How the calculator prices a kitchen remodel
A kitchen budget is a stack of separate bills: cabinets, counters, appliances, the people who install them, the licensed trades, and the paperwork. The calculator prices each one and then adds the contractor's fee and a reserve for surprises. Here is the math with its starting values: a mid-range remodel of a 150 sq ft kitchen in Texas, with 25 linear feet of cabinets, 40 sq ft of countertop and 30 sq ft of backsplash.
-
1
Price the materials
Semi-custom cabinets at $380 per linear foot are $9,500. Quartz at $105 per sq ft installed is $4,200. Backsplash tile, vinyl plank flooring, a mid-range sink and faucet, and new light fixtures add $3,200, for $16,900 in all.
-
2
Adjust for your region
Texas sits in the West South Central region, where the Cost vs. Value report prices the same job at 0.94 times the national average. $16,900 × 0.94 = $15,886. A mid-range set of five appliances stays at its $6,000 national price, because stores price them the same everywhere.
-
3
Add labor and the trades
Installing cabinets, tile, flooring and appliances comes to $3,572. Plumbing hookups, new 20-amp circuits and lighting, drywall and paint, tear-out and permits add $7,708. The work itself totals $33,166.
-
4
Add the contractor and a reserve
A general contractor's 15% for overhead and profit is $4,975, so the job costs $38,141. A 15% contingency adds $5,721. Plan on about $43,900, or $292 per sq ft of kitchen.
-
5
Estimate what comes back at sale
Nationally, a mid-range major kitchen remodel recoups 50.9% of its cost. On $38,141 of work, that is about $19,400 added to the home's resale value. The contingency is left out, since you hope not to spend it.
Minor, mid-range or upscale: what each one buys
The three levels follow the projects in the Cost vs. Value report, the industry's yearly survey of what remodeling jobs cost and what they add at resale. Its 2025 national numbers are below. They price a 200 sq ft kitchen done by a contractor, so they run higher than many real-world jobs.
| Project | Job cost | Resale value | Recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor, midrange | $28,458 | $32,141 | 112.9% |
| Major, midrange | $82,793 | $42,130 | 50.9% |
| Major, upscale | $164,104 | $58,561 | 35.7% |
A minor remodel keeps the layout and the cabinet boxes. New doors and drawer fronts, laminate counters, a new sink and faucet, resilient flooring and a couple of new appliances make the room look new for a fraction of the price. It is the one kitchen project that often returns more than it costs. A mid-range remodel tears the room to the studs and replaces everything on the same footprint. An upscale remodel adds custom cabinetry, stone, pro-style appliances and usually a new layout.
Homeowners report lower numbers than the survey. In the 2026 Houzz & Home study, the median kitchen remodel done in 2025 cost $24,000. A major remodel of a kitchen under 200 sq ft had a median of $35,000, and one of 200 sq ft or more, $55,000. Tap a level in the table to load it into the calculator.
Where the money goes
The National Kitchen & Bath Association's planning guide splits a typical budget like this. Cabinets lead by a wide margin, which is why the cabinet line moves your total more than any other choice.
| Category | Share | Category | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinets and hardware | 29% | Lighting | 5% |
| Installation | 17% | Walls and ceiling | 5% |
| Appliances and ventilation | 14% | Design fees | 4% |
| Countertops | 10% | Doors and windows | 4% |
| Flooring | 7% | Faucets and plumbing | 4% |
The chart in the calculator shows your own split. Doors and windows are not in it: if you are replacing a window or adding a door, add that quote to the contingency or price it separately.
Prices per item
Typical installed ranges in 2025–2026 US dollars. The calculator's defaults sit near the middle, and every price can be edited.
| Item | Typical range | Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Stock cabinets | $100–$400 per lin ft | $250 |
| Semi-custom cabinets | $150–$700 per lin ft | $460 |
| Custom cabinets | $500–$1,200 per lin ft | $850 |
| Laminate counters | $20–$80 per sq ft | $40 |
| Granite counters | $80–$150 per sq ft | $100 |
| Quartz counters | $50–$200 per sq ft | $105 |
| Backsplash tile | $10–$50 per sq ft | $26–$49 |
| Appliance package | $2,100–$5,400 basic | $2,500–$15,000 |
Cabinet prices in the calculator are split into the cabinets themselves and about $70 to $100 per linear foot to hang them; the table shows the two together. Counters are almost always sold installed, since the fabricator measures, cuts and sets the slab.
What it costs in your region
Labor and contractor rates drive most regional gaps. These factors compare each region's price for the same minor kitchen remodel with the national average, and show how much of that cost it got back at resale in 2025.
| Region | Cost factor | Minor remodel recouped |
|---|---|---|
| New England | 1.02 | 134.3% |
| Middle Atlantic | 1.10 | 107.2% |
| South Atlantic | 1.00 | 109.2% |
| East North Central | 0.95 | 101.2% |
| East South Central | 0.95 | 104.7% |
| West North Central | 0.98 | 94.5% |
| West South Central | 0.94 | 117.3% |
| Mountain | 1.00 | 110.3% |
| Pacific | 1.05 | 129.1% |
Big metros run well above their region, and rural areas below it. If you have a local quote for any line, type it in: one real number beats any average.
