$15,000 – $50,000That is the typical kitchen remodel cost in 2026 for a full update that replaces appliances, counters, floors and fixtures but keeps the existing layout, or $150 to $250 per square foot. A cosmetic refresh runs $4,000 to $18,000, and a high-end remodel that moves walls or plumbing starts around $50,000 and often passes $70,000.
Other published guides land close to that range. Fixr (updated January 27, 2026) puts the national average at $27,000, with most homeowners paying $15,000 to $45,000, and NerdWallet (updated January 19, 2026) reports Angi’s figures of $14,600 to $41,600, also averaging about $27,000. The sources agree on the bottom of the range; they differ on the top, which is why we show HomeGuide’s wider $50,000 ceiling.
The single biggest decision is whether the layout stays. Keeping the sink, range and walls where they are keeps plumbing, electrical and structural work off the bill. The sections below show what each scope costs, where the money goes, how much you can expect back at resale, and which permits and lead-paint rules may apply.
Kitchen remodel cost by scope
| Scope | Per square foot (HomeGuide) | Total (HomeGuide) | Total (Fixr) | Typically includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic / cosmetic | $60 – $150 | $4,000 – $18,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 | Paint, refaced cabinets, new counters or flooring, some fixtures; same layout |
| Full / midrange | $150 – $250 | $15,000 – $50,000 | $25,000 – $60,000 | All new appliances, semi-custom cabinets, new counters, floors and lighting; same layout |
| High-end / major | $250 – $350 | $50,000 – $70,000+ | $60,000 – $130,000 | Layout changes, moved plumbing, electrical or gas, custom cabinets, luxury finishes |
The two guides disagree most at the top end. Fixr gives a typical $75 to $250 per square foot, around $150 on average, and says a high-end remodel can reach $600 or more per square foot, well above HomeGuide’s $350 (Fixr). Fixr’s scope bands also start higher than HomeGuide’s at every level.
Location moves these numbers a lot. HomeGuide notes that projects in northern and western states cost more than the same work in the South, and that a California kitchen remodel can reach $800 or more per square foot (HomeGuide).
Kitchen remodel cost calculator
Use the tables above to estimate your cost. The interactive calculator needs JavaScript.
Cost by kitchen size
| Kitchen size | Small / partial | Average / full | High-end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 x 10 ft (80 sq ft) | $4,800 – $12,000 | $12,000 – $20,000 | $20,000 – $28,000 |
| 10 x 10 ft (100 sq ft) | $6,000 – $15,000 | $15,000 – $25,000 | $25,000 – $35,000 |
| 10 x 12 ft (120 sq ft) | $7,200 – $18,000 | $18,000 – $30,000 | $30,000 – $42,000 |
| 12 x 12 ft (144 sq ft) | $8,600 – $21,600 | $21,600 – $36,000 | $36,000 – $50,400 |
| 15 x 15 ft (225 sq ft) | $13,500 – $33,800 | $33,800 – $56,300 | $56,300 – $78,800 |
| 20 x 20 ft (400 sq ft) | $24,000 – $60,000 | $60,000 – $100,000 | $100,000 – $140,000 |
Fixr’s own size table is lower for minor and major remodels and much higher for luxury ones: $7,500, $15,000 and $60,000 for a 100-square-foot kitchen, and $16,875, $33,750 and $135,000 for 225 square feet (Fixr).
Where the money goes
Cabinets are the largest single line in every breakdown we found, but the share varies from a quarter to 40% of the budget. Each guide groups items differently; a dash means that guide does not list the item separately.
| Item | HomeGuide | Fixr | Forbes Home (older guide, October 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinets and shelving | 25% | 40% | 29% |
| Installation and labor | 15% | — | 17% |
| Appliances | 15% | 6% | 14% |
| Countertops | 10% (with backsplash) | 14% | 10% |
| Backsplash | — | 4% | 5% |
| Flooring | 7% | 18% | 7% |
| Lighting | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Painting, walls and drywall | 5% | 2% | 5% |
| Designer | 5% | — | — |
| Sink and faucet | 5% | — | — |
| Doors and windows | 4% | — | 4% |
| Plumbing | 3% | 11% (utilities and fixtures) | 4% (faucets and plumbing) |
| Miscellaneous (permits, smart upgrades) | 1% | — | — |
Our estimate: applied to a $30,000 midrange remodel, those shares work out to about $7,500 for cabinets, $4,500 each for labor and appliances, $3,000 for countertops and backsplash and $2,100 for flooring. This is simple arithmetic on HomeGuide’s percentages, not a measured figure; your own split depends on what you keep and what you replace.
Cabinets, countertops and appliances
| Item | HomeGuide | Forbes Home (Oct 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| New cabinets (full replacement) | $4,500 – $15,000 | $2,200 – $24,600 |
| Cabinet refacing (100–200 sq ft kitchen) | $5,000 – $13,000 | — |
| Cabinet refinishing | $1,500 – $4,500 | — |
| Cabinet painting | $900 – $3,800 | — |
| Countertops | $1,500 – $6,000 | $1,200 – $7,780 |
| Backsplash | $500 – $1,700 | $600 – $3,100 |
| Appliance package (fridge, dishwasher, range, microwave) | $2,500 – $6,800 | $1,700 – $8,500 |
| Kitchen island | $3,000 – $5,000 | — |
Forbes Home’s older ranges are wider at both ends than HomeGuide’s, especially for cabinets. For the counters themselves, Fixr lists material prices per square foot of $15 to $60 for laminate, $40 to $150 for granite and $50 to $200 for quartz or marble (Fixr).
