 ex GST, A$71.50 incl.) | 48% lower | 27% lower |
How to read these figures
- Prices change and are as at their read dates; this page explains price structure and is not a quote. Project prices are set in AUD Build’s written quote.
- The audbuild.net tile and flooring pages do not list thickness, slip or wear ratings; specifications come with the quote. Comparisons are by size and type, not identical brand and model.
- Section 2 shows the factory price of a real AUD Build purchase; the supplier is not named. The Sydney supplier quote did not state thickness, colour or slip rating.
- Wet areas and outdoor floors must meet slip-resistance requirements, and imported materials come with test and compliance documents for each project. AUD Build confirms its thermally broken aluminium windows comply with AS 2047 (the Australian standard for windows and external glazed doors); glazing is confirmed with the quote.
- Duty: tiles (HS 6907) carry a 5% general rate and 0% with ChAFTA origin documents (ABF Working Tariff; DFAT FTA Portal, checked 28 Oct 2026). Import GST of 10% still applies.
- AUD Build clients can log in to www.audbuild.net and check the material unit prices in their quote.
Questions
Is factory-direct always cheaper?
Not for every item; it depends on specification, quantity, lead time and freight. Large-format, high-volume materials such as slabs, tiles and mouldings spread freight thinly per square metre and show the biggest difference; for small or urgent orders Australian stock may suit better.
How can I check the material prices in my quote?
AUD Build clients can log in to www.audbuild.net and check the material unit prices in their quote item by item; publicly priced items can be checked by anyone.
Why do Sydney retail prices vary so much?
Brand, origin, thickness and surface finish differ, so tiles of the same size range from about A$28 to over A$200 per m². Compare like with like and ask whether GST and delivery are included.