Average Cost of a Kitchen Remodel

If you’re tired of your old kitchen, it might be time to remodel. Remodeling your kitchen can be a tremendous undertaking, but it can also be very rewarding. In fact, a kitchen remodel is a strong investment in your house, with even a minor kitchen remodel averaging an 81% return on investment.

Because kitchen remodels can be very expensive, it’s important that you know what you want and what you can afford before you start one. Making a budget and sticking to it can help you create the kitchen of your dreams and get the best value while you’re doing it. Knowing the price of every part of remodeling will let you decide what is and isn’t essential so that you can work within your budget.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at what costs you’ll encounter when you remodel your kitchen and a few ways you can save money in the process.

Planning Your Remodel

Quite a few aspects of a kitchen remodel affect the cost of the project. For this reason, the overall price can fluctuate drastically. Just like in any renovation, you have options. You can decide which parts of your kitchen you’d like to upgrade, who will do the work, what materials to use and what appliances you want. A kitchen remodel can run from around $13,270 to $37,550, on average.

Remember to leave a cushion in your budget. In the process of renovating your kitchen, contractors can discover things like structural issues that can increase the cost of your project dramatically. These little surprises can be frustrating if you haven’t prepared for them. Further, try not to make changes to your project while it’s happening. If you do, you could add expenses you didn’t plan for.

Here’s a list of some of the decisions you’ll need to make before starting your kitchen remodel. Knowing what you need beforehand will help you get the best results and avoid spending money on things you don’t really want.

• What is the reason for a kitchen remodel? If you plan to sell your home sometime soon, you’ll remodel for different reasons than if you plan to live there for a long time. If you want to sell your home, you might remodel your kitchen to increase your house’s value, while if you plan to stay, you may want to remodel to match your tastes.

• What parts of your kitchen would you like to renovate? You might look to replace everything in your kitchen, certain parts or want to clean and repair parts of your kitchen. Repainting and repairing elements of your kitchen can have a great impact on the value of your property.

• Will you do your own labor? Remodeling your kitchen can be difficult. Unless you’re an expert, you’ll likely have to hire a contractor at some point. That doesn’t mean you can’t do parts of your project yourself. You might even enjoy things like the demolition of your old kitchen. If you decide to do parts of your remodel yourself, be sure to do research beforehand so that you don’t damage your kitchen.

• What materials will you use? There’s a massive variety of different materials for the countertops, cabinets, and even kitchen flooring. Some of these can be much more expensive than others.

Having answers to these questions before you speak to a contractor or designer can help everything go as smoothly as possible. If you don’t have a clear vision of what you want, you might agree to a kitchen remodel that you’re unhappy with.

Make a list of everything you need done in your remodel. You should make your list as detailed as possible, including your decisions about every part of your remodel. Know where you’d like to spend most of your money and where you can save money.

Consider the Size of Your Kitchen

The larger your kitchen is, the more expensive it will likely be to remodel. The size of your kitchen can also help you decide what projects will work best. Here’s a breakdown of the average costs for remodeling kitchens of varying sizes.

• For small kitchens under 70 square feet, the average cost is from $5,000 to $20,000.
• For midsize kitchens from 100 to 150 square feet, the average cost is from $15,000 to $40,000.
• For large kitchens 200 or more square feet, the average cost can be from $30,000 to $60,000, and it only goes up from there.

Designer Costs

While professional designers aren’t essential if you feel comfortable designing your kitchen yourself, they have the knowledge and skills to make sure your kitchen turns out the way you want. A good designer might charge anywhere between $100 and $200 an hour but can make your life easier.

A designer certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has at least five years of design experience and extensive knowledge of construction, electrical processes, plumbing and all the other inner workings of your kitchen. These designers know what to do in your kitchen remodel to maximize the value it adds to your home.

Decide What Cabinets You Need

Replacing the cabinets in your kitchen will probably be the most expensive part of your kitchen remodel. Kitchen cabinet installation can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000, on average. Generally, the cost of replacing new cabinets can take almost 30% of your entire renovation budget. However, that number can change depending on the type of cabinets you choose and what they’re made of. Here’s a list of the main types of cabinets you can choose from.

Custom Cabinets

These cabinets come as you desire but require the skill of a talented carpenter. Custom cabinets can have any feature you want, but they will set you back a pretty penny. Custom cabinets run from $500 to $1,500 per linear foot of cabinetry, on average.

