A beautiful and functional kitchen provides a focal point for cooking and hosting people. It helps that a kitchen remodel is among the most popular renovations and has a relatively high return on investment (ROI) and can increase the resale value of your home.
The total cost of your remodeling project will vary. Still, it’s essential to have enough cash ready for the entire project. In 2021 Harvard University’s Center for Joint Housing Studies estimated that homeowners, on average, will spend the following amounts:
- $6,329 for a minor kitchen remodel
- $42,816 for a major kitchen remodel
To give you a precise accounting of the total cost of remodeling your kitchen, we’ll evaluate the costs of the project in the following categories:
- Expenses you’ll encounter in remodeling a kitchen
- Plumbing costs
- Kitchen fixture costs
- Material and labor costs
- Size of kitchen
- Structural change costs
So, how much does it cost to remodel your kitchen? Let’s find out how to create a kitchen remodel budget!
This guide will give you a better idea of the typical kitchen remodeling costs so that you know where to focus your energy on kitchen remodeling.
Remember, kitchen remodels can range from minimal updates to full-on kitchen overhauls, so it’s essential to consider what works for you before spending money.
With careful planning, you can make the kitchen of your dreams without breaking the bank. We’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you learn more about kitchen remodel costs.
Cost to Remodel a Kitchen
Your kitchen size, quality of materials, labor costs, and renovation complexity determine your specific project’s overall cost.
We’ll review three reputable online sources for remodeling costs to get a general idea of how much an average kitchen remodel costs.
Fixr
National Average Cost: $30,000
National Average Range: $15,000-$50,000
Low-end: $8,000
High-end: $150,000
Fixr’s methodology generates national averages from various sources, including internal cost data, industry resources, U.S. associations, government resources, DIY websites, contractors and subcontractors, material suppliers, and vendor websites.
HomeAdvisor
National Average Cost: $26,101
Typical Range: $14,554-$40,374
Low-end: $3,500
High-end: $62,000
HomeAdvisor determines its national averages based on the data collected from its user base. Homeowners use the website to find professionals for home projects. When the projects are complete, homeowners fill out a survey. The company compiles the data and shares the data with website users.
HomeGuide
National Average Cost: $16,600
Average Range: $12,800-$21,200
Low-end: $12,200
High-end: $126,000
HomeGuide’s estimates come from millions of home improvement cost estimate data points to find their cost. They compile data from more than 300 cost guides, and 50,000 professional submissions of home cost repair estimates.
Plumbing Costs
Your kitchen is the focal point of your home; it’s where lots of action occurs. It might be a bit of an imposition to commit to kitchen upgrades, but with planning, it may be worth it to you.
Remodeling your kitchen happens in multiple stages. On the one hand, you have the visible features of cabinets, countertops, and other surfaces.
An additional, probably more critical, remodeling stage involves plumbing and plumbing costs.
Kitchen plumbing may include the following:
- Appliances that use water lines
- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator
- Disposal
- Ice maker
- Plumbing fixtures
- Sinks
- Faucets
- Instant hot water tap
- Pot filler
- Pipes
Typically, kitchen plumbing costs range from $4,000 to $7,000, with a national average of $5,500, a low-end price of $1,600, and a high-end cost of $10,000.
Kitchen Fixture Costs
Kitchen fixtures refer to fastened items, such as an appliance used to cook, prepare food, or clean. Generally, kitchen fixtures refer to appliances, cabinets, and countertops.
Appliances
Kitchen appliances usually refer to the following items:
- Dishwasher
- Light fixtures
- Microwave
- Oven and stove
- Refrigerator
The cost of appliances is different depending on your budget. You could spend anywhere between $200 to $5,000 for freestanding appliances. If you get a custom installation of your appliances, you might pay between $1,000 to $10,000.
Energy-efficient appliances cost a bit more but will save you money over their lifetime.
Cabinets
Kitchen cabinet installation costs range from $1,860 to $9,430. Cabinets, especially custom-made cabinetry, are the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel.
You can use stock cabinets or keep your existing cabinets to save money, but striking, custom cabinetry gives your kitchen its soul and personality. As such, you must determine how much money you want to devote to your kitchen remodel. Will you spring for custom cabinets? Or will you choose the more affordable stock cabinet options?
Handles and knobs
For each of your new cabinets and drawers, you’ll need new handles and knobs. The final hardware costs are determined by the number you need, color, style, and material.
