Why is the result a range instead of one firm number?

The same kitchen can swing 5x in price purely on material and customization tier, and bids also move with local labor, permits, and site conditions a calculator can't see. A range is honest; a single firm number creates false precision and erodes trust when real bids differ. Use the midpoint for planning and the high end plus a 10–20% contingency for what you should actually have available.

What does moving plumbing or removing a wall add to the cost?

Layout changes add real cost that a straight per-sqft finish rate doesn't capture. This tool applies a 1.15x multiplier for moving plumbing, gas, or electrical, and a 1.30x multiplier for removing a wall (structural), reflecting added trades, structural work, and permits. Homeowners routinely underestimate layout changes — keeping the existing layout is the single biggest way to control budget.

How is the itemized breakdown calculated?

The breakdown applies NKBA recommended budget percentages to the headline midpoint: Cabinets & hardware 29%, Installation/labor 17%, Appliances & ventilation 14%, Countertops 10%, Flooring 7%, Lighting 5%, Walls & ceilings 5%, Design fees 4%, Doors & windows 4%, Plumbing/faucets/sink 4%, Misc 1%. Your actual mix will differ — a cabinet-heavy or appliance-heavy kitchen shifts the split — but it's a reliable planning baseline.

How much contingency should I budget for a kitchen remodel?

Always carry a 10–20% contingency on top of the estimate for hidden conditions discovered after demolition — old wiring, water damage, asbestos, or out-of-level floors. This tool shows a recommended contingency line equal to 10–20% of the high end. The contingency is deliberately NOT baked into the headline to avoid double-counting; treat the high end plus contingency as the amount you should actually have available.

Is the kitchen remodel cost estimator free?

Yes — 100% free. Everything is calculated privately in your browser; nothing is stored or sold.

Free Kitchen Remodel Estimate Calculator

Q: How much does a kitchen remodel cost?

It depends almost entirely on kitchen size and finish level. National-average installed rates run roughly $75–$100 per square foot for a minor refresh, $150–$250 for a mid-range remodel, $250–$400 for upscale, and $400–$600+ for luxury. A typical 150 sq ft mid-range kitchen lands around $22,500–$37,500 (most likely ~$30,000). This free estimator gives you a low–high budget range by size and finish so you can plan and sanity-check contractor bids — it is a planning estimate, not a binding quote.

Q: What is the average kitchen renovation cost?

The average US kitchen renovation runs about $25,000–$40,000 for a mid-range remodel of a typical 100–200 sq ft kitchen, with most projects clustering near $30,000. Budget refreshes start around $8,000–$20,000; high-end and luxury kitchens run $45,000–$150,000+. High-cost metros run 20–35% above these averages.

Q: What does a kitchen remodel cost breakdown look like?

By category, a kitchen budget typically splits as: cabinets & hardware ~29%, installation/labor ~17%, appliances & ventilation ~14%, countertops ~10%, flooring ~7%, lighting ~5%, walls & ceilings ~5%, plumbing/faucets/sink ~4%, design fees ~4%, doors & windows ~4%, and misc ~1%. Cabinets are the single largest line item and the easiest place a bid balloons with custom upgrades.

Q: How does kitchen size affect the cost?

Square footage is the primary cost driver — per-sqft rates are the industry-standard way to scale a remodel budget. Most US kitchens are 100–200 sq ft; the classic benchmark is a 10x10 (100 sq ft) kitchen. Double the floor area and you roughly double the base cost before finish, layout, appliance, and regional adjustments.

Get a free kitchen remodel estimate — budget range by size, tier & finish level

Your kitchen

Kitchen size (sq ft)

Finish / quality level

Square footage of the floor area is the biggest cost driver. Most US kitchens are 100–200 sq ft — the classic benchmark is a 10×10 (100 sq ft) kitchen.

Scope & market

Layout change

New appliance package

Region / cost-of-living

Layout and appliance changes add real cost beyond the finish rate. The region selector lets you sanity-check a bid against your own market.

Estimated remodel budget

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~$0/sq ft

Guide: how to use this kitchen remodel cost estimator

What it does

This estimator gives you a defensible budget range for a kitchen remodel before you call contractors — so you can plan, compare bids that vary by tens of thousands of dollars, and avoid getting overcharged. It builds the number up from your kitchen's size and finish level (the two biggest cost drivers), then layers in layout changes, your appliance package, and a regional cost-of-living adjustment. The output is always a low–high budget range with a "most likely" midpoint — never a single firm number — plus a recommended contingency and an NKBA itemized breakdown. Everything is calculated privately in your browser, free.

How to use it

Enter your kitchen size in square feet (floor area). Most kitchens are 100–200 sq ft.
Pick the finish level — minor refresh is cheapest, luxury most expensive (a ~5x swing).
Choose a layout change; moving utilities or removing a wall adds trades, structure, and permits.
Pick your appliance package — reuse existing, new standard, or premium/pro.
Set the region for your market, then read the range, the per-square-foot figure, and the breakdown.

