How Much Does A Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2024)

On average, a kitchen upgrade with new countertops and cabinets will price out at about $25,000, or $150 per square foot. If you’re looking at a simple kitchen refresh, the cost will be much lower, but the cost to completely renovate a kitchen, especially if you’ll be moving or removing walls and plumbing, can be significantly more.

Here’s a look at the average cost to redo your kitchen, along with high and low estimates.

Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator

If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen, the first thing you’ll want to do is establish a budget for the job. While that ultimately comes down to your unique financial situation and what you’re looking for. It’s also a good idea to consider whether your investment will provide an adequate return if and when you decide to sell your home in the future.

An industry standard for kitchen remodeling projects is 10% of your home’s value. So, if you own a $400,000 home, you should feel comfortable spending as much as $40,000 on kitchen upgrade costs.

Wondering where the money goes? Below, find a budget breakdown you can consult as you make decisions about what things you’ll upgrade and which you can skip in order to stay on budget.

How Much Is a New Kitchen?

Kitchen Remodel Costs by Size

If you want to know the cost of a kitchen remodel, it all depends on the size. Learning what goes into a kitchen remodel is essential, so you can get an estimate and plan accordingly.

Small Kitchen Remodel

A minor remodel can go a long way if your kitchen is small or dated. However, the key is to keep the project focused. Investing in new countertops and paint can give your old space a fresh look while not breaking the bank. A small kitchen remodels typically ranges between$5,000 to $20,000.

Medium Kitchen Remodel

Medium kitchen remodeling projects are the most popular home improvement projects, and for a good reason. A medium size kitchen remodel will make the most significant change in your home and likely the largest investment you can make. A medium-sized remodel will typically involve some amount of cabinetry upgrades, countertop replacement or addition, plumbing or electrical updates and aesthetics such as new flooring or paint. The average cost typically ranges between$15,000 to $40,000.

Large Kitchen Remodel

A large kitchen can be a great addition to your home, especially if you love to cook and entertain. However, the cost of a kitchen remodel is significant, especially if you have ample space. Kitchen renovation costs can vary greatly depending on the size of your kitchen and what features you want to add and remove. However, in most cases, if you are remodeling an existing kitchen, expect to spend at least$20,000 to $30,000.

Kitchen Renovation Costs

While the cost of kitchen remodels varies considerably, it tends to come with a high price tag. If you are remodeling an existing kitchen in your home, the estimated renovation costs will depend on which features you choose and how long it takes for the project to complete. If you plan to replace your entire kitchen, then you can expect to spend anywhere from$30,000 to $80,000.

Cost to Renovate a Kitchen

A kitchen renovation can be as small as some cabinet refacing or as intense as a full gutting and remodeling. There are many factors to consider, which means you’ll need to decide where and how to spend your money.

For example, if you decided to upgrade to quartz countertops but saved cabinetry by painting your existing cabinets, you may be able to focus your kitchen renovation budget into what you really prioritize, which in this case would be the countertops. Or, you co uld skip the appliance upgrade and refocus your budget on the cost to replace kitchen cabinets and countertops.

And if there’s a task that you feel you could tackle as a DIY, start there while you save up to have a professional handle the bigger jobs with higher price tags.

Below, we’ll break down all the major kitchen upgrade costs, with comprehensive information about each aspect of the average kitchen remodel cost.

New Appliance Cost

New appliances can add up quickly, making your kitchen remodel costs go up and consist of as much as 15%.

If you think of a refrigerator, which costs around $500 for a basic modelor $10,000 for a show-stopping, top-of-the-line option, you can see there is a huge difference in what you would pay. The same goes for any appliance.

Generally, the average pricing to upgrade your bigger kitchen appliances is about $3,800 considering an average kitchen remodel cost of $25,000.

Cost to Add Backsplash and Lighting

If you are in the process of selecting a tile backsplash, be prepared to choose between white subway tile has seen a major surge in popularity in the past three to five years. Plus, the color and pattern options these days are a-plenty. The average kitchen upgrade costs of having a backsplash installed are between $900 and $2,500.

On the other hand, a more unique tile with a bit more polish will cost more like $50 per square foot. You, of course, have the option fo going for a more simple peel-and-stick tile you can DIY, which would set you back around $11 per square foot and no labor cost.

Upgrading your kitchen lighting is a simple but effective way to top off any kitchen upgrade. But costs can vary dramatically depending on what type of lighting you choose. A simple DIY swap of that outdated sink light to a farmhouse-style pendant may only run you about $50, while the national average for having a contractor install sleek, modern recessed lighting is $150 per fixture.

Cost to Replace Kitchen Cabinets and Countertops

Outside of moving walls and redoing plumbing, new cabinetry is one of the largest kitchen upgrade costs. Depending on the size of your kitchen and thus, how many cabinets you have, you can expect to pay between $3,200 and $8,500.

A more thrify option would be painting or refinishing your existing cabinets, or merely replacing the doors rather than trying to manipulate the entire structure.

Countertops

An upgraded countertop can set the tone for your entire kitchen, which is why it’s one of the most popular kitchen upgrades.

Today’s trends include quartz countertops in clean white hues, industrial-inspired concrete countertops and wooden counters that add a natural aesthetic to your kitchen. The cost to redo a kitchen countertop depends mainly on what type of material you choose, but here are some popular options.

Kitchen Floor Remodel Cost

The average cost of kitchen flooring is about $1,750 based on a $25,000 job. However, it’s best to budget more than this to have brand-new flooring installed in your kitchen, unless it’s very small.

