That's our range for a full remodel of a 150 sq ft kitchen that keeps its layout, with a typical cost of about $37,500 ($175–$350 per sq ft). A refresh costs much less; moving walls and plumbing costs much more (see the tiers below).
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][3]. Planning numbers, not quotes. Size, finishes and where you live move the price a lot.
Kitchen remodel cost by scope
The biggest driver of kitchen cost is how much you change. We sort kitchens into three tiers and price each per square foot of kitchen floor, so you can scale it to your room. The dollar columns use a 150 sq ft kitchen.
| Scope | Per sq ft Estimate | 150 sq ft kitchen Estimate | Typical Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refresh, layout stays Paint or reface the cabinets, new counters, sink and faucet, one or two appliances, new floor. | $85 – $140 | $12,750 – $21,000 | $15,750 |
| Full remodel, same layout New semi-custom cabinets, counters, backsplash, appliances, lighting and floor. Plumbing and walls stay put. | $175 – $350 | $26,250 – $52,500 | $37,500 |
| Major or upscale, layout changes Walls, plumbing or gas move; custom cabinets, stone counters and premium appliances. | $325 – $735 | $48,750 – $110,250 | $65,250 |
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][3]. For each tier we pooled the low, midpoint and high figure each source publishes for a comparable scope (a single benchmark figure counts once), then used the median as Typical and the middle half of the pooled figures as Low–High. Where a source gives only a total, we divided it by 150 sq ft; Cost vs. Value's single benchmarks were divided by their 200 sq ft spec kitchens. See How we build our ranges.
What the sources say Sourced
Published figures disagree because they measure different things. HomeGuide puts a full kitchen remodel that keeps the layout at $15,000 to $50,000.[1] Angi's 2026 national average is $26,990, with most projects between $14,591 and $41,617, across every scope its pros report.[2] The 2025 Cost vs. Value report prices fully specified, contractor-run jobs: $28,458 for a minor midrange remodel and $82,793 for a major midrange remodel.[3] Our tiers blend all three.
Line-item breakdown: full remodel, 150 sq ft Estimate
Here's how we'd build the budget for a full, same-layout remodel from its parts, the way an estimator would. Labor lines use federal wage data for each trade; installed prices come from the sources cited on each line. Use it as a checklist when you read bids. If one line is far out of proportion, ask why.
| Line item | How we priced it | Amount Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and haul-away Installed price | Midpoint of HomeGuide's per-sq-ft kitchen gut range[1] × 150 sq ft | $1,310 |
| Semi-custom cabinets, about 25 linear ft Materials | 25 ft × $400/ft, our allowance between Angi's stock and custom per-foot prices[2] | $10,000 |
| Cabinet installation Labor | 32 hrs × $29.12/hr median wage for carpenters[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $1,580 |
| Quartz or granite counters, about 40 sq ft Installed price | Midpoint of Angi's installed countertop range[2] | $3,100 |
| Tile backsplash, about 30 sq ft Installed price | Average of the HomeGuide and Angi backsplash midpoints[1][2] | $1,050 |
| Appliance package (fridge, range, dishwasher, microwave) Installed price | Midpoint of HomeGuide's installed package range[1] | $4,650 |
| Sink and faucet Installed price | Angi's average installed sink plus faucet[2] | $680 |
| Plumbing reconnects (sink, dishwasher, disposal) Labor | 10 hrs × $30.67/hr median wage for plumbers[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $520 |
| Plumbing parts Materials | Our allowance for valves, supply lines and trap | $250 |
| Electrical: counter circuits, GFCIs, 6 recessed and under-cabinet lights Labor | 24 hrs × $30.38/hr median wage for electricians[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $1,240 |
| Electrical materials and light fixtures Materials | Our allowance | $900 |
| Drywall patching Labor | 10 hrs × $28.33/hr median wage for drywall installers[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $480 |
| Painting Labor | 14 hrs × $23.75/hr median wage for painters[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $570 |
| Drywall and paint materials Materials | Our allowance | $300 |
| LVP flooring, 150 sq ft Installed price | Our typical installed LVP rate ($9/sq ft) from the flooring guide | $1,350 |
| Permits Fee | Midpoint of HomeGuide's kitchen permit range[1] | $1,000 |
| Design and drawings Fee | Midpoint of HomeGuide's flat-fee designer range[1] | $980 |
| Overhead & profit Our assumption | 20% on the labor and materials lines above. Installed prices and fees already include the installer's margin, so we don't mark them up again. | $3,170 |
| Line-item total | Before contingency and regional adjustment | $33,100 |
Estimate Our line-item build comes to $33,100, about 12% below our blended typical of $37,500 for a 150 sq ft full remodel. The build assumes no hidden damage and midrange selections, so real bids usually land higher. Contingency is not included. Method: How we build our ranges.