Worked example

A 150 sq ft kitchen, mid-range finish, national average region, keep existing layout, new standard appliances:

Mid-range rate band = $150 / $200 / $250 per sq ft (low / mid / high).
Low end = 150 × 150 = $22,500 → ×1.00 layout → +$0 appliance → ×1.00 region = $22,500.
Midpoint = 150 × 200 = $30,000.
High end = 150 × 250 = $37,500.
Displayed: $22,500 – $37,500 (most likely ~$30,000), about ~$200/sq ft.
Contingency = 10–20% of high end = add $3,800 – $7,500 for surprises.

So you'd plan a budget around $30,000, keep $37,500 + ~$7,500 available for the worst case, and get three written, itemized bids to confirm.

Kitchen remodel cost guide (2025–2026 US averages)

The numbers below are national-average planning estimates, not quotes. A kitchen remodel is one of the widest-ranging home projects there is — the same 150 sq ft kitchen can cost $15,000 or $90,000 depending almost entirely on finish tier, layout changes, and your local market. Use these ranges to set expectations and sanity-check bids; use the calculator above to dial in your own size and finish.

Cost by tier (what each budget level buys)

Finish tier is the single biggest swing in a kitchen budget — roughly a 5x spread from a budget refresh to a luxury build. Here's what each tier typically includes and what it costs installed:

TierTypical total & $/sq ft
Budget / minor refresh
Repaint or reface cabinets, laminate counters, stock fixtures, keep layout & appliances$8,000–$20,000
~$75–$100/sq ft
Mid-range
New semi-custom cabinets, quartz or granite counters, new standard appliances, tile/LVP flooring$22,000–$45,000
~$150–$250/sq ft
High-end / upscale
Custom cabinetry, premium stone, pro-style appliances, custom lighting, possible layout change$45,000–$90,000
~$250–$400/sq ft
Luxury
Fully custom everything, imported stone, high-end pro appliances, structural changes, designer-led$90,000–$150,000+
~$400–$600+/sq ft

Totals shown for a typical 100–200 sq ft kitchen. Larger kitchens scale up; high-cost metros (NYC/SF/LA/Boston/Seattle) can run 20–35% above these and luxury there can exceed $600–750/sq ft.

Cost breakdown by component (where the money goes)

Most homeowners are surprised that cabinets are the largest line item — not appliances or counters. Below is the typical share of a kitchen remodel budget by category (NKBA recommended percentages), with example dollar ranges for a mid-range ~$30,000 kitchen. Your actual mix shifts with your choices: a cabinet-heavy or appliance-heavy kitchen moves the split.

Component% of budget · example $
Cabinets & hardware~29% · $6,000–$15,000
Installation / labor~17% · $4,000–$9,000
Appliances & ventilation~14% · $3,000–$8,000
Countertops~10% · $2,000–$5,500
Flooring~7% · $1,500–$4,500
Lighting~5% · $1,000–$3,000
Walls & ceilings (paint, drywall, tile)~5% · $1,000–$3,000
Plumbing / faucets / sink~4% · $1,000–$3,500
Electrical (incl. in labor/lighting above)~$1,000–$4,000
Design fees~4% · $800–$2,500
Doors & windows~4% · $800–$2,500
Misc / contingency buffer~1%+ · varies

Plumbing and electrical costs jump sharply if you move them — relocating a sink, gas line, or adding circuits commonly adds $1,000–$5,000 plus permits. Keeping the existing layout is the single biggest lever for controlling cost.

Cost by kitchen size (small / medium / large)

Square footage is the primary cost driver because per-sqft rates scale the whole budget. These example total ranges assume a mid-range finish, national average, existing layout, new standard appliances — the most common scenario:

Kitchen sizeTypical mid-range total
Small — ~70–100 sq ft (galley, 10×10)$10,500–$25,000
Medium — ~120–180 sq ft (most US kitchens)$18,000–$45,000
Large — ~200–300 sq ft (open-plan, island)$30,000–$75,000

Spans reflect finish/region variation within each size. For budget tier subtract roughly 40–50%; for high-end add 60–100%+. Run your exact size and finish through the calculator above for a tailored range.

The formula

base       = size_sqft × rate_per_sqft   (low/mid/high band by finish)
adjusted   = base × layout_multiplier
withAppl   = adjusted + appliance_adjustment   (additive)
total      = withAppl × region_multiplier
low        = round100(total at band LOW rate)
midpoint   = round100(total at band MID rate)
high       = round100(total at band HIGH rate)
contingency= round100(0.10 × high) .. round100(0.20 × high)

Per-sqft bands (low/mid/high): Minor refresh 75/90/100, Mid-range 150/200/250, Upscale 250/325/400, Luxury 400/500/600. Layout: keep 1.00, move utilities 1.15, remove wall 1.30. Appliance (additive on adjusted base): reuse −14%, standard +0, premium +10%. Region: low-cost 0.85, national 1.00, high-cost 1.30. Only final displayed values are rounded to the nearest $100; intermediate results are never rounded. The itemized breakdown applies NKBA percentages to the midpoint.

