A recent poll reveals that most Americans spend over an hour in their kitchens every day, amounting to 400 hours a year. So, it’s not surprising that homeowners place a high priority on making these rooms the best they can be.

Streamlined design, state-of-the-art appliances, and a modern design are the priorities when you remodel a kitchen. Yet, you can’t maximize these features without proper planning to maximize your kitchen remodeling budget.  

Read our kitchen remodeling guide to find out what you can expect to pay for this home improvement project and how to get the best prices along the way. 

What Is the Average Cost to Remodel a Kitchen?

When it comes to remodeling a kitchen, typical costs differ, depending on who you ask. According to some of the most reputable online sources, you could pay the following for your kitchen remodeling project, depending on which type of upgrade you choose:

• HomeAdvisor – $3,800 to $60,000, with an average of $13,381 to $38,412
• Remodeling Magazine – $28,279 to $158,015, with an average of $28,279 to $80,809
• HomeGuide – $12,200 to $126,000, with an average of $12,800 $21,200
• Fixr – $9,600 to $180,000, with an average of $9,600 to $60,000

This huge price difference is because the cost of a kitchen upgrade depends on whether you’re remodeling, renovating, or expanding your kitchen. Other influential factors include:

• Size of the kitchen
• The extent of each task
• Quality of the materials used
• Where you live 

Generally, the more you spend on your kitchen, the more you’ll increase the appeal and value of your home. According to the latest cost-vs-value report, you can realize an ROI of up to 71.2% on a minor kitchen remodel. 

What Costs the Most in a Kitchen Remodel?

When it comes to the most expensive item on the list, most contractors agree that new cabinets cost the most, although labor costs will take a considerable chunk out of your budget too.

The most expensive budget item is largely determined by the extent of your refurbishment. There are four different types of kitchen upgrades to consider, namely:

Minor Refurbishment

This type of refurbishment includes installing new flooring, converting to energy-efficient appliances, and repainting your kitchen. In this case, the appliances will cost the most. 

Mid-Range Revamp

A mid-range kitchen upgrade includes a new kitchen island and custom cabinetry, new flooring, and improved lighting. Cabinets will top the list of expenses in this case.

Major Upgrade

A major kitchen remodel includes replacing almost everything in your kitchen like appliances, water filtration systems, cabinets, and countertops. Custom cabinets are the most expensive item on this wish list.

Chef’s Kitchen Installation

If you want to step your kitchen up into the realm of the professional chef, this upgrade will include top quality, luxurious materials, and state-of-the-art appliances.

The major costs in these projects depend on the quality of the materials you choose. For instance, marble countertops could cost more than your kitchen cabinets. 

Despite all these variables, in most cases, you can allocate your budget as follows:

• Cabinets – 30 to 35%
• Labor – 20 to 25%
• Appliances – 10 to 15%
• Flooring – 8 to 10% 
• Electrical – 7 to 9%
• Countertops – 6 to 8%
• Plumbing – 5 to 7%
• Demo – 2 to 5%
• Permits & Other – 1 to 3%

These are the main items involved in refurbishing a kitchen. You might also want to spend money on less expensive things like painting, tiling, window treatments, and new fixtures, like faucets.

It’s vital to allocate at least 10% of your budget to contingencies like bad weather, delivery, labor delays, or other unexpected circumstances.  

How Much Does it Cost to Redesign a Small Kitchen?

According to research by Zillow, around 46% of homeowners view remodeling their kitchen as a priority. Not only does this home improvement project add value to your home, but it can also add convenience and comfort to your everyday life.

So, don’t let your small kitchen get you down. Small kitchens often benefit most from a revamp and cost a lot less since you’ll need fewer materials overall.

If you intend to demolish a non-loadbearing wall to create an open-plan kitchen, you can expect to pay around $0.30 to $6.40 per square foot for the work. You can double those costs for a load-bearing wall.

If your contractor has to relocate utilities in the process or discovers any other issues that could hamper the demo, you’ll pay even more. 

