Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator (2026) — Free Instant Estimate

Build your estimate

Answer five quick questions — your estimate updates instantly, nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

Step 1 · Kitchen size

Small

Under 100 sq ft

Medium

100–150 sq ft

Large

150–250 sq ft

Extra Large

250+ sq ft

Step 2 · Remodel level

Cosmetic

Paint, hardware & fixtures — keep the existing layout and cabinet boxes.

Mid-Range

New cabinets, counters & appliances — same footprint, no wall moves.

High-End

Premium materials, custom touches, some layout changes.

Luxury

Full custom gut renovation, top-tier finishes throughout.

Step 3 · Materials

Cabinets

Stock: pre-made, off-the-shelf sizes — fastest and cheapest. Semi-custom: stock boxes with some size/style choices. Custom: built exactly to your kitchen — most expensive, longest lead time.

Countertops

Laminate: budget-friendly, man-made surface. Granite: natural stone, needs occasional sealing. Quartz: engineered stone, very durable, low maintenance. Marble: premium natural stone, elegant but stains/scratches easily.

Appliances

Basic: standard builder-grade appliances. Mid-range: recognized brands with more features. Premium: high-end or professional-grade appliances.

Step 4 · Location

US State

We adjust the national base cost up or down by state to reflect typical differences in local construction labor rates, permitting/building-code complexity, and material costs — for example, high-cost markets like California, New York, and Hawaii tend to run well above the national number, while much of the Midwest and South runs below it. This is our own modeling estimate, not an official government or industry rate — always confirm with local contractor quotes.

Please select a kitchen size and remodel level above before calculating.

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RemodelCostCalc.com

Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimate

Estimated Total Cost

$0 – $0

Cost per sq ft

$0

Based on your selected size & tier

Est. resale ROI

–

Source: Zonda 2025 Cost vs. Value Report

Cost breakdown by category

How we calculated this number

About these estimates. Category weightings (cabinets, countertops, appliances, labor, flooring) are modeled on published kitchen-remodel cost breakdowns aggregated from industry sources including Angi/HomeAdvisor and CliqStudios. Material-tier and location adjustments are this calculator's own modeling assumptions for illustrative planning purposes — the state adjustment approximates typical regional labor/material cost differences and is not drawn from a single published dataset. ROI figures reference Zonda's Cost vs. Value Report, which tracks a "minor kitchen remodel" (cabinet refacing, new counters/appliances, same layout) separately from a "major/upscale" gut renovation — actual resale return depends heavily on your local market, so treat this as a directional estimate, not a guarantee, and confirm real pricing with local contractors.

Want to see it before you build it?

Copy this prompt, open ChatGPT, upload a photo of your current kitchen, and paste it in — it'll generate a visual based on your selections. Google Gemini works too if you'd rather use that.

Style (doesn't change your cost estimate — just the visual)

Modern

Farmhouse

Minimalist

Transitional

Traditional

Color palette

White & Bright

Warm Wood Tones

Bold & Dark

Two-Tone

Example: Modern + White & Bright — a real kitchen close to your pick, for inspiration only.

Open ChatGPT → Open Gemini →

Free tip, not a paid partnership — we don't earn anything if you use ChatGPT or Gemini. Free plans allow a limited number of image generations per day.

What kitchen remodels cost by tier

National cost ranges by remodel scope, based on published 2025-2026 industry cost data.

Cosmetic / Refresh

$5,000 – $20,000

Paint or reface existing cabinets, new hardware, a fresh backsplash, and updated lighting. Layout and cabinet boxes stay put.

Mid-Range

$30,000 – $60,000

New semi-custom cabinets, stone countertops, mid-range appliances and flooring, same footprint. The most common full remodel.

High-End

$60,000 – $150,000

Custom cabinetry, premium stone, professional-grade appliances, and often a layout change or added island.

Luxury

$150,000+

Full gut renovation: structural changes, top-tier custom cabinetry, natural stone, and high-end integrated appliances.

Ranges compiled from Angi, HomeAdvisor, and Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. Actual costs vary by market, contractor, and project scope. See our cabinet guide and money-saving guide for more detail.

Kitchen styles for inspiration

Three popular directions homeowners are choosing in 2026.

Modern

Clean lines, handleless cabinets, quartz waterfall islands, and integrated appliances.

Farmhouse

Apron-front sinks, open shelving, warm wood tones, and vintage-inspired hardware.

Minimalist

Flat-panel cabinets, monochrome palettes, and hidden storage that keeps counters clear.

Frequently asked questions

What's the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?⌄

Cabinetry is almost always the single biggest line item, typically making up roughly a third of the total budget, followed by labor, appliances, countertops, and flooring.

How long does a kitchen remodel take?⌄

A cosmetic refresh can take 1-3 weeks. A mid-range remodel that replaces cabinets, counters, and appliances without moving plumbing or walls typically takes 6-10 weeks. A high-end or luxury remodel that changes the layout, plumbing, or electrical can take 3-6 months or longer, especially with custom cabinetry lead times.

Is it worth remodeling your kitchen before selling?⌄

According to Zonda's Cost vs. Value Report, a minor kitchen remodel (refacing cabinets, new countertops and appliances, keeping the layout) is consistently one of the highest-return renovation projects nationally, while a major upscale kitchen gut renovation returns considerably less of its cost at resale. For most sellers, a smaller, targeted refresh pays back better than a full luxury overhaul. Read our full ROI breakdown.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost per square foot?⌄

Nationally, cosmetic kitchen work runs roughly $75-$150 per square foot, mid-range remodels run about $150-$250 per square foot, and high-end to luxury remodels run $250-$500+ per square foot, depending on cabinetry, countertop material, and appliance tier.

Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel?⌄

Cosmetic work like painting cabinets or swapping a countertop usually doesn't require a permit. Moving plumbing, gas lines, or electrical circuits, or changing the kitchen's layout or load-bearing walls, typically does. Requirements vary by city and county, so check with your local building department before work starts.

What's the difference between a mid-range and a high-end kitchen remodel?⌄

A mid-range remodel generally keeps the existing layout and replaces cabinets, countertops, appliances, and flooring with semi-custom to custom-level materials. A high-end or luxury remodel often changes the layout, adds custom cabinetry, premium stone countertops, and professional-grade appliances, and may involve structural, plumbing, or electrical work.

What does this estimate NOT include?⌄

This calculator prices the remodel itself — cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, and labor. It doesn't price permit fees, demolition and debris disposal, or structural, electrical, or plumbing surprises uncovered once cabinets or flooring come out, which are common in older homes. Most industry budgeting guidance suggests setting aside an additional 10-20% of your total on top of any estimate — including this one — as a contingency for exactly these kinds of unknowns.