Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator

Getting a remodel estimate takes four quick entries. The tool prices the room by size and finish level, then adds the layout change and your contingency.

1. Enter your kitchen area in square feet.
2. Pick your finish level. Budget uses stock cabinets and laminate or entry quartz counters, mid-range uses semi-custom cabinets and quartz, upper uses custom work, and luxury uses premium stone and designer fixtures.
3. Tick the layout change box if you move the sink, the stove, walls or plumbing, then set your contingency. 10% is typical.
4. Press Calculate, or press Enter. The total appears first and large, with the base cost, the contingency and the cabinet share below. Press Reset to clear the form and start over.

The kitchen remodel cost formula is base cost = kitchen area x rate per square foot. A layout change adds 15% to the base, and the total is (base + layout change) x (1 + contingency). The rates per square foot are $160 for budget, $275 for mid-range, $450 for upper, and $725 for luxury.

The total splits into shares from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Cabinets take 29%, labor takes 17%, appliances take 14%, countertops take 12%, plumbing and electrical take 10%, flooring takes 8%, and permits and other costs take 10%. Those shares add to 100%, so the breakdown always matches the total. Our tile calculator prices the backsplash and floor tile separately if you want that detail.

A kitchen is 150 sq ft, mid-range finish, with no layout change and a 10% contingency. Here is exactly what the calculator does.

1. Base cost: 150 x $275 = $41,250.
2. Layout change: none, so add $0.
3. Contingency: 10% of $41,250 = $4,125.
4. Total: $41,250 + $4,125 = $45,375.

The shares of that total are cabinets $13,158.75, labor $7,713.75, appliances $6,352.50, countertops $5,445, plumbing and electrical $4,537.50, flooring $3,630, and permits and other $4,537.50. As a second check, a 120 sq ft budget kitchen costs 120 x $160 = $19,200, plus 10% contingency, for $21,120. The same steps work for any kitchen, so try your own numbers in the tool above.

Cabinets are the biggest single cost at 29% of the budget, which is why stock versus custom cabinets move the total more than any other choice. Stock cabinets suit a budget remodel, semi-custom cabinets suit a mid-range remodel, and fully custom cabinets suit an upper or luxury remodel. Labor takes 17%, and it covers the demolition, the carpentry, the install and the finishing.

Appliances take 14%, and the range runs from basic models to pro style ranges that cost more than the cabinets. Countertops take 12%, with laminate at the low end and quartz or natural stone at the high end. Plumbing and electrical take 10%, flooring takes 8%, and permits and other costs take 10%. If one line looks wrong on a contractor bid, compare it with these shares first.

Moving the sink, the stove or a wall is the biggest jump, because it means new plumbing, gas and electrical runs, and sometimes structural work. A layout change adds about 15% to the base cost in this calculator, and a full gut with structural changes can cost far more. Custom cabinets, stone counters and high-end appliances each push the finish level up a tier.

Older homes hide surprises behind the walls, like out of date wiring, old plumbing or water damage, which is why the contingency matters. A small 10 ft by 10 ft kitchen can start around $18,000, while a large kitchen over 200 sq ft with luxury finishes can pass $100,000. The national average for a full remodel is about $27,000, with a typical range of $14,500 to $41,500.

Keep the layout. Leaving the sink, the stove and the walls where they are is the single biggest saving, because it avoids the plumbing and structural work that adds 15% or more. Refinish cabinets instead of replacing them when the boxes are sound, and pick stock cabinets with good hardware over custom boxes.

Get three itemized bids before you set a budget, and check that each one lists cabinets, countertops, appliances, labor and permits separately. Keep your 10% contingency untouched until the walls open up, because that money is for the surprises you cannot see yet. Our flooring calculator and paint calculator price the finishing work that often goes with the job.