Due to the smaller surface area involved, a small kitchen refurbishment generally costs a lot less than upgrading a large one, as long as there isn’t any demo involved. 

Most resources indicate that you could pay between $3,000 and $35,000 to remodel your small kitchen, but you can complete most upgrades on a budget of $10,000.

Can I Remodel My Kitchen Cheaply?

You don’t need to spend a fortune on upgrading your kitchen to enjoy increased value and convenience. Although some big-ticket items will have a bigger impact, there are many ways to improve your kitchen affordably.

You can save even more by taking a DIY approach to some of these fixes, depending on your skill level. The best kitchen remodeling advice for budget-conscious homeowners is to:

• Improve functionality and flow without changing your layout
• Painting walls or tile
• Repainting or refacing cabinets
• Using stock instead of custom cabinetry
• Replacing appliances gradually over time
• Upgrading countertops with affordable materials
• Option for lower-end flooring
• Changing cabinet hardware
• Upgrading your faucets 

Some things to consider when creating your kitchen makeover wish list include:

• Can you refurbish some items?
• Is it essential to change your countertops?
• Should you replace your refrigerator or address your kitchen’s electrical issues first?
• Do you need a new sink or a completely new drainage system?
• Is it essential or even possible to remove a wall? 

The fewer changes you make to your kitchen layout, the lower your costs will be. Always work on must-have improvements before adding nice-to-have items to the list. 

Review your list of requirements often, research every option thoroughly, and get several quotes on each item involved in your kitchen remodel.  

These are some ways to cut down on costs:

Take Time Planning Your Kitchen Makeover 

When you start planning well in advance, you’ll have a lot more time to compare prices and more chance of encountering special offers and discounts. 

You can do most of your costings online, but you should also consider looking at discount outlets, re-use centers, and salvage stores. Not only are recycled items cheaper, but recycling is a responsible choice. 

Leave Your Utilities As They Are

Moving electrical and plumbing outlets usually involves structural changes to your home as well as expensive professional services. It’s usually possible to move appliances around without having to do these costly alterations. 

Find Free Services

Some kitchen remodelers include free design services as part of the deal. These professionals can help you save money when laying out your kitchen and offer valuable cost-saving advice across the board.  

Choose Less Expensive Materials

High-end materials might last longer, but if you only need an item to last a few years, you should consider cheaper alternatives. This is particularly relevant if you like to change the look of your interiors often, or if you aren’t considering selling your home soon.

Home buyers will pay more for countertops like quartz or granite, but cheaper butcher block or laminate countertops can last between 15 and 20 years. 

How Much Does It Cost to Remodel Kitchen Cabinets?

Kitchen cabinets have a huge visual impact on the overall look of your kitchen, and they’re essential for storage and holding up countertops for food preparation.

Thus, the cabinetry you choose can affect every other aspect of your kitchen design, i.e. color, style, and detailing. On average, kitchen cabinets can cost as much as $30,000, but the average is $6,670, including the necessary hardware.

When you opt for custom cabinetry, you’ll pay a lot more than if you settle for salvaged or stock cabinets. If your kitchen cabinets are in good condition, you can opt to reface them instead of replacing them, which can help you achieve a more luxurious look for a cheaper price.

Replacing just your cabinet doors can cost between $50 and $500 per door.

What’s Included in a Kitchen Remodel?

Every kitchen refurbishment is unique unless you’re starting from scratch. These are the items that may or may not feature in your kitchen redesign:

Cabinets

The biggest problems that occur with kitchen cabinets are loose hinges, splintered wood, and an outdated, tired appearance. Sometimes you simply need more storage and new innovative storage options can provide the solutions you need.

Custom cabinets, specially built by master cabinetmakers, can cost up to $1,200 per linear foot. When you opt for this type of cabinet, you’ll get to specify every aspect of it including the dimensions, color, materials, and hardware.

You’ll have to wait up to eight weeks for woodworkers to manufacture these designs.