Code items that show up on the bill
Once the walls are open, the inspector expects the new work to meet today's code, even if the old kitchen didn't. Under the National Electrical Code, countertop outlets need at least two 20-amp small-appliance circuits, outlets spaced so no point along the counter is more than 2 feet from one, and GFCI protection. A range hood should vent outdoors, and moving a sink or a gas line means new permits and inspections. That is why the electrical and plumbing lines jump between a minor and a mid-range remodel. Gas work and panel changes belong to licensed pros in nearly every state.
Ways to spend less
- Keep the layout. Leaving the sink, range and dishwasher where they are avoids new drain, gas and electrical runs, often several thousand dollars.
- Reface instead of replace. If the cabinet boxes are solid, new doors and drawer fronts cost a fraction of new cabinets and keep the counters in place.
- Spend on what you touch. Drawers, hinges and the counter you work on every day matter more than a premium backsplash.
- Order early. Semi-custom and custom cabinets can take weeks to arrive. A crew waiting on a late delivery still costs you time.
- Get three bids on the same scope. Write down the cabinet line, counter material and appliance list before you call, so the bids compare like for like.
- Keep the contingency. Old kitchens hide leaks, rot and outdated wiring. Spending the reserve on upgrades before demolition defeats its purpose.
Common questions
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in 2026?
It depends on size and scope. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts a midrange minor remodel at $28,458 and a midrange major remodel at $82,793, while homeowners in the 2026 Houzz study reported a median of $24,000 for kitchen remodels done in 2025.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets. They take about 29% of a typical budget, followed by installation labor at about 17% and appliances at about 14%. Choosing stock, semi-custom or custom cabinets moves the total more than any other decision.
Does a kitchen remodel add value to a home?
Yes, but rarely all of it. A midrange minor kitchen remodel recouped 112.9% of its cost at resale in 2025, a midrange major remodel 50.9%, and an upscale major remodel 35.7%.
How much contingency should I budget for a kitchen remodel?
Set aside 10% to 20% of the project cost. Older homes and full tear-outs need the higher end, because rot, leaks and outdated wiring often turn up once the cabinets come off the walls.
Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen?
Usually yes if you move plumbing, add circuits, change a gas line or remove a wall. Replacing cabinets, counters and appliances in place often needs no permit. Kitchen permits commonly cost $500 to $1,500.
Is it cheaper to reface or replace kitchen cabinets?
Refacing is usually cheaper if the cabinet boxes are sound. New doors, drawer fronts and veneer for a typical kitchen run about $5,000 to $13,000, and the counters can often stay in place.
Sources and assumptions
Prices are US ranges checked in October 2026. Remodeling prices vary a lot by city, contractor and season, so treat this as a budget, not a bid. Every material price can be edited.
- Project costs, resale value and regional prices: Cost vs. Value 2025, national data (Zonda, published September 2025) and its regional pages, such as West South Central. The regional factor is the region's cost for a midrange minor kitchen remodel divided by the national cost. South Atlantic comes from the region column on a city page in that region.
- Homeowner spending: 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study, renovation trends (median spend on projects done in 2025) and Harvard JCHS, Improving America's Housing 2025 (2023 average kitchen remodel $16,383).
- Budget split: the NKBA Kitchen Planner budget guide, as reproduced in this copy of the planner. Other sources attribute slightly different splits to the NKBA; treat it as a rule of thumb.
- Unit prices: HomeGuide guides to cabinet installation, countertops, backsplash, appliance prices, recessed lighting, plumbing, permits and kitchen remodels (refacing $5,000–$13,000, demolition $500–$2,500, designer up to 10%).
- Contractor fee: general contractors commonly charge 10% to 20% of the project (Angi, general contractor pricing); the calculator uses 15%.
- Install labor, checked against HomeGuide cost guides read November 1, 2026: painting cabinets costs $30 to $70 per linear foot (updated February 2025), and the calculator uses the middle, $50; backsplash tile labor runs $5 to $20 per sq ft (the calculator uses $18 to $20); cabinet install labor runs $50 to $300 per linear foot (the calculator uses $70 to $100); appliance installation is $100 to $350 per appliance for labor (the calculator uses $500 to $1,200 for a set of 4 or 5); gutting a kitchen runs $5.00 to $12.50 per sq ft (the calculator uses $10 to $12 for a full tear-out and $4 when only counters and fixtures come out); new plumbing lines cost $450 to $1,800 per fixture and electricians charge $50 to $130 an hour.
- Our estimates, built inside those ranges but not taken from a single source: plumbing ($900–$3,000, plus $3,500 to move lines), electrical ($600–$5,000) and walls ($3–$8 per sq ft). Flooring prices match our flooring calculator.
- Electrical rules: NFPA 70, National Electrical Code (small-appliance circuits 210.11(C)(1), receptacle spacing 210.52(C), GFCI 210.8). Your city may use an older edition.
- Resale value uses the national cost-recouped share for the matching project and is applied to the cost before contingency. Real resale value depends on your home, street and market.