When you ask how much does a kitchen renovation cost, the answer is always it depends. The average cost to renovate a kitchen is about $30,000 according to HomeStars, but there are a lot of factors that influence kitchen renovation cost.

You should probably budget between 5% and 15% of your home’s value for your renovation. In this article, we’re going to break down the various costs of a kitchen renovation and give you at least a starting point to know how much your kitchen renovation will cost. We’ll also share some tips on budget and strategies for reducing your costs.

In this post:

• Factors Influencing the Cost of a Kitchen Renovation
• How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost – Small, Medium, Large
• What’s Involved in a Kitchen Renovation
• Creating a Budget for a Kitchen Renovation
• Tips to Save Money on Your Kitchen Renovation

 

It’s been said that the kitchen is the heart of the home and for good reason. There’s even a saying in real estate that people buy a kitchen and the rest of the house just comes with it.

So, it’s no surprise that the kitchen is high up on homeowner’s renovation wish lists, especially when renovating to sell because kitchen renovations also have the highest return on investment for resale value.

Factors Influencing the Kitchen Renovation Cost

Two main factors influencing the cost of a kitchen renovation are the size of the kitchen and the scope of the renovation.

The size of the kitchen has obvious implications in terms of how much space there is to deal with. The same flooring, for example, will cost more in a 200 square foot than in a 70 square foot kitchen.

The scope of the renovation means whether you are doing a complete tear-out to replace floors, cabinets, appliances, the works; or if it’s more of an update to refinish cabinets, paint, and add a backsplash.

How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost – Small, Medium, Large

Kitchen renovations typically range from $6,500 to $75,000+ depending on the scope (which we’ll discuss in the next section). When trying to figure out how much your kitchen renovation will cost, consider the size of your kitchen first.

Size of Kitchen (square feet)	Cost Range
Small (<70)	$6,500 – $26,000
Medium (100 – 150)	$19,500 – 52,000
Large (200+)	$40,000 – $78,000+

What’s Involved in a Kitchen Renovation

Minor Kitchen Renovation

A minor kitchen renovation means you’re keeping things light and just doing the basics. That often includes:

• Upgrading your sink and faucet
• Installing or replacing your countertops with inexpensive materials (laminate, vinyl, tile)
• Adding a tile backsplash
• Refacing or refinishing your cabinets
• Installing stock cabinets
• Upgrading your appliances
• Painting your walls and ceilings
• Installing energy-efficient lighting in the ceiling and under the cabinet
  .

Average Kitchen Renovation

An average kitchen renovation goes a little beyond the basics and often includes:

• Replacing your countertops with high-quality materials (stone, wood, metal)
• Installing semi-custom cabinets
• Building an island
• Installing high-end appliances
• Adding recessed lighting and rewiring as necessary
• Replacing your floor
  .

Major Kitchen Renovation

If you’re pulling out all the stops and planning a high-end kitchen renovation, you’re likely looking at:

• Installing high-end appliances
• Adding Caesarstone countertops
• Installing a new sink and faucet
• Having custom cabinets built
• Opting for additional overhead lighting
• Adding hardwood flooring
  .

Creating a Budget for a Kitchen Renovation

Creating a budget to manage your kitchen renovation cost is vital. Without a budget, it’s easy to let costs balloon with small changes here and there. But if you have a budget, you can use that to keep costs in check.

Your budget will also tell you how extensive your renovation can be. If your budget is small, be prepared for a lot of DIY and maybe just hire a professional for some of the bigger stuff. Stick to more cosmetic changes.

Another factor to consider when budgeting for a kitchen renovation is why you’re renovating.

If you’re renovating to sell your house or condo, then you want to target specific upgrades that will add the most resale value and budget accordingly. You want to optimize your return on investment.

If, however, you’re planning to be in your home for many years to come, then it’s worth spending a little more to increase the longevity and enjoyment of the space you’re creating.

Here’s a helpful chart from the National Kitchen & Bath Association with suggested breakdown for where your money should go for a kitchen renovation.

Element of Project	% of Budget
Design Fees	4%
Installation	17%
Appliance & ventilation	14%
Cabinetry & hardware	29%
Countertops	10%
Lighting	5%
Flooring	7%
Doors & windows	4%
Walls & ceiling	5%
Faucets & plumbing	4%
Other	1%

Tips to Save Money on Your Kitchen Renovation Cost

Here are a few tips on saving money on your kitchen renovation cost:

• Pass on custom options – this is particularly true for cabinets. You can save a lot by going with stock cabinets or even just refinishing, painting, and putting new handles in your existing cabinets
• DIY where possible – anything you can do yourself will save your labour (as long as you can do it to your satisfaction and won’t need to hire someone to fix your mistakes)
• Remodel in stages – maybe don’t do everything at once and spread out your spend over time to slowly build the room you want
• Countertops – consider an inexpensive material for new countertops
• Only do what’s necessary – it’s tempting to want to redo everything, prioritize what really needs to be updated and focus on just a few things
• Renovating to sell? Check with an expert to prioritize those things that will add the most resale value. Don’t guess. And talk to us about our Property Concierge program where we carry the costs of your renovation until we sell.