Kitchen project planning

Kitchen remodel cost

Explore a planning range for a kitchen refresh or remodel, adjusted by approximate room size and finish level.

Planning estimate—not a contractor quote. The model is separate from the published national guide. A ZIP match applies a broad 2024 BEA state index—not ZIP-level contractor pricing.

Published national guide

Reference range—not local pricing

Angi · kitchen remodel cost guide· updated September 4, 2026

Low: $14,592
Angi-published average: $26,992
High: $41,613

Source scope and model assumptions

Published guide scope

Broad national kitchen-remodel guide. Minor refreshes can be below the band; complete layout changes and custom work can exceed it substantially.

Angi reports a 2026 average from 13,100 projects reported by Angi Pros. Its guide separates minor, major, and complete remodel scopes.

Unadjusted HomeCostIQ model baseline

Low: $14,592
Typical: $26,990
High: $41,619

Before supported project inputs or any applicable broad state-level proxy.

Very high. Cabinet choice, appliance scope, layout changes, concealed utilities, and project duration make a single kitchen average a weak predictor for a specific home.

Project estimator

Estimate your project

Adjust supported details and recalculate without leaving the page. Expand optional inputs only when they fit your project.

Estimate preview

Enter the required details to see a low-to-high model range, cost breakdown, and source coverage.

A ZIP match may apply a broad state-level index; it is not local contractor pricing.

Use the result to prepare questions and compare written, itemized proposals.

Cost factors and bid checklistOpen practical project considerations to review before comparing written proposals.

What influences the final price?

Cabinet and countertop selections
Appliance scope
Plumbing, electrical, and layout changes

Source notes, regional context, and homeowner guidanceOpen published references, cost drivers, permits, maintenance, hiring questions, and option comparisons.

National cost reference

Published guide range—not a local quote

Angi · kitchen remodel cost guide

Low guide value

$14,592

Angi-published average

$26,992

High guide value

$41,613

Scope: Broad national kitchen-remodel guide. Minor refreshes can be below the band; complete layout changes and custom work can exceed it substantially.

Source basis: Angi reports a 2026 average from 13,100 projects reported by Angi Pros. Its guide separates minor, major, and complete remodel scopes.

Source page updated September 4, 2026. Angi is a third-party cost-guide publisher; HomeCostIQ has not independently audited the underlying project reports. The national guide is context, not a verified observation for your ZIP.

HomeCostIQ model baseline: $14,592 low · $26,990 modeled typical · $41,619 high before size, material, scope, and state-index adjustments. This is a model input, not a national contractor-price observation.

Regional labor and materials context

A state index is not a local bid

The calculator may apply a broad BEA state price-parity factor to its modeled range. It is a general purchasing-power proxy, not project-specific labor or material pricing.

BLS occupational wage tables describe employee wages, not contractor bill rates, overhead, insurance, dispatch minimums, or project bids. Neither data source validates a ZIP-level quote. BEA RPP data · BLS OEWS tables.

Common configurations and timing

Scope, options, and schedule

The model treats a midrange kitchen remodel as a whole-project allowance. Decide whether the work is a refresh, cabinet replacement, full remodel, or structural reconfiguration before comparing estimates.

Typical schedule

A small refresh can take days to a few weeks; a full remodel commonly occupies several weeks, and a major project can run for months when design, inspections, custom cabinets, or material lead times are involved.

Specifications that move the price

Cabinet refacing versus stock, semi-custom, or custom replacement
Countertop material, appliance package, flooring, lighting, and finish allowances
Whether plumbing, gas, electrical, ventilation, or walls move
Design, contractor coordination, protection, demolition, storage, and sequencing

Permitting and regulation

Local requirements to verify

Ask the local building department whether the planned structural, electrical, plumbing, gas, or ventilation changes require permits and inspections.
Put permit responsibility, inspection scheduling, and any required licensed trades in the written scope before demolition.

