How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost?
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A kitchen remodel can have an enormous impact on the quality of daily life in a home, not to mention a home’s value. A kitchen remodel costs between $14,551 and $40,541, with a national average of $26,240.
Highlights
- Kitchen remodeling typically has a cost range of $14,551 to $40,541, with a national average of $26,240.
- The main factors affecting the price to remodel a kitchen include the kitchen size, project scale, labor costs, geographic location, and the choice of materials.
- A kitchen remodel can make the kitchen more functional, provide more storage space, improve energy efficiency, and increase home value.
- Kitchen remodeling is a job best left to an experienced remodel contractor, as it requires extensive construction, plumbing, and electrical work.
In many homes, the kitchen is a hive of daily activity: Many homeowners and families spend a good chunk of their day there, cooking, eating, chatting, packing lunches, and so on. Out of necessity, kitchens also have long-wearing fixtures and finishes, so in the busyness of everyday life, it’s easy not to notice that a kitchen is slowly aging—until something cracks, breaks, or is suddenly so dingy that kitchen remodeling is necessary. A kitchen makeover, even if it’s a simple refresh, can make time spent at home feel better. But how much does the average kitchen remodel cost?
Kitchen remodels are large projects and can have significant budgets. According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, the typical cost range to remodel a kitchen is $14,551 to $40,541, with a national average cost of $26,240, so it’s important for homeowners to really think through the possibilities before making a plan, purchasing materials, and hiring a contractor. These steps can help homeowners decide what scale kitchen remodel they need and determine a budget that is reasonable to get the kitchen they want while maximizing their return on investment.
Remodel vs. Renovation vs. Expansion
When researching “kitchen renovation” or “kitchen remodeling cost,” homeowners will run across several terms with the same meaning or similar ones. Homeowners who are planning to work with a contractor will want to make sure they know what they’re asking for by clarifying the lingo of the kitchen project.
Remodel vs. Renovation
What is the difference between a kitchen remodel and a kitchen renovation? The two terms are often used interchangeably by salespeople and contractors, though they are not the same. A renovation is a project that returns a space to a new state; it restores a space to look like new, cleaning up finishes, taking care of repairs, and sometimes replacing basic fixtures that have stopped functioning well. A remodel is a larger project that often includes replacing flooring, walls, and ceilings, and it can also involve moving the plumbing and electrical connections in a room.
By these definitions, the average price of a kitchen remodel will be significantly higher than the price of a renovation. However, the dictionary definition doesn’t matter as much as the definition used by the contractors a homeowner may interview prior to hiring one. Rather than assuming that the contractor is on the same page, it’s best to clarify exactly what they mean by “renovation” or “remodel.” Laying everything out on the table right at the beginning prevents confusion (and potentially unexpected costs) later in the project.
Expansion
Expanding a room goes a step beyond renovating or remodeling. This type of project includes reframing a space, removing walls, and increasing the overall footprint of a kitchen. Often, an expansion involves combining an unused formal dining space with a smaller kitchen to create a more expansive cooking, eating, and gathering space that is better suited to the family’s lifestyle, or incorporating a kitchen into a great room for a more open floor plan. Expanding a space comes with a higher price tag because of all of the plumbing, electrical, and framing work that is involved.
Factors in Calculating Kitchen Remodel Cost
Homeowners who look up “cost of kitchen remodel” will likely find there is not a one-size-fits-all answer. One of the best kitchen remodeling tips is for homeowners to establish a budget early in the project. Having an idea of the overall maximum budget and allowing a percentage to cover unexpected surprises will leave homeowners room to tailor choices during the process of selecting materials to fit that budget. Using a kitchen remodel cost estimator can help provide homeowners with a ballpark estimate to work from.
Kitchen Size
The square footage of the kitchen affects all of the numbers in the budget. Larger spaces require more drywall, more flooring, more paint, and more cabinets. In general, the cost to remodel a kitchen is around $150 per square foot.
| Project Scope | Average Cost |
| Small-scale remodel | $10,000 to $20,000 |
| Mid-scale remodel | $20,000 to $70,000 |
| Large-scale remodel | $70,000 to $130,000 |
Installation and Labor
Installation and labor costs for a kitchen remodel average out to between $3,500 and $6,000, accounting for 18 percent of the total project budget. This is a negotiable cost, depending on what work a homeowner may be able to complete themselves and the contractor’s willingness to reduce the fee in exchange for the help. In general, homeowners can expect to spend $2,500 on installation for every $10,000 of the total remodel cost.
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Doors and Windows
Doors and windows are another variable cost factor, depending on the configuration of the kitchen. In general, they can account for about 4 percent of the budget, or about $1,200 on average. In a kitchen that opens to a deck, this will be a larger portion of the budget, while in an open-plan kitchen with no windows or just a small one, it may be less. Window installation can cost between $300 to $1,200 per window; interior door installation can cost between $360 to $1,170 per door; and exterior door installation can cost between $510 and $1,790 per door.
Cabinetry and Countertops
The largest portion of the kitchen remodel budget usually goes to cabinetry and hardware. As the most visible and substantial feature of the kitchen design, cabinetry will often determine the style, color palette, and level of detail in the rest of the kitchen. Therefore, 28 percent of the budget, an average of $8,400, will typically go to the cost of kitchen cabinets and hardware. Depending on the number, material, and style of cabinets, homeowners can expect to pay between $2,000 and $30,000.
