Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator 2026 — Line-Item Estimator
Price a kitchen remodel line by line: cabinets, counters, appliances, flooring. Fixr puts the 2026 average at $27,000 ($15,000–$45,000). Adjust by state.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator
Length × width of the floor. The average U.S. kitchen is 160–180 sq ft (Fixr).
Sets the choices below to a typical job. Change any of them afterwards.
Installed prices from Fixr, January 2026.
Measure each cabinet run along the wall and add the island. Leave blank to use Fixr's size table: 29 ft for 170 sq ft.
Installed, per sq ft of counter surface (Fixr, January 2026).
Each run: length × depth in inches ÷ 144, plus the island top. Fixr's typical kitchen: 35 sq ft.
Fridge, range or oven, dishwasher and built-in microwave.
Installed, priced over the whole kitchen floor area.
Adjusts the labor share by local construction wages (BLS, May 2025).
homeprojectestimator.com · · https://homeprojectestimator.com/calculators/kitchen-remodel-cost/
Estimated kitchen remodel cost
$30,700
Typical range $13,400 – $47,950
Cost per sq ft
$180.59
Where the money goes
- Semi-custom cabinets, installed $150–$650 per linear ft × 29 ft$4,350 – $18,850
- Granite countertops, installed $40–$150 per sq ft × 35 sq ft$1,400 – $5,250
- Standard appliance package Fridge, range or oven, dishwasher, built-in microwave$2,500 – $7,000
- Luxury vinyl plank flooring, installed $5–$13 per sq ft × 170 sq ft$850 – $2,200
- Backsplash Fixr: most pay $500–$1,500$500 – $1,500
- Stainless sink + faucet Sink $200–$1,500 + faucet $300–$800, installed$500 – $2,300
- Lighting Fixr average for a kitchen remodel$1,350 – $1,350
- Plumbing & electrical work Move, install or replace fixtures$1,000 – $4,000
- Permits Fixr: $450–$2,500$450 – $2,500
- Demolition & debris removal Whole room, labor included$500 – $3,000
National average. Pick your state and metro area to adjust the labor share (about 55% of this job) to local wages. Get three written quotes before you commit to a budget.
Every line is priced from Fixr's 2025–2026 cost guides (kitchen remodel, cabinet installation, refacing, cabinet painting, countertops, sinks, interior demolition). Labor is 50–60% of a kitchen remodel according to Fixr; the location setting scales 55% of the cost by local construction wages. Excludes an island, an interior designer and a contingency; Fixr advises holding back 5–10% for surprises.
How to use this calculator
The calculator prices a kitchen the way a contractor's bid does: one line per item, each with a low and a high figure from a published source. The total is the sum of the lines, and the headline number is the middle of that range.
- Kitchen size. The floor, length × width, in square feet. Fixr puts the average U.S. kitchen at 160–180 sq ft; the calculator starts at 170. Size sets the flooring cost and the default cabinet length.
- Remodel scope. Picking cosmetic, mid-range or major fills in the choices below with a typical job for that scope: refaced cabinets and laminate counters for a cosmetic refresh; new semi-custom cabinets, granite, standard appliances, vinyl plank, permits and demolition for mid-range; quartz, upgraded appliances, hardwood and a designer on top for a new layout. Change any choice afterwards.
- Cabinets and cabinet length. Refacing and new cabinets are priced per linear foot. Measure each cabinet run along the wall and add the island. Leave the field blank and the calculator reads the length off Fixr's size table (16 ft for a 10 × 10 kitchen, 25 ft for 12 × 12, 30 ft for 12 × 15, 40 ft for 15 × 20), interpolating between rows.
- Countertops and area. For each run, multiply length by depth in inches and divide by 144, then add the island top. Fixr's typical kitchen has 35 sq ft of counter.
- Appliances. A package is the fridge, range or oven, dishwasher and built-in microwave.
- Flooring. Priced per square foot over the whole kitchen floor.
- Also include. Backsplash, sink and faucet, lighting, plumbing and electrical, gas line, wall change, designer, permits and demolition. Without full demolition, replacing cabinets or counters still adds the cost of taking the old ones out.
- Location. Your state, and a metro area where one is listed, scales the labor part of the estimate.
Kitchen remodel cost in 2026
Fixr's January 2026 data puts the national average at about $27,000, with most homeowners paying $15,000–$45,000. The calculator's default kitchen lands at $30,700 (range $13,400–$47,950), or about $181 per square foot.
| Scope | What Fixr says it covers | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic / small | Updating the look without structural changes: painting or refacing cabinets, laminate or butcher block counters | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| Mid-range | Replacing cabinets, countertops, flooring and appliances with mid-grade materials | $25,000 – $60,000 |
| High-end | Nearly every element replaced with premium materials and professional-grade appliances | $60,000 – $130,000 |
Source: Fixr, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? 2026 Data, updated January 27, 2026.