Kitchen Remodel Budget Workbook
Put this breakdown to work: pre-filled line items, allowance tracking, a contingency calculator and a payment schedule, for Excel and Google Sheets.
Get the templateWhat drives the cost up or down
Layout changes
Keeping sinks, ranges and walls where they are is one of the biggest ways to save. Moving plumbing, gas or load-bearing walls adds trades, permits and engineering, which is what separates our full-remodel tier from the major tier.
Cabinets: reface, stock, semi-custom or custom
Cabinets are usually the largest single line, as the breakdown shows. Refacing keeps the boxes; replacement opens up the layout but costs more, and custom boxes can cost several times what stock ones do.
Countertop material
Laminate, quartz and natural stone differ widely per square foot, and fabrication (cutouts, edges, seams) adds to the cost.
Electrical and code upgrades
Older homes often need new circuits, GFCI and AFCI protection or a panel upgrade once walls are open. Budget for what's behind the drywall.
Where you live
Labor rates and permit fees vary by market. Our regional index below runs from about 0.89 to 1.13 times the U.S. average.
Contingency Estimate
Hold money back for surprises like rot, wiring or uneven subfloors. We suggest 10–20% of the project cost, leaning high for older homes and bigger scopes. That's our planning guidance, not a sourced figure.
Regional cost differences
The same kitchen costs more in some places than others. We don't republish anyone's regional price tables. Instead we use our own cost index for each Census division and apply it to our typical cost.
| Region (Census division) | Our cost index Estimate | Typical full remodel, 150 sq ft Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New England CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | 1.04 4% above U.S. | $39,000 |
| Middle Atlantic NJ, NY, PA | 1.13 13% above U.S. | $42,500 |
| South Atlantic DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | 0.98 2% below U.S. | $37,000 |
| U.S. average | 1.00 | $37,500 |
| East North Central IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $36,000 |
| East South Central AL, KY, MS, TN | 0.90 10% below U.S. | $34,000 |
| West North Central IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD | 1.02 2% above U.S. | $38,500 |
| West South Central AR, LA, OK, TX | 0.89 11% below U.S. | $33,500 |
| Mountain AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $36,000 |
| Pacific AK, CA, HI, OR, WA | 1.07 7% above U.S. | $40,000 |
Estimate Derived, not published. Our interior index divides each division's 2025 Cost vs. Value average for four interior projects (three bathroom remodels and a basement remodel) by the national average and averages the four ratios.[3] The typical column multiplies our national typical by the index. See How we build our ranges.
Cross-check: for the four divisions where the report also publishes kitchen figures, the kitchen-only ratio is within 4 points of our index.
Kitchen remodel cost FAQ
Does a kitchen remodel pay for itself?
Usually not in full. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, a minor midrange kitchen recouped about 113% of its cost at resale, while a major midrange remodel recouped about 51%.[3] Smaller, well-chosen updates tend to hold value best.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost per square foot?
By our ranges, about $85–$140 per sq ft for a refresh, $175–$350 for a full same-layout remodel and $325–$735 when the layout changes.[1][2][3] Small kitchens cost more per square foot because fixed costs like appliances and permits are spread over less floor.
What's the cheapest way to update a kitchen?
Keep the layout, reface or paint the cabinets, and upgrade counters, lighting and hardware. That's our refresh tier.
How do I know if a contractor's bid is fair?
Compare at least three bids line by line against the same scope, and check that each one covers permits, disposal and allowances. Our line-item breakdown above is a good checklist, and our Bid Comparison Sheet{'' if live_for('Contractor Bid Comparison Sheet') else ' (coming soon)'} will lay bids side by side.
Related cost guides
Sources
- HomeGuide, “How much does a kitchen remodel cost?” (updated Dec 31, 2025). homeguide.com/costs/kitchen-remodel-cost (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Angi, “How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? [2026 Data]” (updated Sep 4, 2026). angi.com/articles/how-much-should-kitchen-remodel-cost.htm (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: national averages, methodology and regional pages (New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, East North Central, East South Central, West North Central, West South Central, Mountain, Pacific) (accessed Oct 8, 2026). © 2025 Zonda Media. We quote a few national figures and use the regional figures only to derive our own cost index. States per division from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census Regions and Divisions.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national median hourly wages by occupation, retrieved through the BLS Public Data API. bls.gov/oes (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
Quoted figures are labeled Sourced. Everything labeled Estimate is our own arithmetic on these sources, explained in How we build our ranges. Planning numbers only, not quotes. Get itemized local bids before you commit.