Home Equity HELOCs How Much Should a Kitchen Remodel Cost? 2 people contribute to this content Written by Jonathon Jachura Written by Jonathon Jachura Expertise: Home improvement, HVAC systems, energy efficiency, plumbing, lawn care Jon Jachura is a home improvement enthusiast and engineer with more than a decade of experience in HVAC systems and hands-on home projects. He enjoys helping homeowners understand, plan, and budget for upgrades that make their homes more comfortable and efficient. Learn more about Jonathon Jachura Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Expertise: Student loans, mortgages, personal loans, home equity, investing Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their three senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015. Learn more about Kristen Barrett, MAT Written by Jonathon Jachura Written by Jonathon Jachura Expertise: Home improvement, HVAC systems, energy efficiency, plumbing, lawn care Jon Jachura is a home improvement enthusiast and engineer with more than a decade of experience in HVAC systems and hands-on home projects. He enjoys helping homeowners understand, plan, and budget for upgrades that make their homes more comfortable and efficient. Learn more about Jonathon Jachura Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Expertise: Student loans, mortgages, personal loans, home equity, investing Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their three senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015. Learn more about Kristen Barrett, MAT show more Jan 05, 2026 Nationally, kitchen remodels run about $27,000 on average. Some models go as low as $14,600, while others exceed $41,550. Your kitchen size matters. So does material quality and whether you’re moving walls around or keeping things where they are. You could refresh the basics for $10,000, or gut the whole room and spend $130,000-plus on custom everything. Smaller-scale projects tend to recoup 70% to 80% when you sell. The National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Remodeling Impact Report gave kitchen upgrades a perfect “Joy Score” of 10 out of 10 for homeowner satisfaction. For larger projects, financing options like a home equity line of credit help spread out the cost. Costs sourced from contractor estimates via Angi. Table of Contents Average cost of a kitchen remodel Is it worth it? ROI and resale value “Joy Score” Energy efficiency and long-term savings Cost by square footage Cost by project scope Minor Major Complete Cost breakdown by element Cabinets Countertops Appliances Flooring Backsplash Plumbing and electrical updates Lighting Layout changes DIY and budget-friendly options IKEA Home Depot Other cost-saving strategies Labor and professional installation costs When to hire professionals What you can DIY How to finance FAQ Average cost of a kitchen remodel While $27,000 is the average for a kitchen remodel, your location makes a huge difference. A contractor in Indianapolis charges less than one in San Francisco. A small-town contractor will command less than someone working in downtown Chicago. I built a home in Northern Indiana in 2022, and our kitchen came in at 60% to 75% of what you’d pay on the coasts. The cabinet bill was $18,500, quartz countertops cost us $6,500, and appliances came to $5,200. Local contractor rates make a huge difference, and so does material availability. If something needs to ship from across the country, you’re paying for that. Contractors usually quote $75 to $250 per square foot. At the lower end, you’re getting laminate surfaces and stock cabinets. Push toward the higher end, and you’re into stone counters and custom-built cabinetry. Is a kitchen remodel worth it? ROI and resale value Kitchen upgrades rank among the top projects real estate agents recommend before listing a home. About 48% of Realtors report increased buyer demand for updated kitchens, according to NAR data. Sell your house after a minor remodel, and you’ll likely get 70% to 80% of that money back. Go bigger with a major overhaul? The return drops to between 50% and 60%. An updated kitchen helps when buyers are comparison shopping, especially in a competitive market. Here’s the thing about overspending: A $100,000 kitchen renovation in a $250,000 house is money you’ll never recover. Match your upgrades to neighborhood expectations instead. That’s what actually helps a house sell. Our guide to home improvements with the highest ROI breaks down which projects actually pay for themselves. The “Joy Score” factor NAR’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report uses a “Joy Score” to track homeowner happiness after renovations. Kitchens scored a 10 out of 10. Nothing else came close. When NAR asked people how they felt looking at their new kitchens, 43% said “happy,” and 38% said “satisfied.” Sticking around for five years or more? How the kitchen feels every morning matters more than resale math. Energy efficiency and long-term savings Your 15-year-old refrigerator is costing you more to run than a new one would. The same goes for dishwashers and ranges past the decade mark. