How much should a kitchen remodel cost? [2023]

How much should a kitchen remodel cost? Kitchen costs can vary greatly. Depending on the different options for cabinets, countertops, appliances, and labor, prices can range 25x or more. In this article, I look at different kitchen sizes and styles and give some example costs, based on real kitchens.

Table of Contents

• Kitchens can vary greatly in cost
  • Location
  • Appliances
  • Cabinets
  • Countertops
  • Fixtures
• How much should a 10×10 kitchen remodel cost?
  • Example 1: High-end 10×10 kitchen in expensive city
  • Example 2: Mid-range kitchen in average area
  • Example 3: Budget kitchen in average area
• How much should a larger or smaller kitchen remodel cost?
• How much should a galley kitchen remodel cost?
  • Example 1: Top of the line high-rise galley kitchen
  • Example 2: Budget galley kitchen in average location
• Conclusion

Kitchens can vary greatly in cost

I know you’re all here to find out how much a kitchen remodel should cost, but unfortunately, one thing you’ll find is that the cost is dependent on a lot of different factors, and it’s impossible to get a perfect answer for the question.

Nevertheless, we can take a look at some example kitchens and use those to estimate how much a kitchen remodel should cost for your specific situation.

But what does the cost of a kitchen remodel depend on? There are many different factors:

Location

One of the most important factors in determining the cost of a kitchen remodel is the location. The location not only determines the cost of labor for a renovation; it also determines what percentage of the total cost of a renovation is spent on labor.

For instance, in more expensive cities such as New York or San Francisco, the labor costs easily make up the largest component of the renovation price. However, in smaller, more rural areas, labor can be significantly cheaper, and certain components, such as appliances, can end up being the largest component of the kitchen renovation cost.

Appliances

Possibly the largest variable cost in a smaller kitchen is the cost of appliances. Used appliances purchased off Craigslist can cost pennies — but even brand new appliances can vary in cost dramatically.

Basic appliances can be purchased at a store like Home Depot for a relatively small cost, while more high-end appliances can easily cost 10 time more.

In addition to the appliances you choose, where you buy them can also have a huge impact on your total kitchen remodel cost.

Cabinets

Cabinets are another kitchen component that can vary greatly in price. These tend to vary less than appliances for a small kitchen, although for a large kitchen, cabinets can easily make up the largest percentage of the budget — as well as be the largest variable in the cost of a kitchen remodel.

If you choose to use RTA cabinets, you will spend significantly less than you would spend on pre-built custom cabinets. The material the cabinets are made of also has a large impact on the total cost.

Another factor in the cost of kitchen cabinets is where they are made. Cabinets built and assembled in the U.S. are much more expensive than those made in Asia — especially if they’re sold unassembled.

Countertops

Countertops is another variable that can affect the cost of a kitchen. If you use the most in-fashion stone countertops, you’re likely to spend 6-8 times what you would spend on the cheaper granite countertops. And if you use a laminate countertop, you could spend even less.

Fixtures

Fixtures such as faucets are another factor in the price of a kitchen, although these have a much smaller weight than some of the other factors.

How much should a 10×10 kitchen remodel cost?

Although there is no perfect estimate for how much a 10×10 kitchen should cost, I have taken 3 real world examples of kitchens in different areas of the U.S. and looked at the costs of the cabinets, countertops, labor, and appliances.

Example 1: High-end 10×10 kitchen in expensive city

In this example, we look at a close to top of the line kitchen in the Boston area. This kitchen has a full set of Viking appliances (range, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave), custom cabinets, and the latest popular Quartzite countertops.

Item	Cost (rounded to thousand)
Appliances	$23,000
Cabinets	$19,000
Labor (including plumbing and electrical)	$37,000
Countertops	$9,000
Additional items (fixtures, flooring, etc.)	$9,000
Total	$97,000

Example 2: Mid-range kitchen in average area

In this example, we look at a an average kitchen remodel in the Fort Worth area. This kitchen uses moderately priced stainless steel appliances purchased at Home Depot, mid-range cabinets from a local dealer, and granite countertops.

Item	Cost (rounded to thousand)
Appliances	$4,000
Cabinets	$14,000
Labor (including plumbing and electrical)	$7,000
Countertops	$3,000
Additional items (fixtures, flooring, etc.)	$4,000
Total	$32,000

Example 3: Budget kitchen in average area

This example is a kitchen remodel in the Tampa area. It uses lower cost stainless look appliances from a big box store, laminate countertops, and some DIY labor. The cabinets are IKEA RTA cabinets.

Item	Cost (rounded to thousand)
Appliances	$2,000
Cabinets	$3,000
Labor (including plumbing and electrical)	$3,000
Countertops	$1,000
Additional items (fixtures, flooring, etc.)	$2,000
Total	$11,000

How much should a larger or smaller kitchen remodel cost?

How much should a 10×9 or a 10×11 kitchen cost? If you’re looking at a slightly larger or smaller kitchen than those above, you can expect the pricing to vary by a small amount. Here are the components that may vary:

• Appliances – Appliance prices for a slightly smaller or larger kitchen would not change.
• Cabinets – Expect total cabinet costs to increase or decrease by up to 10% for a slightly smaller or larger kitchen.
• Labor – Labor for a slightly larger or smaller kitchen doesn’t change significantly. However, additional cabinets and flooring installation will result in a change or around 5%.
• Countertops – Countertops can increase or decrease by up to 10% depending on the shape of the kitchen and the location of the counters.

How much should a galley kitchen remodel cost?

For a smaller kitchen, such as a galley, your kitchen remodel costs would be very different. In this section, I look at 2 different galley kitchens and the costs to remodel them.

Example 1: Top of the line high-rise galley kitchen

This kitchen is in a co-op building in New York. It includes Wolf and Sub-zero appliances and quartz countertops.

Item	Cost (rounded to thousand)
Appliances	$22,000
Cabinets	$13,000
Labor (including plumbing and electrical)	$19,000
Countertops	$5,000
Additional items (fixtures, flooring, etc.)	$6,000
Total	$65,000

Example 2: Budget galley kitchen in average location

This is an apartment renovation in a New Hampshire building. The renovation includes black appliances, laminate counters, and basic home improvement store cabinets.

Item	Cost (rounded to thousand)
Appliances	$1,000
Cabinets	$2,000
Labor (including plumbing and electrical)	$2,000
Countertops	$1,000
Additional items (fixtures, flooring, etc.)	$1,000
Total	$7,000

Conclusion

Although kitchen renovation costs can vary widely based on location and type, the kitchens above provide a good example and can be used as a starting point when determining how much you should spend on your own kitchen.

If you have any additional datapoints you would like to add, please let me know in the comments below!