Rules vary by jurisdiction and project scope. Confirm requirements with the local building department or utility; this research is not legal or code advice.

Ongoing ownership cost

Maintenance and recurring expenses

Include appliance electricity and water use, filter replacements, surface care, and future hardware/finish maintenance. Efficiency savings depend on the specific product and household use.

Maintenance notes describe recurring tasks and cost drivers, not a standardized annual dollar estimate. Ongoing maintenance is not included in the one-time project range unless a page explicitly says otherwise; use product documentation, actual service quotes, and your usage to build a separate ownership budget.

Budget completeness

Common cost overruns and extras

Cabinet hardware, fillers, panels, delivery, and installation
The linked 2026 guide reports permits at $460–$2,770; this is a broad published range, not your jurisdiction’s fee.
Appliance disconnect/reconnect, temporary storage, circuits, gas relocation, ventilation, and code-required upgrades
Dust protection, meals during downtime, disposal, design fees, and change-order contingency

Avoid overspending

Keep the appliance and plumbing layout when it already works; moving utilities creates trade and inspection scope.
Choose cabinet and counter specifications before comparing bids.
Protect a contingency and approve each change order in writing before the work proceeds.

Hiring checklist

When to hire—and what to ask

Bring in a licensed general contractor for multi-trade, structural, gas, electrical, or plumbing changes. A designer or cabinet planner can reduce late revisions before orders are placed.

Questions for contractors

Which items are allowances, and what brands, quantities, and installation are included?
Who coordinates permits, deliveries, protection, and utility shutdowns?
How are concealed conditions documented and approved before change-order work?

Warning signs to investigate

A low bid with no cabinet/appliance schedule or vague “standard materials”
No written change-order process or payment milestones tied to completed work
Pressure to order custom products before dimensions and rough-ins are finalized

Compare the trade-offs

Repair, upgrade, or replace?

Repair vs. replace

If cabinets are sound, refacing, new fronts, hardware, or targeted countertop work may preserve the layout and cost less than full replacement. Replace cabinets when condition, function, or layout justifies it.

Budget vs. premium

Stock cabinetry, laminate, and standard fixtures usually lower initial spend; custom cabinets, natural stone, integrated appliances, and specialty finishes add fabrication and installation cost.

DIY vs. professional

Painting, hardware, and some backsplash work may suit experienced DIYers. Gas, electrical, structural, heavy stone, and plumbing changes belong with qualified trades.

Expected useful life

Cabinet boxes, doors, counters, appliances, and finishes age differently. Specify repairability, product warranties, replacement-part availability, and care requirements instead of assuming one room-wide lifespan.

Learn before you hire

Build a Kitchen Remodel Budget That Can Adapt

Separate must-haves from upgrades, track allowances, and keep contingency visible before work begins.

Read the guide

Plan a Bathroom Remodel Before Demolition

Understand waterproofing, ventilation, fixture allowances, and layout decisions before approving a bathroom scope.

Read the guide

Questions homeowners ask

Common questions

Is this a cabinet-refacing estimate?+

The baseline represents a broad remodel allowance, not a quote for a specific scope. Cabinet refacing can cost less; custom cabinetry and structural work can cost more.

Why is the range wide?+

Finish choices, hidden conditions, and scope changes create substantial variation. The calculator deliberately shows a range instead of a single promised price.

What usually drives a kitchen remodel above the national range?+

Custom cabinetry, premium counters, appliance packages, layout changes, structural work, and hidden plumbing or electrical corrections can move a project well beyond the average guide range.

Does the calculator include appliances and permits?+

The modeled total is a planning allowance, not a line-item contract. Appliance scope, design, permits, disposal, and utility work vary; confirm each item in your written estimate.

How can I compare two kitchen bids fairly?+

Match the cabinet construction and finish, counter material and square footage, appliance models, trade scope, allowances, demolition, permit handling, schedule, and warranty.