Kitchen Remodel Cost: $14,591 to $41,617 by Size (2026)

Installed prices for a kitchen remodel by a contractor. Size, cabinets and scope move the number.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost per square foot

A kitchen remodel costs $75 to $250 per square foot in HomeAdvisor's June 2026 guide, and $150 to $250 per square foot for a full renovation in HomeGuide's. HomeGuide splits it into three tiers: $60 to $150 per square foot for a basic job, $150 to $250 for midrange, and $250 to $350 for high-end finishes. Both guides publish prices by kitchen size:

The two guides price different sizes; "No row" means that guide has no figure for that size.

Small kitchen remodel cost

A small kitchen remodel runs $5,600 to $17,500 for 75 square feet and $7,500 to $25,000 for 100 square feet in HomeAdvisor's guide. HomeGuide puts small remodels up to 120 square feet at $4,000 to $18,000, and a 10 by 10 kitchen at $15,000 to $25,000 for an average job. HomeAdvisor says light refreshes start at $3,500.

Houzz's 2025 study, which covers 2024 projects, found the median major remodel of a kitchen of 200 square feet or smaller cost $35,000, up 9% from the year before, against $55,000 for kitchens 200 square feet or larger. Houzz's medians are not adjusted for inflation.

Minor vs major kitchen remodel: cost and resale value

A minor midrange kitchen remodel cost $28,458 in Cost vs Value 2025 and recouped 113% of its cost at resale, while a major midrange remodel cost $82,793 and recouped 51%. The report compares 28 projects in 119 US markets.

National averages from JLC's Cost vs Value 2025. Local prices and resale values differ.

Scope drives the gap, and the cost guides show the same split: HomeAdvisor puts a minor remodel at $10,000 to $20,000, a major remodel at $20,000 to $65,000 and a total makeover at $65,000 to $130,000 or more.

Where the money goes in a kitchen remodel

Cabinets are the biggest single line: 25% of the budget in HomeGuide's breakdown and nearly 30% in HomeAdvisor's. Labor is 15% in HomeGuide's figures and 25% in HomeAdvisor's.

Typical share of the total budget. The two guides group items differently.

Kitchen renovation cost: what moves the price

• Cabinets. HomeGuide puts replacement at $4,500 to $15,000, refacing at $5,000 to $13,000 and refinishing at $1,500 to $4,500. HomeAdvisor prices stock cabinets at $100 to $300 per linear foot and custom at $500 to $1,200 or more.
• Countertops. $1,500 to $6,000 in HomeGuide's guide; $1,870 to $4,400 installed in HomeAdvisor's.
• Appliances. HomeGuide puts a package at $2,500 to $6,800.
• An island. $3,000 to $5,000 in HomeGuide's figures.
• Layout changes. Moving a sink or a wall adds work. HomeGuide puts gut demolition at $500 to $2,500, or $5.00 to $12.50 per square foot.

Electrical work is about 5% of a kitchen remodel in HomeAdvisor's breakdown and lighting 5% in HomeGuide's. For the details, see GFCI outlet installation, light fixture installation and, if the panel is full, electrical panel upgrade cost. Sink and disposal repairs outside a remodel go to a plumber.

Do you need a permit for a kitchen remodel

Kitchen permits cost $500 to $1,500 in HomeGuide's guide, which says most contractor bids include the fees; HomeAdvisor's range is $460 to $2,770. Ask who pulls each permit and whether the fee is in the price.

Two federal rules matter in older homes. EPA requires firms that disturb lead-based paint in homes built before 1978 to be EPA- or state-certified. EPA also says you usually cannot tell asbestos by looking, so do not saw, sand, scrape or drill suspect material, and hire a trained, accredited asbestos professional before remodeling. If demolition turns up a leak or mold behind the cabinets, see mold remediation.

How long does a kitchen remodel take

A kitchen remodel takes 6 to 9 weeks on average in HomeGuide's guide, and 3 to 5 months for large or structural projects. HomeAdvisor says 6 to 10 weeks of construction plus about four weeks of planning, roughly four months overall.

How to read a kitchen contractor bid

A useful bid lists each part of the job and its price, so you can compare two bids line by line. Check that it shows:

• The scope by room area: demolition, cabinets (stock, semi-custom or custom, and how many linear feet), counters, backsplash, flooring, lighting, plumbing and electrical.
• Who supplies what: appliances, fixtures and tile you buy versus what the contractor buys.
• Permits and inspections, and who pulls them.
• A contingency. HomeGuide suggests at least 5% for unexpected issues.
• A payment schedule tied to finished stages, a start date and an estimated finish date.
• How change orders are priced. CSLB says changes should be in writing and signed by both parties.

Payment schedule red flags

A large deposit before work starts is a red flag. In California, CSLB says to pay no more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less (contractors with a blanket performance and payment bond filed with CSLB are exempt), not to let payments get ahead of the work, and to avoid paying in cash. Rules in other states differ, but a payment that runs ahead of finished work leaves you carrying the risk.

If you sign at home, the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule can give you until midnight of the third business day to cancel certain sales of $25 or more made at your home. The seller must give you two copies of a cancellation form and a copy of the contract. Mail the cancellation by certified mail and keep a copy.

Kitchen remodel near me: questions to ask before you hire

Houzz's 2025 study found 9 in 10 renovating homeowners hired professionals. Ask each one:

1. What is your license number, and can you show proof of insurance? In California, CSLB says any contractor doing $500 or more of work must be licensed, and you can check the number at cslb.ca.gov.
2. Who does the electrical and plumbing work, and are they licensed for it? The electrician license by state table shows who licenses electrical work where you live.
3. Will you pull the permits, and are the fees in the price?
4. What is the payment schedule, and what is the deposit?
5. What is the timeline, and what are the cabinet lead times?
6. How do you price change orders?

Calls to the remodeling line go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job. How calls work explains the rest. Planning both rooms? See bathroom remodel cost, and for other projects, the home repair costs table.