Kitchen Remodel Calculator
Estimate kitchen remodel costs by scope: cosmetic, mid-range, or gut renovation. Cabinets, countertops, appliances itemized. Free, no signup.
For Homeowners: Get a quick cost range with just a few measurements. Perfect for budgeting and comparing contractor quotes.
Assumptions & Sources
Assumptions
- Cabinet linear feet: Estimated as ~25% of kitchen sqft if not specified.
- Countertop area: Estimated as ~25% of kitchen sqft if not specified.
- Labor rates: Based on 2025-2026 national averages, varies by region.
- Appliance packages: Include range, refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave.
- Timeline: Assumes typical contractor crew with standard permitting.
Data Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Wage Data
- HomeAdvisor True Cost Guide 2024-2025
- Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value Report 2024-2025
- National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
Last updated: July 2026
How This Estimate Is Calculated
The kitchen calculator builds your estimate component by component, the way a remodeling contractor prices a job — not from a single per-square-foot guess. These are the exact steps the engine runs:
- Size and takeoff: your kitchen size (80–350 sq ft by category, or your exact number) sets the takeoff — cabinet runs are estimated at roughly 25% of floor area in linear feet, countertops at 25% of floor area in square feet, and backsplash at about 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of counter.
- Scope multiplier: the remodel scope scales the project — cosmetic ×0.15, minor (reface + counters) ×0.35, mid-range (new cabinets, same layout) ×0.65, major full-gut ×0.85, and full gut with layout changes ×1.0.
- Components: cabinets are priced per linear foot installed by tier ($150 economy stock to $1,200 premium custom), countertops per square foot ($20 laminate to $250 marble), appliance packages from $2,000 (budget) to $40,000 (luxury), plus backsplash, flooring, sink, faucet, and range hood — each at low/average/high rates.
- Trades and services: electrical ($175 per outlet, $175 per recessed can, $1,500 panel upgrade), plumbing ($300 disposal install, $1,200 to relocate the sink), demolition (cabinet removal, $500 dumpster), a $500 permit line, and 5% project management.
- Region: every line is scaled by your ZIP code's regional cost multiplier before the low/average/high range is assembled.
Data Sources
- Labor benchmarks: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates — Carpenters (SOC 47-2031), national median $29.12/hour ($60,580/year), and Electricians (SOC 47-2111), national median $30.38/hour ($63,190/year). Dataset last retrieved June 2026.
- Component prices: 2025–2026 national installed averages cross-referenced with published industry sources (NKBA, Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value, HomeAdvisor True Cost). Last reviewed: July 2026.
- Regional adjustments: construction cost indices built from BLS wage data and published industry surveys, covering 24 states and 28 metro areas against a 1.00 national baseline.
What Changes a Kitchen Remodel Estimate: Scope, Layout, and Region
| Factor | Value Used | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Remodel scope | ×0.15 (cosmetic) to ×1.0 (full gut) | The single biggest lever — a cosmetic refresh costs a small fraction of a layout-changing gut renovation of the same kitchen. |
| Cabinet tier | $150–$1,200 per linear foot installed | Cabinets are typically 30-40% of the budget; the jump from stock to custom alone can double a project. |
| Layout changes | $1,200 sink relocation; $1,500–$5,000 wall removal | Moving plumbing or opening walls (load-bearing at the top end) is why "same layout" remodels cost 20-30% less. |
| Electrical scope | $175/outlet · $175/recessed can · $1,500 panel upgrade | Code-required GFCI outlets, lighting plans, and an aging panel quietly add thousands in older homes. |
| Regional multiplier — lower-cost states | 0.84–0.88 (IN, TN, OH, NC) | Lower prevailing wages pull installed costs below the national average. |
| Regional multiplier — higher-cost states | 1.32–1.42 (CT, CA, MA, NY) | Higher labor rates push costs up; metro multipliers run 0.90 (Indianapolis) to 1.70 (SF Bay Area). |
Labor-heavy trades make kitchen costs strongly regional. See state-specific kitchen remodel costs:
Kitchen Remodel Cost FAQ
Construction Cost Estimation FAQs
Kitchen remodel costs range from $15,000-$30,000 for a minor remodel, $30,000-$75,000 for a mid-range remodel, and $75,000-$150,000+ for a major upscale renovation. Cabinets typically account for 30-40% of the budget, followed by labor (20-25%) and countertops (10-15%). Run your size, scope, and finishes above to see where your project lands inside those bands, adjusted for your ZIP code.
A 10x10 kitchen (100 sq ft) gets a takeoff of about 25 linear feet of cabinets and 25 sq ft of countertop in this calculator. At mid-range selections the components alone price out near $6,300 in standard stock cabinets ($250/lf installed), $2,750 in quartz counters ($110/sq ft average), and $6,000 in mid-range appliances, plus backsplash, flooring, sink, and faucet — before demolition, electrical, plumbing, the $500 permit, and 5% project management. All-in, same-layout mid-range projects at that size typically land in the low-to-mid $20,000s at national-average pricing.
Cabinets, at 30-40% of the total. The calculator prices them per linear foot installed: stock runs $150-$400 by grade, semi-custom $300-$750, and custom $500-$1,200. Labor across trades is next at 20-25%, then countertops at 10-15% ($20/sq ft laminate up to $250/sq ft marble). Keeping your existing layout — no plumbing or wall moves — is the single most effective way to hold the line.
Refacing prices at about $200 per linear foot plus $150 per door and $100 per drawer in this calculator — typically 40-60% less than replacement — and takes days instead of weeks. Reface when the boxes are sound and the layout works. Replace when boxes are damaged or you want a new layout; painting existing cabinets ($75/door, $50/drawer plus labor) is the budget option below both.
A minor kitchen remodel recoups about 81% of its cost at resale, while a major upscale remodel recoups closer to 56%, per the Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value Report. Mid-range projects that keep the existing layout and upgrade cabinets, counters, and appliances hit the best value-for-money zone — which is exactly the "Mid-Range" scope preset in this calculator.
A cosmetic update takes 1-2 weeks, a minor remodel 2-3 weeks, mid-range 4-6 weeks, and a full gut renovation 8-12 weeks. Add lead time before work starts: permits, and 6-10 weeks for semi-custom or custom cabinet orders. Layout changes extend timelines because plumbing, electrical, and inspection steps stack up.
Yes. Professional-scope estimates include a $500 permit line and a 5% project-management allowance on top of the component costs — the two items homeowner budgets most often miss. It also itemizes demolition (cabinet removal, $500 dumpster rental) and trade work like the $300 disposal install or a $1,500 electrical panel upgrade, so you can compare contractor bids line by line.
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Kitchen Remodel Calculator by State
Get kitchen remodel cost estimates with state-specific regional pricing: