Kitchen Remodel Cost Breakdown: 3 Types of Remodeling Projects

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.

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.

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:

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.

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:

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.

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:

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:

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:

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.

This blog was originally published on September 20, 2019, and updated on March 9, 2023.