Estimate kitchen renovation cost for virtually any project: replace or reface cabinets, install countertops, plumbing, appliances, fixtures, sinks, flooring, paint walls and ceiling.

You will get a range of prices for Basic, Middle and High-End kitchens - both materials and installation.



This is the most robust and accurate Kitchen Calculator of its kind, available online. All material and labor prices are sourced from reputable contractors, working in various US regions, material suppliers and national chains, such as Home Depot and Lowe's.

Thus, you are getting a price quote that will be very similar to what a local contractor would provide, after assessing your project. Get in touch with pros in your area for a free kitchen remodel estimate!

How to use the calculator

The majority of kitchen renovation projects include new cabinets and countertops. Cabinets are calculated by LINEAR FEET along the wall. A typical kitchen would have a 10*10 cabinets layout, or 20 ln. feet of cabinetry. This includes both the top and bottom rows.

The kitchen cabinet estimator provides complete installation cost together with all the hardware required for proper operation.

• • 1) Enter the length of your cabinets (measured along the wall).

 

• • 2) Enter the square footage of your countertops. Most counters are 2 feet deep. If that's the case, take the length and multiply it by 2. Add any counters that will be installed on the kitchen island.

 

• • 3) Select the type of cabinets that you want installed (either new or refacing) based on quality of materials. Note that "enhanced" and "premium" kitchen cost estimates include the island, better materials and upgraded parts/trim/hardware. However, "basic" only covers standard wall cabinets.

 

• • 4) Select the countertop material of your choice. Note, that this includes standard countertop installation and mid-level edge profile. For a more accurate estimate, use our kitchen countertops calculator, which gives you many more material options to chose from.

 

• 5) Select fixtures: sink, faucet and garbage disposal. There are 3 quality options to choose from.
  
  Basic package: standard ceramic double sink, an entry level faucet and a basic 1/2 HP disposal.
  
  Enhanced package: stainless steel double sink, a better quality faucet and a 3/4 HP stainless garbage disposal.
  
  Premium package: cast iron / enamel or copper sink, a very expensive faucet and 1 HP stainless steel garbage disposal.

 

Additional options

The first five options are standard to most kitchen remodeling projects. If you would like a more detailed estimate, click "Show More Options" button. This will display additional settings, such as:

- Appliances

- New flooring options

- Painting the kitchen

Kitchen Appliances

Most homeowners replace the following appliances when remodeling the kitchen: refrigerator, a stove, range hood and a dishwasher.

The calculator offers 3 appliance options: 1. Basic, which is entry level appliances. 2. Enhanced, which is better, stainless steel appliances 3. High-end, which is premium, built-in appliances.

New Flooring

Flooring replacement is a popular feature of most kitchen renovations. Old floors can make even the most beautiful, modern kitchen look dated and unwelcoming.

You have the choice of 3 flooring materials typically used in kitchens: tile, hardwood or linoleum. To get a more accurate estimate on the cost of new flooring for your kitchen, use our comprehensive Flooring Calculator

Painting

A quick and inexpensive way to transform the look and feel of your kitchen is to repaint the walls and ceiling. Its best to choose neutral or warm colors that are appealing to the eye. To include this estimate, you need to enter your kitchen size (ft) and ceiling's height.

Understanding Results

By default, you will see cabinets and countertop prices, as well as the job total. If you add more options, the results will appear above the total remodel cost.

The formula we use assumes standard "NEW" installation. No custom work, removal of the existing kitchen or plumbing work is included.

Progressive Pricing Formula

This calculator uses a special algorithm that looks at the "size of the job" and adjusts your kitchen remodel cost accordingly. For example, if your job is small - I.e. 8 sq ft of countertops or 70 sq ft of tile floor, there will be an add-on per sq. ft. This is typical in the construction industry, where you have to pay more for small jobs.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost?

Across the US, homeowners report that doing a full kitchen remodel costs $12,500 - 30,000 depending on the size of the kitchen, amount of labor involved and the quality of materials that are used.

Kitchen remodeling cost per square foot hovers around $75-250. However, the majority of homeowners spend $140-150 per square foot to renovate a kitchen. Again, the quality of materials will play a key factor in determining the final price. Also, keep in mind that labor rates in different states and cities can vary dramatically, by as much as 15-20%.

