How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost?
Estimate your kitchen renovation budget by scope — cosmetic refresh to full gut renovation.
Kitchen Remodel Costs by Scope
Cosmetic refresh ($3,000-8,000): Paint cabinets, new hardware, backsplash, lighting. Highest ROI, lowest disruption. Minor remodel ($8,000-25,000): New countertops, appliances, sink/faucet, keep existing cabinets and layout. Major remodel ($25,000-60,000): New cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances. Same layout. Full gut ($50,000-150,000+): Move walls, relocate plumbing/electrical, completely new everything.
Where the Money Goes
In a mid-range major kitchen remodel: cabinets 30-35% (the single biggest cost), countertops 10-15%, appliances 12-18%, labor 15-25%, flooring 5-10%, lighting/electrical 5-8%, plumbing 3-5%, backsplash 2-4%. Cabinets dominate the budget — this is where the biggest savings or splurges happen.
Cabinet refacing (new doors and drawer fronts on existing boxes) costs 40-60% less than new cabinets and can transform a kitchen for $5,000-12,000. If your cabinet boxes are structurally sound and the layout works, refacing is the single best value upgrade in kitchen renovation.
