Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator
| Tier (standard kitchen) | Band | Mid |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh - keep layout | $8,000-15,000 | $11,500 |
| Mid-range full | $25,000-50,000 | $37,500 |
| Upscale / custom | $60,000-120,000 | $90,000 |
Kitchens price in the same three honest tiers as baths, scaled up: a refresh that keeps every cabinet box and appliance location (new doors, counters, sink, paint) runs $8,000-15,000; a mid-range remodel with all-new cabinets, counters and appliances runs $25,000-50,000; and an upscale gut with an island, custom cabinetry and pro appliances starts at $60,000 and climbs past $120,000 in large eat-in kitchens. Size moves the number - a small galley runs about 75 percent of a standard 120-180 sq ft kitchen, and a large eat-in with an island about 135 percent.
The kitchen version of the bathroom layout line is the work triangle: sink, range and refrigerator. Keep all three where they are and even the mid-range tier stays near its band; move the sink or the range and you are paying to reroute water, drain, gas and venting - four trades instead of one. The island is the other quiet multiplier: it looks like furniture but it is wiring, venting and sometimes gas in a box, which is why a new island is the most common mid-range project that arrives at the upscale budget.
Where the money behaves well: appliance swaps timed to sale seasons, and ENERGY STAR certified models that carry utility rebates on top of the energy savings. Where it misbehaves: cabinet hardware-priced-per-piece add-ons, and 'since we are opening this wall anyway' - the sentence that converts a $30,000 remodel into a $55,000 structural project with one load-bearing discovery.
How to use
- Pick the tier honestly: refresh if the layout works and cabinet boxes are solid; mid-range if cabinets, counters or appliances are failing together; upscale only if the floor plan itself is wrong.
- Set the kitchen size - galley under 120 sq ft, standard 120-180, or large eat-in - since countertop runs and cabinet count scale the materials and the install labor with them.
- Decide the work triangle before any quote: keeping sink, range and fridge in place is the cheap answer; moving any one of them is a four-trade project wearing a decorating costume.
- Compare bids on the three lines that separate real quotes from bait: who certifies the gas and vent work, what the cabinet boxes are (face-frame vs frameless), and whether island electrical and plumbing are itemized.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen remodel cost?
A standard kitchen lands mid-band at $11,500 as a refresh (band $8,000-15,000), $37,500 as a mid-range remodel ($25,000-50,000), and $90,000 upscale ($60,000-120,000+). A small galley runs about 75 percent of those figures; a large eat-in kitchen about 135 percent. Bands run roughly 70-130 percent of mid by region and existing conditions.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets - roughly 30-40 percent of a mid-range budget, more than counters and appliances individually. The runner-up is invisible: mechanical rerouting. Moving the sink or range adds plumbing, gas and venting trades, and a single load-bearing discovery during an open-plan layout change is the most common five-figure surprise in the whole remodel.
Is a kitchen island worth it?
An island is worth it when the kitchen is at least about 150 sq ft with 42+ inches of clearance on all sides; below that it taxes the workflow it was meant to add. Budget it as infrastructure, not furniture: electrical (code in most jurisdictions), often venting, and sometimes gas - the island line is the most common reason mid-range projects land at upscale prices.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A refresh runs 1-2 weeks; a mid-range remodel 4-8 weeks real time; upscale 3-5 months. Cabinet lead time owns the calendar - semi-custom runs 4-8 weeks from order, which is why the honest schedule starts when you order boxes, not when demo starts. Living without a kitchen for two months is the mid-range norm, so plan the temporary sink and grill before demo day.
Do kitchen remodels increase home value?
Mid-range remodels recoup more of their cost than upscale ones in most resale studies - roughly half to two-thirds of a mid-range spend, and a smaller share of an upscale one, because the buyer pool at any price band is finite. The refresh tier punches above its weight: new doors, counters, sink and paint read as "new kitchen" in listing photos at a tenth of the gut budget.