Free Contractor Tool
Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator
Estimate a kitchen remodel with cabinets and countertops priced as their own line items — because cabinets alone are usually a third of the budget and the single biggest lever on the total.
Built by SubcontractorHub — the software contractors use to quote, finance, and run every job.
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Estimate Your Kitchen Remodel Cost
Enter kitchen size and remodel level, then price cabinets by linear foot and countertops by square foot. The result shows what share of the budget cabinets represent.
Estimated remodel cost
$27,258 – $57,540
200 ft² • $212/ft²
Cabinets
$7,650–$10,800
22% of budget
Countertops
$4,208–$5,940
Labor & general
$12,150–$24,300
Resale recovery
$27,559–$31,799
65–75%
Reading the result: cabinets are 22% of this estimate, which is where the leverage is. Recovery also falls as budget rises — buyers rarely pay a premium for finishes above the neighborhood norm, so a refresh usually beats a gut renovation on return.
Cabinet Cost Per Linear Foot
Installed, by construction type. On a 25-foot kitchen the gap between stock and full custom is about $15,000.
Where a kitchen budget actually goes
Cabinets 25–35%, labor 20–35%, countertops 10–15%, appliances 10–15%, with flooring, lighting, and fixtures making up the rest. That ordering holds across almost every budget level.
Which means the cabinet decision moves the total more than anything else. Refacing sound boxes at about $120 per linear foot is the single biggest available saving — but only if the layout already works, since refacing locks you into it.
Order cabinets first
Kitchen schedules are set by cabinet lead time, not labor. Custom cabinets commonly run 8–12 weeks from order to delivery, and everything downstream — countertop templating, backsplash, final plumbing — waits on them.
Countertops cannot be templated until cabinets are installed and level, which adds another one to three weeks after delivery. A kitchen that looks like a six-week job on paper regularly becomes ten once that sequence is respected.
From Material Takeoffs to a Signed Proposal
SubcontractorHub is the platform contractors use to turn takeoffs like these into a branded proposal, financing the customer can accept on the spot, and a scheduled job — without re-entering the job anywhere. This tool is free to use; the platform is here if you want a closer look.
Kitchens are the highest-ticket residential remodel most contractors sell, and selection changes drive both margin and schedule. Presenting options with prices attached — and a monthly payment that makes the semi-custom upgrade an easy yes — is what turns a quote into a signed contract. See proposal software and embedded financing.
Common Questions About Kitchen Remodel Cost
How much does a kitchen remodel cost?
A typical 200 ft² kitchen runs $15,000–$60,000 for a mid-range remodel, national average around $27,000. Per square foot: $75–$150 minor refresh, $150–$300 mid-range, $300–$550 major, $550–$1,000 luxury. Cabinets alone are 25–35% of the budget, which is why cabinet choice moves the total more than any other decision.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets, at 25–35% of a typical budget. Custom runs about $800 per linear foot installed against roughly $200 for stock, so a 25-foot kitchen can swing $15,000 on that choice alone. Labor is next at 20–35%, then countertops 10–15% and appliances 10–15%. Refacing sound boxes at ~$120/lf is the biggest available saving, if the layout already works.
Does a kitchen remodel add value to a home?
A minor mid-range kitchen remodel is among the strongest returns in remodeling, typically recovering 70–85% at resale. Returns fall as budget rises — major upscale remodels usually recover 50–60%, because buyers rarely pay a premium for finishes above the neighborhood norm. If resale is the goal, a refresh generally beats a gut renovation.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A cosmetic refresh is two to four weeks. Mid-range keeping the existing layout is six to ten weeks. Full reconfiguration or a gut renovation is three to five months. Cabinet lead time drives the schedule more than labor — custom cabinets commonly run 8–12 weeks from order to delivery, so ordering should be the first decision, not the last.
Is it cheaper to reface or replace kitchen cabinets?
Refacing is about $120 per linear foot against $200–$800 for replacement, saving 40–70%. It works when the boxes are structurally sound and the layout functions. It is wrong if the boxes are swollen particleboard, if you want to change layout or cabinet sizes, or if you are adding a pantry or island — at that point you are paying to keep something that no longer fits.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel?
Cosmetic work — painting, refacing, swapping countertops — usually does not. You almost certainly do if you move plumbing or gas, add or relocate circuits, or remove a wall. Permits run $250–$1,500. Removing a load-bearing wall also needs engineered plans and a beam, adding $3,000–$12,000. Answer the load-bearing question before pricing any open-concept plan.
Quote, Finance, and Run Every Job in One Platform
SubcontractorHub helps contractors turn field measurements into accurate proposals, present financing, and close jobs on-site — built for the way contractor sales actually works.
Book a Free DemoCost ranges are national planning estimates based on typical published remodeling pricing, adjusted by the layout and region factors you select. Cabinet and countertop pricing varies widely by brand, door style, and fabricator. Resale recovery figures are typical industry averages and are not a valuation. Verify scope, structural requirements, and pricing with a licensed contractor before bidding or building.