The average cost of installing flooring is between $6 and $10 per square foot. So unless your kitchen is smaller than 300 square feet, you’ll likely need to double this figure if you’d like to have hardwood or tile floors installed in your new kitchen.

Below, we’ve listed a rough kitchen remodeling cost per square foot for different types of popular flooring you could install in your new kitchen.

Factors That Affect Kitchen Remodel Costs

Kitchen remodels are typically expensive, costing between$75 to $250 per square foot,on average. This is because many factors make up your budget, such as size, appliances, plumbing, labor, finishes, etc.

Size

The size of your kitchen is crucial in determining how much it will cost to remodel your kitchen and what types of materials you can use in the project. More square footage means more appliances, cabinets, countertops and other features.

Therefore, a small kitchen that is less than 70 square feet will cost, on average, between$5,000 to $20,000, while a larger kitchen measuring 200 square feet or more can quickly shoot upward of$60,000.

Appliances

The biggest ticket items for kitchen remodels are appliances like ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers and more. Kitchen appliances can range in price from$200 to $5,000. The price depends on the type of appliance and its custom features. As you might expect, the more expensive ones are more efficient and should last longer; they also often come with better warranties.

Plumbing and Faucets

A kitchen remodel can be an expensive process, but don’t forget to include the cost of plumbing and faucets in your plans. Averaging$920 per fixture, or 4% of the remodel cost total, replacing a faucet or a plumbing system can be a costly part of your remodel. Not to mention, if major pipe rerouting is involved, this percentage will be significantly higher.

Labor

The cost of kitchen remodels is directly affected by labor. Kitchen remodeling can be done in phases or as a whole, depending on your budget and preference. Based on the size of your project and your contractor’s experience, labor costs may be between$3,500 to $6,000. However, it is a good idea to negotiate a fee based on the project rather than an hourly rate.

Electrical

Kitchen remodels can be expensive and time-consuming, but it’s important that you figure out all of the costs before deciding to begin. Electrical costs can have a significant impact on the total budget and should be carefully calculated beforehand. Electricians charge approximately$50 to $100 an hourfor labor. But it can cost extra to tear out finished work to replace wiring, and rush jobs are likely more expensive than anticipated.

Finishes

When choosing your new kitchen’s finishes, it’s important to understand how they can affect the budget. The highest quality materials and finishes will be the most expensive option in your kitchen remodel. Cheaper materials that are installed in the same way can actually end up costing more in maintenance and repairs.

Reasons to Remodel a Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of your home and is often the most important remodel. From small fixes to big projects, there are many reasons to consider taking on a kitchen remodel.

Increased Cooking Space

Kitchen remodeling can help enhance your cooking experience by creating a more efficient and functional space. Therefore, when remodeling your kitchen, you can enhance your cooking space by making it bigger by adding new cabinets, counters or appliances if needed.

Increased Home Value

Remodeling your kitchen is more than just a way to make your daily life run smoother. It’s also an opportunity for you to increase the value of your home. According to experts, a quality kitchen remodel can recoup between 57% and 78% of the project cost by increasing the value of the home.

Improved Energy Efficiency

When you upgrade your kitchen appliances during your remodel, you not only improve the energy efficiency of your home, but you can also enjoy more money in your pocket. New energy-efficient kitchen appliances can ultimately lower your monthly utility bills and save you thousands over the life of your appliances.

Improved Safety

Remodeling your kitchen can be a great opportunity to address safety issues and make your space more efficient. For instance, by adding a GFCI outlet and moving electrical outlets away from water sources, you’ll reduce the likelihood of electrical shocks. In addition, creating new storage space and reconfiguring existing cabinets can help reduce clutter and improve safety by ensuring there are no sharp items on the countertop.

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional Kitchen Remodeler

Kitchen remodels can be daunting, whether you’re tackling them yourself or contracting an expert to do the work. It’s a huge investment of time, money and energy. If you choose to do the work yourself, there’s no doubt you can save money on labor costs. But even if you feel confident that you can complete a small portion of your kitchen remodel, like installing tile or painting kitchen cabinets, you risk jeopardizing another part of the project by doing something incorrectly or out of order. Also, it’s important to leave the potentially dangerous elements of any remodel to the pros.

Hiring a professional contractor can be a smart, cost-effective choice when it comes time to remodel your kitchen. Professionals have the expertise, experience and equipment to make your project run smoothly, so you don’t spend extra time worrying about mistakes and injuries. Plus, they’ll help you choose countertops and fixtures that best fit your needs and budget, so you get high-quality work completed quickly.

Tips to Save Money on Kitchen Remodel Cost

Kitchen remodeling is one of the biggest investments you will make in your home, so be sure to get it right. Here are some tips that can help you save money on your kitchen remodeling project.

• If possible, maintain the footprint of the existing kitchen, so building costs, plumbing and electrical work are minimized.
• If you have some DIY skills up your sleeve, consider negotiating with your contractor to see if you can perform a portion of the labor yourself.
• Custom cabinets are great for custom spaces, but stock cabinets will almost always be cheaper, especially with smaller spaces.
• Choose to reface your cabinets instead of replacing them.
• Shop for lower costs on everything from flooring to light fixtures and cabinet pulls by looking in specialty shops, salvage stores, online sale sites and local resale shops.
• Setting a budget and sticking to it is key, but it is also important to plan for contingencies.

To arrive at the average costs in this article, a number of providers and cost databases were surveyed on national and local levels. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.