Accuracy & disclaimers

This is a budgeting/planning estimate, not a contractor quote or bid. It's based on 2025–2026 national-average data. Actual costs depend on site conditions, material selection, local labor availability, and permits.
Per-sqft rates are national baselines (Minor $75–100, Mid $150–250, Upscale $250–400, Luxury $400–600+). The region multiplier only approximates your market — high-cost metros can exceed the modeled 1.30x, and ultra-custom luxury there can reach $600–750+/sq ft.
The itemized breakdown uses NKBA recommended budget percentages (Cabinets 29%, Labor 17%, Appliances 14%, Countertops 10%, etc.). Your actual mix will differ — a cabinet-heavy or appliance-heavy kitchen shifts the split.
The tool deliberately outputs a RANGE, not a firm number, because a wrong firm price creates false precision. Use the midpoint for planning and the high-end-plus-contingency for what you should actually have available.
Always carry a 10–20% contingency for hidden conditions (old wiring, water damage, asbestos, out-of-level floors) discovered after demolition.
Excluded unless modeled: permit fees beyond what the region multiplier implies, structural engineering, asbestos/lead abatement, temporary kitchen costs, and high-end finish splurges (specialty tile, imported stone).

Common mistakes this tool prevents

Treating the headline midpoint as a firm price and budgeting exactly that — always plan to the high end plus contingency.
Forgetting that "move plumbing/electrical" and "remove a wall" add real cost (permits, structural, trades) far beyond new finishes — homeowners routinely underestimate layout changes.
Comparing a bid that excludes appliances/permits against an all-in estimate (or vice versa) — confirm what each number includes before judging it "too high."
Using national-average numbers in a high-cost metro (or vice versa) and being shocked by the real bids — the region selector exists for this reason.
Assuming cabinets are a minor line — they're the single largest category (~29%) and the easiest place a bid balloons with custom upgrades.
Picking "reuse existing appliances" but then buying new ones mid-project, blowing the budget by ~14%.
Omitting a contingency entirely; remodels almost always uncover hidden conditions once walls open up.

How to embed this tool on your website

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a kitchen remodel cost?

National-average installed rates run roughly $75–$100/sq ft for a minor refresh, $150–$250 mid-range, $250–$400 upscale, and $400–$600+ luxury. A typical 150 sq ft mid-range kitchen lands around $22,500–$37,500 (most likely ~$30,000). This is a planning estimate, not a binding quote.

What is the average kitchen renovation cost?

The average US kitchen renovation runs about $25,000–$40,000 for a mid-range remodel of a typical 100–200 sq ft kitchen, with most projects clustering near $30,000. Budget refreshes start around $8,000–$20,000; high-end and luxury kitchens run $45,000–$150,000+. High-cost metros run 20–35% above these averages.

What does a kitchen remodel cost breakdown look like?

By category, a kitchen budget typically splits as: cabinets & hardware ~29%, installation/labor ~17%, appliances & ventilation ~14%, countertops ~10%, flooring ~7%, lighting ~5%, walls & ceilings ~5%, plumbing/faucets/sink ~4%, design fees ~4%, doors & windows ~4%, and misc ~1%. Cabinets are the single largest line item — and the easiest place a bid balloons with custom upgrades. See the full component breakdown table above.

Why a range instead of one firm number?

The same kitchen can swing 5x on finish tier alone, and bids also move with local labor, permits, and site conditions. Use the midpoint for planning and the high end plus a 10–20% contingency for what you should actually have available.

How does kitchen size affect the cost?

Square footage is the primary cost driver. Most US kitchens are 100–200 sq ft; the benchmark is a 10×10 (100 sq ft) kitchen. Double the floor area and you roughly double the base cost before other adjustments.

What does moving plumbing or removing a wall add?

This tool applies a 1.15x multiplier for moving plumbing/gas/electrical and 1.30x for removing a structural wall, reflecting added trades, structure, and permits. Keeping the existing layout is the single biggest way to control budget.

How much contingency should I budget?

Always carry 10–20% on top of the estimate for hidden conditions found after demolition. The tool shows a contingency line equal to 10–20% of the high end. It's deliberately not baked into the headline to avoid double-counting.

Is it really free?

Yes. 100% free, everything runs in your browser.

Related tools

Put this calculator on your site

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  title="Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator" loading="lazy"></iframe>
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