How much does a kitchen remodel cost in 2025?

Kitchen remodel costs vary significantly by size and finish level. A small kitchen (under 100 sq ft) with budget finishes runs $15,000–$30,000. A medium kitchen (100–200 sq ft) at midrange finishes costs $45,000–$85,000. A large kitchen (200+ sq ft) with upscale custom finishes can exceed $200,000. In the Kansas City and St. Louis markets, expect costs to run 5–10% below national averages. Use the estimator above for a range based on your specific situation.

What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?

Cabinets and cabinet installation typically represent 30–40% of the total kitchen remodel budget. Custom cabinets in a large kitchen can easily exceed $30,000 for the cabinetry alone. After cabinets, countertops (especially stone slabs), appliances, and labor are the next largest cost centers. Plumbing and electrical changes — moving a sink, adding a kitchen island circuit — add cost quickly because they require licensed subcontractors.

How long does a kitchen remodel take?

A midrange kitchen remodel on an existing layout typically takes 6–10 weeks from demo to final punch list. A major remodel involving layout changes, new plumbing rough-in, or structural work can run 12–16 weeks or longer. The timeline is heavily dependent on the contractor's schedule, material lead times (especially cabinets — typically 4–8 weeks to arrive after ordering), and permit review times in your municipality.

Can I save money by keeping the existing cabinet layout?

Yes — significantly. The most expensive single cost driver in a kitchen remodel is moving the sink or relocating plumbing walls. A plumber and general contractor working together to reroute a drain and water supply under a slab can add $5,000–$15,000 to a project. If your current layout is functional, keeping the sink and appliances in their existing locations and updating the cabinets, counters, and finishes in place is almost always the smarter financial decision.

What is a realistic kitchen remodel budget for resale in Kansas City or St. Louis?

For a resale-motivated kitchen update in the Kansas City or St. Louis market, budget $25,000–$55,000 for a midrange update on a typical home. This range covers new semi-custom cabinets, quartz countertops, a tile backsplash, updated appliances, new sink and faucet, and fresh paint. Projects in this range typically return 80–97 cents on the dollar at resale — compared to 44 cents for a $85,000+ gut remodel.

Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator: Get Your Budget Range in 2 Minutes

What Drives Kitchen Remodel Costs

The range on kitchen remodeling is genuinely enormous — from $12,000 cosmetic refreshes to $300,000 full custom builds. Understanding what drives cost helps you make better decisions before you start talking to contractors.

Use the estimator above to anchor your budget, then read below to understand what moves you up or down within any range.

The Three Primary Cost Levers

1. Cabinets and Their Origin

Cabinet quality and sourcing is the single largest cost variable in a kitchen remodel. There are three tiers:

Stock cabinets (from home center or online) — available in standard sizes only, limited finish options, typically manufactured overseas. Cost: $60–$200 per linear foot installed.

Semi-custom cabinets — manufactured to order in a wider range of sizes and finishes, often with soft-close hardware included, 3–8 week lead time. Cost: $150–$400 per linear foot installed.

Custom cabinets — built to exact specifications by a local or regional shop, unlimited configuration, longest lead time. Cost: $400–$1,000+ per linear foot installed.

The difference between stock and semi-custom on a 20-linear-foot kitchen can be $3,000–$6,000. The difference between semi-custom and custom can be $10,000–$30,000.

2. Countertop Material

Material	Cost (installed, per sq ft)	Notes
Laminate	$15–$40	Durable for budget jobs, no repair options
Butcher Block	$40–$100	Warm look, requires maintenance
Quartz (engineered)	$80–$150	Most popular midrange choice — durable, non-porous
Granite	$80–$175	Natural variation, requires sealing annually
Quartzite	$100–$200	Natural stone, harder than granite
Marble	$125–$250	Beautiful, high maintenance, stains easily
Dekton / Ultra-compact	$100–$200	Extremely durable, limited fabricators

For most midrange remodels, quartz is the practical choice: consistent appearance, non-porous surface, strong resale appeal, and wide availability from fabricators in Kansas City and St. Louis.

3. Layout Changes

This is where projects balloon unexpectedly. Changing the kitchen layout to move the sink, relocate an island, or open a wall introduces costs that aren't obvious from the design:

Moving the sink: $2,000–$8,000 (plumber to relocate drain and supply, possible subfloor work)
Removing a wall: $3,000–$15,000 depending on whether it's load-bearing (structural engineer + beam required)
Adding kitchen island circuits: $800–$2,500 for licensed electrician
Gas line relocation: $500–$2,500

Keeping the sink in its existing location, maintaining the current appliance positions, and working within the existing footprint is the single most effective cost control decision in a kitchen remodel.

What's Usually Not In the Quote (Until It Is)

Experienced contractors include these in their initial scope. Inexperienced ones add them as change orders:

Asbestos or lead paint discovery — older homes (pre-1978) may have lead paint on cabinets or asbestos in floor tile. Abatement adds $2,000–$10,000 if discovered.

Subfloor repair — removing old flooring often reveals soft spots or damage in the subfloor that need repair before new flooring can go down. Budget $500–$3,000 as contingency.

Permit fees — typically $200–$600 in most municipalities, should be included in your contractor's quote.

Appliance delivery and installation — often not included in the cabinet/counter quote. If buying appliances separately, confirm who's handling delivery and hookup.

Tile installation labor — some quotes include tile, some don't. Clarify exactly what's in scope.

The 10–15% Contingency Rule

Add 10–15% to whatever range you plan for. Kitchen remodels almost always have at least one discovery — a plumbing configuration that doesn't match what the plan assumed, a structural element that needs addressing, or a material that's backordered and requires a substitution.

If you don't use the contingency, you keep it. If you need it, you have it. Going into a remodel without contingency budget almost always means compromising on the final result when something unexpected surfaces.