Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator

About the Remodel Cost Calculator

A kitchen remodel is one of the highest-ROI home improvement projects, ranging from a simple cosmetic refresh to a full gut renovation. Our calculator breaks down costs by individual components — cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances, backsplash, and labor — so you can see exactly where your budget goes and adjust scope to match your goals.

How We Calculate Remodel Cost

We normalize kitchen floor area, cabinet linear feet, countertop square feet, backsplash square feet, finish tier, and every scope selection before composing the estimate. Cabinet run also produces a planning box count; countertops split surface material from template, fabrication, cutouts, and installation. LVP, tile, and hardwood reuse the canonical flooring assemblies and material-specific waste rules. Appliances, backsplash, paint, component-specific demolition, same-location or relocated MEP work, permit, and contractor overhead remain separate. GC markup excludes appliance purchase and permit fees and is recomputed after regional adjustment.

Factors That Affect Remodel Cost

Key factors affecting kitchen remodel cost: kitchen size, quality of materials (builder-grade vs. luxury), scope of work (cosmetic refresh vs. full gut), whether the layout changes (moving plumbing or walls adds significantly), appliance tier, local labor rates, and permit requirements in your area.

Cabinet Tier Comparison (2026): Where Most of Your Budget Goes

Cabinets typically run 25–35% of total kitchen budget — the single biggest line item. Four tiers cover the realistic range. Stock cabinets ship in fixed sizes; semi-custom let you adjust dimensions; custom are built to your exact spec; fully custom adds inset doors, exotic species, hand-finishes.

Source: Cabinet-tier pricing reference (stock / semi-custom / custom / inset); figures are approximate and vary by brand and region.

Countertop Material Comparison: Cost, Care, and Real-World Life

Countertop costs include both material and fabrication+installation (most quotes are "installed" — fabrication is 40–60% of the total). Lifespan estimates assume normal residential use; commercial-grade quartz can last 50+ years.

Source: Marble Institute of America (MIA) installation guidelines; NKBA design specifications; manufacturer published care guides

Kitchen Remodel ROI (Remodeling Magazine 2024 Cost vs. Value)

The Cost vs. Value Report consistently shows minor kitchen remodels at the top of the home-improvement ROI list. Major remodels rarely recoup more than half their cost — but they're often justified by 10+ years of daily use rather than resale return.

Source: Remodeling Magazine 2024 Cost vs. Value Report (U.S. average; ROI varies significantly by metro and home price band)

Regional Cost: Mid-Range 200 sq ft Kitchen Remodel

Same scope — 200 sq ft kitchen with new semi-custom cabinets (replaced, not refaced), quartz counters, porcelain tile flooring, mid-range appliance package, subway tile backsplash, no layout changes — the installed price climbs roughly 50% from the lowest-cost metros (Houston, Phoenix) to the highest (New York, Boston). This is a fuller scope than the calculator's default reface, so it runs higher.

Source: Illustrative metro estimates informed by BLS construction-trade wage differences (SOC 47-2031, 47-2111, 47-2152) and published regional cost guides; figures are approximate and vary locally.

Cabinet Cost Is 30% of Your Budget — Choose Wisely

In any midrange kitchen remodel, cabinets are typically the single largest expense — 25–35% of total cost. The decision between stock, semi-custom, and custom drives more of your final budget than any other single choice.

Stock cabinets (RTA, IKEA, Home Depot, Lowe's) are mass-produced in standard widths (12", 15", 18", 21", 24", 30", 33", 36", 42") and standard depths. For a typical 12-foot run of base cabinets, you'll find a stock layout that works in 80% of kitchens. Quality varies dramatically — particleboard with thermofoil-wrapped doors is the bottom of stock; plywood box with solid-wood doors is the top. The tell: pick up a 36"-wide base cabinet by yourself. If it's awkwardly heavy and solid, it's plywood. If you can carry it easily, it's particleboard.

Semi-custom adds flexibility — you can specify a 13.5" wide cabinet to fill an exact opening, choose from 30+ door styles, and pick stain or paint colors not in the stock lineup. The price jumps 2–3× over stock for the same kitchen footprint, but for kitchens with odd dimensions or specific style requirements, semi-custom is often the right answer.

Custom cabinets are built to your kitchen's exact dimensions — no filler strips, no compromise on heights or depths. The cost is 4–8× stock, with lead times running 10–14 weeks. The right use case: very high-end kitchens, unusual ceiling heights (10"+ above standard), or homes where the kitchen sells the house.

The practical rule: stock cabinets if your kitchen is rectangular and you're flexible on style; semi-custom if you have odd dimensions or want specific finishes; custom only if the project is in the top 10% of your local market price.

Layout Changes Multiply Cost: Why "Moving the Sink 2 Feet" Costs $3,000

The phrase that wrecks kitchen remodel budgets: "while we're at it, let's move the..." Every fixture move in a kitchen — sink, dishwasher, range, refrigerator — triggers multiple trade visits and inspections that add 15–40% to the project cost.

Moving a sink: $1,500–$4,000 added. Requires plumbing rough-in for new supply lines, drain, and vent. If the new location doesn't have an accessible vent stack, you may need to run a new one (often through the wall to the roof, $1,000–$3,000 by itself).

Moving a dishwasher: $400–$1,200 added (lower because dishwashers share supply and drain with the sink — they have to stay within 6 feet).

Moving a range/cooktop: $800–$2,500 (gas) or $400–$1,500 (electric). Gas requires re-running a flexible gas line and re-pressurizing the system, plus a leak test. Electric requires running new 240V circuit (electrical permit, inspection).

Moving a refrigerator: $0–$300 if the new location has an outlet and water line; $400–$1,000 if you need new electrical or run a new water line.

