Kitchen remodel cost: 2026 averages, a small/mid/major table and 30+ cost lines

The short answer: the average kitchen remodel cost in 2026 is $26,992, and most homeowners pay $14,592 to $41,613, according to Angi's data from 13,100 projects. A minor refresh runs $10,000 to $20,000, a major remodel $20,000 to $65,000 and a complete gut $65,000 to $130,000 or more.

• Per square foot: $75 to $250, or $15,000 to $50,000 for a 200-square-foot kitchen
• Biggest line: cabinets, at 30% to 40% of the budget; keep the layout to avoid new plumbing, gas and wiring
• Free download: get the free monthly budget template (we email it to you) to set your remodel savings goal
• Next step: save for it with the Sinking Funds Tracker ($4.99), then log every quote in the Home Maintenance Log ($5.99)

Numbers checked November 12, 2026, from Angi's 2026 cost guide, HomeAdvisor's cost guide, the 2025 Cost vs. Value report and Houzz's 2026 Kitchen Trends Study. Below: a small/mid/major cost table, 30+ cost lines, budget split percentages, ways to save, financing cautions and a remodel budget worksheet.

Kitchen remodel cost at a glance: small, mid and major

Each column is a different authentic source, so the numbers don't line up exactly. Angi gives typical price ranges, Houzz reports what homeowners actually spent, and Cost vs. Value prices one model project in a 200-square-foot kitchen.

What each model project includes, per the Cost vs. Value 2025 national report:

• Minor midrange: a 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinets keeps the cabinet boxes but gets new shaker fronts and hardware, a new range and refrigerator, laminate counters, a sink and faucet, resilient flooring and paint.
• Major midrange: a new layout with 30 linear feet of semi-custom cabinets and a 3-by-5-foot island, laminate counters, a range, vented hood, built-in microwave, dishwasher, disposal, custom lighting, resilient flooring and paint.
• Major upscale: top-of-the-line custom cabinets, stone counters, a tile backsplash, built-in refrigerator, commercial-grade cooktop and hood, wall oven, undermount sink with water filtration and new lighting.

Houzz defines a major remodel as one where at least all the cabinets and appliances are replaced, and a minor remodel as one where they aren't. Its 2026 Kitchen Trends Study is based on 1,780 homeowners, and its spend figures aren't adjusted for inflation.

Average kitchen remodel cost by size

Angi and HomeAdvisor both put remodels at $75 to $250 per square foot, including materials, appliances and labor.

Small kitchen remodel cost: Houzz found a median of $20,000 for minor remodels and $46,000 for major remodels of kitchens under 250 square feet, compared with $25,000 and $75,000 for kitchens of 250 square feet or more. Angi notes small kitchens often cost more per square foot, because labor and design fees are spread over less space.

Kitchen remodel cost by region

30+ kitchen remodel cost lines

Every line comes from Angi's 2026 kitchen remodel cost guide (updated September 4, 2026) unless it's marked HA, for HomeAdvisor's kitchen remodel cost guide (updated June 17, 2026).

Kitchen remodel budget split: where the money goes

These percentages are all sourced, but they come from different guides and overlap (labor shows up inside other lines), so don't expect them to add up to 100%.

Angi also gives a rule of thumb from contractor Craig Burnett: be ready to spend 5% to 10% of your home's value on any substantial renovation that needs a general contractor.

Cost to replace kitchen cabinets

Cabinets are where most kitchen budgets are won or lost. Using the 30 linear feet of cabinets in the Cost vs. Value model kitchen:

Houzz found 68% of renovating homeowners replace all their cabinets, 27% do a partial upgrade and 5% leave them alone. Among partial upgrades, half refinish the exteriors and 20% replace only the doors.

Kitchen renovation cost vs. remodel cost

A renovation keeps the layout and refreshes surfaces, appliances and floors. A remodel changes the layout or structure. Angi rates renovation costs as low to moderate and remodel costs as moderate to high. An expansion that takes space from another room costs the most. If your kitchen's layout works, a renovation can stay inside the minor tier.

Kitchen remodel on a budget: ways to save

• Keep the footprint. Moving plumbing, gas and wiring adds trade labor and permits. Leaving the range in place skips the $375–$750 gas line move.
• Refinish or reface cabinets. Refinishing ($1,900–$4,500) or refacing ($4,270–$10,200) costs less than custom cabinets for the same 30 feet.
• Choose stock over custom. Stock runs $100–$300 per linear foot versus $500–$1,200 for custom.
• Start with laminate or LVP. Laminate counters start at $8 per square foot, and LVP floors run $3–$7.
• DIY the easy jobs. Angi and HomeAdvisor both list painting and backsplash work as DIY-friendly, and Angi adds garbage disposal swaps. Leave gas, wiring and structural work to licensed pros.
• Spend where it shows. Angi suggests high-quality hardware on refurbished cabinets, or porcelain tile that looks like stone.
• Shop floor models. Angi suggests floor-model or scratch-and-dent appliances.
• Phase it. HomeAdvisor suggests doing the project in stages, so you save for one piece at a time.
• Get at least three quotes. Angi warns against simply taking the lowest bid. Compare what each quote includes.
• Buy small items early. Tiles, handles and appliances that arrive late hold up the whole job.

Remodeling the bathroom too? See our bathroom remodel ideas with 2026 cost tiers.

