If the kitchen is the heart of the home, what does it say when yours is falling apart? Shabby fixtures, failing appliances, or a dysfunctional layout might have you daydreaming about a full gut reno — but how much does an average kitchen remodel cost? A minor kitchen update by DIY-savvy homeowners may come in at $4,000, while a major remodel can balloon to $50,000, or even $100,000+.
Before you begin your kitchen update, it helps to consider why you’re remodeling and whether it will add value to your home. We’ll help you scope out the average cost of a kitchen remodel — including cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and labor — and where you can save money without sacrificing function or design.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Overview
Homeowners remodel for different reasons: better functionality, entertaining, to update dated fixtures, or to prep for a home sale. It’s important to consider both what you want to get out of the remodel and what your return on investment (ROI) might be before diving into hiring contractors and purchasing appliances.
Do you plan to live in your place a few more years and enjoy your new kitchen? Or will you strategically upgrade for a home sale in the near future? The answer will influence where and how you spend money.
The truth is you probably won’t recoup the total cost of a kitchen remodel in a home sale.
According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report 2022, the national average ROI for a minor remodel with mid-range materials is 71%. A major remodel with upscale materials, on the other hand, yields just a 52.5% ROI.
Clearly, the best bang for your buck will be less costly but visually impactful minor updates: replacing cabinets fronts, countertops, faucets, and lights, plus painting and perhaps new flooring. But if you want to change the layout or add all-new appliances, you’re looking at five figures. (You may be interested in this story on the difference between a renovation vs. remodel.)
Average Kitchen Remodeling Costs by Feature
The average kitchen remodel cost can vary a lot depending on a few key items: cabinetry, countertops, and appliances. We’ll review your options and typical costs for low-, middle-, and high-end updates.
Kitchen Cabinetry Cost
Cabinetry typically eats up 25% of a kitchen budget. There are three types of kitchen cabinet construction, each priced per linear foot:
• Stock cabinets, the least expensive, run $60-$200 per linear foot, or $1,250-$2,500.
• Semi-custom are $100-$650 per linear foot, or $1,875-$10,000.
• Custom will set you back $500-$1,200 per linear foot, or $7,500-$18,750.
Custom cabinets are made to order, based on your kitchen’s precise measurements, and made of solid wood. Stock are ready-made and mostly constructed of engineered wood, and semi-custom are a hybrid of stock and custom.
Countertop Cost
The cost of countertops is determined by the material. Typical materials include granite, marble, quartz, stainless steel, and butcher block wood. Granite, stainless steel, and butcher block are good budget options, ranging from $850 to $4,000 depending on the size of your kitchen. Marble and quartz command $2,000-$10,000.
Appliances Cost
The number of different appliances in the typical kitchen sets this home reno apart from, say, a bathroom remodel. Appliances generally account for 20% of your overall budget. Replacing all your appliances at once — fridge, stove, oven, dishwasher — can be quite pricey.
Discount shoppers might be able to find a full suite of lower end appliances for as little as $1,500. Midrange appliances can run about $5,500 all in, and higher end models can come to $17,000. Double wall ovens, a favorite of serious cooks, can cost $1,800-$6,500 on their own. And some homeowners may decide to annex a closet for a mini laundry room.
Installation and Labor Costs
Labor is another major cost that can be hard to predict. But count on spending 30%-35% of your budget on contractors and installers. Your price will depend on where you live, how large your space is, and the features being installed. Read more about these factors below.
Where You Live Matters
Bargain hunters should be aware that some factors influencing budget are not within their control — like where in the U.S. you live. Homeowners on the West coast and in the Northeast generally pay more for materials and labor than in the South. Prices also run higher in and around major cities.
Midrange vs Upscale Models
It may shock you to learn that upscale materials and appliances can cost you twice as much as midrange models. If a major midrange kitchen remodel comes to $50,000, a high-end remodel of the same kitchen might be $100,000.
Many homeowners pick and choose a combination of inexpensive, midrange, and higher end options.
Personal Budgeting for Your Remodel
HGTV recommends spending between 6% and 10% of the value of your home to get the best ROI. A major reno for a $400,000 home, then, would cost between $24,000 and $40,000. If your kitchen budget goes considerably higher, you risk making the rest of the house look mediocre by comparison. Aim too low, and your kitchen might not live up to the quality of similar homes in your neighborhood. Either way, your new kitchen may raise a red flag with home buyers.
It can be tempting to throw all your kitchen purchases on a credit card, but keep in mind that high-interest rates can inflate your renovation costs. These days, many homeowners are turning to a flexible personal loan to fund home renovations and remodels.
With this type of loan, you receive a lump sum payment to cover your kitchen remodel cost. You can pay back the loan over a term of your choosing in equal monthly installments. The interest rate is determined by your credit history and credit score, but is typically lower than credit card interest. Our Home Improvement Cost Calculator can give you an idea of how much you’ll need to borrow.
What Costs the Most?
What costs the most depends in part on the design decisions you make. Semi-custom cabinets will take up a larger part of your budget than stock will. Higher end brands, as we noted above, can double your appliance costs compared to mid-range. And with large kitchens or complex remodels, labor and installation can make up a third of your overall budget.
How To Save Money
In a full-scale kitchen remodel, new kitchen cabinets are typically the biggest expense, accounting for 20%-40% percent of the project budget. If your cabinets are in good shape and fulfill your storage needs, refacing them can slash your bill. Refacing can mean either stripping and repainting or staining existing doors, adding stick-on veneers, or replacing the doors while preserving the cabinet shelves. Add new hardware for a more modern look.
The next biggest line item in your kitchen remodel budget might be labor for installation. When you’re starting the home remodel process, find a contractor you can trust. That means doing your research, speaking with and getting quotes from multiple contractors, and reaching out to their previous clients for referrals. When entertaining bids, remember that an experienced, in-demand contractor will likely charge more than less capable competitors, but will almost certainly be worth it.
Finally, you may be able to trim some installation costs by doing simple things yourself: picking up items instead of paying for delivery, painting walls instead of paying contractors for the labor, or replacing your backsplash. Learn more DIY tricks in our guide on how to remodel a kitchen.
For more ideas, check out this roundup of ways to fight inflation’s effect on your kitchen remodel.
Cushion Your Budget
For any home remodeling project, financial experts and DIYers both recommend padding your budget by 20%. That means assuming you’ll spend 20% more than your projected total for materials and labor. Not only does that cover all the little things that can add up, it also accommodates pricier issues that may be uncovered, like necessary electrical or plumbing updates.
Stick to Your Budget
Experts recommend that homeowners fully commit to a plan and budget before undertaking a major remodel. Too many last-minute changes won’t endear you to your contractors and can inflate your costs as one small change can lead to other unforeseen adjustments.
House Exterior Style Quiz
The Takeaway
The average kitchen remodel cost can vary widely from $4,000 to $50,000 or more, or between 6% and 10% of your home’s value. Your cost will depend on a number of factors such as kitchen size and whether you choose bargain, midrange, or high end materials and appliances. The major kitchen remodel cost drivers are cabinets, countertops, appliances, and labor. The good news is that the ROI for a smart, mid-range remodel is 71%.
Home improvement loans from SoFi have low-interest rates available for those who qualify and offer fixed monthly payments. These 100% no-fee unsecured loans might be just the recipe to getting your perfect kitchen.
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