Fixr puts a minor remodel at about $15,000 on average and a full remodel at about $40,000; the calculator's cosmetic and major presets come to about $13,250 and $43,050.
Cost by kitchen size
| Kitchen size | Minor | Major | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | $7,500 | $15,000 | $60,000 |
| 150 sq ft | $11,250 | $22,500 | $90,000 |
| 175 sq ft | $13,125 | $26,250 | $105,000 |
| 200 sq ft | $15,000 | $30,000 | $120,000 |
| 225 sq ft | $16,875 | $33,750 | $135,000 |
Source: Fixr, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? 2026 Data, updated January 27, 2026.
That is $75, $150 and $600 per square foot. Fixr's general range is $75–$250, around $150 on average.
Prices the calculator uses
| Item | Price | Source page (Fixr) |
|---|---|---|
| Paint existing cabinets | $2,500 – $6,500 per kitchen ($4,000 average) | Paint kitchen cabinets, Jan 27, 2026 |
| Reface cabinets | $100 – $450 per linear ft ($275 average) | Cabinet refacing, Jan 26, 2026 |
| Stock cabinets | $100 – $300 per linear ft | Cabinet installation, Jan 22, 2026 |
| Semi-custom cabinets | $150 – $650 per linear ft | Cabinet installation, Jan 22, 2026 |
| Custom cabinets | $500 – $1,200 per linear ft | Cabinet installation, Jan 22, 2026 |
| Old cabinet removal and haul-away | $350 – $1,000 | Cabinet installation, Jan 22, 2026 |
| Laminate / butcher block counters | $15 – $60 / $40 – $100 per sq ft | Kitchen countertops, Jan 28, 2026 |
| Granite / quartz / marble counters | $40 – $150 / $50 – $200 / $50 – $200 per sq ft | Kitchen countertops, Jan 28, 2026 |
| Old countertop removal | $50 – $300 | Kitchen countertops, Jan 28, 2026 |
| Vinyl plank / ceramic tile / hardwood floor | $5 – $13 / $10 – $20 / $6 – $20 per sq ft | Kitchen remodel, Jan 27, 2026 |
Appliance packages combine two Fixr pages: $2,500–$7,000 for a fridge, oven, dishwasher and built-in microwave (October 2026 guide), and $2,500–$15,000 for major appliances, with high-end packages above $25,000 (January 2026 guide). The calculator's standard package is the first range, upgraded $7,000–$15,000, high-end $15,000–$25,000.
| Add-on | Price |
|---|---|
| Backsplash | $500 – $1,500 ($15 – $40 per sq ft) |
| Stainless sink + faucet | $200 – $1,500 sink, $300 – $800 faucet, installed |
| Lighting | $1,350 average |
| Plumbing and electrical work | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| New gas line (electric to gas range) | $200 – $1,300 |
| Remove or alter a load-bearing wall | $1,400 – $11,500 |
| Architect or certified kitchen designer | $2,750 – $6,000 |
| Permits | $450 – $2,500 |
| Demolition, labor included | $500 – $3,000 per kitchen |
Sources: Fixr, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? 2026 Data, January 27, 2026; Fixr, Sink Installation Cost, August 29, 2025; Fixr, Interior Demolition Cost, January 31, 2025.
What drives the price
- Cabinets. Fixr gives cabinetry about 40% of a kitchen budget, and the per-foot price runs from $100 for stock to $1,200 for custom. On the default 29 feet that is $2,900 at the bottom of stock and $34,800 at the top of custom. No other choice moves the total as far.
- Layout. Keeping the sink, range and walls where they are avoids the designer ($2,750–$6,000), most of the plumbing and electrical work ($1,000–$4,000) and any wall change ($1,400–$11,500).
- Countertop material. On 35 sq ft, laminate runs $525–$2,100 and quartz or marble $1,750–$7,000.
- The appliance package. The spread here, $2,500 to $25,000 and more, is wider than for anything except cabinets.
- Labor and location. Fixr puts labor at 50–60% of a kitchen remodel, up to 70% with low-cost materials that still take long to install.
- Size, less than you would think. Flooring and cabinets scale with the room; appliances, the sink, lighting and permits do not. A 100 sq ft kitchen comes out near $249 per sq ft in the calculator, a 250 sq ft one near $137.
Cost breakdown
Each line is an installed cost, materials and labor together, as the sources publish them.