Because cabinets eat a quarter of the budget, the choice between replacing, refacing and painting them is where most of the savings are. HomeGuide puts high-end custom cabinets in a kitchen over 200 square feet at $36,000 or more, against as little as $3,000 for basic cabinets in a small kitchen. Appliances cost $200 to $3,700 each installed, with a refrigerator at $750 to $2,700 and a wall oven at $1,300 to $3,700 (HomeGuide).
Flooring, plumbing and electrical
| Item | HomeGuide | Forbes Home (Oct 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen flooring | $300 – $3,000 | $850 – $1,900 |
| Sink installation | $330 – $1,300 | — |
| Faucet, installed | $200 – $600 | — |
| New plumbing pipes | $450 – $1,800 per fixture | $500 – $2,400 (faucets and plumbing, total) |
| New gas line | $350 – $2,000 | — |
| Light fixture on existing wiring | $80 – $350 each | — |
| Recessed lighting (6 lights) | $700 – $1,650 | $600 – $3,000 (lighting and electrical, total) |
| GFCI outlet | $150 – $350 | — |
| Plumber hourly rate | $45 – $150 | — |
| Electrician hourly rate | $50 – $130 | — |
By material, Fixr prices kitchen flooring at $3 to $10 per square foot for sheet vinyl, $5 to $13 for luxury vinyl plank, $6 to $20 for hardwood and $10 to $20 for ceramic tile (Fixr).
New plumbing, gas and wiring runs are the lines that separate a remodel that keeps the layout from one that changes it. HomeGuide also notes that GFCI protection is required for outlets along kitchen countertops (HomeGuide).
Labor, demolition and structural work
HomeGuide puts kitchen remodel labor at $2,300 to $7,500, typically at least 15% of the budget. General contractors charge $50 to $150 an hour to run the project and manage subcontractors; architects charge $50 to $150 an hour or $2 to $15 per square foot to draw plans; an interior designer costs $450 to $1,500 for a kitchen redesign (HomeGuide). An older Forbes Home guide (October 2024) put the labor portion wider, at $2,200 to $15,100 (Forbes Home).
Carpenters, who install kitchen cabinets among many other jobs, earned a median annual wage of $60,580 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook).
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Gutting an average kitchen | $500 – $2,500 |
| Removing a non-load-bearing wall | $500 – $2,000 |
| Removing a load-bearing wall | $4,000 – $15,000 |
| Structural engineer | $1,900 – $3,700+ |
| Bump-out addition | $5,000 – $30,000 |
Does a kitchen remodel pay off at resale?
The Journal of Light Construction’s 2025 Cost vs Value Report compares the national average cost of 28 projects with the value each retains at resale. Smaller kitchen jobs recover far more of their cost than big ones:
| Project | Job cost | Resale value | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor kitchen remodel, midrange | $28,458 | $32,141 | 113% |
| Major kitchen remodel, midrange | $82,793 | $42,130 | 51% |
| Major kitchen remodel, upscale | $164,104 | $58,561 | 36% |
Our estimate: subtracting job cost from resale value in the table above, the minor midrange remodel adds about $3,700 more in value than it costs, while the major midrange remodel leaves about $40,700 unrecovered and the major upscale remodel about $105,500. This is a subtraction of JLC’s national averages, not a measured figure for any single home.
JLC prices its own defined projects, so its job costs are not the same thing as HomeGuide’s typical ranges above; use each source for what it measures rather than mixing them line by line.
Permits and inspections
HomeGuide puts kitchen remodeling permits at $500 to $1,500, depending on project size and local rules. Projects that change the structural layout, plumbing or electrical wiring typically need one or more permits and inspections, and most contractor bids include the permit fees (HomeGuide). Ask your contractor which permits your job needs and who pulls them.
Lead paint in homes built before 1978
Tearing out cabinets, walls and trim can disturb old paint. The EPA explains that renovation, repair and painting can create hazardous lead dust when surfaces with lead paint, even from many decades ago, are disturbed. Under its Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, firms doing such work that disturbs lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 must be EPA- or state-certified and must use certified renovators who follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). If your home predates 1978, ask any contractor for proof of that certification.
How long a kitchen remodel takes
HomeGuide puts the average kitchen remodel at 6 to 9 weeks. Large kitchens and full remodels with structural changes, custom fabrication or rerouted plumbing and electrical often take 3 to 5 months, including permits and material lead times (HomeGuide).
How to keep the bill down
- Keep the layout. Leaving the sink, range and walls in place avoids moving plumbing and electrical lines and the extra demolition and framing.
- Paint or reface cabinets instead of replacing them; painting runs $900 to $3,800 against $4,500 to $15,000 for new cabinets.
- Choose stock cabinets and finishes over custom, which cost more and can add days or weeks to the schedule.
- Do the demolition or painting yourself if you are able, and split the work into smaller stages over time.
- Add at least 5% to the budget for problems found once walls and floors are open.
These savings tips follow HomeGuide‘s kitchen remodel guide.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What exactly does the estimate include, and which extra costs could come up once work starts?
- Which permits does the job need, who pulls them, and are the fees in the price?
- For a home built before 1978: is your firm EPA- or state-certified under the RRP Rule?
- Are you licensed, bonded and insured, and can you share references for similar kitchens?
- How much is the deposit, how long will the job take, and what does your warranty cover?
Sources
- HomeGuide, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost?, December 31, 2025.
- Fixr, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? [2026 Data], updated January 27, 2026.
- NerdWallet, Kitchen Remodeling Costs in 2026 and Ways to Save, updated January 19, 2026 (reports Angi’s figures).
- Forbes Home, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost?, older guide, October 2024.
- Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs Value Report, national averages.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rules.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Carpenters, pay data for May 2025.
