Kitchen remodel cost depends more on the work included than on the word “remodel.” A finish refresh, a cabinet-and-counter replacement, and a gut renovation are different projects even when they share the same room. Define the result you want, then compare price references and contractor quotes only after you know what each includes.
U.S. homeowner survey: useful context, limited reach
Houzz’s 2026 U.S. kitchen report describes a survey of 1,780 homeowners whose kitchen projects had been completed in the prior 12 months, were underway, or were planned for the next six months. The survey was fielded July 6–30, 2025 and weighted to the Houzz user population. The reported spending medians, however, are for projects completed by mid-2025: $20,000 for Houzz-defined minor remodels and $55,000 for Houzz-defined major remodels. They are not medians across all 1,780 respondents, because that pool also includes current and planned work.
The same report says 52% of surveyed renovators modified the layout and 42% upgraded home systems. These are self-reported Houzz-user survey results, not population-wide rates or proof that either choice raises a budget by a particular amount. They help explain why kitchen projects may involve trade coordination, but the cost of a specific move still depends on the house and the work involved.
In the report, “major” means all cabinets and appliances were replaced; “minor” means the project did not replace all cabinets and appliances. These are Houzz’s categories, not standard contract terms. A minor project might still include substantial new work, so it does not mean cosmetic refresh. Likewise, Houzz major should not automatically be treated as the same scope as a contractor’s “gut” or “full” remodel.
For completed major projects, the report gives a $75,000 median for kitchens of at least 250 square feet and $46,000 for kitchens under 250 square feet. These size bands are useful context for interpreting that survey, not a rule for pricing another home. The study is self-reported and weighted to Houzz users rather than designed as a probability sample of all U.S. homeowners. Its dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation and do not predict an individual quote.
A separate U.S. modeled benchmark
The 2025 Cost vs Value report provides another kind of comparison: modeled national-average costs for named remodeling projects across 119 U.S. markets. It reports $28,458 for a midrange minor kitchen remodel, $82,793 for a midrange major remodel, and $164,104 for an upscale major remodel.
These modeled project costs are not homeowner survey medians. The labels, project specifications, and methods differ from Houzz’s categories. Keep the two sources separate; do not average their numbers or present either as a universal price. Their value is to show how much the reported figure depends on the source’s project definition and method.
One 2026 Twin Cities remodeling contractor guide gives another local scope example: $57,885–$66,565 for a 100-square-foot “kitchen makeover,” and $71,893–$82,677 for a 144-square-foot moderate remodel. The latter assumes a functional layout, stock cabinets, granite counters, ventilation, lighting, flooring, installation work, and homeowner-supplied appliances. These are the provider’s example estimates, without a disclosed representative project sample. They are useful for checking inclusions in a local quote, not for estimating a kitchen elsewhere.
Canadian examples: local contractor scope, not a national rate
Revival’s 2026 GTA guide lists per-kitchen ranges: $18,000–$35,000 for “Mid-Range Refresh” (refaced cabinets, new counter, paint), $45,000–$85,000 for “Mid-to-High Custom Build” (new cabinets, stone, layout updates), and $95,000–$175,000 for “Luxury Full Custom” (gut, reconfigured layout, premium finishes). Prices include materials and labour, assume permits where applicable, and use Q4 2025 data and its 2026 quote database. Kitchen sample and method are undisclosed; “$” has no ISO currency code. These provider-specific estimates are not representative GTA pricing or direct U.S. comparisons. Confirm currency, tax, permits, and inclusions in a local quote.
Two lower-confidence 2026 estimate models show why a source label matters. QuoteSaver models a 10-by-12-foot Canadian mid-range renovation at $28,350–$47,250 before tax and excluding appliances, but does not disclose a reproducible calculation or comparable project sample. ProScore lists Ontario estimates of $10,000–$25,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $25,000–$50,000 for a mid-range renovation, and $50,000–$100,000 for a high-end gut; it explicitly says these figures do not come from listings, contractor quotes, or a pricing survey. These are editorial model outputs, not observed bids. Their scenarios and methods differ from one another and from the GTA contractor tiers, so they should not be averaged or treated as an Ontario or Canada-wide price schedule.
Statistics Canada’s Q2 2026 Residential Renovation Price Index adds a different kind of Canadian context. Its kitchen-remodel index rose year over year in 13 of 15 listed metropolitan areas; the calculated change ranged from a 2.4% decrease in Vancouver to a 6.3% increase in Montreal. This index tracks movement in contractor-reported prices for representative projects. It does not give the dollar cost of a kitchen, predict an accepted bid, or tell you what a specific renovation should cost. Later releases may revise earlier observations.
Define the project before estimating it
| Working scope | Commonly retained | Possible work |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | Layout, cabinet boxes, most utility locations | Paint or finish, hardware, selected lighting, backsplash, or countertop |
| Partial remodel | Room footprint and often appliance or plumbing locations | Some cabinets, counters, backsplash, finishes, and coordinated upgrades |
| Gut remodel | Little of the visible room; sometimes the layout | Most cabinets, surfaces, fixtures, finishes, and infrastructure interfaces |
These are planning descriptions, not standardized contracts. Write down what stays, what is removed, what is replaced, and what is added. A “partial remodel” that includes new cabinets and counters may be more extensive than a “major” survey category with a different definition.
What belongs in a complete project budget
Cabinet costs can include boxes, doors, fillers, panels, trim, hardware, delivery, assembly, and installation. A retained-box option such as refacing or refinishing has a different scope from replacement; compare the related cabinet replacement, refacing, and refresh guides.
Countertops may involve more than the material: templating, slab or sheet yield, cutouts, seams, edge work, supports, removal, delivery, and installation affect the finished scope. Backsplash, paint, flooring interfaces, and finish restoration can also be part of the same room project.
List the coordinated fixtures and systems: lighting and controls, sink, cooking equipment, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. Clarify whether each is included in the kitchen contract or is a separate purchase or trade project. Moving a sink, cooktop, island, doorway, or major cabinet run can add utility relocation, floor or wall repair, and trade coordination; the layout guide explains that decision, while the utility-relocation guide covers the interfaces.
The full budget can also include demolition, room protection, delivery access, staging, disposal, temporary kitchen arrangements, design, permits, inspections, project administration, and allowances for concealed conditions. Old wiring or plumbing, water damage, uneven floors, and walls that need repair may only become clear after removal starts. Ask how those conditions will be priced and approved before work proceeds.
Keep the comparison fair
Give each bidder the same measurements, layout assumption, cabinet schedule, countertop details, appliance list, finish coverage, and project sequence. Ask each proposal to identify:
- included work and components that remain;
- product specifications, quantities, and allowances;
- demolition, protection, delivery, and disposal;
- utility work, permits, inspection, design, and trade coordination;
- concealed-work allowances, unit prices, and approval steps;
- exclusions, schedule, payment terms, and change-order process.
Separate a firm base scope from optional upgrades and unresolved conditions. If one quote includes new appliances and another excludes them, their totals do not describe the same project. The same applies to taxes, permits, preparation, finish repair, or moving utilities; ask each contractor to state its assumptions instead of filling gaps by guesswork.
Keeping the existing layout can reduce relocation and patching work, though it does not guarantee a low price. A compact kitchen with custom cabinets, difficult access, and extensive repair may cost more than a larger room with simpler work. Price the intended result, not just room area.
Bottom line
U.S. survey medians, modeled U.S. project benchmarks, Canadian contractor ranges, and Canadian price indexes answer different questions. Keep their scope, currency, date, and method visible. For your own budget, define what stays and changes, then compare local quotes that describe the same finished result.