The honest answer is “it depends”, but not as much as you might think. Here are the real ranges from the 41 kitchens we finished in the last two years.
Three typical budgets
Refresh, $28k–$45k: new fronts, counters and lighting, same layout
Remodel, $55k–$90k: new cabinets, appliances and floors, small layout changes
Full redesign, $95k+: walls move, plumbing and electrical change, custom cabinetry throughout
Where the money goes
On an average remodel, cabinetry is about 35% of the budget, labor 30%, counters and appliances 20%, and the rest is lighting, tile, permits and finishing. Moving the sink or the range is what pushes a project from one band to the next.
“A fixed price is only fixed if the drawings are finished before we start. That’s why we never skip that step.”
How to keep it predictable
Decide on the layout early, choose appliances before cabinets are drawn and keep a 10% reserve for what is hidden behind old walls. We put every allowance in writing.
Get a fixed-price estimate
