How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Actually Cost? Experts Reveal the Numbers

A kitchen can be one of the most expensive spaces in a home to renovate.

Author:
Shelby Deering
Oct 14, 2024

Remodeling your home is always an exciting prospect, especially if you get the chance to enjoy its refresh before selling your home. Although it can be fairly straightforward to update a room like a bedroom or living room, it can be a lot more involved to remodel your kitchen, a space that requires several moving parts and plenty of functionality.

“A number of factors can motivate homeowners to remodel their kitchen,” says Susan Serra, CKD, President of Susan Serra Associates, Inc. “The most common reason is when one or more appliances are no longer working properly, which causes a significant inconvenience. A kitchen with old and/or worn materials and surfaces such as cabinetry, flooring and countertops often nudges homeowners to consider the remodeling process. Similarly, a kitchen plan that lightens up the kitchen, enlarging its size and letting in more natural light, are highly desirable features for a new kitchen.”

You also may be moving into a new home and desire to remodel the kitchen so it better fits your family’s needs and wants, as Serra points out.

Josh Anderson, Design Consultant with Lamont Bros. Design and Construction, understands the benefits of remodeling a kitchen firsthand, and is familiar with the related costs. He says, “Remodeling can help you fall in love with your kitchen, make it more functional, increase storage and increase your home’s value. Plus, updated kitchens are usually more energy-efficient and easier to use.”

Although the average and anticipated costs can surely be daunting, Serra says that the best and most critical way to enter the kitchen remodeling process is to first establish a budget.

“A budget is established by one of two ways,” she says. “You can back into it by choosing the products and services that you want, or you can determine a budget number and fit the products and services to that number. In either case, it is important to create a spreadsheet or other kind of list with costs assigned to each product and service that you would like to purchase.”

To help inform the budget for your kitchen remodel, read ahead and discover the average cost ranges based on our experts’ knowledge.

What Is the Average Kitchen Remodel Cost?

Serra says that while there are many factors involved in getting to a cost, an average kitchen remodel costs in the $35,000 to $65,000 range.

Meanwhile, Anderson believes that “there is no average kitchen remodel cost.”

“There are so many factors that need to be considered when discussing the cost of a kitchen, and it really is unhelpful to consider what an average kitchen remodel might be,” he asserts. “Some of those factors would be the age of the home and how many code upgrades might need to be incorporated into the remodel, whether you are just doing a cosmetic refresh, a pull and replace or a full kitchen redesign.”

But if he had to assign a certain cost range to a kitchen remodel, he says that it can run anywhere from $50,000 to upwards of $300,000.

You can also consider the different levels of kitchen remodeling you can choose from. Ahead, our experts share those numbers, and Serra adds that these numbers do depend on the mix of products chosen along with any labor costs. Also, she says that doing the remodeling yourselves will likely be on the lower end of each price range.

Basic Kitchen Remodel Cost

Serra says that a basic kitchen remodel cost can range from $15,000 to $30,000. Anderson believes that a cosmetic upgrade of a kitchen can range from $65,000 to $95,000.

Midrange Kitchen Remodel Cost

Serra shares the numbers of $40,000 to over $70,000 for a midrange kitchen remodel, and Anderson says that for a “pull and replace” kitchen remodel, the cost can be anywhere from $80,000 to $160,000.

High-End Kitchen Remodel Cost

“A high-end kitchen remodel begins at approximately $80,000, averages at $125,000 and can easily go upwards,” Serra shares. Anderson says that a “full custom” kitchen can go all the way up to $160,000 to $250,000 or more.

Kitchen Renovation Cost Breakdown

Labor Cost

While Serra notes that labor costs can vary widely for a kitchen remodel, an average labor cost for a kitchen remodel is between $15,000 to $25,000.

Specific Item Costs, According to Experts

Countertop: $10,000
Sink: $800
Appliance package: A mid-range appliance package can be $10,000 to 15,000 and includes a refrigerator, cooktop, double ovens, hood vent, dishwasher and microwave.
Flooring: $3,000
Cabinets: $20,000
Island: $5,000
Lighting: $3,000