WHAT IS THE COST OF A KITCHEN REMODEL?
If you’re interested in updating your kitchen, one of the first questions you may find yourself wondering is, “how much does it cost to remodel a kitchen?” The answer to this question can vary greatly depending on the specifics of your kitchen project. Of course, if you want to make the most of your kitchen space and maximize your home value, you’ll probably want to stick to mid-level materials and finishes. If you plan to stay in your house for 5 years or more you may want to splurge on higher end finishes. This post will serve as a general guide, providing you with important factors to consider when determining the total cost of your project. So then, how much does it cost to remodel a kitchen?
LARGE SIZED KITCHEN
Design, labor, materials, flooring, countertops and fixtures are included in the estimates above. Permit Painting & Appliances are NOT included.
On the pricing chart below; the “Basic“, “Mid” & “Upper” levels, distinguish which finish you choose.
BASIC-LEVEL
-
Use Existing Cabinetry Layout
-
Existing Floor To Remain
-
Appliances Remain in Existing Locations
-
Level 1 Cabinetry
-
Level 1 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Level 1 Granite Countertops
-
Ceramic Tile Backsplash
MID-LEVEL
-
Cabinetry Layout ModificationsAllowed Within Existing Space
-
Refinish Existing Hardwood Floors
-
Appliances May Be Moved To Other Locations
-
Level 2 Cabinetry
-
Level 2 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Level 2 Granite Countertops
-
Ceramic Tile Backsplash
UPPER-LEVEL
-
Remove Existing Walls To Accomodate Expanded Kitchen Design Layout
-
New Flooring In New Kitchen Area & Adjacent Rooms
-
Appliances May Be Moved To Other Locations
-
Customized Cabinetry
-
Level 3 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Exotic Granite Or Quartz Countertops
-
Natural Stone Tile Backsplash
INCLUDED:
Design, labor, materials, flooring, counter tops, and fixtures.
NOT INCLUDED:
Permit fees, smoke detector upgrades (code requirement for most areas), painting or staining, decorative light fixtures, and appliances.
MEDIUM SIZED KITCHEN
Design, labor, materials, flooring, countertops and fixtures are included in the estimates below. Permit Painting & Appliances are NOT included.
BASIC-LEVEL
-
Use Existing Cabinetry Layout
-
Existing Floor To Remain
-
Appliances Remain in Existing Locations
-
Level 1 Cabinetry
-
Level 1 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Level 1 Granite Countertops
-
Ceramic Tile Backsplash
MID-LEVEL
-
Cabinetry Layout ModificationsAllowed Within Existing Space
-
Refinish Existing Hardwood Floors
-
Appliances May Be Moved To Other Locations
-
Level 2 Cabinetry
-
Level 2 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Level 2 Granite Countertops
-
Ceramic Tile Backsplash
UPPER-LEVEL
-
Remove Existing Walls To Accomodate Expanded Kitchen Design Layout
-
New Flooring In New Kitchen Area & Adjacent Rooms
-
Appliances May Be Moved To Other Locations
-
Customized Cabinetry
-
Level 3 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Exotic Granite Or Quartz Countertops
-
Natural Stone Tile Backsplash
INCLUDED:
Design, labor, materials, flooring, counter tops, and fixtures.
NOT INCLUDED:
Permit fees, smoke detector upgrades (code requirement for most areas), painting or staining, decorative light fixtures, and appliances.
SMALL GALLEY KITCHEN
Design, labor, materials, flooring, countertops and fixtures are included in the estimates below. Permit Painting & Appliances are NOT included.
BASIC-LEVEL
-
Use Existing Cabinetry Layout
-
Existing Floor To Remain
-
Appliances Remain in Existing Locations
-
Level 1 Cabinetry
-
Level 1 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Level 1 Granite Countertops
-
Ceramic Tile Backsplash
MID-LEVEL
-
Cabinetry Layout ModificationsAllowed Within Existing Space
-
Refinish Existing Hardwood Floors
-
Appliances May Be Moved To Other Locations
-
Level 2 Cabinetry
-
Level 2 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Level 2 Granite Countertops
-
Ceramic Tile Backsplash
UPPER-LEVEL
-
Remove Existing Walls To Accomodate Expanded Kitchen Design Layout
-
New Flooring In New Kitchen Area & Adjacent Rooms
-
Appliances May Be Moved To Other Locations
-
Customized Cabinetry
-
Level 3 Plumbing Fixtures
-
Exotic Granite Or Quartz Countertops
-
Natural Stone Tile Backsplash
INCLUDED:
Design, labor, materials, flooring, counter tops, and fixtures.
NOT INCLUDED:
Permit fees, smoke detector upgrades (code requirement for most areas), painting or staining, decorative light fixtures, and appliances.
How Much Does It Cost To Remodel A Kitchen?
Planning a kitchen remodel can be one of the most extensive projects you can do in your home. Anybody who has renovated a kitchen before knows just how many factors need to be considered in order to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch. There might be hidden costs or unexpected expenses to consider, that can make the budgeting phase difficult to navigate. It’s time to find out exactly how much a kitchen remodel is going to cost you.
Above, we’ve outlined some average costs for a number of different key factors you will need to consider with your kitchen remodeling project. We factor in some of the common and necessary items that homeowners need to successfully remodel their kitchens, such as new cabinetry, new countertops, and so on. This guide might not give you the exact price specific to your project, but you can start to get a better idea of what kind of budgeting ballpark you’ll fall in based on the calculations below.
Average Cost To Remodel A Kitchen
Before going any further, it’s important to mention that kitchens are often the most expensive room to remodel compared with all the other rooms in the house. This is because there are so many different elements that make up a kitchen: appliances, cabinets, flooring, countertops, ventilation, and more. Naturally, the makeup of a kitchen is more complex than a bedroom or bathroom, for example.
