Kitchen remodel cost breakdown: where every dollar goes
In a typical $53,500 kitchen remodel, cabinets take about 32% of the money, labor about 42%, and a 10% contingency covers surprises. Below is every line of a real 150 square foot kitchen at three finish levels.
By Joe Petocz, EstimateElite. Updated .
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The full breakdown, Modern finishes
A 150 square foot kitchen, layout unchanged, semi custom cabinets, quartz and new stainless appliances. Each line includes materials and the labor to install it.
- Lower Cabinets$7,900 15%
- Upper Cabinets$6,450 12%
- Countertop$3,500 7%
- Flooring$3,100 6%
- Refrigerator$2,380 4%
- Demolition$2,300 4%
- Pantry$2,150 4%
- Range$1,650 3%
- Backsplash$1,600 3%
- Plumbing$1,450 3%
| Line | Cost | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Cabinets | $7,900 | 15% |
| Upper Cabinets | $6,450 | 12% |
| Countertop | $3,500 | 7% |
| Flooring | $3,100 | 6% |
| Refrigerator | $2,380 | 4% |
| Demolition | $2,300 | 4% |
| Pantry | $2,150 | 4% |
| Range | $1,650 | 3% |
| Backsplash | $1,600 | 3% |
| Plumbing | $1,450 | 3% |
| Lighting | $1,400 | 3% |
| Electrical | $1,250 | 2% |
| Paint | $1,130 | 2% |
| Taping | $1,070 | 2% |
| Contingency (10%) | $4,851 | 9% |
| Total | $53,361 | 100% |
By category, at three finish levels
The order barely changes between finish levels. Cabinets lead every time; what changes is how much each line costs.
| Category | Basic | Modern | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry | $8,489 | $17,030 | $30,670 |
| Appliances | $3,500 | $6,430 | $22,540 |
| Countertops | $2,104 | $5,100 | $9,550 |
| Flooring | $2,712 | $4,600 | $8,200 |
| Preparation | $3,630 | $4,400 | $5,310 |
| Electrical | $1,750 | $3,420 | $6,900 |
| Finishing | $1,820 | $2,350 | $3,530 |
| Plumbing | $1,520 | $1,970 | $4,120 |
Materials vs labor
Of a $53,361 Modern kitchen, about $26,140 is materials and $22,370 is labor, before the contingency. That split is why 2027 prices only move a little from wages: labor rose 2.4% nationally, which adds about $500.
Materials are where the real risk sits. Cabinets are the biggest line and have been hit by import tariffs, so a quote from a few months ago may not hold.
Why the contingency matters
Every kitchen opened up finds something: an old wiring run, a soft subfloor, a leak under the sink. The 10% line pays for it without blowing the budget. If a quote has no room for surprises, ask how they will be handled before you sign.
How these prices are calculated
Every price on this page comes from the EstimateElite pricing engine, the same one remodelers run on their own websites. It prices each job line by line: cabinets, counters, flooring, plumbing, electrical, demo, paint, and the labor to install each one, then adds a 10% contingency. City prices use a regional cost factor for that area. 2027 prices grow the labor part of each job by the real change in local trade wages (BLS, May 2024 to May 2025) and hold materials at today’s prices.
Common questions.
Cabinets. In a Modern kitchen they are about 32% of the total, more than counters and appliances combined.
See the line by line breakdown for your kitchen.
Enter your size, finishes and ZIP to get your own breakdown, with every line priced for your area.
Free. Your ZIP, your size, your finishes. No account.