When it comes to home remodeling projects, kitchen remodels are often the most popular and most beneficial in increasing your home’s value. Many homeowners consider their kitchen space the center of their home and therefore want it to be functional, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing.
However, choosing to remodel a kitchen is not a simple feat, especially when it comes to figuring out the cost of a kitchen remodel. Continue reading our blog for a complete kitchen remodel cost breakdown that will help you get your project off the ground.
How Much Should I Budget For a Kitchen Remodel?
Determining the cost of a kitchen remodel goes further than simply figuring out how much you can afford to spend. Any home renovation project should be an investment and therefore needs to be treated as such.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends that when planning a remodel, homeowners should be budgeting about 15-20% of the value of their home.
Once you determine the budget of your project, the NKBA suggests cutting it by at least 25%, this will give you a nice cushion for any unexpected issues or obstacles that may come up during the renovation process.
Breaking Down Project Costs
Once you have an idea of the total budget, it will be easier to establish a more specific breakdown of kitchen remodel costs, such as where and what the money will be spent on. Generally speaking, an average kitchen remodel cost breakdown will look something like this:
- Cabinetry & hardware: 29%
- Installation: 17%
- Appliances & ventilation: 14%
- Countertops: 10%
- Flooring: 7%
- Lighting: 5%
- Walls & ceilings: 5%
- Design fees: 4%
- Doors & windows: 4%
- Faucets, sinks, & plumbing: 4%
- Miscellaneous: 1%
The kitchen remodel budget percentages listed above are only a guide. Every kitchen remodeling project is different, and as a result, the breakdown of kitchen remodel costs will vary. Some remodeling projects may use every element listed above, while others will only involve one or two.
3 Types of Kitchen Remodels
For any kitchen remodel cost breakdown to be successful, it’s important for you to be clear about your wants, needs, and end goal. Start by asking yourself some basic questions:
- Are you planning on reselling your home in a few years, or is this going to be your long-term home?
- How much kitchen space do you and your family need?
- What do you like about your current kitchen layout?
- What do you dislike about your current kitchen layout?
- What will the primary function of your kitchen space be (cooking, entertaining, kids, etc.)?
Once you have these questions answered, you can begin to envision the scope of your project. This refers to the building and design strategies you’ll use to create the space you want.
Typically, there are three categories of remodeling projects: small-scale, mid-scale, and large-scale. In the next sections, we’ll provide details about each of these project scopes along with price ranges and estimations to help you gain a better understanding of average kitchen remodel cost breakdowns.
1. Small-Scale Remodel
If your goal is to update and refresh the space, you should consider a small-scale remodel. This isn’t for homeowners who want an entirely new space, but need to invest in certain improvements.
These projects will change the space’s appearance and functionality without shifting the original layout such as:
- Installing custom cabinets
- Installing a new sink and faucet
- Upgrading light sources and fixtures
- Upgrading flooring
- Re-painting the walls, ceiling, and trim
2. Mid-Scale Remodel
Sometimes, your kitchen needs more than a few updates. If that’s the case, you’re looking for a mid-scale remodel. The goal of these projects is to remove and replace most if not all elements without changing the original layout of the kitchen.
Most kitchen remodeling projects fall under this category because it offers necessary upgrades and high-quality materials, but don’t require you to knock down walls and replace doors. For example, some projects will include:
- Installing custom cabinets
- Installing a new sink and faucet
- Upgrading light sources and fixtures
- Upgrading flooring
- Installing high-end countertops
- Choosing new appliances
- Re-painting the walls, ceiling, and trim
- Adding a backsplash or kitchen island
3. Large-Scale Remodel
Finally, there is the option for homeowners to go all out in their remodel. A large-scale remodel includes starting from scratch and doing so with luxury-grade materials.
This means gutting everything, tearing down walls, and stripping interior finishes like plumbing and electrical. Since the goal of this project is to redesign and renovate, the changes can be extensive, including:
- Removing walls
- Relocating windows or exterior doors
- Installing custom cabinets
- Installing high-end countertops
- Choosing custom built-in appliances
- Installing a high-end sink and faucet
- Upgrading light sources and fixtures
- Upgrading flooring
- Re-painting the walls, ceiling, and trim
- Adding any additional elements such as a backsplash, kitchen island, bar areas, etc.
When looking at a kitchen remodel cost breakdown, there’s no doubt that mid-and large-scale remodeling projects are more expensive than a quick touch-up.
However, as we said in the beginning, renovation projects should be viewed as investments. Whether they are planning on staying in their home for many years or renovating for resale value the work will be worth it in the end.
Start transforming your kitchen space today. Request a complimentary consultation from our design experts to see what type of budget best suits you and your family.
This blog was originally published on September 20, 2019, and updated on March 9, 2023.
It’s good to know that cabinetry should be what you spend the majority of your budget on when remodeling your kitchen. I remember my wife mentioning that she thinks our kitchen is too cluttered and has too many appliances on our cupboard, and she wants to add some cabinets to increase our storage options. I’ll let her know that we should put together a budget so that we can decide how we want to handle our remodeling project.
I love that you brought up how you should set some money aside just in case there are any unexpected fees when remodeling your kitchen. My wife and I would like to renovate our kitchen by installing cabinets this summer, but we are worried that the process may be complicated since our ceilings are slanted. Maybe we should find a professional that can help us avoid any issues ahead of time.
It makes sense that you would want to set aside 5% of your renovation budget for miscellaneous items and anything that might come up during the process. My partner and I are thinking about renovating our kitchen so that we can update the look of it, and update all the appliances. I think it would be smart to talk to a contractor about what might come up during the process so that we can plan and budget accordingly and be prepared for anything that comes up.
It’s interesting to know that if I’m planning to remodel my kitchen, I should expect to use 30-35% of my budget on kitchen cabinets. My mom and I are planning to have the kitchen in our ancestral home remodeled before the holidays come and our relatives arrive. I’ll bookmark this article and share it with my mom so that we can budget our finances properly. Thanks!