Home / Costs / Kitchen Remodel Cost
How much does a kitchen remodel cost?
Cost insights
$15,000 to $45,000- A 10 by 10 kitchen, the industry comparison size, typically costs $15,000 to $45,000 at midrange scope.
- Cabinets are the single biggest line, often 30 to 40 percent of the whole budget.
- Keeping the layout, meaning sink and range stay put, is the largest single saving. Moving plumbing and gas adds thousands.
- Cosmetic refreshes with painted cabinets and new counters can land under $10,000 in the same footprint.
A kitchen remodel is the most quoted and least standardized project in the house, because the word remodel covers everything from paint and hardware to a full gut with moved walls. This guide prices the common middle: new cabinets, counters, flooring, appliances and lighting in the existing layout. Use the calculator with your floor area and cabinet tier, then read the breakdown before you collect quotes.
Kitchen remodel calculator
Floor area times a per square foot rate for your cabinet tier. Layout changes are covered in the factors below.
Kitchen remodel cost by size
Midrange scope in the existing layout. Small kitchens cost more per square foot because appliances, plumbing and electrical barely shrink with the room.
| Kitchen size | Typical floor area | Midrange cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Under 70 sq ft | $10,000 to $25,000 |
| Standard 10 by 10 | 100 sq ft | $15,000 to $45,000 |
| Medium | 120 to 150 sq ft | $22,000 to $65,000 |
| Large | 200 sq ft and up | $30,000 to $90,000 and up |
Cost by cabinet tier
| Tier | Cost per sq ft | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | $100 to $250 | Standard sizes from a shelf range, limited finishes |
| Semi-custom | $150 to $450 | More sizes and finishes, some made-to-order parts |
| Custom | $350 to $800 | Built to the room, premium materials and hardware |
What determines the price?
Cabinets and hardware
Cabinets decide both the look and the budget. Refacing sound cabinet boxes and replacing only doors can cut this line nearly in half, and it is the first question to ask any contractor.
Counters
Laminate starts the range, quartz and granite hold the middle, and exotic stone sits at the top. Edge profile and cutouts for sinks and ranges are priced per feature, not per foot.
Layout changes
Every moved sink, range or wall drags plumbing, gas, electrical and permits with it. A layout change is the most reliable way to add 30 percent to a quote.
Appliances
A like-for-like appliance swap is predictable. Panel-ready and pro-style ranges are not, and they can require electrical or gas upgrades on top of the appliance price.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Share of a typical job |
|---|---|
| Cabinets and hardware | About 30 to 40% |
| Labor and installation | About 20 to 25% |
| Counters | About 10 to 15% |
| Appliances | About 10 to 15% |
| Flooring, lighting and plumbing fixtures | About 15 to 20% |
DIY vs hiring a pro
DIY
Painting cabinets, swapping hardware, backsplash tile and demolition are realistic DIY lines and can save several thousand dollars. Keep receipts and photos of your work for resale disclosures.
Hiring a pro
Cabinet installation, counters, plumbing, gas and electrical belong with pros. Counters in particular are measure-and-fabricate work where a homeowner mistake costs a full slab.
On resale, midrange kitchen remodels regularly return a large share of cost because buyers price an old kitchen harshly. Upscale remodels return less of each dollar. Spend for your own years in the home first, resale second.
Ways to reduce the cost
- Keep the layout and spend the saving on cabinets and counters instead.
- Get quotes at one fixed scope so cabinet tiers are the only variable.
- Order appliances before cabinets are designed, not after.
- Hold 10 to 15 percent back for the surprises inside old walls.
How we get this cost data
Our ranges are built from published US material pricing, labor rate data including US Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, and homeowner project reports. We update this page when prices move, and we show the updated date at the top. Ranges are national planning numbers. Your city and project condition will move your quote inside, or occasionally outside, the range.
Questions homeowners ask
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
Four to eight weeks of active work at midrange scope, after cabinets arrive. Cabinet lead time is usually the long pole, so order early.
What is the cheapest real remodel?
Paint or reface cabinets, replace counters and hardware, and keep every appliance and fixture where it is. That refresh commonly lands between $5,000 and $12,000.
Do I need a permit?
Usually yes when electrical, plumbing or walls change. A pure cosmetic refresh often does not. Your contractor should pull it, in their name.