One factor that can add thousands of dollars to your final cost is changing the original layout of your kitchen. This adds on extra plumbing, electric, demolition and other costs that can be avoided in a typical kitchen remodel. So if you are on a tight budget consider keeping the original layout and updating the following features of your kitchen:

Replace cabinetry (refacing is a much cheaper alternative that can save you 40-50% compared to the cost of new cabinets)

Replace countertops

New flooring

Paint walls and ceiling

Install a tile backsplash

Replace windows and doors

Install high-efficiency appliances

New sink

Update and improve lighting

If you are remodeling your kitchen as part of a larger house renovation or new construction project, you can use our House Building Calculator to better plan your budget.

Kitchen renovation costs break down

Since there are so many smaller projects included in the a complete kitchen renovation, its important to know which ones cost the most. This can help you plan your budget accordingly and decide where its worth saving some money.

The most expensive remodel item in a kitchen is new cabinetry. It makes up 27-30% of the entire kitchen cost. Even the cheapest materials such as prefabricated stock cabinets from Home Depot or IKIA cost at least $60 per linear foot. Most homeowners end up spending $125-200 per linear foot on stock cabinets that look nicer and have additional features.

Next is the overall cost of labor/installation. When you hire a kitchen remodeling pro, you can expect to spend 17-25% of the entire budget on installation services. This is the one area where we recommend erring on the side of caution if your urge is to save and hire cheap labor. This usually ends producing disastrous results, and homeowners having to spend thousands of dollars to redo a poorly done job. Make sure you hire a kitchen pro with experience and at least 3 stellar references.

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, the cost of kitchen appliances and ventilation is the next big ticket item on the remodel list. It makes up 12-14% of the entire budget. Here you can certainly try to save money, as you don't have to splurge on upscale brands like Jen-Air in order to have nice appliances. It is best to get appliances that are Energy Star rated.

As you may have guessed countertops are another expensive item, accounting for about 10% of the total remodel cost. In 2020, quartz countertops have definitively won over granite in the hearts and minds of homeowners. Other popular choices include butcher block counters, concrete, laminate, glass, nano-materials, tile, Caesarstone, Terazzo, Corian, limestone, soapstone, stainless steel and copper. Most homeowners spend an average of $70-95 per sq.ft. on kitchen counters.

Next up is flooring, which gets 7-9% of the total budget. Porcelain and ceramic tile is a popular kitchen flooring choice that is reasonably priced ($5-7 per square foot). Installing hardwood or natural stone tile runs on the expensive side ($8-10+ per square foot). Materials such as engineered wood, vinyl plank and linoleum flooring are a lot more budget friendly (under $5 per square foot).

Usually all the other items that are included in a kitchen remodel such as new paint, backsplash, windows and doors, lighting, basic plumbing, are 3-4% of the total budget each.

Average cost of a small kitchen remodel

If you have a small kitchen (less than 70 square feet), your cost for a complete remodel will be a lot less than for a standard size or large kitchen On average, homeowners report spending $5,500-18,000 on remodeling a small size kitchen.

While a small kitchen limits the scope of your renovation, you can invest your money into the quality of the cabinets, appliances, lighting and other features you want your dream kitchen to have. Just because your kitchen is small, does not mean it cannot be beautiful and functional.

If you cook a lot, you will need to carefully plan the cabinet and countertop lay out in order to maximize it.

Also, consider creating an open floor design by removing the wall that separates the kitchen from the dining/living room area. This will make your kitchen feel bigger and may also allow you to add a kitchen island in the middle, which will increase your storage and countertop space.

Cost of a high-end kitchen

When it comes to high-end kitchens, sky is the limit on how much you can spend on this remodel. To build their dream kitchen, homeowners easily spend $50,000-70,000, but many luxury kitchen remodels cost over $100,000.

Size is a big factor that drives up the final cost, as these kitchens tend to be large, over 250 sq.ft.

The distinguishing feature of a high-end kitchen remodel is the building and finishing materials, as well as the appliances that are used.

An upscale kitchen has the following items:

- Custom solid wood cabinetry. Its custom built to fit the layout of the kitchen. Starting price: $600-1,200 per linear foot

- Solid hardwood or natural stone flooring (marble, granite, travertine) Starting price: $10-15 per square foot

- Countertops (usually the most expensive varieties of granite, marble or quartz are selected) Starting price $150-250 per square foot

- High end windows (Pella or Anderson). Starting price: $800-1,200 for a standard wood frame window.

