Use this free kitchen remodel cost calculator to get an instant 2026 estimate based on your kitchen's size and the finish level you want. Enter your dimensions, pick a remodel tier, and the tool returns a realistic price range, the cost per square foot, and a full budget breakdown showing where the money goes — cabinets, labor, appliances, countertops, and more.
Quick Answer: A kitchen remodel costs $15,000 to $75,000 for most projects in 2026, with the national average around $27,000–$35,000. A minor refresh of a 10×10 kitchen runs about $15,000–$20,000, a mid-range remodel $33,000–$45,000, and an upscale renovation $63,000–$80,000 or more. Cost per square foot typically falls between $150 and $500 depending on finish level.
Measure your kitchen first — the room size calculator makes this quick — then enter the numbers below. Not sure of the exact size? Choose "Enter total square feet" and use 100 sq ft for a standard 10×10 kitchen.
Estimates use 2026 national average pricing. Select your input mode, remodel tier, and any add-ons.
Most calculators multiply kitchen size by a flat per-square-foot rate — and get small kitchens badly wrong. Fixed costs like permits, demolition, design, and trade minimums don't shrink when the room does, which is why a 70 sq ft kitchen can cost more per square foot than a 250 sq ft one. This kitchen remodel cost calculator uses a more accurate two-part formula:
Total Cost = Tier Base Cost + (Rate per Sq Ft × Kitchen Area)
Base covers fixed costs (permits, demo, design, trade minimums). The rate scales with size and finish level.The tier rates and base costs are calibrated against 2026 data from Angi, HomeAdvisor, the Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, and National Kitchen & Bath Association budget guidance, so the output lands inside published national ranges for every common kitchen size.
Cabinets, countertops, and labor drive roughly two-thirds of a typical kitchen remodel cost.
These ranges come straight from the calculator's formula, with no add-ons or contingency, so you can sanity-check any result. A "10×10 kitchen" (100 sq ft) is the industry's standard benchmark size.
| Kitchen Size | Sq Ft | Budget Refresh | Mid-Range | Upscale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (7×10) | 70 | $12,900–$16,400 | $27,600–$36,000 | $51,600–$63,500 |
| Standard (10×10) | 100 | $15,000–$20,000 | $33,000–$45,000 | $63,000–$80,000 |
| Medium (12×12) | 144 | $18,080–$25,280 | $40,920–$58,200 | $79,720–$104,200 |
| Large (10×20) | 200 | $22,000–$32,000 | $51,000–$75,000 | $101,000–$135,000 |
| Extra Large | 250 | $25,500–$38,000 | $60,000–$90,000 | $120,000–$162,500 |
Regional note: these are national figures. High-cost metros — New York, the Bay Area, Seattle, and similar markets — commonly run 20–40% above these ranges, while smaller cities and rural areas often land at or just below them.
Cabinets are consistently the largest line item in a kitchen renovation, and labor is second. Here's the typical 2026 budget split the calculator uses for its breakdown, based on National Kitchen & Bath Association category data:
| Category | Share of Budget | On a $50,000 Remodel |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinets | 30% | $15,000 |
| Labor & installation | 25% | $12,500 |
| Appliances | 15% | $7,500 |
| Countertops | 10% | $5,000 |
| Flooring | 7% | $3,500 |
| Lighting & electrical | 5% | $2,500 |
| Plumbing & fixtures | 4% | $2,000 |
| Paint, backsplash & misc | 4% | $2,000 |
Cabinet cost is the biggest lever you control. Stock cabinets run roughly $100–$300 per linear foot, semi-custom $150–$700, and full custom $500–$1,200+. On a typical 20–25 linear foot kitchen, that single choice can swing the budget by $20,000 or more.
📋 Scenario
A homeowner remodels a 12 ft × 12 ft kitchen (144 sq ft) at the mid-range tier — semi-custom cabinets, quartz countertops, new appliances — keeping the existing layout, with the recommended contingency.
Step 1 — Base range: $15,000 + (144 × $180) = $40,920 low · $15,000 + (144 × $300) = $58,200 high
Step 2 — Contingency: $40,920 × 1.10 = $45,012 low · $58,200 × 1.15 = $66,930 high
Step 3 — Midpoint: ($45,012 + $66,930) ÷ 2 = $55,971, or about $389 per square foot
That midpoint sits right beside the Houzz-reported national median of about $55,000 for a major kitchen remodel — a good sign the estimate is realistic rather than optimistic.
Keeping your existing layout avoids the plumbing and electrical relocation costs that push budgets up fast.
1. Kitchen size. More square footage means more cabinets, countertop, flooring, and labor hours. Size is the single biggest scaling factor, which is why the calculator asks for it first.
2. Cabinet choice. At 25–40% of the total budget, moving from custom to semi-custom — or refacing instead of replacing — changes the project cost more than any other decision.
3. Layout changes. Keeping sinks, ranges, and walls where they are avoids $3,000–$10,000 in plumbing, electrical, and structural work, plus extra permit and design time.
4. Countertop material. Laminate runs $50 or less per square foot installed, mid-range quartz $75–$100, and premium stone $100–$150+. A typical kitchen has 30–50 sq ft of counter.
5. Appliance package. A big-box stainless bundle runs $1,900–$10,000; luxury built-in packages can exceed $25,000 on their own.
6. Labor market. Labor is 25–35% of the bill, and 2026 trade shortages have pushed installation rates up in most metros. Get two or three itemized local quotes before committing.
7. What's behind the walls. Outdated wiring or plumbing that must be brought to code is the most common hidden cost — the reason the 10–15% contingency exists, especially in homes over 30 years old.
Keep the footprint. Working within the existing layout is the single largest saving available — it avoids relocation costs and shortens the permit process.
Reface instead of replace. If your cabinet boxes are sound, new doors, fronts, and hardware cost roughly $2,000–$4,500 versus $15,000+ for full replacement.
Mind the resale math. Cost vs. Value data consistently shows minor mid-range remodels recoup the most at resale, while upscale projects recover the smallest share. If resale is the goal, a budget refresh is usually the smarter spend — you can compare scenarios with the price per square foot calculator.
Compare itemized quotes. Ask each contractor to break out cabinets, labor, and trades separately so quotes are genuinely comparable, and treat a bid far below the others as a warning, not a bargain. Use the percentage calculator to compare how far apart bids really are.
Plan the financing early. If you're borrowing against the home, the mortgage calculator shows how a refinance or larger loan changes your monthly payment before you commit.
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