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, induction cooktops pull 5% to 10% less energy than standard electric ranges. Compared to gas? They’re about three times more efficient. Refrigerators, dishwashers, and other appliances with ENERGY STAR certification sometimes qualify for federal tax credits or utility rebates. It’s worth checking before you buy. Those credits can knock a couple of hundred bucks off the final price. Update for 2026: Federal energy-efficiency tax credits for appliances ended on December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If you purchased a qualifying ENERGY STAR appliance in 2025, you may still be able to claim the credit on your 2025 tax return. Appliances purchased in 2026 or later no longer qualify for federal credits, though some state or utility rebates may still be available. Kitchen remodel cost by square footage Square footage determines how contractors quote most kitchen work. Cabinets and counters are different; they’re priced by the linear foot. A skinny galley kitchen lined with cabinets on both sides can actually cost more than a bigger, more open space with the same floor area. Here’s what different kitchen sizes typically cost: Kitchen sizeCost75 sq ft$5,600 – $17,500100 sq ft (10×10)$7,500 – $25,000144 sq ft (12×12)$11,250 – $37,500200 sq ft$15,000 – $50,000200+ sq ft (large or open-concept)$15,000 – $50,000+Note: Some materials priced by linear foot (cabinets, countertops) rather than square footage Kitchen remodel cost by project scope Minor kitchen remodel Minor remodels cost between $10,000 and $20,000 and don’t have any layout changes. These updates may include cabinet painting or refacing, hardware updates, and possibly a new dishwasher or other appliances. Fresh flooring and counters are other minor updates. These work when the layout is pleasing, but the look is tired. Major kitchen remodel Major remodels cost $20,000 to $65,000 and often involve removing old cabinets. Semi-custom versions replace them, offering better quality than builder-grade, but at non-custom prices. You might upgrade counters to quartz or granite. Every appliance gets upgraded. Maybe you add an island, new lighting, and new floors. The pipes stay put, but the rest of the room transforms. Complete kitchen remodel A full remodel ranges from $65,000 to $130,000. In most cases, everything is torn out, plumbing is rerouted, and electrical and gas lines are relocated. Cabinets are built to your exact dimensions. Finishes come from the expensive pages of the showroom catalog. People spend this kind of money when they want to remove the wall separating kitchen from living room, or when the existing layout just doesn’t work for how they cook and live. Cost breakdown by kitchen element Cabinets Your cabinets will probably eat 30% to 40% of the total budget. That’s the biggest single line item. Depending on how many you need and whether you opt for a standard or custom model, you’re spending between $2,000 and $28,000. Stock cabinets (the ones sitting in a warehouse ready to ship) go for $100 to $300 per linear foot once they’re installed. Custom jobs built to your specifications range from $500 to $1,200 per linear foot. Then there’s hardware. Basic knobs cost under $100 total. High-end or antique pieces can run $10,000. Countertops Most countertop jobs fall between $1,800 and $4,400. Go premium, and you’ll blow past $10,000. Laminate costs $8 to $35 per square foot and holds up better than its reputation. Quartz runs $15 to $70. It doesn’t require sealing and wipes clean, which is why it has become the default mid-range pick. Granite ranges from $10 to $140 per square foot; the price depends on rarity and origin. Marble costs $15 to $190 and photographs well, but it’s prone to scratches and stains. Appliances Microwaves start below $100. A commercial-style range hits $5,000 and climbs from there. Installation runs $125 to $300 per appliance. A complete package, fridge, range, dishwasher, and microwave, costs $3,200 to $9,000 before anyone hooks it up. Flooring Floors run $1,000 to $5,000 total. Vinyl plank and laminate are the most affordable options, ranging from $3 to $10 per square foot. Ceramic tile has a vast range, from $4 to $40, because basic subway tile and hand-painted, imported items are lumped together. Hardwood costs $6 to $18 per square foot. Stone runs $8 to $22. Backsplash A backsplash runs $500 to $1,500 total. Tile is $15 to $40 per square foot. About 40% of your total bill goes to labor, so tackling this yourself can save real money if you’ve tiled before. Plumbing and electrical updates Plumbing gets expensive. Moving a sink, running supply lines, and dealing with old pipes can cost $1,500 to $15,000. A sink is $200 to $2,000, plus $400 for installation. Faucets run $250 installed. Electrical work ranges from $100 for a new outlet to $2,000 for panel upgrades. Electric ranges require a dedicated 220- to 240-volt circuit. The outlet costs $10 to $20, and the electrician $50 to $100 per hour. DIYers who tamper with wiring risk injury or starting fires. Hire an electrician. Lighting Replacing a few fixtures costs around $500. Recessed lights, pendant fixtures, under-cabinet LEDs? That can push you past $2,000. The under-cabinet strips alone run $250 to $300 installed. Get a mix of overhead ambient light and task lighting over work areas. The room actually feels done when you get this right. Layout changes Moving a gas line costs $400 to $750. Taking out a non-load-bearing wall runs $500 to $2,000. Then add permits, inspections, and the hassle of coordinating multiple contractors who depend on each other’s