How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a Kitchen?

If your kitchen cabinet doors style reflects an era you’d prefer to forget or the knobs on your stove have been used so many times you can’t see the temperature indicators anymore, you may be considering a kitchen remodel.

Whether your kitchen needs a complete overhaul or just a tweak, it will help to start your project with a budget and a plan for how to pay for the renovation. Patience and careful planning can also reduce the chance of change orders and costly delays, says Angie Hicks, chief customer officer of Angi and co-founder of Angie’s List. 

“When I renovated my kitchen, I worked on the design and picked a contractor in November but then I waited until May to actually have the work done to make sure all the appliances, flooring and other materials were available,” says Hicks. “The actual work took only about three weeks and we didn’t have any delays.”

How you pay will depend in part on the size of the project along with the resources available to you.

“Most people renovate their kitchen with cash from their savings, followed by credit cards and a secured home loan,” says Marine Sargsyan, a staff economist for Houzz, a home improvement and interior design platform. Secured home loans such as home-equity loans or home equity lines of credit have seen a surge in popularity recently, as more homeowners stay put following increases in home values and mortgage rates. 

How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen on average?

The average cost to remodel a kitchen is $26,780, according to Angi, a home services company. However the total amount will vary depending on your location and the scale of your project. 

Case in point: About a quarter of the cost of a kitchen remodel will go toward labor, according to Angi, which was created by the merger of HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List. However, labor costs vary by location. For example, a general contractor in California makes an average rate of $39.20 per hour, while a general contractor in Texas averages $29 per hour, according to job search site Zip Recruiter. 

Minor remodel

A minor remodel includes things such as repainting walls, refinishing cabinets and upgrading flooring and countertops with affordable materials. This type of remodel is more of a cosmetic refresh than a full upgrade. If you’re planning to sell your home within a year or two, you may want to consider a minor remodel rather than a complete renovation. A minor remodel usually costs between $10,000 and $20,000, according to Angi. 

Midscale remodel

Midscale remodels, which can include upgrading your appliances, adding a kitchen island, replacing the sink and faucet with high-end materials and adding semi-custom cabinets, can run between $20,000 and $70,000, according to Angi. 

With a midscale remodel, you’ll keep the same layout as your current kitchen and perhaps upgrade one or two items rather than replace everything at once with top-of-the-line options. 

Luxury or large-scale remodel

A large-scale or luxury remodel can cost from $70,000 to $130,000 or more, according to Angi. 

Typically, a large-scale remodel includes a change in the size and layout of the kitchen and/or electrical and plumbing work. But work on even a relatively small kitchen can cost more when it is upgraded with luxury materials for the floors and countertops, custom cabinets and high-end appliances.

“Even the tile for your backsplash can range from as little as $20 a square foot to more than $400 a square foot,” says Grace Mase, vice president of design and construction at Curbio, a presale home renovation company. “Think about it as the difference between a Honda Civic and a Rolls-Royce. Your backsplash can be handcrafted eye candy for your kitchen.”

Regional cost differences 

In general, kitchen remodels are more expensive in high cost of living areas.

“Labor costs will be higher in a high cost of living area, but also your style choices are likely to be different,” Hicks says. “You’re more likely to pick granite or quartz counters instead of Corian in an area where the home values are higher.”

Here’s a breakdown of the average kitchen remodeling costs by region:

What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?

Generally, if you change the layout of your kitchen that will incur the highest cost

“The biggest driver of the cost to remodel a kitchen is whether you change the configuration,” says Hicks. “If you have to move walls, plumbing and electrical outlets, the cost is considerably higher.”

Still, nearly half of homeowners who upgrade their kitchens (45%) change the layout, according to the 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. Another 41% upgrade systems, such as the home’s electric panel or plumbing, during a kitchen remodel and 36% move walls. While it isn’t common, the survey found that 4% of homeowners moved the location of their kitchen, such as switching it from the front to the back of the house. 

“If you switch from gas to electric or add numerous electric appliances such as a built-in microwave, a wine fridge and a larger refrigerator, you may need to upgrade your electrical panels, which also adds to the cost,” Mase says. “If you change the plumbing, you could need to redo the slab under your kitchen, which can be even more costly.”

