The average kitchen remodel cost in the US is about $26,945 in 2026, according to Angi, with most projects landing between $14,600 and $41,600. A small 70–100 sq ft kitchen can start near $10,500, while a full-gut midrange remodel averages $82,793 in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report. Scope, not size, drives the bill.
Key takeaways
- Angi puts the 2026 US average at $26,945 (typical range $14,589–$41,559), or roughly $75–$250 per square foot.
- A minor midrange kitchen remodel recouped 113% of its cost at resale in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, while a major midrange remodel recouped only 51%.
- Cabinets are the single biggest line: about 40% of a typical budget per Angi, and 28% even in a small, stock-cabinet kitchen.
- Houzz's 2025 study found a $60,000 median for major remodels and $20,000 for minor ones, and 64% of owners kept the original footprint.
- NKBA guidelines call for a 42-inch work aisle for one cook and 48 inches for two, which decides whether an island fits at all.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in 2026?
Most US homeowners spend between $14,589 and $41,559 on a kitchen remodel, with a national average of $26,945, according to Angi's 2026 cost guide, which is based on 13,100 verified projects. Per square foot, Angi's range is $75 to $250. That spread is wide because a kitchen "remodel" can mean anything from new cabinet doors to moving walls and gas lines.
Other benchmarks run higher because they price complete projects done by professionals. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report from Zonda and the Journal of Light Construction prices a minor midrange remodel at $28,458, a major midrange remodel at $82,793 and a major upscale remodel at $164,104. All three are modeled on the same 200 sq ft kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinetry, so the difference is purely scope and finish level.
- $26,945 US average kitchen remodel, Angi 2026
- $60,000 Median major remodel, Houzz 2025
- 113% Cost recouped, minor midrange remodel (Cost vs. Value 2025)
- 64% Owners who kept the original footprint (Houzz 2025)
Kitchen remodel cost by tier: minor, mid-range and major
The simplest way to budget is to decide which tier you're really in before you collect quotes. The table combines three independent sources, each with its year, so you can see where they agree and where they don't.
| Tier | What it usually includes | Angi range (2026) | Houzz median (2025) | Cost vs. Value (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor / refresh | Cabinet fronts or paint, laminate or mid-price counters, new range and fridge, sink, floor | $10,000–$20,000 | $20,000 | $28,458 (midrange) |
| Major / mid-range | New semi-custom cabinets, island, new appliances package, lighting, flooring | $20,000–$65,000 | $60,000 | $82,793 (midrange) |
| Complete / upscale | Custom cabinetry, stone counters, built-in and pro-style appliances, layout changes | $65,000–$130,000+ | $180,000 (90th percentile, major) | $164,104 (upscale) |
Houzz's 2025 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study, a survey of 1,620 homeowners, found a median of $60,000 for major remodels and $20,000 for minor ones. Large kitchens of 250 sq ft or more pushed the major-remodel median to $72,000. Our view: if you're in a typical 150–200 sq ft kitchen and not moving the sink or range, plan around the Angi mid-range numbers, then add for anything custom.
How much does it cost to remodel a small kitchen?
A small kitchen of roughly 70–100 sq ft costs about $10,500 to $20,000 to remodel, according to Angi's small kitchen cost guide (updated August 2026), with higher-end small projects passing $25,000. That works out to around $150 per square foot, which is higher per foot than a large kitchen because the expensive parts (plumbing, electrical, appliances, permits) don't shrink with the room.
Angi's size table shows the same effect from the other side: a 75 sq ft kitchen runs $5,600–$17,500, while a 200 sq ft kitchen runs $15,000–$50,000. Doubling the floor area rarely doubles the bill.
Small kitchens reward smart choices more than big ones. Stock cabinets, a porcelain or laminate counter and keeping the sink where it is can hold a 10 × 8 ft galley near the bottom of that range. Spend where hands touch every day: drawer hardware, a good faucet and task lighting under the wall cabinets.
Kitchen remodel cost breakdown: where the money goes
Cabinets dominate almost every kitchen budget. Angi estimates they take 40% or more of a typical remodel, with a range of $2,000 to $28,000, while general labor takes about 25%. Countertops typically cost $1,800–$4,400, flooring $1,000–$5,000 and building permits $460–$2,770, depending on where you live.
- Cabinets: 28%
- Labor: 18%
- Appliances: 14%
- Countertops & backsplash: 9%
- Flooring: 7%
- Paint & drywall: 5%
- Lighting & electrical: 4%
- Permits: 4%
- Design: 3%
- Plumbing: 3%
- Demolition: 3%
- Cleanup: 2%
Source: Angi, How Much Does a Small Kitchen Remodel Cost? (updated August 2026)
The small-kitchen split above is lighter on cabinets (28%) because it assumes stock boxes at $100–$200 per linear foot. Move to semi-custom or custom cabinetry and that slice grows fast, which is why the cabinet decision should come first and the backsplash tile last.