progress. I’ve rarely seen layout changes pencil out financially unless the original floor plan was genuinely terrible. The costs pile on, and the ROI drops. Save layout changes for situations where the existing setup creates real daily frustrations. DIY and budget-friendly remodel options IKEA kitchen remodel costs IKEA sells complete kitchen setups for $7,000 to $15,000. For just cabinets and counters without new floors or appliances, that’s $3,200 to $7,400. A 10×10 set of IKEA cabinets runs $3,000 to $6,500. Add the quartz counters for another $2,000 to $5,000. Installation starts at about $100 per cabinet through IKEA’s network of installers. The trade-off? You’ll spend time on assembly, and style options are more limited than in custom shops. But for the price, IKEA cabinets hold up well and look sharp. Home Depot kitchen remodel costs Home Depot handles projects from $10,000 cosmetic updates to $50,000 overhauls. Mid-range work with solid materials and professional installation usually falls between $15,000 and $25,000. Home Depot has design help, its own crews, and financing available. The kitchen estimator tool provides you with rough numbers before you head to the store. Other cost-saving strategies Here are a few moves that save real money: Keep the existing cabinet boxes and just replace the doors and drawer fronts. That’s $2,000 to $5,000 you won’t spend Leave plumbing and electrical where they are. (Moving the sink or stove triggers expensive work.) Check for floor model appliances or units with small dents that don’t affect function. Do your own painting, hardware installation, and backsplash. Labor and professional installation costs Labor takes about a quarter of your budget: $2,500 on a $10,000 project. Contractors charge between $300 and $500 per day or 10% to 20% of the total project cost. Designers charge $100 to $500 per hour. Electricians charge between $50 and $100 per hour. Plumbers’ rates range from $45 to $200, depending on the job. Permits cost $450 to $2,800 based on where you live and how big your project is. When to hire professionals If you need electrical, plumbing, gas, and structural work, you should hire licensed professionals for all of it. Stone countertop installation and custom cabinetry typically require the services of professionals. Permits and inspections are required in most municipalities for this work, and the cost of fixing amateur mistakes almost always exceeds what a professional would have charged. What you can DIY Paint the walls, replace the cabinet pulls, install a tile backsplash, lay vinyl plank flooring, and replace the garbage disposal. None of this needs a permit in most places. Doing the work yourself saves $1,000 to $3,000. How to finance a kitchen remodel A HELOC works well when you’re not sure exactly what the final bill will look like; you can draw against your equity as needed. Figure makes the application process faster than most banks. Kitchen Remodel Loans and Financing Options Homeowners with limited equity should consider a home improvement loan, which provides an unsecured option. We break down the differences between home improvement loans and home equity loans if you’re weighing both. See our list of the best HELOC lenders. Read more: When Is the Best Time to Take Equity Out of Your Home? How to Use a Home Equity Loan for a Remodel Best Home Improvement Loans FAQ How long does a kitchen remodel take? For paint and new counters, estimate four to six weeks. New cabinets and appliances? Six to 10 weeks. Full gut renovation? Three to four months before you’re using that kitchen again. What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel? Cabinets take the biggest chunk: 30% to 40% on most projects. Appliances, counters, and flooring divide the rest. How much should I spend on a kitchen remodel? The “5% to 15% of home value” guideline is often mentioned, but it’s just a starting point. Ask yourself instead: What actually needs to change, and how long will you live here? Selling soon? Prioritize updates with strong resale appeal. Staying put? Spend on features that improve your daily life. Article sources At LendEDU, our writers and editors rely on primary sources, such as government data and websites, industry reports and whitepapers, and interviews with experts and company representatives. We also reference reputable company websites and research from established publishers. This approach allows us to produce content that is accurate, unbiased, and supported by reliable evidence. Read more about our editorial standards. Angi, How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? U.S. Department of Energy, Kitchen Appliances National Association of Realtors, Remodeling Impact Report Zonda, Cost vs. Value Report Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Improving America’s Housing About our contributors Written by Jonathon Jachura Jon Jachura is a home improvement enthusiast and engineer with more than a decade of experience in HVAC systems and hands-on home projects. He enjoys helping homeowners understand, plan, and budget for upgrades that make their homes more comfortable and efficient. Edited by Kristen Barrett, MAT Kristen Barrett is a managing editor at LendEDU. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her wife and their three senior rescue dogs. She has edited and written personal finance content since 2015.