As for materials, homeowners are likely to spend the most on cabinets. That’s why homeowners with kitchen cabinets that are solidly built often opt to replace the doors or repaint them rather than buy all new cabinets.

​​Does a kitchen upgrade increase home value?

Any upgrade to your home will likely make it more desirable to potential buyers, Sargsyan says. This can mean a quicker sale or more offers. 

Exactly how much your home will increase in value from a kitchen remodel depends on factors such as the shape your kitchen was in before, the materials you choose and how the completed kitchen compares to your neighbors’, Hicks says.

On average, however, kitchen remodels provide a 72% return on your investment when you sell your home, according to Angi. That means if you spend $30,000, your home may sell for $21,600 more than it would have without a kitchen remodel. 

How much should you spend on your kitchen remodel? 

Much like how much value a kitchen renovation adds, how much you should spend on your project depends on your home’s current value, the value of homes in your neighborhood, how much work your kitchen needs and your personal preferences. A few tips to help you decide what to spend on your kitchen remodel budget include:

 Lie to your contractor 

Whether you need to make changes mid-project or your contractor discovers something unexpected that must be fixed, nearly every home improvement project ends up costing more than you think it will, Hicks says. She points out that contractors never know what’s behind the walls before they open them.

“Establish your budget first, then tell your contractor you have 90% of that amount to spend,” Hicks recommends. “That way you have a slush fund to cover any changes or unexpected expenses.” If you end up not needing the money, you can spend it on accessories for your new kitchen.

Choose your trade-offs

If your budget doesn’t match your wish list, you’ll need to decide where to spend and where to save.

“Your first priorities should be functionality and safety,” Sargsyan says. “Make sure things like your electrical outlets are done well before you make design choices. Appliances come in a lot of cost tiers, so while you may not want the lowest end because they can break more easily, you don’t have to get the top brand names, either.”

Mase recommends spending the most money on your countertops, since they are the most visible part of your kitchen and add personality to a kitchen. Flooring, on the other hand, is an area she thinks you can hold back. For example, luxury vinyl planks or tiles that look like wood or stone but are more durable and less costly than the real thing, she says.

Since cabinets are the most expensive part of your kitchen, Hicks suggests taking time to evaluate your cabinetry needs.

“If you’re happy with the quality and configuration of your cabinets, then you might be able to just get new drawers and doors or even refinish the ones you have,” Hicks says. “If not, I recommend investing the most you can afford in new cabinets because good quality cabinets define the kitchen’s look and will last.”

Hicks says that planning can go a long way when it comes to your kitchen renovation budget.

“Snap photos of a friend’s kitchen, pull pictures of things you like offline and gather your ideas before you talk to a contractor,” Hicks says. “That will help you decide where to make trade-offs on your project, such as the brand of the appliances or the material for the counter.”

Consider your long-term plan

A kitchen remodel is something most homeowners do only once per house, so it’s important to think long-term, Mase says. Think about whether you plan to grow your family and how much you like to entertain when making decisions. She recommends choosing a timeless design. 

Hicks suggests that if you want to add a trendy item pick something such as the backsplash, which can be replaced easily in a few years with a new style.

“If you plan to sell your house in the next couple of years, you may want to budget for a refresh with a new backsplash and hardware and fresh paint rather than a full-on remodel,” she says.

Check on your neighbors

Real-estate experts often warn people not to over-improve their home compared with others in the neighborhood, so you should find out what other people’s kitchens have so you’re in alignment with the community, Hicks says.

“If homes in your area sell for a certain amount of money but they all have a kitchen island and you don’t, your house may not get that price when you’re ready to sell,” Hicks says. “Think about what you spent on your house and what the market is for your house now. You want to blend in but not set a precedent with your kitchen.”

At the same time, a kitchen remodel offers a lot of nonfinancial value for homeowners, Sargsyan says.

“It’s the emotional part of the home where families gather and people entertain, so if you plan to stay in the house for many years, it can be a good investment in your home to make it the way you want,” she says. “If you can make your kitchen more functional and you will enjoy your home more, then it’s worth it.”