Fixr's breakdown of a kitchen budget by component, applied to its $27,000 average:
| Component | Share of budget | On a $27,000 kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry | 40% | $10,800 |
| Flooring | 18% | $4,860 |
| Countertops | 14% | $3,780 |
| Utilities and fixtures (plumbing, electrical) | 11% | $2,970 |
| Appliances | 6% | $1,620 |
| Lighting | 5% | $1,350 |
| Backsplash | 4% | $1,080 |
| Paint | 2% | $540 |
Source: Fixr, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? 2026 Data, updated January 27, 2026.
What the estimate leaves out: an island (unless you add its length to the cabinet run), an interior designer ($825–$2,475 for an average kitchen, per Fixr), wall painting, damage found during demolition, and a contingency. Fixr's budgeting section suggests 5–10% ($1,350–$2,700 on an average kitchen); its FAQ says to budget 10–30% more than you expect. In an older house, plan on the higher figure.
Prices by state and metro area
Only labor changes with location. The calculator takes Fixr's 50–60% labor share at its midpoint, 55%, and scales that part by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 mean hourly wage for construction and extraction occupations in your state (or metro area), divided by the national mean of $31.42. Cabinets, counters and appliances are left at national prices. Applied to the default kitchen ($30,700):
| State | Construction wage vs national | Default kitchen | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | +26% | $35,100 | $15,300 – $54,800 |
| California | +20% | $34,100 | $14,850 – $53,200 |
| New York | +17% | $33,550 | $14,650 – $52,450 |
| Florida | −15% | $28,150 | $12,300 – $44,000 |
| Texas | −16% | $28,000 | $12,200 – $43,750 |
| Mississippi | −22% | $27,000 | $11,800 – $42,150 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 47-0000); labor share from Fixr, January 2026.
Where the location menu lists your metro area, pick it: metro wages usually differ from the state average.
Metro areas spread wider than states. With the default settings, this estimate is $30,700 at the national average, $35,100 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area and $28,150 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (BLS construction wage index 1.26 and 0.85). Pick your metro area under the state to use the local figure.
Reface, paint or replace the cabinets?
The choice comes down to the boxes. If they are solid, square and laid out the way you want, painting ($2,500–$6,500) or refacing ($100–$450 per linear foot) keeps them and changes what you see. If the layout is changing, or the boxes are water-damaged or sagging, new cabinets are the only option.
Fixr's refacing guide says it is almost always cheaper to reface than to replace. Its own per-foot figures show where that holds: refacing averages $275 per foot, well below semi-custom ($150–$650) and custom ($500–$1,200), but above the middle of the stock range ($100–$300). On the default 29 feet, the whole kitchen comes to about $27,050 with refacing, $24,900 with new stock cabinets and $30,700 with semi-custom. Fixr's refacing guide gives $3,000–$13,500 per kitchen, $8,250 on average.
Permits and timeline
Fixr says most kitchen remodels need permits, typically $450–$2,500, and more for structural or utility changes. The calculator includes them by default for mid-range and major jobs and leaves them off for a cosmetic refresh; check with your local building department either way.
Fixr's timeline guide (January 2025) puts the average kitchen remodel at 6–12 weeks once work starts:
| Phase | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Permit approval | About 1–2 weeks |
| Demolition | 1–3 weeks |
| Plumbing and electrical rough-in | 2–4 days |
| Cabinet installation | 2–3 days after delivery |
| Countertop delivery and installation | 2 days to a week after cabinets |
| Flooring | 1–3 days |
| Finishes (paint, fixtures, appliances, cleanup) | 1–3 weeks |
Source: Fixr, How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?, published January 13, 2025.
Order cabinets early: Fixr gives 1–2 weeks for stock delivery, 4–8 weeks for semi-custom and 3–6 months or longer for custom. A job with walls removed, lines moved or custom cabinets runs 3–8 months.
Return on investment
A minor kitchen remodel recoups more than it costs. Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, the 38th annual edition, puts it at a $28,458 job cost against $32,141 in value at sale, 112.9% recouped nationally.
Larger kitchens recoup much less. The report's national table shows:
| Project | Job cost | Resale value | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor kitchen remodel, midrange | $28,458 | $32,141 | 113% |
| Major kitchen remodel, midrange | $82,793 | $42,130 | 51% |
| Major kitchen remodel, upscale | $164,104 | $58,561 | 36% |
Source: Zonda, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, September 18, 2025; national table published by JLC (jlconline.com).
The minor remodel in that study is a defined scope, not a gut renovation.
Where to save without regretting it
- Keep the layout. It takes the designer, most plumbing and electrical work and any wall change off the bill.
- Paint or reface sound cabinets. $2,500–$6,500 to paint against $4,350–$18,850 for semi-custom on the default 29 feet.
- Choose the counter by the square foot. Laminate at $15–$60 or butcher block at $40–$100 against $50–$200 for quartz or marble.
