$47,000. That’s what the average major kitchen remodel runs in the Pacific Northwest right now. Not the HGTV version where they gut a kitchen in 30 minutes and stay under budget. The real version, with permits, 8-week cabinet lead times, and at least one surprise behind the walls.
Whether you’re a homeowner trying to set a realistic budget or a contractor building an estimate for a client, you need actual numbers before you commit. Use the Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator to plug in your specific dimensions and finish selections. Or Try EstimationPro free to build a full professional estimate with line items, labor rates, and materials in minutes.
Quick Answer
A kitchen remodel costs $10,000 to $80,000 depending on scope and finish level. Budget refreshes (same layout, new surfaces) run $50-$150 per square foot. Mid-range remodels with upgraded cabinets and stone counters hit $150-$300 per square foot. Full gut renovations with custom everything push $250-$500+ per square foot. Labor typically eats 35-45% of the total budget.
How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost Per Square Foot?
The finish level is the biggest variable. Same kitchen, same square footage, wildly different price depending on what goes in. Here is how the numbers break down for a typical 150-200 square foot kitchen:
| Finish Level | Cost Per Sq Ft | 150 Sq Ft Kitchen | 200 Sq Ft Kitchen | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Refresh | $50-$150 | $7,500-$22,500 | $10,000-$30,000 | Paint, stock cabinets, laminate counters, basic appliances |
| Mid-Range | $150-$300 | $22,500-$45,000 | $30,000-$60,000 | Semi-custom cabinets, quartz counters, tile backsplash, mid-tier appliances |
| High-End | $250-$500 | $37,500-$75,000 | $50,000-$100,000 | Custom cabinets, stone counters, designer fixtures, layout changes |
All 2026 pricing shown here reflects national averages. Prices vary by region, with Pacific Northwest, Northeast, and West Coast markets typically running 15-25% above national numbers. Rural and Midwest markets may come in 10-20% below. Get quotes from local contractors to confirm costs in your area. (Sources: NAHB cost data, Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value 2025)
What Goes Into a Kitchen Remodel Estimate?
A solid kitchen estimate breaks the job into categories. Each one has its own material cost, labor rate, and potential for scope creep. Here are the line items that belong on every kitchen bid.
Cabinets
Cabinets are the single biggest line item on most kitchen remodels. Stock cabinets from a big-box store run $100-$300 per linear foot installed. Custom cabinets jump to $500-$1,500 per linear foot installed. For a kitchen with 20 linear feet of base and wall cabinets, that’s the difference between $4,000 and $30,000.
Stock cabinets ship in 1-2 weeks. Custom cabinets take 6-10 weeks. If you don’t order early, the whole project stalls and your trades sit idle. Time is money on every remodel.
Countertops
| Material | Installed Cost/Sq Ft | 40 Sq Ft Kitchen | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $10-$40 | $400-$1,600 | Budget-friendly, limited designs |
| Granite | $40-$200 | $1,600-$8,000 | Varies by slab, needs periodic sealing |
| Quartz | $50-$200 | $2,000-$8,000 | Engineered, low maintenance, consistent color |
Most mid-range remodels land on quartz at $80-$120 per square foot installed. It’s durable, doesn’t need sealing, and the color options are better than they were five years ago.
Labor
Labor runs 35-45% of your total kitchen budget. Here is who shows up and what they charge:
- Demo crew: $500-$2,000 for a full gut
- Carpenter / cabinet installer: $20-$45 per hour (BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, SOC 47-2031)
- Plumber: $75-$150 per hour for rough-in and fixture hookup
- Electrician: $75-$150 per hour for panel work, circuits, and lighting
- Tile setter: $5-$15 per square foot for backsplash, $8-$20 per square foot for flooring
- Painter: $2-$4 per square foot for walls and ceiling
Contractor overhead and profit adds 15-35% on top of direct costs (source: RSMeans O&P benchmarks, NAHB builder cost data). That’s not pure profit. It covers insurance, truck, tools, license, warranty callbacks, and the time spent estimating jobs you don’t win.
Hidden Cost Items
These are the line items that catch homeowners off guard and blow up a budget:
- Permits: $200-$1,500 depending on your municipality
- Demo and haul-off: $500-$3,000 for a full gut with dumpster rental
- Structural changes: Moving a load-bearing wall runs $1,500-$5,000
- Electrical panel upgrade: Older homes often need more circuits, $1,000-$3,000
- Plumbing reroute: Moving a sink or adding a dishwasher line, $500-$2,500
- Asbestos or lead paint: Pre-1980 homes may need testing and abatement, $500-$5,000
If the house was built before 1990, add 10-20% contingency to the estimate for what you will find once the walls open. I’ve been burned by this more than once. You open up what should be a simple cabinet run and find galvanized plumbing that has to come out before anything new goes in.
Worked Example 1: Budget Kitchen Refresh
Scenario: 150 square foot kitchen, keeping the same layout, upgrading surfaces and appliances.
| Line Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Demo (old counters, backsplash, appliances) | $800 |
| Stock cabinets (18 LF x $180/LF installed) | $3,240 |
| Laminate countertop (35 sf x $25/sf) | $875 |
| Tile backsplash (30 sf x $12/sf installed) | $360 |
| Paint (walls + ceiling) | $450 |
| Basic appliance package (range, dishwasher, microwave) | $2,500 |
| Plumbing (reconnect sink, dishwasher) | $600 |
| Electrical (add 2 outlets, reconnect range) | $400 |
| Permit | $350 |
| Dumpster and haul-off | $400 |
| Subtotal | $9,975 |
| Contractor O&P (20%) | $1,995 |
| Project Total | $11,970 |
This job comes in around $80 per square foot. No layout changes, no custom anything. If the homeowner wants maximum impact for minimum budget, this is the move. For a deeper category-by-category breakdown, see our guide on kitchen remodel cost breakdown: labor and materials.
