Kitchen Remodeling · United States
How much does kitchen remodeling cost nationally?
$29,075typical · fair range $26,055 to $32,328
That is the modeled cost to deliver plus a fair contractor margin for kitchen remodeling in the United States, not a sales quote. Built from BLS wage data, Craftsman bills of materials, and verified permit fees. 2026-07-10
Mid-range here means the remodel most people actually buy: new cabinets, counters, sink, appliances, and floors in the layout you already have. The money goes into cabinets and stone, not into moving walls. The full gut with layout changes is the premium tier.
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How $29,075 is built
Labor$5,098
Materials$11,380
Permit fee$496
Direct cost$16,974
Overhead (23% of revenue)$6,756
Cost to deliver (break even)$23,730
Contractor margin (18.4%)$5,345
Typical fair price$29,075
The margin is the gap between break even and a typical quote, not a markup we invent. Margins float by trade and city, with most fair jobs settling between 18 and 28 percent over cost to deliver. Nobody works for free. Full methodology.
How this number is calculated
The kitchen remodeling figure is built from parts, never scraped: published labor hours, this metro’s wages with burden, current material prices, permit data where available, and overhead a working shop actually carries. Cost index version: 2026-07-10. Updated Jul 2026.
Sources: BLS, NKBA, Remodeling Magazine, Craftsman
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Read methodology →See costs near you
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We route your ZIP to the nearest tracked city and show city-level bid fairness, true cost, margin, and lowest realistic price data.
Atlanta $27,950Austin $28,406Chicago $33,901Dallas $27,465Denver $30,519Houston $26,857Kansas City $27,779Los Angeles $33,403Atlanta $27,950Austin $28,406Chicago $33,901Dallas $27,465Denver $30,519Houston $26,857Kansas City $27,779Los Angeles $33,403
Updated Monthly
Federal labor and material data, refreshed on a monthly release cycle
Expert Reviewed
Reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired)
Proprietary benchmarks · BLS · FRED · Census · Craftsman
Estimate Scope
What the kitchen remodeling benchmark includes.
Included in the benchmark
- Kitchen Remodel (Combined) as the headline cost-index scope
- labor-hour assumptions, regional wage inputs, materials, overhead, and permit data where available
- low, average, high, lowest realistic price, margin, and savings benchmarks from the FatBook cost index
Not included automatically
- hidden damage, change orders, emergency service premiums, or unusual site access conditions
- contractor financing approval, warranties, provider recommendations, or guaranteed final quotes
- permit rulings for a specific address unless the city permit panel lists verified local data
True Cost Data
National benchmarks.
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| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install Hardwood Floor | $4,925 | $5,437 | $6,559 |
| Laminate Flooring | $3,106 | $3,428 | $4,136 |
| Install Tile Floor | $2,507 | $2,767 | $3,339 |
| Kitchen Cabinet Installation | $6,926 | $7,744 | $8,626 |
| Kitchen Countertop Installation | $2,666 | $2,982 | $3,321 |
| Kitchen Remodel (Combined) | $26,055 | $29,075 | $32,328 |
| Kitchen Remodel (Budget) | $11,866 | $13,220 | $14,678 |
| Kitchen Remodel (Mid-Range) | $26,055 | $29,075 | $32,328 |
Specialty tool
Cabinet & countertop calculator
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Top Markets
Cost by city.
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Guides
Latest research.
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Common Questions
Questions homeowners ask about kitchen remodeling.
Note: dollar figures below are national averages from our v3 cost index (Craftsman labor hours x BLS regional wages + PPI-adjusted materials + verified permit fees + NAHB overhead). Where an answer references general industry estimates instead (timing, lifespan, resale recoup percentages, scope items outside our index), it says so explicitly. For metro-specific numbers, see the cost-index pages.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost?+
Our cost index tracks Kitchen Remodel (Combined) at a national average of $29,075 (range $26,055 to $32,328). That is the remodel most people actually buy: cabinet install, countertops, sink and faucet, appliance hookups (range hood, dishwasher, microwave, cooktop, wall oven), and demolition, all in the existing layout. Layout changes, custom cabinetry, and structural work are the full-gut premium tier, which our index tracks at $82,529.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?+
Cabinets, by a wide margin. Our cost index shows Kitchen Cabinet Installation at $7,744 national average (range $6,926 to $8,626), about a quarter of the combined-remodel total. Countertops are the next chunk: granite at $2,982, solid surface at $3,380, engineered stone at $4,490, laminate at $1,895. Moving plumbing or gas lines adds another $2,000 to $5,000 in scope items not captured in the combined service.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?+
Cosmetic refresh: 2 to 4 weeks. A combined remodel matching our cost-index scope: 6 to 10 weeks. Full gut with layout changes: 3 to 6 months. Custom cabinets add 6 to 12 weeks for fabrication on top of construction time.
Does a kitchen remodel add value?+
Resale-value reports (e.g., Cost vs. Value) consistently put minor kitchen remodels in the 70 to 80% recoup range and major remodels at 55 to 65%. Kitchens land at the top of buyer-priority surveys, which is why remodels often pay back even when the math looks tight.
Can you remodel a kitchen for $25,000?+
Yes, if you stay close to our combined-remodel scope and keep the existing layout. Cabinet refacing rather than replacement, laminate or basic granite countertops, mid-grade appliances, paint, and updated lighting and hardware land in the $20,000 to $25,000 range nationally.
Granite vs quartz countertops?+
Our cost index puts Granite Countertop Installation at $2,982 (range $2,666 to $3,321) and Engineered Stone (quartz) at $4,490 (range $4,015 to $5,001) for typical kitchen-sized scopes. Quartz is non-porous and low-maintenance. Granite needs an annual seal but every slab has unique patterning.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Creator of the Cost Index & Permit Dataset · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired) · 2026-07-10