Kitchen Remodels

What will your kitchen remodel cost?

Choose the tier closest to your scope. The tiers are HomeAdvisor’s national ranges for each scope, and the local figures further down show what the same kind of project costs in California and Seattle. None of them is a quote. Ask each contractor to specify room dimensions, permits, design, materials, labor and exclusions.

What changes the price?

Cabinet configuration, countertop selection and appliance specifications change the material budget. Moving a sink, adding circuits or opening a wall changes the trade and approval scope too. Price those choices before comparing finish upgrades.

Ask for allowances and exclusions in writing. Two proposals with the same total may cover different appliances, installation work or repairs after demolition.

Read the detailed 2026 kitchen remodel cost breakdown.

Make the layout work before choosing finishes

List what frustrates you about the kitchen today: limited preparation space, awkward storage, appliance doors that collide or an island that blocks circulation. Use those problems to decide what needs to move and what can stay.

Keep the footprint or change it?

Keeping the sink, range and major walls in place can keep the scope simpler. If opening a wall is important, have the structure and utility routes assessed before treating it as a cosmetic change.

Island, peninsula or open floor space?

Test the plan with appliance doors open and people working around the counters. An island is useful only when the surrounding circulation works. A peninsula or a clear walkway may serve a smaller room better.

Choose the appliances before final cabinet drawings

Confirm actual model dimensions, ventilation needs and connection requirements. A change in range or refrigerator can affect cabinetry, electrical work and clearances.

Compare cabinets and countertops

These per-unit ranges come from the sources listed below. Use them to discuss material allowances; they are not supplier quotes. Cabinet prices are per linear foot and include installation; ask each bidder for the mix of upper and lower cabinets they priced. Countertop prices are per square foot of counter.

Stock cabinets

$100 to $400 / linear ft installed

Semi-custom cabinets

$150 to $700 / linear ft installed

Custom cabinets

$500 to $1,200 / linear ft installed

Quartz counters

$15 to $70 / sq ft

Marble counters

$15 to $190 / sq ft

Ceramic or porcelain counters

$1 to $40 / sq ft

Ask whether fabrication, hardware, trim and disposal are included. Stock cabinetry offers standard configurations; semi-custom adds choices; custom work can address unusual dimensions. For counters, compare a sample in your kitchen and ask about care, edge details, seams and the manufacturer’s limitations.

How your kitchen remodel works

Allow approximately 6 to 9 weeks as a construction planning range. Design, approvals and product ordering happen before that; delays and structural work can extend the schedule. Ask for dates tied to your actual scope.

1. 1

   Define your scope and budget tier

   Choose the work you actually need: a surface refresh, a full renovation within the existing room, or a project with structural changes. Agree on the budget and exclusions before comparing bids.

2. 2

   Hire a designer or design-build firm

   Decide who will measure, design, specify materials and coordinate construction. Ask whether design fees are separate or included in the proposal.

3. 3

   Permits and HOA approval

   Confirm the required approvals with the local building department and, where relevant, your HOA. Put responsibility for submissions and inspections in writing.

4. 4

   Order long-lead items early

   Confirm cabinet, appliance and countertop availability before demolition. Obtain delivery commitments and agree what happens if a product is delayed.

5. 5

   Demolition and rough-in

   The crew removes the existing work and prepares plumbing, electrical and ventilation. Agree how discoveries and changes will be documented and approved.

6. 6

   Cabinet install, counters, finish trades

   Coordinate cabinet installation, countertop templating, appliance connections and finish work. Confirm dependencies in the contractor’s schedule.

7. 7

   Punchlist, inspection, and reveal

   Walk through the finished work, list incomplete items and confirm inspection sign-offs and warranty documents before closing out the project.

Living at home during the work

Agree on dust separation, safe access and working hours. Plan where you will store food and wash up while the kitchen is unavailable. Decide with the contractor whether staying home is practical for your household.

Confirm permits and approvals early

Ask your local building department which approvals apply to the exact work. Construction, plumbing, electrical and ventilation can follow different permit paths. Do not assume that an exemption for one cosmetic task covers the whole remodel.

Before work begins, confirm which permits and inspections your local building department requires. Ask your contractor to specify who will obtain the permits, schedule inspections and include the fees in the proposal.

For California projects, also confirm which Energy Code requirements apply to your scope using the California Energy Commission guidance.

If your home has an HOA, confirm its review process before scheduling work.

Use the local kitchen guides for Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco in the Bay Area or Seattle in Greater Seattle as starting points. Confirm which city or county handles your property before relying on a metro-wide example.

Compare the scope, then choose the contractor

Give each contractor the same drawings, product selections and list of work. A useful proposal explains what is included and who is responsible for each part of the job.

• Check the current license and relevant experience. California homeowners can use CSLB’s contractor selection guidance.
• Ask about insurance, recent kitchen work and who will supervise the project.
• Compare material allowances, exclusions, payment stages and the proposed schedule.
• Agree how changes will be priced and approved. Read CSLB’s written contract guidance.

Common kitchen remodeling questions