Kitchen Renovation Cost Guide - Prices For Any Budget

Remodeling your kitchen can be one of the most rewarding home improvement projects. But before undertaking a kitchen renovation, it’s important to understand the costs involved so you can budget appropriately.

Whether you have a small galley kitchen or a large gourmet chef’s kitchen, you’ll find realistic price ranges for every type of kitchen remodel project.

Average Costs for Kitchen Remodels

Kitchen renovation costs vary greatly based on the size of your space and the scale of the remodel. Here are typical price ranges:

Small Kitchens (under 150 sq ft)

For a small kitchen, expect to spend $15,000-$25,000 on average for a remodel. Small kitchen updates usually include:

• Cabinet refacing with new doors/drawers: $2,000-$5,000
• Replacing laminate countertops with granite or quartz: $2,500-$5,000
• Installing a stainless steel sink and new faucet: $500-$2,000
• Painting walls, cabinets, and trim: $500-$1,000
• Replacing lighting fixtures: $200-$500
• Installing new tile or resilient vinyl flooring: $1,500-$3,000
• Replacing old appliances: $3,000-$5,000

By focusing on surfaces and amenities rather than major layout changes, you can give your small kitchen a fresh new look at a reasonable price.

Medium Kitchens (150 - 350 sq ft)

For mid-sized kitchens, expect to invest $25,000-$50,000 for a full remodel. The most popular upgrades for a medium kitchen include:

• New custom or semi-custom cabinets: $10,000-$20,000
• Granite, quartz, or solid surface countertops: $3,000-$7,000
• Glass tile backsplash: $1,500-$3,000
• Hardwood flooring installation: $3,000-$5,000
• Recessed LED lighting: $1,500-$2,500
• Minor layout changes like island or peninsula addition: $2,000-$5,000
• New Energy Star stainless steel appliances: $5,000-$10,000

With a well-designed kitchen remodel in this range, you can gain beautiful new cabinetry, along with upgraded counters, lighting, and appliances.

Large Luxury Kitchens (over 350 sq ft)

For expansive, high-end kitchens, you can expect to pay $50,000-$100,000 or more for a whole-kitchen renovation. Luxury kitchen remodels typically include features like:

• Extensive custom cabinetry with rich finishes: $30,000-$50,000
• Exotic countertops like granite, marble or quartzite: $10,000-$15,000
• Pro-style appliances and amenities like a gas range, fridge, wine cooler: $15,000-$30,000
• Major layout changes like moving walls and relocating plumbing/electric: $15,000-$25,000
• Upscale fixtures like pot fillers, custom range hoods and sinks: $5,000-$10,000

While a luxury kitchen remodel requires a substantial investment, the high-end details and customization can make this grand space the focal point of your home.

Cost Factors To Consider

When budgeting for your kitchen remodel, here are some of the main elements to factor into your estimate:

Layout Changes

Modifying your existing kitchen layout or floorplan tends to increase costs, but opens up more design possibilities. Minor layout tweaks like adding a kitchen island or peninsula start around $2,000. Major changes like moving walls or relocating plumbing and appliances can add $15,000-$25,000.

Countertops

Countertop costs range dramatically based on your material selection:

• Laminate counters: $1,500
• Quartz: $3,000-$4,500
• Granite: $3,500-$5,000
• Marble: $5,000-$9,000
• Soapstone: $5,000-$7,000

For a balance of affordability and durability, laminate and quartz are smart choices. Granite and marble offer elegance but come with higher prices and more required maintenance.

Cabinets

Stock cabinets cost $100-$300 per linear foot while custom cabinets run $500-$1,200+ per linear foot. Refacing your existing cabinets by adding new doors and drawers costs about $2,000-$5,000 for an affordable update.

Flooring

Kitchen flooring costs include:

• Ceramic tile: $3-$8 per sq. ft. installed
• Natural stone tile: $8-$20 per sq. ft. installed
• Vinyl: $2-$5 per sq. ft. installed
• Hardwood: $4-$8 per sq. ft. installed

For high durability at lower cost, ceramic and vinyl flooring are great options for kitchens. Natural stone and hardwood offer beauty but tend to be pricier and require more maintenance.

Appliances

Expect to spend $3,000-$5,000 upgrading your full suite of essential kitchen appliances. You can buy appliance packages at a discount rather than purchasing separately. Luxury brands like Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Viking offer prestige but carry higher price tags.

Additional Cost Considerations

Contractor vs. DIY Kitchen Remodel

Hiring a general contractor adds about 40% to the total project cost but takes the work off your plate. Most homeowners spend around $15,000-$25,000 for a DIY kitchen update by refacing cabinets, replacing countertops and flooring, and painting walls. Anything beyond that usually requires help from contractors.

How to Reduce Costs on a Remodel

If your budget is tight, there are ways to reduce costs on a remodel. Opt for midrange counters and cabinets rather than top-tier, limit major layout changes, install your own lighting fixtures, and finish trims and surfaces yourself. Get quotes from at least 3 contractors and compare carefully.

A major kitchen overhaul involves an investment, but focus your dollars on the elements you use most like cabinets, counters, and appliances. For a budget-friendly remodel, small updates to surfaces can make a big visual impact. And remember, even modest kitchen renovations recoup over 70% of their cost at resale!