Worked Example 2: Mid-Range Full Remodel
Scenario: 200 square foot kitchen, new layout with island addition, upgraded finishes throughout.
| Line Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Full demo (cabinets, flooring, drywall, ceiling) | $2,500 |
| Semi-custom cabinets (25 LF x $450/LF installed) | $11,250 |
| Kitchen island (custom, 5’ x 3’) | $3,500 |
| Quartz countertops (50 sf x $100/sf installed) | $5,000 |
| Tile backsplash (45 sf x $15/sf installed) | $675 |
| LVP flooring (200 sf x $8/sf installed) | $1,600 |
| Mid-tier appliance package | $5,000 |
| Plumbing (relocate sink, island drain, new dishwasher line) | $3,200 |
| Electrical (panel upgrade, under-cabinet lighting, island outlets) | $2,800 |
| Drywall repair and paint | $1,800 |
| Permit and inspections | $800 |
| Dumpster and haul-off | $600 |
| Subtotal | $38,725 |
| Contractor O&P (22%) | $8,520 |
| Project Total | $47,245 |
This lands at $236 per square foot. The layout change and island addition are what push the budget. Skip the island and keep the existing footprint and you shave $5,000-$8,000 off this number easy.
Common Kitchen Estimating Mistakes
1. Forgetting about lead times. Custom cabinets take 6-10 weeks. Special-order tile, 3-4 weeks. If you don’t get materials ordered early, the project stalls and labor costs pile up while trades wait around.
2. Underestimating plumbing and electrical. Moving a sink two feet sounds simple. It’s not. The drain, supply lines, and vent all have to move with it. Budget $1,500-$3,000 minimum for any layout change involving water or gas.
3. Skipping the contingency. Every experienced contractor builds 10-15% contingency into a kitchen estimate. You will find something behind those walls. Rot, knob-and-tube wiring, plumbing that doesn’t meet code. If your estimate doesn’t include contingency, it’s not an estimate. It’s a wish.
4. Pricing cabinets by the unit instead of linear foot. Cabinet pricing varies so widely by size, door style, and configuration that per-unit pricing is meaningless. Price by the linear foot with installation included and you’ll be within range every time.
5. Comparing bids that don’t cover the same scope. The cheapest bid usually leaves things out. Make sure every contractor is pricing the same work before you compare numbers. How do they handle change orders? What’s excluded? You get what you pay for. For more on this, read our guide on how to price a change order.
Pro Tips for Accurate Kitchen Estimates
- Measure twice, estimate once. Get exact linear feet of cabinets, square feet of countertops, and square feet of flooring before you price anything. Guessing adds up fast.
- Use production rates, not guesswork. A good cabinet installer sets 8-12 linear feet per day. A tile setter covers 30-50 square feet per day for backsplash. Build your labor hours from actual rates, not gut feel.
- Price appliances separately. Don’t lump them into “kitchen remodel.” The homeowner picks the appliance package. You install it. Keep the line items clean.
- Add a waste factor. 10% for tile and backsplash, 5% for flooring, 15% for anything custom-cut. Materials never come in perfect quantities.
- Walk the job before you bid. Photos and measurements are a start, but you need to see the kitchen in person. Check the condition of the subfloor, feel the walls for moisture, open the cabinet under the sink. Five minutes of looking saves five figures of surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A budget refresh takes 2-4 weeks once materials arrive. A mid-range remodel with no layout changes runs 6-8 weeks. A full gut renovation with custom cabinets and structural work takes 10-16 weeks. Add material lead times on top of that. Most homeowners underestimate the timeline by 30-50%.
What percentage of a kitchen remodel is labor?
Labor typically runs 35-45% of the total budget on a mid-range kitchen. Budget remodels skew higher on labor percentage because the material costs are lower. High-end remodels can push labor down to 25-30% because premium materials cost so much more relative to the work.
Is it cheaper to reface cabinets or replace them?
Refacing runs $3,000-$10,000 for a standard kitchen. Full replacement with stock cabinets starts around $5,000 installed. If your cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works, refacing saves 30-50%. If the layout needs to change or the boxes are water-damaged, replacement is the only real option.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets and countertops together usually make up 40-50% of the total budget. Custom cabinets alone can eat 30-40% on a high-end job. After that, appliances and labor are the next biggest line items.
Should I get multiple bids for a kitchen remodel?
Always get three bids minimum. Compare scope, not just price. The cheapest bid usually means something got left out. Look for detailed line items, clear allowances, a written change order policy, and a contractor who actually returns your calls.
Build Your Kitchen Estimate the Right Way
A kitchen remodel is one of the biggest investments a homeowner makes, and for contractors, it’s one of the most complex jobs to bid accurately. Every trade, every material choice, every hidden condition behind the walls affects the final number.
EstimationPro doesn’t just build the estimate. It turns your numbers into a professional proposal, follows up with the homeowner automatically so you win more of the bids you already send, and handles invoicing once the job gets approved. From takeoff to getting paid, the whole workflow is covered. Try EstimationPro free and see how fast you can build a kitchen estimate that actually wins work.
Kitchen Remodel Cost by Finish Level
- Stock cabinets ($100-$300/LF installed)
- Laminate countertops ($10-$40/SF)
- Basic appliance package (~$2,500)
- $50-$150 per square foot
- Semi-custom cabinets ($450/LF installed)
- Quartz countertops ($80-$120/SF)
- Mid-tier appliances (~$5,000)
- $150-$300 per square foot
- Custom cabinets ($500-$1,500/LF installed)
- Stone countertops, designer fixtures
- Layout changes, structural work
- $250-$500 per square foot
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