Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator

Cabinets are the biggest line item in any kitchen remodel: 30–35% of total cost. On a $57,500 mid-range medium kitchen, that's $17,250–$20,125 in cabinets alone. Stock cabinets from a home center run $60–$200 per linear foot installed. Semi-custom runs $100–$650 per linear foot. Full custom cabinetry starts at $500 per linear foot and goes up from there. Most mid-range remodels use semi-custom.

Labor is second at 20–25%. Kitchen labor is expensive because it involves multiple trades: a general contractor for demo and coordination, a cabinet installer, a countertop fabricator, a plumber for sink and dishwasher connections, and an electrician for outlets and lighting. Each brings their own minimum call-out fee. Labor for a complete mid-range kitchen typically runs $12,000–$18,000.

Appliances run 15–20%. A mid-range appliance package — refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave hood — from a name-brand manufacturer costs $4,000–$8,000. Professional-grade appliances (Sub-Zero, Wolf, Viking) run $15,000–$30,000 for the same set. Appliances are one of the easiest places to adjust budget without changing the scope of the remodel.

Countertops run 10–15%. Laminate starts at $15–$40 per sq ft installed. Quartz runs $50–$120 per sq ft installed. Marble and quartzite push to $80–$200+ per sq ft once you factor in fabrication and installation. A standard 40 sq ft kitchen counter in quartz costs $2,000–$4,800. That's why upgrading countertops is frequently the last decision — you can always defer it.

The remaining 10–15% splits between flooring, lighting, plumbing, and miscellaneous. New flooring runs $3–$15 per sq ft installed depending on material. Under-cabinet lighting adds $500–$2,000. Sink and faucet upgrades run $500–$2,500. These are finishing costs but they're visible every day, so they're worth budgeting for upfront.

A mid-range medium kitchen remodel runs $40,000–$75,000. An upscale medium kitchen runs $90,000–$130,000. That $50,000–$55,000 premium buys custom cabinetry instead of semi-custom, stone countertops instead of quartz, professional-grade appliances instead of consumer-grade, and hardwood floors instead of tile or vinyl. The functional outcome is similar. The durability and appearance are noticeably different.

ROI flips at the upscale level. Mid-range kitchen remodels return 67–80% at resale. Upscale major kitchen remodels return 53–65%. You spend $110,000 and recover $64,000 at sale. That's a $46,000 net cost for the improvement. Mid-range: spend $57,500, recover $38,000, net cost $19,500. The upgrade costs $26,500 extra in net terms. Whether that's worth it depends entirely on how long you're staying.

Minor kitchen remodels return 72% nationally — the best kitchen ROI of any category. A minor remodel ($15,000–$28,000) means new cabinet fronts and hardware but keeping the existing cabinet boxes, new appliances, new countertops, and updated lighting. You're refreshing the look without touching the structure. If your existing layout and cabinet boxes are solid, this is the highest-ROI kitchen move available.

Don't over-build for your neighborhood. A $150,000 kitchen remodel in a $400,000 neighborhood rarely returns its full cost because the ceiling is the neighborhood. The same remodel in a $1.2M neighborhood pays off. Know your market before deciding how far to go.