The most affordable handles and knobs cost less than $1 a piece, but high-quality hardware can cost hundreds of dollars. You can expect to pay between $2 to $3 per handle or knob.
Countertops
The cost of new countertops varies based on material, quantity, layout, location, and square footage. Generally, you can expect to pay $1,850 to $4,200, with a low end of $400 and a high end of $8,000.
The following are common countertop materials and costs:
- Granite: $15 to $190 per square foot
- Natural stone: $60 to $200 per square foot
- Synthetic (soapstone and laminate): $20 to $70 per square foot
- Stainless steel: $80 to $225 per square foot
- Title: $3 to $28 per square foot
Materials and Labor Costs
Your kitchen remodel is a significant investment and cost for homeowners. The project will cost you time, money, and (in the worst cases) sanity!
The cost to remodel your kitchen can balloon into the thousands, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. A high-end kitchen remodel can cost more than $100,000. These prices include material and labor.
Material cost
Material costs account for 70% to 85% of the total cost of remodeling your kitchen.
One way to save money on material costs is to buy them yourself. The price that contractors charge for materials varies from contractor to contractor. In general, contractors markup the price of materials from 7.5% to 20%.
Labor cost
Labor costs account for 15% to 30% of the total cost of remodeling your kitchen.
General contractors may calculate labor cost in two ways: as a percentage or by the hour. Labor as a percentage is calculated by adding the cost of materials and then adding a percentage that covers labor costs. The other way that contractors may calculate labor is with a flat hourly rate. The average contractor rate is $50 to $150.
To save on labor costs, evaluate the project and determine how much you can DIY.
Kitchen Specification Costs
In most cases, kitchen remodeling costs are determined by the square feet of the project. On average, kitchen renovations cost between $150 and $250 per square foot.
There are also degrees of difficulty for your floor plan, kitchen design, kitchen layout, and the size of your kitchen. A partial update or minor remodel will cost much less than a complete renovation. Depending on the cost of materials, a luxurious kitchen renovation might cost as much as $450 per square foot.
| Kitchen Size | Average Range | High-End Cost |
| 8’ x 8’ | $9,600-$16,000 | $28,800 |
| 8’ x 10’ | $12,000-$20,000 | $36,000 |
| 9’ x 9’ | $12,150-$20,250 | $36,450 |
| 10’ x 10’ | $15,000-$25,000 | $45,000 |
| 10’ x 12’ | $18,000-$30,000 | $54,000 |
| 10 x 20’ | $30,000-$50,000 | $90,000 |
| 12 x 12’ | $21,600-$36,000 | $64,800 |
| 20’ x 20’ | $60,000-$100,000 | $180,000 |
Structural Change Costs
It’s important to understand that each kitchen remodel is self-contained and unique. Individual remodels will have different aesthetics, material, and labor costs.
You may choose to do a cosmetic facelift of your kitchen. That’s a smaller project without significant changes, so it will cost less than a more extensive remodel. Or you might have a small kitchen that’ll cost less than renovating a large kitchen.
You could also do a partial remodel where you don’t change the structure but have major changes like new appliances, cabinets, countertops, and kitchen flooring.
A full remodel involves structural changes in the layout of the space and may include significant upgrades in kitchen fixtures, installing new flooring, and adding a kitchen island. It’s like getting a new kitchen, a dream kitchen.
A full kitchen remodeling project (one that may include structural changes) can cost between $26,000 to $70,000. The project cost comes from the fact that it is all-inclusive and strips and removes all the material in your kitchen. Exposing the bones of your kitchen allows you to:
- Access to leaking pipes
- Add an island
- Change the layout
- Create a semi-custom or fully customized space to match your specific taste
- Remove or add more cabinetry
Suppose you replace everything in your kitchen with high-end appliances and materials. In that case, the renovation costs may range between $50,000 to $150,000.
Conclusion
Renovating your kitchen can be a costly expense and a hassle to undertake. However, if you plan and research the costs involved, it may be worthwhile, as you’ll have a beautiful and functional cooking space that meets your needs. An added benefit is that it can increase your home’s value.
Choosing quality materials for your renovation project can increase the cost further. Still, it will help you get a longer-lasting result that you can enjoy for years. Ultimately, the cost of renovating your kitchen depends on many factors, so getting multiple quotes and doing your due diligence is essential before making any decisions.
By understanding the expense upfront, you can plan accordingly and feel confident about investing in your kitchen renovation.
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