Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator and Calculator

How to use this kitchen remodel cost estimator

The estimator above takes four inputs and returns three outputs: total project cost (range), cost per square foot, and a percentage breakdown by category. Most users get a usable estimate in under a minute.

1. Enter your kitchen square footage. Most U.S. kitchens are 100-250 sq ft. Small kitchens (under 100 sq ft) are common in apartments and older homes; larger kitchens (250+ sq ft) are common in newer construction with open floor plans.
2. Select scope tier — cosmetic (paint, fixtures, hardware swap), mid-range (new cabinets, counters, appliances, flooring), or full gut (down to studs, new layout, electrical and plumbing rework).
3. Select finish quality — basic (stock cabinets, laminate counters, basic appliances), mid-range (semi-custom cabinets, quartz or solid-surface counters, mid-tier appliances), or high-end (custom cabinets, premium stone counters, professional-grade appliances).
4. Select your region — Midwest/South typically runs 10-15% below national average; Northeast 5-15% above; West Coast 10-25% above; major coastal metros 40-60% above.
5. Review the output. The total cost range is your realistic budget. The per-sq-ft rate lets you compare projects of different sizes. The category breakdown shows where the money goes — typically 30-40% cabinets, 10-15% appliances, 10-15% counters, 10-15% flooring, 10-15% labour-only items.

Kitchen remodel cost ranges by scope

Kitchen remodel costs span a wide range because "kitchen remodel" describes anything from a weekend paint-and-hardware refresh to a 3-month full-gut renovation. The cost depends primarily on scope.

Cosmetic refresh ($5,000-15,000): paint, hardware swap, light fixture upgrades, possibly new flooring. Existing cabinets, counters, appliances, and layout stay. Best for kitchens that are functionally fine but visually tired. Typical timeline: 1-2 weeks.

Mid-range remodel ($25,000-50,000): new cabinets (semi-custom or stock), new counters (quartz, granite, or solid surface), new mid-tier appliances, new flooring, possibly minor layout adjustments (moving the sink, adding an island). Plumbing and electrical mostly stay in place. Best for typical residential renovations where the kitchen needs significant updating but the layout works. Typical timeline: 4-8 weeks.

High-end remodel ($50,000-100,000): semi-custom or custom cabinets, premium stone counters (marble, exotic granite), professional-grade appliances, premium flooring (hardwood, large-format tile), upgraded lighting, new windows. Layout may shift but walls typically stay. Best for older homes with quality fundamentals or for homeowners who want a premium finish. Typical timeline: 6-12 weeks.

Full gut renovation ($75,000-200,000+): everything from cabinets through the studs out. New plumbing, new electrical, new HVAC vents, possibly new windows, possibly load-bearing wall modifications. Best for severely outdated kitchens, structural problems (water damage, settling), or major layout changes (taking down walls, expanding the kitchen footprint). Typical timeline: 8-16 weeks.

Whole house renovation cost calculator queries typically want budgets at this scale or larger. A full whole-house renovation runs $100,000-500,000+ depending on home size and scope.

Where the money goes — category breakdown

A typical kitchen remodel budget breaks down by category. The percentages help you understand where your money is going and where to focus when cutting costs.

Cabinets: 30-40% of total budget. The largest single line item. Stock cabinets (Home Depot, Lowe's) cost $80-200 per linear foot. Semi-custom (KraftMaid, Schrock) cost $200-400 per linear foot. Custom cabinets cost $400-1,200+ per linear foot. A typical 12-foot kitchen with cabinets: $2,400-14,400.

Appliances: 10-15% of total. Range, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, hood. Basic-tier appliances: $2,500-5,000 for the full set. Mid-tier (Bosch, KitchenAid, GE Profile): $5,000-12,000. High-end (Wolf, Sub-Zero, Miele, Thermador): $15,000-50,000+.

Countertops: 10-15% of total. Laminate: $20-40 per sq ft installed. Solid surface (Corian): $40-80 per sq ft. Quartz: $50-120 per sq ft. Granite: $40-150 per sq ft. Marble: $80-250 per sq ft. Typical 50 sq ft of counters: $1,000-12,500.

Flooring: 5-10% of total. Vinyl plank: $3-8 per sq ft installed. Laminate: $4-10 per sq ft. Tile: $10-25 per sq ft. Hardwood: $8-20 per sq ft. Premium tile or natural stone: $20-50+ per sq ft. Typical 150 sq ft kitchen floor: $450-7,500.

Plumbing: 5-10% of total. New sink and faucet, possibly new dishwasher hookup, possibly new fridge water line. Mid-range scope: $1,500-5,000. Full-gut with new layout: $5,000-15,000+ (drain rerouting, new supply lines, gas line for range).

Electrical: 5-10% of total. New outlets to code (every 4 feet of countertop, GFCI required), under-cabinet lighting, new pendant lights, new ceiling fixtures. Mid-range: $1,500-4,000. Full panel upgrade or major rework: $5,000-15,000.

Backsplash and tile: 3-5% of total. Subway tile: $10-25 per sq ft installed. Glass mosaic: $15-40 per sq ft. Natural stone: $25-60+ per sq ft. Typical 30 sq ft backsplash: $300-1,800.

