Kitchen Remodeling

A kitchen remodel can be as simple as new countertops and paint or as big as a full gut with a new layout, new cabinets and new plumbing and wiring. Most projects land somewhere in between, and the scope you choose shapes the cost and the schedule more than any single material. This page walks through what's usually involved, the decisions to make in order, and where to find our cost guides, design ideas and step-by-step guides.

What a Kitchen Remodel Usually Involves

Kitchen projects tend to fall into three levels:

• Refresh: paint or cabinet refacing, new hardware, a new countertop and backsplash, perhaps a new sink and faucet. The layout stays the same.
• Mid-range remodel: new cabinets, countertops, flooring, lighting and appliances in the existing layout.
• Full remodel: everything above plus layout changes, such as moving the sink or range, adding an island or taking out a wall.

The bigger the scope, the more trades get involved. Plumbing, electrical and gas work is usually handled by licensed trades, and your local building department decides what needs a permit. Our guide to remodeling permits explains what's typical.

The Main Decisions, in Order

Making these choices in sequence saves money, because each one depends on the one before it.

1. Budget and scope. Decide what you can spend and set aside a contingency for what turns up behind the walls. Our guide to building a remodeling budget with a contingency shows how.
2. Layout. Fix where the sink, range, refrigerator and any island will go before choosing finishes. Our small kitchen ideas and kitchen island ideas include the clearances designers use.
3. Cabinets. They set the look and a large share of the budget, and they can take weeks to arrive. Read up on kitchen cabinet materials and construction before you shop.
4. Countertops. The fabricator measures after the cabinets are installed, so choose the material early and order it on time. Compare quartz and granite countertops.
5. Appliances and ventilation. Pick exact models before the cabinet order is final, since cabinet openings are built around them.
6. Flooring, backsplash and lighting. See our kitchen flooring options for what holds up to spills and traffic.
7. The contractor. Our guides to choosing a remodeling contractor and comparing remodeling estimates explain what to ask and how to read a bid.

What a Kitchen Remodel Costs

Cost depends on the size of the kitchen, the scope, the grade of cabinets and countertops, and local labor rates. A refresh costs a fraction of a full remodel, and moving plumbing, gas lines or walls adds the most. Our kitchen remodel cost guide gives national ranges by project size, and our kitchen cabinet cost and countertop cost guides break down two of the largest line items. If resale value matters to you, read which kitchen and bath remodels pay back.

How Long It Takes

A kitchen remodel runs in phases: design and selections, ordering, demolition, rough-in work and inspections, cabinets and countertops, then finishes. Your schedule depends on the scope, permit review and how long cabinets and countertops take to arrive. Our guide to kitchen remodel steps and timeline walks through each phase. Since you'll probably be without a working kitchen for part of it, our tips on living through a kitchen remodel and the best time of year to remodel help you plan around it.

How to Get Started

Measure your kitchen, list what works and what doesn't, and save photos of kitchens you like. Then have a contractor look at the room in person, since walls, floors and wiring decide what's practical. Request a free estimate and we'll introduce a remodeling contractor who serves your area. It's free for homeowners, there's no obligation, and your name and contact details go only to a contractor you approve.

Before you sign a contract, check the contractor's license with your state licensing board and ask for a current certificate of insurance.