- Energy - efficient commercial grade kitchen appliances (stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, hood range) Popular brands are Miele, True, AGA, Viking, Thermador. Starting price for all appliances $25,000

Lastly, most high-end kitchens are built using professional design services. A certified kitchen design pro charges $100-200 per hour and will assist you with things like:

- Determine the best and most functional kitchen layout. She will make 3D design plans for you to choose from.

- Figure out the overall style of your kitchen (Country, Industrial, Mediterranean, Modern, etc)

- Come up with the color scheme and ensure that all building materials and products match

- Assist in the selection of appliances and lighting to complete the overall design

How to save on the cost of a kitchen remodel

Lets face it, remodeling your kitchen can put a huge dent in your budget, especially if you are tackling this huge project all at once. Here are some money saving tips that have been tried and tested by our remodeling pros and DIY inclined homeowners:

1. Do the demolition work yourself. Removing the old cabinets, appliances and flooring can set you back at least $1,000-2,500 on top of the cost of the remodel itself. Whatever you can do on your own will put cash back in your pocket.

2. Shop for scratch and dent appliances. Another option is to shop for returned appliances or floor models. Good appliances cost a pretty penny, but you can get them for a lot less if you are willing to go for ones that are not brand new out of the box. Best Buy, Lowe's and Home Depot offer deep discounts on these types of "second hand" appliances.

3. Replace old floors with vinyl plank flooring instead of hardwood or tile. Flooring is another expensive item in a kitchen remodel. If you are trying to save, go for vinyl or linoleum floors. They are very functional for a kitchen space and there are dozens of beautiful designs to choose from, including those that imitate the look of real hardwood or natural stone tile.

4. Reface rather than replace kitchen cabinets. Cabinet refacing can save you at least 50% of the cost of brand new kitchen cabinets. If you do want new cabinetry consider cheaper brands like IKEA kitchens. They cost a lot less than most other cabinets, but have surprisingly decent quality materials and attractive design options.

5. Lighting makes all the difference. If you are really keen on changing the look of your kitchen but really don't have the budget - upgrading the lighting will go a long way. Bright light makes the space look much better, so consider installing a bigger chandelier, along with under cabinet lighting.

Return on investment

If you are planning to remodel your kitchen in 2020, it is important to know what kind of return on investment this project will bring. Knowing the average ROI of updating your kitchen can help you budget wisely. Ultimately, you should aim to avoid overspending.

This is especially true, if you are doing a kitchen remodel to prep the house for sale. Here budget-friendly but strategic improvements are the key to success.

Overall, renovating an old kitchen brings one of the highest ROIs in the remodeling industry, roughly 70% Prospective buyers pay special attention to the look and functionality of a kitchen, and have very high expectations for this space.

It is very important to realize that your return on investment will be affected by many factors, such as the housing market, value of the house, and the type of updates you do.

Interestingly, very expensive, high-end kitchen remodels have the lowest ROI, of only 60-65%. This is why it is very important to carefully consider whether its worth it to invest $50-60K or more into a high-end kitchen remodel. While such an upscale kitchen may be a necessity when trying to sell a 2 million dollar home, it will not pay off for lower value properties.

At the same time, minor updates that cost $12,000-16,000 have the highest ROI - an impressive 91-92% This is because making small improvements can go a long way in making a stellar first impression, boosting the home's desirability, and raising the sale price.

Here are the kitchen remodeling projects that add the most value and provide the highest return on investment:

• Fresh wall paint
• Replace flooring
• Beautiful light fixtures
• New sink and faucet
• Attractive backsplash
• New appliances

Pro Tip: you get the highest returns on redoing a kitchen when you spend between 6-12% of the total home value.

Yet another key to maximizing your ROI is being in tune with the particular trends of your local real estate market. Depending on where you live, prospective buyers may prefer a specific kitchen style, a countertop material, a particular brand of appliances, etc.

Not seeing this in a kitchen can lead to disappointment and ultimately loss of a sale. Overall, it is best to consult an experienced local real estate broker to find out the exact preferences of home buyers in your area.