The really expensive one — removing a wall between kitchen and dining room: $3,000–$15,000 depending on whether the wall is load-bearing. Load-bearing requires an engineered beam (typically LVL or steel I-beam) plus structural inspection. Non-load-bearing is mostly drywall, electrical relocation, and finish work.

The practical rule: if you can plan the new kitchen using the existing plumbing and electrical positions, your budget stays in the published range. Each major fixture move adds roughly $1,500–$3,000 and 1 week to the timeline.

Quartz vs Granite vs Marble: The Honest Comparison

Countertop choice generates more bad advice on home improvement forums than any other kitchen decision. The truth is more boring than the hype:

Quartz (engineered stone — Caesarstone, Silestone, Cambria) is the right answer for 70%+ of kitchens. Composed of ~93% ground natural quartz and 7% polymer resin, it's non-porous (no sealing required ever), heat-resistant up to 300°F (won't crack from a hot pan, but discoloration possible above that), and stain-resistant to coffee, wine, and oil. Real limitations: edges can chip if struck hard with metal; resin can yellow with prolonged direct UV exposure (rarely an issue in interior kitchens).

Granite is real natural stone, quarried in blocks and cut to size. Each slab is unique — the same color name from the same quarry can look noticeably different from sample to install. Granite is more heat-resistant than quartz (will not discolor from hot pans), tolerates UV without yellowing, and has the geological prestige factor. Real limitations: must be sealed annually (or it will absorb stains from oil, wine, lemon juice); some colors have natural fissures or pits that can trap food.

Marble is the dramatic, high-status choice. Carrara, Calacatta, Statuary marble — these are what you see in luxury kitchens and Instagram-famous bakeries. Real limitations are significant: marble is soft (it scratches with normal knife use), highly stain-prone (lemon juice etches the surface within seconds, leaving a permanent dull spot), and requires re-sealing every 6 months. Most professional bakers prefer marble for its cool temperature; most home cooks regret the upkeep.

The honest recommendation: pick quartz unless you specifically prefer the look of natural stone AND you're comfortable with annual sealing AND your household is careful about acids on the counter. Marble for kitchens is a style choice with real ongoing maintenance commitment — go in with eyes open.

When Refacing Saves Real Money (and When It's a Mistake)

Cabinet refacing — installing new doors, drawer fronts, and a thin veneer over the existing cabinet boxes — costs 40–60% of full cabinet replacement and finishes in 3–5 days vs. 2–3 weeks. When does it make sense?

Refacing is the right choice when: (1) the existing cabinet boxes are sound (plywood, no water damage, no broken structure), (2) the existing layout works for you (you're not changing the kitchen plan), (3) the existing cabinet sizes match the way you want to use the kitchen, and (4) your budget is constrained but you want a real visual update.

Refacing is a mistake when: (1) the existing cabinets are particleboard with water damage or sagging shelves (you'll waste money on new doors over failing boxes), (2) you want to change the layout (refacing locks you into the existing footprint), (3) the existing cabinets are sized awkwardly for modern appliances (refacing won't fix a 30"-wide cabinet that should be 33" for a new dishwasher), or (4) you're planning to sell within 1–2 years (buyers often see refaced cabinets as a "cosmetic shortcut" rather than a full upgrade — the resale benefit can be lower than the refacing cost).

The budget delta: a 20-linear-foot kitchen refacing typically runs $4,000–$12,000 (including new hardware and a fresh look). The same kitchen with new semi-custom cabinets runs $8,000–$20,000. Refacing saves roughly 40–50% over replacement and finishes in a third of the time.

Kitchen Remodel Cost Examples

Example 1 — 200 sq ft refacing-based refresh. Using 20 linear ft of cabinet refacing (about 10 planning cabinet boxes), 50 sq ft of quartz countertop, 230 sq ft of tile purchase area after waste, 30 sq ft of subway-tile backsplash, a mid-range appliance package, and same-location MEP updates returns about $13,020 in materials/equipment, $7,590 in labor, trade services, and removal, and $3,344 in permit and GC project costs. The total is $23,954 (range $13,328–$45,314), matching the sourced $15,000–$25,000 refresh band at the midpoint.

Example 2 — replace rather than reface. Keeping the other default quantities but replacing all 20 linear ft of cabinets raises the midpoint to $34,338 (range $18,043–$67,884). The $10,384 midpoint increase comes from cabinet boxes and hardware, higher installation labor, removal, and contractor markup—not from kitchen floor area.

A 350 sq ft high-end project with 35 linear ft of replacement cabinets, 90 sq ft of marble, hardwood flooring, a premium appliance package, 55 sq ft of mosaic/glass backsplash, and relocated MEP reaches $88,492 (range $48,024–$174,124). That scenario is a major remodel, not the refacing-based default.

Remodel Cost by Kitchen Size

National average at typical settings — use the calculator above for your exact inputs and location.

Sources

• • Angi — Kitchen Remodel Cost (checked 2026-07-22)
• • HomeGuide — Cabinets and Countertops (checked 2026-07-22)
• • TCNA — 2026 Tile Installation Handbook (checked 2026-07-22)
• • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics 2025 (SOC 47-2031 Carpenters, 47-2111 Electricians, 47-2152 Plumbers)
• • National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) kitchen planning guidelines
• • Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value Report — kitchen remodel ROI benchmarks (minor / midrange major / upscale major)
• • Houzz U.S. Kitchen Trends Study — cabinet and appliance tier reference
• • ENERGY STAR appliance specifications (refrigerator, dishwasher, range)
• • HomeAdvisor 2026 Kitchen Remodel Cost Guide and Fixr.com 2026 contractor surveys

Costs are based on current industry ranges and vary by location and market conditions. See how we calculate costs — cost data last reviewed July 2026.