Does this include permits or design fees?

No. Add them separately to your budget if required.

What contingency should I use?

10–20% is common. Older homes or layout changes may need more.

Backsplash and lighting?

Fold them into labor or increase allowances to cover materials.

Set labor lower (or to 0) for DIY tasks, but keep realistic allowances for trades you’ll hire.

Raise cabinet/counter/appliance allowances and labor to match higher-end materials and complexity.

construction calculator

Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculator

Estimate kitchen remodel cost by combining cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, labor, and contingency, plus cost per sq ft.

Results

Flooring cost: $1,600
Labor cost: $7,000
Contingency: $2,560
Estimated total cost: $28,160
Cost per sq ft: $141

How to use this calculator

Enter kitchen size in square feet.
Enter budgets for cabinets, countertops, and appliances.
Enter flooring cost per sq ft and labor per sq ft.
Set a contingency percentage and review total cost and cost per sq ft.

Inputs explained

Kitchen size: Area of the kitchen footprint in square feet.
Cabinets budget: Cabinetry and hardware allowance.
Countertops budget: Countertop materials and fabrication/installation.
Appliances budget: Appliance package allowance.
Flooring cost/ft²: Material + install per square foot for flooring.
Labor/ft²: General labor per square foot for install/demo/finish.
Contingency: Buffer for surprises or upgrades (10–20% common).

How it works

We sum cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring (size × cost/ft²), and labor (size × labor/ft²).

Contingency adds a percentage buffer to cover surprises or upgrades.

Formula

Flooring = Size × Flooring $/ft²
Labor = Size × Labor $/ft²
Base cost = Cabinets + Countertops + Appliances + Flooring + Labor
Contingency = Base cost × Contingency%
Total = Base cost + Contingency
Cost/ft² = Total ÷ Size

When to use it

Prepping a kitchen remodel budget before requesting contractor bids.
Comparing budget vs midrange vs upscale scenarios by tweaking allowances.
Checking cost per sq ft for ROI considerations in a flip or rental upgrade.

Tips & cautions

Increase contingency for older homes or layout changes (plumbing/electrical moves).
Adjust labor/ft² based on project scope; full gut/removal will be higher.
Keep appliance and countertop allowances realistic for your market/price point.
Does not include permits, design fees, or structural work; add separately if needed.
Assumes single-phase remodel; phased projects may change labor/mobilization costs.
No line-item for backsplash/lighting—include in labor or adjust allowances accordingly.

Worked examples

200 sq ft, $8k cabinets, $5k counters, $4k appliances, $8/ft² flooring, $35/ft² labor, 10% contingency

Flooring = $1,600
Labor = $7,000
Base ≈ $25,600
Contingency ≈ $2,560
Total ≈ $28,160; Cost/ft² ≈ $141

150 sq ft budget refresh, $5k cabinets, $3k counters, $3k appliances, $5/ft² flooring, $25/ft² labor, 15% contingency

Flooring = $750
Labor = $3,750
Base ≈ $12,500
Contingency ≈ $1,875
Total ≈ $14,375; Cost/ft² ≈ $95.83

Deep dive

This kitchen remodel cost calculator totals your cabinet, countertop, appliance, flooring, and labor budgets, then adds a contingency to show total cost and cost per square foot.

Use it to sanity-check bids, compare budget vs upgrade scenarios, and keep allowances aligned with your market.

FAQs

Does this include permits or design fees?: No. Add them separately to your budget if required.
What contingency should I use?: 10–20% is common. Older homes or layout changes may need more.
Backsplash and lighting?: Fold them into labor or increase allowances to cover materials.
DIY vs pro labor?: Set labor lower (or to 0) for DIY tasks, but keep realistic allowances for trades you’ll hire.
Upscale finishes?: Raise cabinet/counter/appliance allowances and labor to match higher-end materials and complexity.

Related calculators

construction

Flooring Cost Calculator

Estimate flooring material, labor, underlayment, removal, and waste to see total cost and cost per sq ft.

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Countertop Cost Calculator

Estimate countertop cost with material, fabrication, labor per sq ft, edge upgrades, sink cutouts, backsplash, and waste allowance.

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Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator

Estimate bathroom remodel cost by adding fixtures, tile, vanity, plumbing allowance, labor per sq ft, and contingency.

Rough budgeting tool. Actual costs vary by region, scope, and selections. Confirm with contractors before committing.