Semi-Custom Cabinets

These cabinets come in certain sizes that are premade or detailed for an extra cost. You can also have them resized to a certain extent but not modified to the same level as custom cabinets. Semi-custom cabinets run from $100 to $1,000 per linear foot of cabinetry, on average.

Stock Cabinets

Like semi-custom cabinets, these cabinets come premade. However, when it comes to stock cabinets, the choices of designs and sizes are extremely limited. You can find these cabinets in most home improvement stores. Stock cabinets can run from $75 to $150 per linear foot of cabinetry, on average.

Refacing Cabinets

Refacing your existing cabinets can be a cost-saving alternative to replacing your cabinets. It allows you to update the look of your cabinets. Refacing involves updating only the visible parts of the cabinets while the boxes remain the same. Refacing your cabinets can cost between $4,000 and $9,500 for your entire kitchen, on average.

Refinishing Cabinets

If you choose to refinish your existing cabinets, you won’t have to replace any part of them. However, if your cabinets are heavily damaged, it’s a good idea to have a professional do the refinishing. On average, hiring a professional to refinish your cabinets can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 for your whole kitchen.

Cabinet Materials and Style

When it comes to deciding your cabinet material, you have a wide array of options. The highest-quality, most expensive wood can cost about $150 per linear foot, while the least expensive wood can be as low as $80 per linear foot of cabinetry. We offer a variety of cabinet materials, including oak and maple, in multiple colors.

You can also choose less-expensive alternatives to wood for your cabinets, like laminate or thermofoil.. Depending on their quality, they can run from $50 to $75 per linear foot of cabinetry.

The style of your cabinet is also something you’ll want to think about. From a beachy Cape Cod look to something more formal like a cathedral arch, we offer multiple options.

Buying Appliances

Purchasing sets of appliances from the same company can visually appeal to potential buyers and increase the value of your home. When you’re choosing appliances for your kitchen, you should consider things like size and layout, as it can cost more to move power and water sources. You want all of your appliances to fit into your kitchen and access power and water easily.

On average, appliances for your new kitchen will run about $3,220. Of course, this number can change if you choose low-cost appliances or extremely high-end ones. If you consider yourself an expert chef or baker, you may want to shell out extra cash for a top-of-the-line stovetop or oven.

Some appliances you might need to purchase include:

• Cooktop
• Wall oven
• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Dishwasher
• Sink

Choosing Countertops

On average, countertops will cost you $2,300. They can be an essential part of beautifying your kitchen. You can choose from a huge variety of different natural and manufactured countertop materials.

Each countertop has its pros and cons. Some stone types used for countertops, like granite, can crack if they’re not installed properly. Others are susceptible to damage if they aren’t sealed. When it comes to high-end counters, installation is crucial. Getting a professional to do the job can be wise.

Some of your options for countertops through Sears Home Services include granite, quartz and solid surface. You’ll also want to think about the edge of the countertop when finishing it. Some options we offer include:

• Beveled
• Eased
• Full bullnose
• Half bullnose
• Ogee

Replacing Flooring

If you choose to change your kitchen’s flooring, you’ll have several options to choose from. Not only do you want your floor to be elegant to match the rest of your kitchen, but you also want it to be sturdy, so common accidents in the kitchen, like dropped plates, can’t damage it.

The average cost of flooring is between $8 and $24 per square foot, depending on the material. Flooring like cork is affordable, resilient and can reduce sound, but more expensive flooring options like ceramic tile can be stunning and make your kitchen look amazing.

When it comes to your kitchen flooring, attractive and low-maintenance materials include engineered hardwood, wood-look tile and vinyl.

Pick Lighting

It’s a good idea to pick attractive lighting to complement your remodel, but you should pay close attention to the location and purpose of each light.

For example, if you have an island in the middle of your kitchen, you might find that pendant lights or chandeliers above it highlight it beautifully. On the other hand, if you have a long, galley-style kitchen, a semi-flush light might give it a cool effect.

On average, lighting will cost about $1,150. You can also add things like finishes to increase the longevity and effect of your lighting.

Update Your Kitchen Today

Remodeling your kitchen is a massive undertaking. There are so many moving pieces that it can be difficult to make sure everything gets done. We hope that you can breathe a little easier after reading this, knowing there’s help with the challenges you’ll face when remodeling your kitchen.

Contact Sears Home Services today. We have the best products you need for your new kitchen and experts who can help you every step of the way. Remodeling a kitchen is worth the investment, particularly when you do it with the right partner.