Labour and demolition (separate from material-specific labour): 10-20% of total budget when remodel includes structural changes. For typical mid-range projects, labour is largely embedded in material installation costs above; for full-gut projects, expect $5,000-25,000 in labour-only line items.

Permits and inspection: 1-3% of total. Varies by jurisdiction and scope. Cosmetic: typically no permit needed. Mid-range: $200-800. Full-gut with electrical/plumbing/structural: $500-3,000.

Home renovation cost estimator — beyond the kitchen

A home renovation cost estimator extends the same approach to multi-room projects. The arithmetic and category breakdowns are similar; what changes is scale and complexity.

Single-room renovation (bathroom, bedroom, basement): $10,000-50,000 typical, depending on scope and finish quality. The cost of bathroom renovations calculator handles bathroom-specific budgeting at $5,000-30,000 for typical bathroom remodels.

Multi-room renovation (kitchen + bathroom, kitchen + family room): $40,000-150,000 typical. Combining projects often produces 5-10% labour savings (one mobilization, shared trades) but doesn't reduce material costs significantly.

Whole-house renovation cost calculator pricing: $100,000-500,000+ depending on home size, age, scope, and finish quality. Per-sq-ft rates: $50-100 for cosmetic-level whole-house refresh; $100-200 for typical mid-range whole-house renovation; $200-400+ for high-end or historic-renovation work. A 2,000 sq ft house at mid-range whole-house renovation: $200,000-400,000 typical.

Home addition cost (where the renovation includes adding square footage): $150-300+ per sq ft of new space, on top of the renovation cost for existing space. A 200 sq ft addition: $30,000-60,000 just for the new space. The home addition value calculator perspective: additions typically return 50-70% of cost in resale value, lower than kitchen and bathroom remodels (70-85% return).

Home renovation estimate accuracy: an online estimator like this gets you within ±25% for budget planning. For final budgets, get 3-5 contractor bids on the actual scope. The home renovation quote and home remodeling quote workflow takes 2-4 weeks for serious projects.

Cost-saving strategies for kitchen remodels

Several practical strategies can reduce kitchen remodel cost by 15-40% without compromising the finished result.

Keep the layout. Moving the sink, range, or refrigerator typically costs $1,500-5,000 in plumbing/electrical work alone. Keeping the existing layout is the single biggest cost saver — a "facelift" remodel (new cabinets, counters, appliances on the existing footprint) costs roughly half what a layout change does.

Choose stock or semi-custom cabinets over custom. The cabinet category is 30-40% of budget. Custom cabinets cost 3-6× stock cabinets. Stock from major retailers (Home Depot Hampton Bay, Lowe's Diamond NOW) costs $80-200 per linear foot installed; quality is good for typical residential use. Custom from a local cabinet shop is $400-1,200+ per linear foot — the difference goes into custom dimensions, premium materials, and unique designs that may not justify the cost on most projects.

Choose quartz over natural stone. Quartz looks like stone, lasts longer, is easier to maintain, and costs 30-50% less than premium granite or marble. The premium-stone aesthetic is rarely worth the premium-stone price for typical kitchens.

Refinish or reface cabinets instead of replacing. Cabinet refacing (new doors and drawer fronts, new veneer on the boxes) costs $4,000-9,000 for a typical kitchen — vs. $8,000-30,000 for full cabinet replacement. Best when the existing cabinet boxes are structurally sound and the layout works.

Time the project carefully. Kitchen remodel contractors are typically 30-40% busier in spring and early summer. Booking for late fall or winter often gets 5-15% discounts on labour and faster turnaround.

Source materials yourself. For mid-range and high-end remodels, sourcing tile, hardware, lighting, and appliances directly (rather than through a contractor markup) can save 10-20% on those line items. Requires more time and project management on your end.

How we sourced these numbers

The 2026 cost-per-sq-ft and category breakdown figures are derived from published industry references including the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Cost vs. Value Report, RSMeans residential construction cost data, the Houzz Annual Kitchen Trends Study, and current contractor pricing surveys from major U.S. metros. Cabinet, countertop, appliance, and flooring price ranges reflect 2026 prices at major retailers (Home Depot, Lowe's) and specialty suppliers.

Regional multipliers reflect 2026 labour cost differentials reported by major construction-cost data publishers. Recommendations are reviewed annually and updated when industry pricing data is updated. For specific project bids, defer to local licensed contractors familiar with your zip code; this estimator is a planning reference, not a construction bid.

For related interior renovation budgeting, this site has dedicated tools. The bathroom addition cost calculator handles bathroom-specific pricing — typically the most-renovated room alongside kitchens. The home renovation cost calculator covers whole-house budgeting when kitchen remodels are part of broader renovation projects.

For exterior and structural project budgeting, related tools cover the broader scope. The cost to build a house calculator covers full new-construction budgeting. The roof replacement cost reference covers re-roof pricing.

For exterior cladding and framing references when renovations extend outside the kitchen, this site has dedicated tools. The siding calculator handles exterior cladding ordering and budgeting. The stud calculator handles wall framing for any addition or layout change. The floor joist calculator handles structural floor work when subfloors are replaced. The concrete block calculator handles foundation and basement walls.