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Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator

Last Updated: Aug 25, 2025

ft²

Created by
Saqib Hanif
Saqib Hanif

Saqib Hanif is the CEO and founder of Calculator Value. He builds calculators and educational content across sports, math, and science, and supports a limited set of construction-related calculators. Read full profile

The Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator estimates typical installed costs for cosmetic refresh, partial remodel, and full gut projects across Basic, Midrange, and Upscale quality levels.

Formulas

FinishesBase = Area × BaseFinishesRate(quality) × ScopeMaterialsFactor(scope)
CabinetryCountertops = Area × CabinetryCountertopRate(quality) × ScopeMaterialsFactor(scope)
Backsplash = Area × BacksplashCoverageFactor(option) × BacksplashTileRate(quality)
Appliances = Bundle(quality,size) + SinkFaucet(quality)
Materials = (FinishesBase + CabinetryCountertops + Backsplash + Appliances) × Region
Labor = (Area × 65 × ScopeLaborFactor(scope) × QualityLaborFactor(quality) × Location) + (Area × DemolitionRate(scope))
Permit = (Materials + Labor) × 0.02
Total = (Materials + Labor + Permit) × 1.10

Key settings

  • Base finishes per ft²: Basic $80, Midrange $120, Upscale $180
  • Cabinetry & countertops per ft²: Basic $40, Midrange $90, Upscale $150
  • Backsplash tile per ft²: Basic $20, Midrange $35, Upscale $55
  • Backsplash coverage factors: None 0.0, Standard 0.6, Full 1.0
  • Appliance bundles (compact/standard) by quality and sink/faucet: compact basic $2,500, midrange $6,000, upscale $12,000; standard basic $3,500, midrange $7,500, upscale $14,000; sink/faucet: basic $300, midrange $500, upscale $900
  • Labor baseline: $65/ft² × scope × quality × location + demolition
  • Location factors: Rural 0.90, Suburban 1.00, Urban 1.15
  • Region factors: None 1.00, Northeast 1.10, Southeast 1.08, Midwest 1.07, West 1.11
  • Permit: 2% of materials + labor
  • Contingency: 10% of subtotal

Example

130 ft² • Midrange • Cosmetic refresh • Standard backsplash • Region: Southeast

Base finishes $14,292.00 · Cabinetry & countertops $10,681.80 · Backsplash $2,955.60 · Appliances & sink $8,640.00 → Materials $36,569.40
Labor $6,388.20 → Permit $859.15 → Subtotal $43,816.75
Contingency (10%) $4,381.68 → Total $48,198.43 ($370.76/ft²)

Note: Values reflect typical mid‑range pricing; actual costs vary by cabinet line, appliance package, layout changes (plumbing/electrical moves), and contractor demand.

  • Industry-Standard Formulas: The formulas and methods used in this calculator follow widely accepted standards in Financial.
  • Careful Verification: The calculator is tested to ensure it behaves correctly across a range of inputs.
  • Continuous Updates: The calculator is updated as needed to reflect better accuracy and usability.

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Looking for a way to estimate kitchen remodel costs? Well—you have come to the right place. Our kitchen remodel cost calculator uses key inputs to estimate the total project cost and the cost per square foot (ft²).

Estimating kitchen remodel costs can be confusing, but our calculator uses kitchen area (ft²), quality level, project scope, backsplash coverage, and—most importantly—current unit prices by region to estimate accurately.

We cover:

  • What is a kitchen remodel?
  • What is a kitchen remodel cost calculator?
  • How is kitchen remodel cost calculated?
  • A real-world example
A worker remodeling kitchen

What is Kitchen Remodel? If you don't know, no worries—let me explain briefly. A kitchen remodel refers to changes made to the kitchen, whether small or large. It can be cosmetic (such as painting), functional upgrades, or a full gut renovation.

What is Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator?

A kitchen remodel cost calculator is a simple but powerful tool built to help homeowners and contractors estimate the total kitchen remodeling cost and the cost per square foot (ft²). The calculator accounts for many factors—such as kitchen area, remodeling quality level, whether the project is big or small, backsplash coverage, and region—to estimate the total project cost.

Are you curious to know the logic behind the kitchen remodel cost calculator? Alright—keep reading; we will walk through it step by step.

How is kitchen remodel cost calculated?

The calculator uses a few simple formulas. In short, the total kitchen remodel cost is the sum of key components—materials, labor, and permits—plus a contingency. Regional pricing is applied through unit costs and multipliers.

Here is the formula for total cost:

Total Cost = (Materials + Labor + Permits) + Contingency

In the formula:

  • Materials = base finishes + cabinetry & countertops + backsplash + appliances/sink
  • Labor = labor core (per ft² × scope & quality multipliers) + demolition
  • Permits = 2% of (Materials + Labor)
  • Contingency = 10% of (Materials + Labor + Permits)

Now here is the formula for unit cost per square foot:

Unit Cost = Total Cost ÷ Kitchen Area (ft²)

A real-world example

Imagine you are remodeling a 200 ft² kitchen with mid-range finishes and some upgrades. Here is step-by-step calculation:

1. Materials

  • Base finishes: $8,000
  • Cabinetry & countertops: $12,000
  • Backsplash: $1,500
  • Appliances & sink: $5,500

👉 Total Materials = $27,000

2. Labor

  • Labor core (200 ft² × $60/ft²): $12,000
  • Demolition: $3,000

👉 Total Labor = $15,000

3. Permits
2% of (Materials + Labor) = 2% of ($27,000 + $15,000) = $840

4. Contingency
10% of (Materials + Labor + Permits) = 10% of ($27,000 + $15,000 + $840) = $4,284

Final Calculations

Total Cost = (Materials + Labor + Permits) + Contingency
= ($27,000 + $15,000 + $840) + $4,284
= $47,124

Unit Cost = Total Cost ÷ Kitchen Area
= $47,124 ÷ 200 ft²
= $236 per ft²

Thus, a 200 ft² kitchen with a mid-range remodel will cost about $47,124 total, or $236 per square foot.