Approximately 11 percent of a kitchen remodel budget can be set aside for hiring one of the best countertop installers. The national average places that dollar figure at around $3,300, but the cost will depend on the homeowner’s choices of material (for example, the cost of granite countertops is significantly higher than the cost of laminate) and on the total square footage of countertops needed in the kitchen layout.
| Material | Average Cost |
| Concrete | $2,100 to $4,000 |
| Stainless steel | $4,000 to $11,250 |
| Soapstone | $2,700 to $4,200 |
| Paper composite | $2,500 to $6,000 |
| Corian | $2,200 to $5,000 |
| Solid surface | $1,950 to $4,920 |
| Granite | $2,250 to $4,500 |
| Bamboo | $2,000 to $3,000 |
| Recycled glass | $1,800 to $3,750 |
| Quartz | $1,500 to $12,000 |
| Marble | $2,000 to $5,000 |
| Tile | $480 to $1,950 |
| Laminate | $790 to $1,630 |
| Wood | $600 to $12,000 |
Custom edge routing, honing of natural stone, and the shape and number of cuts will also affect the cost of countertops. As it is one of the most eye-catching and often-used features in a kitchen, the countertop is an area where homeowners often choose to splurge on higher-end material, but if there are other priorities in the remodel, a lower-grade choice can help save money.
Backsplash
The cost of backsplash installation can run anywhere from $600 to $1,300 for an average remodel and up to $10,000 for a larger and more complex project. The price will vary depending on the size of the backsplash, the materials, and labor. Some experienced DIYers feel comfortable installing a simple tile backsplash themselves, but for those who do not have tiling experience or want a more elaborate pattern, it may be worth it to let a contractor handle the installation.
| Material | Cost per Square Foot |
| Brick | $10 to $40 |
| Stainless steel | $20 |
| Glass | $30 |
| Tile | $25 |
| Marble | $10 to $95 |
| Tin | $10 to $30 |
Flooring
As with countertops, there are myriad material options in kitchen flooring. Sheet vinyl and vinyl tile, linoleum, and laminate flooring are, in general, the least expensive options, and modern versions of these materials are quite durable and attractive. Ceramic tile and wood, followed by natural stone, are more expensive, and alternative flooring options such as cork and concrete provide additional choices. Kitchen flooring costs range from $1,000 to $4,000 and make up an average of 18 percent of the total budget. The best kitchen flooring will likely be different from homeowner to homeowner.
| Material | Cost per Square Foot |
| Vinyl | $1 to $7 |
| Linoleum | $4 to $7 |
| Laminate | $3 to $10 |
| Ceramic tile | $4 to $40 |
| Hardwood | $6 to $12 |
| Stone | $6 to $20 |
Lighting
Lighting is a factor that homeowners often underestimate when creating a kitchen remodel plan and budget. Kitchens have multiple lighting options and requirements, and while an attractive fixture in the ceiling and a pendant over the sink are helpful for adding ambient lighting, the real workhorses of the kitchen lighting scheme are the task lights: lighting that focuses on the spot where the cook stands to chop vegetables or the area over the stove, or that illuminates the eating area. Lighting costs around $500 to $2,000, and homeowners are advised to have the lighting plan fill about 5 percent of their planned kitchen remodel budget.
Walls and Ceiling
Refreshing the existing walls and ceiling with paint or wallpaper is an option in any kitchen remodel, but sometimes new materials provide extra benefits that make them worth replacing. New fire- and moisture-resistant drywall can add safety features, while paneling or tongue-in-groove ceilings can change the feel of a kitchen. Drywall costs between $12 and $20 per panel, and painting a kitchen costs from $300 to $750 total. About 5 percent of the budget will usually go to the walls and ceiling, which translates into an average of $1,500.
Faucets and Plumbing
If the layout of the kitchen remains largely unchanged, plumbing costs will be minimal, as the water and gas lines can remain in place. Changing up the look will increase the material and labor costs for plumbing to the higher end of the range. New faucets can brighten and refresh the appearance of the kitchen for relatively minimal cost; faucets cost from $160 to $360 to install, and a new sink costs $220 to $630. Replacing faucets and plumbing costs around 3 percent of the remodel cost.
Appliances
At the heart of the kitchen are its appliances, typically including a refrigerator, oven and cooktop or range, dishwasher, microwave, and potentially a ventilation hood. Often, remodelers look to reuse some existing appliances, which is a great option if they are reasonably new. If, however, some appliances need replacement, it’s worth noting that the best appliance deals usually come as a package; the more appliances purchased together, the greater the overall savings.
This approach may mean a higher up-front cost, but in the long run, it will offer significant savings. The cost of appliances can vary greatly, from as little as $100 each to as much as $5,000 or more, depending on the type and quantity. If the homeowner hires a professional to install their appliances, they can expect to pay between $120 to $270 per appliance in labor costs.
High-end, custom built-in options can each cost $10,000 or more. In most cases, the appliances comprise about 15 percent of the total budget, or around $4,500, but again, that number can be skewed by luxury options. Homeowners are also advised to keep in mind that there is additional cost for installation, which on average runs about $120 to $281 per appliance but can vary.
| Appliance | Installation Cost |
| Refrigerator | $150 to $250 |
| Stove, oven, or range | $105 to $125 |
| Range hood | $120 to $500 |
| Microwave | $70 to $500 |
| Exhaust fan | $70 to $105 |
| Dishwasher | $110 to $270 |
| Appliance packages | $260 to $550 |
| Smart appliances | $70 to $500 |
Storage and Organization
Homeowners who find themselves stashing groceries on top of the refrigerator or whose cou