This is part of what makes pricing it so complex, and why it can be difficult to answer what is the average cost to remodel a kitchen. Pricing also depends on how many different changes you want to make to your kitchen. As an example, are you planning on painting the walls? Do you want to replace your flooring? Saying yes or no to these questions can ultimately change your entire cost. We recommend laying out your budget first, finding that price point, and sticking with that number when planning your remodel.
Factors Contributing to the Cost To Remodel A Kitchen
Anybody who has invested in a home remodeling project in the past knows that there are many different details to consider during the planning phase. But it can be difficult to keep track of just how many things need to be taken under such consideration. Before deciding whether to go for a low, mid, or high-range remodel, answer the following questions:
● What neighborhood do you live in? What is the average home cost in that neighborhood? What does the average kitchen look like? Are there certain styles or trends that you’d like to go along with? Think about what is valuable in your neighborhood and how your remodel can help contribute to the cohesiveness of that neighborhood.
● How long do you plan on living in your home? If you are there to stay for the foreseeable future, then you can go for that high-end luxury remodeling project. But if you plan on moving a few years down the road, maybe spring for a cheaper investment and save your budget for your next home.
● How much do you really want? The brainstorming phase is often the most difficult since there are so many details you might be compelled to add to your plans. But think about your budget seriously, and determine what features you can do without. It’s important to set realistic expectations for what you need. But don’t worry – a lot can still be done with a little.
Kitchen Remodeling Costs Explained
Let’s break down the items that go into the numbers above to find out what exactly goes into figuring out that cost. These are some of the biggest contributing factors to the overall price of a kitchen remodeling project.
Kitchen Appliances
Appliances play a huge role in the visual appeal of your kitchen, and replacing them can immediately increase the value and the function of the room. Old appliances among new renovations can be an eyesore, so it’s important to factor appliances in as a large part of your kitchen remodeling costs.
Cabinetry
Kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets are visually stunning, especially when they’re brand new. Even if you only plan on replacing a few of the cabinets in your kitchen, or your cabinets are small, make sure to put part of your budget aside for them. There are a number of different types of cabinets that can affect your cost, depending on your financial and visual plans. Wood is generally the best way to go if you want to create your luxury dream kitchen. Shaker-style cabinet doors are very popular these days. They come in a variety of wood species and colors. Depending on the cabinet line you choose, the size of your kitchen and other options you want to add, the average mid-level kitchen cabinet cost can run between $20,000 to $50,000.
Flooring
Flooring is another important aspect to consider when planning financially for your kitchen remodeling project. Because your flooring can extend into other rooms, like your foyer, family, living & dining rooms, this decision can be a very important one.
For higher-end kitchen flooring options, consider durable yet elegant materials, such as hardwood, engineered hardwood, natural stone tile or porcelain tile. Hardwood that is sanded and stained in place is the most common choice for homeowners. Because we use a commercial water-based finish, it tends to stand up to common spills and high levels of foot traffic. A typical red oak hardwood floor may be professionally installed anywhere from $12 to $17 a square foot depending on the finish and the size of the plank you select. (2 1/4″ wide planks are still the most popular.)
Countertops
The cost of countertop materials can vary greatly, so you’ll want to decide what types of materials you’d like to see in your new kitchen. Here at Legend, the starting point in countertops is what we call “price level one” quartz & granite. When I say “level one”, it refers to the availability of the stone not an inferior quality of the stone. Granite, Quartzite & Marble can range in price depending on where in the world it is mined and how rare the stone is. If higher-end is what you’re going for, then you can’t go wrong with manufactured quartz. These countertops typically cost between $65 and $125 per square foot depending on the level you select, however, with manufactured quartz you won’t have to seal the countertops. They are stronger and add significantly more value than laminate.
Tile Backsplash Materials
Don’t forget to add a stylish backsplash as part of your remodeling project, if you don’t have one already. There are many material choices now that will fit any budget. Anything from ceramic to marble, glass to porcelain or even metal. Subway tile is still a very popular option because it’s classic and practical, providing easy cleaning for those splashes and stains while cooking. Depending on the dimensions of your backsplash, you can typically expect to spend $400 – $800 on tile material.
Need for Wall Removal
Last but not least, you’ll also want to factor in the associated costs of moving or removing any walls to expand your existing kitchen space. One popular step many homeowners are taking when remodeling their kitchens these days is that of removing walls to create an open floor plan, which opens the kitchen up to the living and dining spaces of the home. Open floor plans are in very high demand among today’s buyers, so remodeling to create an open floor plan can add significant value to your home.
The cost to create an open floor plan kitchen will vary greatly depending on how many walls need to be removed, if there are any plumbing or HVAC pipes inside the wall that need to be rerouted and whether or not any of those walls are load-bearing. If you want to remove a load-bearing wall, a new support beam will need to be installed, which can add thousands of dollars to the cost of your project overall.
Utilities
Don’t forget about important systems running through the kitchen such as electrical, gas, and water. Make sure all of your hookups are installed accordingly and are working properly. Nothing is worse than finishing a new cabinet and discovering that the new molding blocks an electrical outlet or air vent. It can cost thousands of dollars to update your electrical panel for example, or hook up a new gas line. Note: It’s recommended to factor at least 5-10% of your overall budget to surprise costs, just in case something happens that you weren’t planning for.
Start Your Budgeting Plans
Budgeting for a kitchen remodel is the hardest part of the whole project. Legend Design Build is here to help every step of the way. If you have more questions about your remodeling project, or you need help figuring the best materials and costs for your kitchen, reach out to us for a free consultation.