A kitchen remodel is the home renovation project that adds more joy (and resale value) to your home than any other. But beware; remodeling costs can easily get out of hand if you don’t take a holistic approach and plan appropriately. So where should you spend your money when remodeling your kitchen, and what is the real cost of a kitchen remodel? Let’s take a look at what to expect.
Average Kitchen Remodel Costs
HomeAdvisor estimates the average kitchen remodel cost between $12,500 - $35,000, but due to the wide range of options, you could spend as little as $4,000 for a few minor changes or as much as $80,000+ for upscale remodels. Keep in mind, in states like California with a higher cost of living, prices may be even higher.
Cost vs. Value
Before getting into specifics, it’s worth mentioning that a kitchen remodel increases the equity value and resale price of a home. In addition to the subjective value (how a remodel is perceived by the homeowner), you can expect to recoup an average of 54 – 77% of your financial investment. We talk more about this our post, How Much Does A Kitchen Remodel Increase The Value Of Your Home.
Determining Price
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA.com) recommends budgeting 15-20% of the value of your home and allocating it as follows:
Cabinetry and Hardware: 29%
Installation: 17%
Appliances and Ventilation: 14%
Countertops: 10%
Flooring: 7%
Lighting: 5%
Walls and Ceilings: 5%
Design Fees: 4%
Doors and Windows: 4%
Faucets and Plumbing: 4%
Other: 1%
Common factors that affect the final price of your remodel
The actual price of your kitchen remodel will vary depending on the extent of your makeover, the size of your space, the quality of materials chosen, and whether you plan to change the layout of the room.
Cabinet material and finish.
Size of your kitchen. An average kitchen is 10’x10' with a kitchen island. The number of cabinets you need, placement, customization, and other kitchen elements factor into the cost.
Cost to remove old cabinets.
Changing your existing cabinet plan.
Changing the entire kitchen floor plan. This might include different layout flooring, walls, permits, structural calculation load bearing walls.
Appliance upgrades.
Scope of Work
To make things simple, let’s break a kitchen remodel down into 3 project types: 1.) Minor kitchen remodel, 2.) Major midrange kitchen remodel, and 3.) Major upscale kitchen remodel. Estimates include general contracting fees but not design fees if you’re working with an interior designer.
Minor Midrange Kitchen Remodel
Price Range: $4,000 - $25,000
May include items like updating cabinet fronts and drawers, replacing appliances, countertops and flooring, installing a new sink and faucet, and painting.
Major Midrange Kitchen Remodel
Price Range: $25,000 - $50,000
May include semi-custom or custom cabinetry, island, new countertops, new high-end appliances, custom lighting, new flooring and freshly painted walls.
Major Upscale Kitchen Remodel
Price Range $75,000 - $100,000
Includes the midrange items above but also may include a complete redesign – taking down walls and changing the footprint. The cost may include new structural engineering for load bearing walls and the cost of permits or adding additional square footage to your home.
How does Cabinetry affect the cost?
Cabinetry is the most crucial element in the overall look and feel of your kitchen and dramatically influences all other aspects of your kitchen design choices. If your estimated cost is $75,000, budget approximately $22,000 for cabinetry - a reasonable amount considering almost everything in your kitchen is behind a door, in a drawer, or on a shelf.
Cabinets are also a functional aspect of your kitchen – with a variety of options for storage, convenience, and aesthetics. Choosing them is a stage of your kitchen remodel where the expertise, direction and supervision of a professional design team are crucial to provide function and enjoyment for years to come.
Pricing your cabinets is easy with Studio Europa Leicht. Leicht kitchens offer several price groupings. Studio Europa will conduct a full design consultation to ensure you select the ideal style, quality and value for your needs and budget with meticulous attention to quality and detail.