How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost?

Reviewed by Carol J Alexander remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Are you tired of the ‘70s orange and green in your kitchen? Are water bottles spilling out of outdated cabinets? Or, maybe you need more space for your growing family? If so, a kitchen renovation is definitely in your future.

Are you unsure how much a kitchen remodel costs and if you can even afford it? Don’t go into a project of this magnitude blindly. Knowing what level of kitchen remodel you want and how much it will cost will save you a ton of headaches down the road. So, keep reading for a breakdown of the cost to upgrade your kitchen based on national averages for a cosmetic, mid-range, or luxury remodel.

Average Kitchen Remodel Costs

Factors contributing to the cost of a kitchen remodel

A kitchen remodel can cost as little as a budget-friendly $19,288 and as much as you want to spend. To help you navigate the scope of work for your new kitchen project, let’s look at all the factors you may include in your remodel. 

Kitchen size

The average U.S. kitchen measures from 100 to 200 square feet. However, some homes have oversized kitchens reaching 300 square feet or more. Of course, the more area you have to cover, the more materials the remodel will require, which impacts the overall cost.

Your kitchen’s footprint

Hiring an architect or certified kitchen designer to design your dream kitchen will add at least $2,625 to the overall cost. 

Changing your kitchen’s footprint may improve its functionality, but it could also be the most expensive aspect of the job. Knocking down or adding walls means moving electrical wiring, replacing the flooring and ceiling, and possibly moving plumbing and gas lines. Add into the mix hiring an architect or professional designer to design the space, certify that it’s safe and suits your household's needs, and you have entered the most expensive category of remodels.

Utilities

Hiring a plumber or electrician can add $407 to $777 per day to your kitchen remodel, depending on the work scope and location.

As discussed, any changes to the kitchen footprint require wiring and plumbing services. But, if your kitchen needs to be updated, you may still be required to update the utilities. 

New building codes require more powerful electrical outlets in kitchens than decades ago – and more of them. Also, GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets must be installed for countertops and areas where you eat, like the kitchen island. Gone are the days of fluorescent tube lighting built into soffits in the middle of the ceiling. But to replace that with more modern pendant lights or sconces requires electrical service, as well. 

Depending on your appliance choices, you may need a plumbing upgrade. Under-cabinet ice makers, plumbed coffee machines, and pot filler faucets are new on the kitchen scene and require water supply lines.

Finally, there’s gas. If you don’t already have it, the cost to run gas lines to your new kitchen will add to the total cost.

Kitchen cabinets

You have a lot of options when it comes to kitchen cabinets. And there’s an option for every budget. 

• Hiring a professional to paint your existing cabinets could cost from $7,200 to $13,400. But to DIY the job, you can expect to pay about $231 to $780 for the paint alone.
• Refacing your existing cabinets involves keeping the box part of the cabinet and installing new doors. Refacing costs from $54 to $201 per door for the materials only.

The cost to replace the cabinets depends on the type of new cabinets you choose. Kitchen cabinets come in three different levels of quality. 

• Stock cabinets are premade to standard sizes and available for pick-up at your big box store. Stock cabinets run from $252 to $469, depending on the size, style, and manufacturer.
• Semi-custom cabinets consist of premade boxes, typically plywood, with custom fronts and colors. Semi-custom cabinets cost from $337 to $627.
• Custom cabinets are made to your sizes and specifications. You can choose from wood options, trim packages, finishes, and more. Custom cabinets are the most expensive and average from $$469 to $872.

Appliances

From the lowly toaster to the smart oven that automatically knows when to start pre-heating, new appliances come in a wide range of cost options, too. Of course, you’ll keep your remodel budget to a minimum if you don’t replace your appliances. But, then, you won’t have the advantage of implementing all the latest technology into your cooking experience.

Typical appliances found in any kitchen and their costs

Kitchen countertops

Kitchen countertops come in a wide variety of materials and prices. Here is a breakdown of the most popular countertop materials and their cost per linear foot.

Popular countertop materials and their costs

Flooring

High-traffic areas like the kitchen deserve a durable and easy-to-clean floor. Innovations in flooring technology make it possible to have the look and feel of luxury without the price tag. Here is a breakdown of the most popular kitchen flooring materials, a brief description, and their cost per square foot.

Popular flooring materials and their costs

Labor

If there’s any place you don’t want a remodeling horror story, it’s the kitchen. From influencer fails to DIY mistakes, the kitchen is no place to mess things up. After all, you want the time you’re without a kitchen kept to a minimum.

To ensure your kitchen remodel comes in on time and on budget, you’ll want to hire a professional team experienced in kitchen remodeling. From the designer and project manager to the electrician and flooring installer, having a team of experts will only save you money in the long run.

While labor costs vary from one region of the country to another, when working with a general contractor or design/builder, you won’t even realize what the cost is for labor and what is for materials. Large remodels like this come with project costs.

However, if your kitchen remodel is of a more cosmetic level, and you find yourself managing the few tradespeople involved, we’ve included a few hourly rates to help you plan.

Three typical budgets of a kitchen remodel

To make things easy, we’ve broken a remodel into three pricing tiers. Here, we’ll look at each tier, what it could include, and its cost range.