Costs people forget to budget
- Relocating plumbing: Angi lists plumbing work at $1,500–$15,000, and moving a sink across the room is what pushes you to the top of that range.
- Gas line relocation for a new range position: $375–$750 per Angi.
- Design fees of $100–$500 per hour if you hire a kitchen designer.
- Eating out or setting up a temporary kitchen for the weeks the room is torn apart.
- Patching floors and walls in adjacent rooms when a wall comes down.
Kitchen remodel ROI: which projects pay back?
Smaller kitchen jobs recover far more of their cost at resale than big ones. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, a minor midrange remodel costing $28,458 added an estimated $32,141 in resale value, a 113% return. A major midrange remodel recouped 51% ($42,130 on $82,793), and a major upscale remodel only 36% ($58,561 on $164,104). By simple arithmetic, that upscale job leaves about $105,500 unrecovered at sale.
- Minor remodel, midrange: 113%
- Major remodel, midrange: 51%
- Major remodel, upscale: 36%
Source: Zonda / JLC, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, national averages
Resale isn't the whole story. The National Association of Realtors' 2025 Remodeling Impact Report gave a kitchen upgrade a perfect Joy Score of 10, and 48% of Realtors said they had seen demand for kitchen upgrades rise over the past two years. If you plan to stay ten years, enjoy the kitchen. If you're selling in two, do the minor version and stop.
Kitchen layouts and clearances that decide your budget
Layout drives cost because moving water, drains, gas and vents is where budgets break. Keep the existing layout and your money goes into finishes you can see. Change it, and a big share goes into the walls. Before choosing, check your room against the National Kitchen & Bath Association's Kitchen Planning Guidelines.
| Layout | Best for | Key NKBA dimension to check | Cost note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galley | Narrow rooms, one cook | Work aisle at least 42 in (1,067 mm) for one cook, 48 in (1,219 mm) for two | Cheapest to keep; two runs of cabinets |
| L-shape | Open plans, corner rooms | Walkways at least 36 in (914 mm); work triangle total no more than 26 ft | Corner cabinets need blind-corner hardware |
| U-shape | Larger rooms, lots of storage | Aisle between facing runs at least 42 in; each triangle leg 4–9 ft | Most cabinetry, so highest cabinet cost |
| Island or peninsula | Seating and prep space | 32 in behind seated diners with no traffic, 44 in if people walk behind | Extra plumbing or power in the island adds cost |
Other NKBA numbers worth taping to your fridge: 24 in of landing space on one side of the sink and 18 in on the other, 12 in and 15 in either side of the cooktop, 15 in next to the refrigerator, and a dishwasher within 36 in of the sink. The guidelines also recommend 158 in of total usable countertop frontage.
Say your kitchen is 11 ft wide wall to wall. Two runs of 24-inch-deep base cabinets leave 132 − 48 = 84 in of floor. An island 24 in deep would leave two 30 in aisles, under the 42 in guideline. That's a peninsula or a narrow cart, not an island, and finding it out on paper costs nothing. You can sketch it in ArchHomeAI's 2D plan editor with real dimensions before anyone quotes.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A minor remodel takes about 1–2 weeks of work, a midrange one 4–8 weeks, and an extensive remodel 8–12 weeks or more, according to Angi's kitchen timeline guide (updated July 2026). Planning and design can add anywhere from two weeks to three months before any demolition, and permits typically take 2–4 weeks.
Custom cabinets and stone countertops are the usual reason projects run late, because both are made to order and counters can only be templated after the cabinets are installed. Order long-lead items before demolition day, not after. Honestly, a kitchen that is fully designed and ordered before the first wall comes down is the single biggest schedule saver there is.
Kitchen remodel costs outside the US
Prices vary a lot by country, and US figures don't transfer directly. In the UK, Checkatrade's 2026 new kitchen cost guide gives an average of £10,550 for a new kitchen, with small budget kitchens from £5,250–£7,000 and large kitchens around £28,400. Fitting labor alone averages about £3,500, and a kitchen fitter charges roughly £250–£350 per day.
Wherever you are, the same pattern holds: units and worktops are the main variable, labor is a fixed-ish chunk, and plumbing or electrical changes add more than people expect. Get at least two local quotes for the same written scope so you compare prices rather than different projects. For whole-house budgets, see our guide on the cost to build a house.
How to see your kitchen remodel before and after you spend
Most regret in kitchen projects comes from finishes that looked fine as a 5 cm sample and wrong across 30 feet of cabinets. Houzz found that 81% of renovating homeowners changed their kitchen's style, so a lot of people are picking colors and materials they have never lived with. A visual test before ordering is cheap insurance.
