Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator
See where every dollar goes — cabinets and all. Free, instant, and private — everything runs on your device.
What's in scope? (cabinets always included)
Moving walls/plumbing adds cost
100 = national average
Estimated kitchen remodel cost
- Typical contractor total
- $31,820
- Materials
- $14,800
- Labor
- $17,020
- DIY (materials only)
- $15,100
- Estimated DIY savings
- $16,720
Itemized (materials)
- Demolition & disposal
- $500
- Cabinets
- $5,000
- Countertops
- $2,500
- Appliances
- $2,800
- Sink, faucet & plumbing
- $700
- Backsplash & tile
- $900
- Flooring
- $1,200
- Lighting & electrical
- $800
- Paint & finish
- $400
Cabinets are usually the single biggest line, which is why keeping the existing layout (and refacing instead of replacing) saves the most. This is a transparent, editable estimate — not a quote. Get 2–3 local bids before committing.
A kitchen is the most expensive room in most homes to remodel, and the reason is almost always one line: cabinets. This estimator makes that visible. It builds your cost from the real components — demolition, cabinets, countertops, appliances, plumbing, backsplash, flooring, electrical — and shows each one, so you can see exactly what's driving the total and where you can pull it back. Choose your kitchen size, a finish level, and what's in scope, and you'll get a contractor range, the materials-versus-labor split, and the DIY savings.
Every number is a transparent, adjustable estimate from national-average material costs — not a quote. Because cabinets dominate, the biggest lever is layout: keeping cabinets where they are (and refacing rather than replacing) can change the total dramatically. Toggle a layout change on and watch the estimate jump — that's the difference between a refresh and a gut renovation.
How it works
No black box — this is the exact math the calculator runs.
- Each line item carries a national-average material cost at the mid-range finish level; cabinets are always included as the core.
- Finish tier scales materials (budget ≈ 0.65×, mid = 1×, high-end ≈ 2.2×).
- Size scales the job (small ≈ 0.7×, medium = 1×, large ≈ 1.5×).
- Scope toggles add or remove countertops, appliances, backsplash, flooring, and layout changes.
- Labor is a ratio of materials adjusted by regional price level; DIY shows materials only, and the range is roughly ±20–30%.
Last reviewed July 24, 2026 · Budget & Planning
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen remodel cost?
A mid-range kitchen remodel commonly runs from about $15,000 to $40,000, with small budget refreshes below that and large high-end renovations well above. Cabinets, countertops, and appliances make up the bulk. This calculator builds your figure from the specific scope you choose.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets — typically 25–35% of the whole budget — followed by countertops, appliances, and labor. Because cabinets dominate, keeping your existing layout and either refacing or refinishing them instead of replacing is the single biggest way to cut the cost.
Does changing the kitchen layout add a lot to the cost?
Yes. Moving cabinets, walls, plumbing, or gas and electrical lines turns a cosmetic remodel into a construction project — new rough-ins, patching, inspections. The layout-change toggle reflects that jump. Keeping the existing footprint is the reliable way to protect the budget.
Are these kitchen remodel numbers a quote?
No. They're transparent estimates from national-average material costs with tier, size, scope, and regional adjustments. Real bids move with local labor, the exact cabinets and counters you choose, and conditions found during demo. Get 2–3 local quotes before committing.