Kitchen remodel financing: read this before you borrow

• Save first when you can. A remodel is a planned expense, which makes it a good fit for a sinking fund. Keep your emergency fund separate, so a surprise during demolition doesn't drain it.
• Home equity loans use your house as collateral. The CFPB explains the foreclosure risk if you cannot repay. Compare the APR, fees and payment before you sign.
• Read the fine print on 0% promotions. Some store and contractor financing offers charge deferred interest back to the purchase date if the balance isn't paid off in time.
• Don't pay everything up front. Tie payments to finished work in a written contract, and keep the final payment until the job passes inspection.
• Run the numbers. If you'll carry a balance, our debt payoff calculator shows how long it takes to pay off and what it costs in interest.

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Smart Tiles peel-and-stick backsplash tiles are a finish example to price against conventional tile; check the manufacturer’s surface and heat-clearance requirements before choosing them. These product examples are separate from the installed-cost estimates above.

Kitchen remodel budget worksheet

Copy this into a notebook or the free monthly budget template (we email it to you), and fill in each line with real quotes, not guesses.

Worksheet instructions:

1. Pick your tier from the small/mid/major table and set a ceiling.
2. Get three written quotes and write each one in its own column.
3. Add a cushion of at least 10% for hidden problems, as Angi recommends.
4. Divide the total by the months until you want to start. That's your monthly savings goal.
5. Track every deposit, receipt and change order in the Actual column.

The Sinking Funds Tracker ($4.99, Excel and Google Sheets) works out the monthly amount needed to hit a savings goal by a date. The Budget Planner Printable ($5.99) adds a monthly budget, an expense log and a sinking funds page you can print each month. When the work is done, the Home Maintenance Log ($5.99) keeps the Home Improvement Log, contractor contacts, appliance records and paint colors together. Want to plan the layout first? Get the free room planner (we email it to you).

Kitchen remodel timeline

HomeAdvisor says construction takes six to 10 weeks, and planning adds about four more, for roughly four months total. Angi also says to expect up to four months or longer. Plan where you'll cook during that time: Angi suggests a temporary kitchen with a mini fridge and a stovetop to keep the takeout budget down.

Once it's finished, keep it that way with our kitchen organization ideas, the kitchen cleaning checklist and the home maintenance checklist. For more planning tools, browse home printables and budget spreadsheets, or use the budget calculator to find room in your monthly budget.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in 2026? Angi puts the 2026 national average kitchen remodel cost at $26,992, based on 13,100 verified projects, with most homeowners paying $14,592 to $41,613. Angi's scope tiers are $10,000 to $20,000 for a minor remodel, $20,000 to $65,000 for a major one and $65,000 to $130,000 or more for a complete remodel.

What is the average cost of a small kitchen remodel? Angi lists $5,600 to $17,500 for a 75-square-foot kitchen and $7,500 to $25,000 for 100 square feet. Houzz's 2026 Kitchen Trends Study found a median of $20,000 for minor remodels and $46,000 for major remodels of kitchens under 250 square feet. Smaller kitchens often cost more per square foot because fixed labor and design fees are spread over less space.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost per square foot? Angi and HomeAdvisor both put a kitchen remodel at $75 to $250 per square foot, including materials, appliances and labor. That works out to $15,000 to $50,000 for a 200-square-foot kitchen in Angi's size table. Layout changes, custom cabinets and stone counters push you toward the top of the range.

How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets? Angi lists kitchen cabinets at $2,000 to $28,000 or more, with stock cabinets at $100 to $300 per linear foot and custom cabinets at $500 to $1,200 per linear foot. For the 30 linear feet in the Cost vs. Value model kitchen, that's $3,000 to $9,000 for stock and $15,000 to $36,000 for custom. HomeAdvisor lists refacing at $4,270 to $10,200 and refinishing at $1,900 to $4,500.

What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel? Cabinets are usually the most expensive part. Angi says cabinetry often takes 30% to 40% of the total budget, and HomeAdvisor says nearly 30%. Appliances, countertops and flooring typically come next, and any change to plumbing, gas or wiring adds trade labor and permits.

Does a kitchen remodel add value to a home? A modest update returns the most. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report put a midrange minor kitchen remodel at $28,458 with $32,141 in resale value, or 112.9% recouped. A midrange major remodel recouped 50.9% and an upscale major remodel 35.7%, so big remodels are mostly for your own use.

How long does a kitchen remodel take? HomeAdvisor says construction takes six to 10 weeks, and about four more weeks of planning brings the full project to roughly four months. Angi also says a kitchen remodel can take up to four months or longer. Ordering cabinets and small items early keeps delays down.

What is the difference between a kitchen remodel and a kitchen renovation? A renovation refreshes the kitchen and keeps the layout, while a remodel changes the structure or layout. Angi describes renovation costs as low to moderate and remodel costs as moderate to high, because moving walls, plumbing, wiring and gas lines adds trades, permits and time.

How much should I budget for surprises in a kitchen remodel? Angi recommends a cushion of at least 10% of the budget for surprises like hidden leaks or old plumbing. On Angi's $26,992 average, that's about $2,700. Keep the cushion in savings, not on a credit card, so a surprise doesn't become debt.

What printable helps track a kitchen remodel? The Home Maintenance Log ($5.99) has a Home Improvement Log, Contractor Contacts and a Paint & Finishes page, so quotes, contractors and paint colors stay in one place after the remodel. It also keeps an appliance log for the new range, dishwasher and refrigerator.

How do I save up for a kitchen remodel? The Sinking Funds Tracker ($4.99) is an Excel and Google Sheets template that works out how much to set aside each month to hit a savings goal by a date. Divide your remodel budget plus a 10% cushion by the months until you want to start, and track deposits as you go.

Is there a printable budget planner for a remodel year? The Budget Planner Printable ($5.99) has twelve undated pages including a monthly budget, expense log and sinking funds page. Use the sinking funds page for the remodel and the expense log for every deposit, permit and receipt, so you can see planned versus actual spending.