- Photograph the current kitchen Take a straight-on photo of each wall in daylight. In ArchHomeAI, choose the renovation or interior design project type and upload the photo.
- Describe two or three finish options For example, white shaker with quartz versus sage green with butcher block. The free "Enhance prompt" button turns a short note into a detailed design description.
- Compare variations side by side Each run produces several variations; one variation costs 2 credits, and new accounts get 5 free credits (see credit pricing). Treat the renders as a visualization: screen colors differ from real paint and stone, so confirm with physical samples.
- Lock the layout on a plan Draw walls, cabinets and the island with dimensions in the 2D editor to confirm clearances. These are early-design drafts, not construction drawings; a licensed professional handles anything that needs a permit.
For more on styling rooms from a photo, read our AI interior design guide, or browse example renders to see what the output looks like.
Preview your new kitchen from a photo With ArchHomeAI, upload a photo of your current kitchen, describe the cabinets, counters and colors you're considering, and compare several AI renders before you place an order. Start a kitchen visualization
How to cut kitchen remodel costs without regretting it
- Keep the sink, dishwasher and range where they are. Plumbing moves are the fastest way from the low end of Angi's $1,500–$15,000 plumbing range to the high end.
- Reface or paint sound cabinet boxes instead of replacing them; it's the core of the minor remodel that returned 113% in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report.
- Use stock or semi-custom cabinets with good hardware rather than full custom.
- Spend on the countertop you touch daily and save on the backsplash; tile backsplashes run $500–$1,500 per Angi, so there's little to gain from going premium there.
- Finish the design before demolition so you don't pay for change orders mid-project.
What we would not cut: ventilation, electrical capacity for modern appliances, and permits. Unpermitted electrical or gas work can surface during a home sale inspection and cost more to fix than it saved.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a kitchen remodel in 2026?
Angi's 2026 data puts the US average kitchen remodel at $26,945, with most projects between $14,589 and $41,559. Complete professional remodels cost more: the 2025 Cost vs. Value report prices a major midrange remodel of a 200 sq ft kitchen at $82,793. Your number depends mostly on cabinets, any plumbing moves and local labor rates.
How much does it cost to remodel a small kitchen?
A small kitchen of about 70–100 sq ft usually costs $10,500 to $20,000 to remodel, according to Angi, or roughly $150 per square foot. Higher-end small kitchens can pass $25,000. Keeping the existing layout and choosing stock cabinets are the two decisions that keep a small kitchen at the lower end of that range.
Is a kitchen remodel worth it for resale?
A modest one usually is. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report found a minor midrange kitchen remodel recouped 113% of its $28,458 cost at resale, while a major midrange remodel recouped 51% and a major upscale remodel 36%. If you're selling soon, a refresh beats a full gut; if you're staying, weigh daily use as well as resale.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets. Angi estimates they account for 40% or more of a typical kitchen remodel budget, ranging from $2,000 to $28,000, and about 28% even in a small kitchen with stock cabinets. Labor is the next biggest share, at roughly a quarter of the total, followed by appliances and countertops.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
Angi's 2026 timeline guide puts a minor remodel at 1–2 weeks, a midrange remodel at 4–8 weeks, and an extensive one at 8–12 weeks or more. Add planning and design time, which can run from two weeks to three months, plus 2–4 weeks for permits. Custom cabinets and stone countertops are the most common causes of delay.
How much space do you need for a kitchen island?
NKBA guidelines call for a work aisle of at least 42 inches for one cook and 48 inches for multiple cooks. If people sit at the island, allow 32 inches behind the seats with no traffic, or 44 inches if others walk past. In a narrow room that often means a peninsula works better than a full island.
Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen?
Usually yes if you change plumbing, electrical, gas or walls; cosmetic work like painting or swapping a countertop often doesn't. Angi lists kitchen permits at $460 to $2,770 in the US. Rules differ by city and country, so check with your local building department and use licensed trades for gas and electrical work.
Sources
How we wrote this guide: every figure comes from the sources listed at the end and was checked in September 2026. Prices vary by city, specification and year.
- Cost vs. Value Report 2025 — Zonda / Journal of Light Construction
- How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? [2026 Data] — Angi
- How Much Does a Small Kitchen Remodel Cost? [2026 Data] — Angi
- How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take? — Angi
- 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study — Houzz
- Top Remodeling Projects for Homeowner Satisfaction and Cost Recovery Revealed in NAR Report — National Association of Realtors
- Kitchen Planning Guidelines with Access Standards — National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
- New Kitchen Cost 2026 — Checkatrade