Cosmetic kitchen remodel

A cosmetic kitchen remodel ranges from putting a bit of make-up over the age spots to splurging on a facelift. The national average cost of a basic remodel ranges from $19,288 to $35,898. This tier is the least expensive because walls, utilities, and cabinets remain in place, and you do as much of the work yourself as able. Yet, everything gets refreshed for a vibrant and updated look. For this makeover budget, you could include any combination of the following:

• Painted or refaced cabinets with new hardware
• Replacing the countertops with laminate or stock butcher block
• Updated lighting fixtures 
• New plumbing fixtures, possibly with motion sensors
• New smart, energy-efficient appliances
• A new backsplash
• New, easy-to-clean flooring

Mid-range kitchen remodel

If you have more wiggle room in your budget, you may opt for a mid-range kitchen remodel. The average cost of a mid-level remodel is $56,116 to $104,438. In this tier, you may change the basic layout to improve traffic flow but will keep walls in place. Also, in this budget range, you’ll be able to replace, rather than refinish, all fixtures, include some natural materials, and add a few new features. For this budget, you could include any combination of the following:

• Semi-custom cabinets with a few specialty features like a spice cabinet, rolling shelves, and other pull-outs
• New upgraded countertops and tile backsplash
• Added features like an island or pantry
• Designer features like lighting, tile, and other accessories
• Upgraded finishes to include natural materials like hardwood and stone for flooring and countertops.
• A few special kitchen appliances like an under-cabinet ice maker or warming oven.

Luxury kitchen remodel

This level of project costs, on average, $111,228 to $207,007 and more. In fact, certified kitchen designers who work with high-end clients report that the cost of a luxury kitchen starts at 10 to 20 percent of the home’s value. So, expect to pay even more if your home is valued at over a million dollars.

With this level of remodel, you’ll replace or change virtually everything in the space. You’ll also upgrade to top-of-the-line materials, appliances, and fixtures. Since the entire room will be gutted, walls knocked down to improve flow and increase square footage, and utilities disconnected to move, you’ll need to set up camp in a different area of the home for a few weeks. But if you like to cook, the cost and upheaval to create a luxury kitchen remodel are worth it.

Of course, to make this space everything you’ve ever dreamed of, you’ll gladly incur the expense of hiring a professional design team and possibly an engineer or architect. This team will prepare plans and renderings for your approval, suggest materials and finishes, and work with the project manager to ensure everything meets your specifications. But, for the most part, you can choose from the following options.

• An increase in the size of your kitchen with a new floor plan
• Custom cabinetry with designer built-ins and specialty pieces
• Highest quality materials like marble and cherry on all surfaces
• Design elements like crown molding, custom windows, and cove lighting
• Statement pieces that reflect your personality, like a chandelier, tiled mural, stained glass, or even artwork
• Professional-grade appliances from top manufacturers like Wolf, Sub-Zero, or La Cornue are hidden behind custom fronts that match the cabinets

Budgeting for your kitchen remodel

No one wants to be mid-stream and lose a paddle. Unfortunately, that’s what it’s like when you run out of money on a remodel project. The first step to a successful project is to count the cost and know where your money is coming from.

A professional kitchen designer is the best person to advise you on setting a kitchen remodel budget. Certified kitchen designers have their finger on the pulse of the industry, know the perfect product and material choice for every situation, and how much everything costs. Also, having them on your team to help you solidify choices from the beginning helps to prevent costly change orders because you have changed your mind.

Certified kitchen designers charge by the hour or a percentage of the project total. You should typically budget 10 percent for their services. 

Financing options

If you don’t have the cash in the bank, consult with a lender regarding how to pay for your kitchen. Many homeowners use a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC). Before approaching a lender, have a cost estimate prepared. You can do this by obtaining quotes from a few contractors. Again, the kitchen designer’s expertise is invaluable at this stage of the project.

Once you have an estimate, get a pre-qualification from the lender to see if you can afford the loan. Be sure to compare contractors the same way you do lenders. Loan features like repayment terms and interest rates will vary.

Unsure what style of kitchen you’re looking for? See our comparison of an open vs. closed floor plan.

Ways to save money on a kitchen remodel

There are many ways to have a stylish, updated kitchen on a budget. If you need to save money on your kitchen remodel, here are some money-saving tips to consider.

• Keep what you can. If your appliances are in working condition, replace them next year. Any elements you can postpone replacing will save you money now.
• Choose budget-friendly materials. Solid surface countertops cost less than natural materials but come in various colors and patterns to mimic quartz, granite, or marble. Your kitchen designer can help you with this.
• Go for painted cabinets. Painted cabinets are less expensive than hardwood because they use poplar for the fronts rather than oak, walnut, or cherry.
• Use solid, vintage pieces strategically. An old hutch serves as a beverage bar, saving you the cost of building something new.

Other considerations

A few items that impact the cost of a kitchen remodel that you may not have thought of include

• Location – Cost varies by region of the country. For instance, the cost of a kitchen remodel in Los Angelos will be different from in Atlanta, which is different from Chicago. 
• Building and electrical permits — Typically, the building contractor pulls necessary permits and includes the cost in his bid. But if you plan to DIY your kitchen project, consult with the local building official to learn the required steps, inspections, and fees involved.
• Hidden damage — Sometimes, a demolition reveals water damage, mold, or other damage needing repair. And in older homes, you may uncover wiring that’s not up to code. The cost to repair or upgrade in these situations will increase your overall budget.
• HOA – If you live in a condominium, your kitchen is probably adjacent to a neighbor’s apartment. Condominium homeowners associations have rules regarding renovations – they may even have fees. Always consult with your association before committing to any work to be done.
• Warranties – Ask your building contractor for warranty paperwork for all the new elements in your kitchen. Besides appliances, the flooring, countertops, and even cabinets may come with at least a manufacturer’s warranty against defects. Also, ask them about any warranty they offer on their work.

Let’s get cooking

Creating your dream kitchen doesn’t just make you happy. It adds to your home’s value. According to Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs. Value report, any scope of kitchen renovation brings a greater ROI than many other home improvement projects.