Stock cabinets cost between $100 and $300 per linear foot installed, but you’re stuck with the available options and have no choices when it comes to personalizing the design. You can DIY these installations and save another 50% on the cost. 

Countertops

Cracked countertops harbor bacteria, making them unsuited for food preparation. Other sure signs you need new counters are when they separate from the wall or the base of the cabinet.

You’ll find a few options to choose from when shopping for countertops, with a price range that usually matches their quality and longevity. These are the most popular counter options:

• Butcher’s block from $1,200 to $15,000
• Quartz from $1,500 to $12,000
• Marble from $2,000 to $5,000
• Stainless steel from $4,000 to $11,250
• Granite from $2,000 to $4,500

Other options include concrete, paper composite, bamboo, and recycled glass countertops.

Flooring

Excessive heat and humidity, coupled with high traffic, can wear out your kitchen floors in no time. So pull up that chipped, cracked, and peeling linoleum and invest in a hard-wearing modern surface for your kitchen. 

The least expensive kitchen flooring options include tile, laminate, and sheet vinyl. Ceramic tile, engineered wood, and natural stone are the most expensive choices, offering a host of colors and designs.

If your family dog walks around inside, you must consider a durable, stain-resistant type of flooring, even if it costs more to install. Pet paws and mishaps can quickly destroy your new flooring.

You can expect to pay an average of $1,610 for a new kitchen floor, although some options cost as little as $1,500 or $4,500 per kitchen. 

Lighting

Another quick fix for an instant uplift, lighting is also a vital part of any kitchen’s aesthetic. Kitchens need more than one kind of lighting to maximize meal preparation and cleaning.

Ambient lighting is essential, as is task lighting above workspaces, stoves, and dining nooks. Your lighting options vary from bare bulbs to ornate metal chandeliers, with a price range to match.

Overall, lighting can cost between $500 and $2,000 depending on the designs you choose. As far as possible, you should install energy-efficient LED lights wherever you can in your home. 

They cost a little more, but they’ll save you a lot of money on your energy bills, and they last more than 40 times longer than halogen lights. 

Tile Work

Tile floors and backsplashes may become chipped, broken, and dingy from use, giving your kitchen a dull, dirty appearance.

Replacing a backsplash can cost around $1,000 depending on the size of the installation, while tile floors cost between $3 and $20 per square foot. 

Walls and Ceiling

Your kitchen walls and ceiling experience a lot of humidity and grime from cooking, so a coat of paint is always a good place to start your kitchen refurbishment.

Painting, paneling, or wallpapering your kitchen will freshen its look immediately. You can expect to pay up to $1.150 for this improvement.

Sinks and Faucets

Provided you aren’t changing the layout of your kitchen too much, you can expect to pay around $920 to install new faucets and the applicable plumbing.

If you need to reroute water pipes, you’ll pay a premium for this service. A new sink and kitchen faucets can have a major impact on your kitchen’s appearance without blowing your budget. 

According to the EPA, water-saving appliances and faucets can save homeowners $380 a year on their water bills.

When combined with efficient toilets and showers, you’ll save around 1,000 liters of water a year. So, keep this in mind when you’re undertaking a bathroom refurbishment, too. 

Appliances

Without functional appliances, your kitchen isn’t a kitchen at all. The three main appliances every kitchen needs are a stove, dishwasher, and refrigerator.

Some people can’t survive without a microwave, and if you don’t have a laundry room, the kitchen is your go-to for a washer and dryer, too.

There are countless other handy gadgets you can include to suit your needs like toasters, kettles, coffee makers, slow cookers, and much more. Then there’s the option to choose smart devices that practically run your home for you.

Thanks to this technology, you can wake to a piping hot cup of coffee every morning or check your refrigerator contents remotely before going shopping.

Some kitchen remodelers will include your existing appliances in your kitchen design if they’re in good condition, but it’s worth upgrading to energy-efficient versions if you haven’t already done so.