- Keep working appliances. Fixr notes that replacing one or two units brings the average appliance upgrade closer to $1,600.
- Do not cut the rough-in trades. Plumbing and electrical is about 11% of the budget in Fixr's breakdown and the hardest part to redo once the walls are closed.
Get three written bids on the same written scope, and agree in writing who buys the appliances.
Sources
- Fixr, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? 2026 Data — average, ranges, scope and size tables, per sq ft, shares, labor, flooring, appliances, add-ons, permits (January 27, 2026). link
- Fixr, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? October 2026 Update — four-appliance package (published February 26, 2025). link
- Fixr, 2026 Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost — cabinets per linear foot, length by kitchen size, removal (January 22, 2026). link
- Fixr, How Much Does Cabinet Refacing Cost? 2026 Guide — refacing per foot and per kitchen (January 26, 2026). link
- Fixr, How Much Does It Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets in 2026? — painting per kitchen (January 27, 2026). link
- Fixr, How Much Does It Cost to Replace Kitchen Countertops in 2026? — counters per sq ft, typical area, removal (January 28, 2026). link
- Fixr, Sink Installation Cost — kitchen sink and faucet, installed (August 29, 2025). link
- Fixr, Interior Demolition Cost — kitchen demolition (January 31, 2025). link
- Fixr, How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? — timeline and cabinet lead times (January 13, 2025). link
- Zonda, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report — minor kitchen remodel cost and value (September 18, 2025). link
- JLC, 2025 Cost vs Value Report, national averages — major kitchen remodel rows. link
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — construction wages by state and metro (location adjustment). link
Related
- Bathroom renovation cost calculator — the other room most remodels start with
- Flooring cost calculator — flooring for the rest of the house
- Renovation loan payment calculator — what the kitchen costs per month if you finance it
- How to plan a home renovation — budgeting, permits and contractor vetting
- Renovation contingency budget — how much to hold back and when it gets spent
- Home renovation ROI guide 2026 — which projects pay back at resale
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in 2026?
Fixr's January 2026 data puts the national average at about $27,000, with most homeowners paying $15,000–$45,000. Scope drives the spread: cosmetic updates run $10,000–$25,000, mid-range remodels $25,000–$60,000 and high-end projects $60,000–$130,000. The calculator's default, a 170 sq ft mid-range kitchen with semi-custom cabinets, granite and a standard appliance package, comes to about $30,700.
What is the cost per square foot to remodel a kitchen?
Fixr puts the average at around $150 per square foot, with most projects between $75 and $250 and high-end kitchens at $600 or more. The average U.S. kitchen measures 160–180 sq ft, which Fixr turns into a typical total of $24,000–$27,000. Per-foot figures mislead on small kitchens, because appliances, the sink and permits cost the same whatever the floor area.
How much do new kitchen cabinets cost?
Fixr's 2026 installation figures are $100–$300 per linear foot for stock cabinets, $150–$650 for semi-custom and $500–$1,200 for custom, with an average job around $7,000. A kitchen of 150–250 sq ft needs 25–30 linear feet of cabinets, so semi-custom runs about $3,750–$19,500 for 25–30 feet. Cabinetry is the largest single share of a remodel, about 40%.
How much does cabinet refacing cost?
Fixr puts refacing at $100–$450 per linear foot, $275 on average, or $3,000–$13,500 for a kitchen with an $8,250 average. Painting the existing boxes is cheaper again at $2,500–$6,500, $4,000 on average. Refacing saves most against semi-custom or custom replacement; against the cheapest stock cabinets ($100–$300 per foot) the gap mostly disappears.
Does a kitchen remodel increase home value?
A minor one does. Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (September 18, 2025) puts a minor kitchen remodel at a $28,458 job cost against $32,141 in value at sale, 112.9% recouped nationally. The same report's national table shows a midrange major kitchen remodel recouping 51% ($82,793 cost, $42,130 value) and an upscale one 36%.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
Fixr says the average kitchen remodel takes 6–12 weeks to complete, not counting planning and hiring. A cosmetic update can take a week or two, and a job that removes walls, moves lines or uses custom cabinets runs 3–8 months. Cabinet delivery often sets the pace: 1–2 weeks for stock, 4–8 weeks for semi-custom and 3–6 months or longer for custom.
Is it cheaper to keep the existing kitchen layout?
Yes. A new layout adds lines that a same-footprint remodel does not have: an architect or certified kitchen designer at $2,750–$6,000, plumbing and electrical moves at $1,000–$4,000, $1,400–$11,500 if a load-bearing wall is removed or altered, and $200–$1,300 for a new gas line (all Fixr, January 2026). Turn these on in the calculator to see the difference.