Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator & Price Guide

A kitchen remodel typically costs $15,000 – $45,000, according to Fixr. The midpoint sits near $27,000, but the spread is wide because "remodel" can mean anything from new cabinet fronts to gutting the room down to the studs.

The figures below come from published cost guides and carry a check date of Oct 11, 2026. Scope, cabinet grade, countertop material, and appliances account for most of the gap between a modest refresh and a high-end rebuild.

Scope is the best starting point for a budget. A minor remodel keeps the layout and swaps surfaces and fixtures. A mid-range job usually replaces cabinets and counters as well. A high-end project often moves walls, plumbing, or gas lines and uses custom materials.

If you are comparing your own plan to these tiers, count the big-ticket items first: cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, and any layout change. The more of these you replace at once, the closer you are to the next tier.

Some contractors quote by the square foot. It is a rough shortcut, since a small kitchen with premium finishes can cost more per foot than a large one with basic materials.

Use the per-foot figure to sanity check a written quote. A bid that is far outside the range deserves a question about what is and is not included.

Cabinets

Cabinets are usually the largest single line item. Stock cabinets come ready-made in standard sizes. Semi-custom lines let you change sizes and finishes within a manufacturer's catalog. Custom cabinets are built to your measurements and cost the most.

Countertops

Material choice moves the total noticeably. Laminate is the budget option, while granite and quartz sit higher and overlap each other in price.

Installation, edge profiles, cutouts for sinks and cooktops, and backsplash work may be priced separately, so ask what the quoted rate includes.

Appliances, Permits, and Design Fees

These items are easy to leave out of an early budget.

Appliance spending is largely your choice, since a basic package and a professional-style one can differ by thousands of dollars. Permit costs depend on your city and on whether the work touches plumbing, electrical, or structure.

• Layout changes. Moving a sink, range, or wall adds plumbing, electrical, gas, and sometimes structural work.
• Kitchen size. More square footage means more cabinets, flooring, and counter surface.
• Material grade. Cabinets and countertops usually drive the biggest swings.
• Appliance level. Standard, mid-range, and professional lines are priced very differently.
• Age of the house. Older homes may reveal outdated wiring, plumbing, or hidden damage once walls open.
• Labor market. Contractor rates vary by region and by how busy local trades are.
• Design help. An architect or kitchen designer adds a fee but can reduce costly changes during construction.

Published guides do not measure the same thing. Some average completed projects across all sizes. Others describe a specific tier, such as a mid-range project, which pushes the numbers up. Whether appliances, permits, and design fees are included also changes the result.

When two sources disagree, check how each defines the project before deciding which one fits your plan. A narrow range usually describes a narrower kind of job.

A full remodel makes sense when the layout no longer works, the cabinets are failing, or you plan to stay in the house for a long time. A refresh, such as painting or refacing cabinets, new counters, a new faucet, and updated lighting, can change the look of the room without opening walls. Refreshing is also easier to phase if cash is tight.

Cost-saving moves that usually work: keep the existing layout, choose stock or semi-custom cabinets, and spend the money on the items you touch every day. Moving plumbing and gas is where budgets tend to grow quickly.

Demolition, painting, and some installation are within reach of a confident homeowner. Gas lines, electrical circuits, and plumbing changes are different. Errors there can create fire, leak, or carbon monoxide hazards, and many jurisdictions require licensed trades and inspections. Unpermitted work can also complicate an insurance claim or a future sale. If you act as your own general contractor, expect to coordinate scheduling, deliveries, and inspections yourself.

• Is the quote itemized for cabinets, counters, labor, demolition, and disposal?
• Who orders and pays for appliances, fixtures, and tile?
• Does the price include permits and inspections?
• What happens if hidden damage turns up behind the walls?
• What is the payment schedule, and what is the expected start and finish?
• Is the contractor licensed and insured where you live?

Get at least three written bids, and compare them line by line.