Keep in mind that you can sometimes get great deals when you buy major appliances as a package.

The cost of appliances can vary enormously from as little as $200 for a basic version to $5,000 for the latest stainless steel creation. High-end, custom appliances can cost as much as $10,000 each.

Stainless steel is a popular choice if you’re selling your home soon. If not, choose a good quality, less expensive appliance with enough bells and whistles to suit your needs. The average homeowner rarely needs dozens of different settings and dials. 

How Much Does it Cost to Remodel a 10×10 Kitchen?

Most industry experts use 10×10 as the industry standard when working out costs, especially when it comes to cabinets.

Typically, a 100-square-foot kitchen has six wall cabinets and five under-counter cabinets, amounting to an average cost of approximately $3,300.

To complete your cabinet refurbishment, you can count on installing 30 square feet of countertop space at between $20 and $40 per square foot. 

New kitchen flooring costs between $3 and $22 per square foot, depending on the material you choose, for a total cost of between $300 and $2,200.

DIY lighting is an easy task that can save you money on installation costs, but if you want a more advanced option, like recessed lights, you’ll typically pay around $150 per fixture for professional installation.

With all the above in mind, a 10×10 kitchen remodel usually costs between $15,000 and $30,000, but a little planning can get you more kitchen for your budget.

Try these tips for creating a functional, flowing kitchen with ample space for everything:

Choose Smaller, Energy-Efficient Appliances

Not only will smaller appliances cost you less money, but they’ll also take up less counter space. Any time you’re upgrading appliances, it also makes sense to opt for new-model energy-star-rated ones. 

According to Energy Star, these appliances are at least 10% more efficient and saved US homeowners $42 billion in energy costs during 2020 alone.

Opt for Shelves Instead of Cabinets

Shelves are much cheaper than cabinets and can alleviate the need for overhead cabinets that may make a room appear crowded. You can keep almost anything on a shelf, from dinnerware and decor to spices.

Install a Pot Hanger

Pot hangers are super trendy and reduce the need for bulky under-counter storage. Utensil holders for your cooking implements are another space and money-saving aspect to consider.

A Mobile Island

A kitchen island creates much-needed space for food preparation, but it does take up a lot of space. When you only have 100 square yards to work with, consider a mobile unit that tucks against a wall out of the way when not in use.

Can I Remodel a Kitchen on a $25,000 Budget?

Yes, you can complete a minor kitchen remodel on a $25,000 budget with a little planning. All the above information can help you achieve this, but comparing quotes is one of the best ways to ensure you get the best price.

It’s always best to discuss your budget with contractors before you ask for a quote. This will help them adapt their work accordingly and can help you get the best deal on your kitchen refurbishment. 

Do Kitchen Remodelers Finance?

Many kitchen remodelers work with financial institutions to help you achieve your home improvement ideals. You may save on closing costs and application fees when you apply for a HELOC or home improvement loan via your remodeler.

Other options for financing your kitchen include:

• Cash or credit card
• HELOC loans via your lender
• Loaning against your retirement plan
• Home equity loans

Keep in mind that you’ll pay less if you opt for a low-interest loan rather than paying high credit card charges. Also, it doesn’t make sense to take cash out of a high-interest savings account instead of opting for one of these loans. 

Make sure you apply for your loan in good time, so you have cash available when your contractor needs it. 

What’s the Most Important Thing to Consider When Remodeling a Kitchen? 

Extensive research is the most important component of any home improvement project. Take time to modify your list to keep it in line with your budget and to ensure you secure the best prices and contractor services. 

The cost and availability of materials vary from day to day and can have a major impact on what homeowners pay to renovate a kitchen.

Always research available contractors carefully before you commit, and compare at least three quotes before deciding on the best price. Remember, a higher price might indicate better quality materials, more experienced workmanship, and longer warranties.

KwotAdvisor only refers our customers to the best and most reputable contractors in their area. Try our easy-to-use quote comparison tool today to get your kitchen revamp underway.