Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator

Kitchen renovations swing in price more than almost any other room, so getting a grounded number before demolition starts is what keeps a project from outrunning its budget. The estimate is built around two inputs that drive most of the variation: how big the kitchen is (small, medium or large) and how far you intend to take the job, from a cosmetic refresh to an upscale remodel. Together they produce a breakdown detailed enough to plan around in a market where prices move quickly.

The calculator starts from a cost range for the scope you pick: $5,000 to $15,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $25,000 to $50,000 for a mid-range remodel and $75,000 to $150,000 for an upscale one. It scales that range by kitchen size (× 0.7 for small, × 1.0 for medium, × 1.4 for large) and takes the midpoint as the central estimate. The midpoint is then split into a fixed breakdown: cabinets 30%, labor 25%, appliances 15%, and countertops, flooring and plumbing 10% each. For comparison, Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report put the national average for a midrange minor kitchen remodel at $28,458 and for a midrange major remodel at $82,793.

No estimate survives first contact with an actual job site untouched. Your location, the specific finishes you settle on, and individual contractor fees all push the final tally up or down. The expenses that most often blow budgets are the ones hidden behind the walls, plumbing reroutes and electrical upgrades that only surface once work begins. Building a 10-15% contingency into the budget from the outset is the standard hedge against those surprises.