01 / KITCHENS
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Southern California?
Three things decide most kitchen budgets: how much of the room changes position, what turns up behind the walls once the cabinets come off, and the cabinets themselves. Appliances sit outside every range below. Homeowners usually choose and buy them separately, so they are never part of the number.
Low and mid assume a standard kitchen of about 120 to 200 sq ft, roughly 10×12 up to 13×15. For scale, the National Kitchen & Bath Association reported an average of about 161 sq ft in new single-family homes. High assumes a larger kitchen, over 200 sq ft.
Plan the kitchen project in the HOMEFRONT studio →LOW
New surfaces, same footprint
Starting at$24,000Most projects: $24K–$30K.
Standard kitchen, about 120–200 sq ft
Who it fits. The layout works and nothing needs to move. The cabinets, counters and backsplash are simply worn out or dated.
What the work involves
- Protect floors and the rooms around the kitchen
- Remove the old cabinets, countertops and backsplash
- Install new cabinet boxes and doors in the existing positions
- Template, fabricate and install new countertops
- Set a new tile backsplash
- Reconnect the sink and the existing appliances in place
Why the price lands here
Cabinets and countertops are most of this budget. Because nothing moves, the wiring and plumbing behind the walls stay as they are, so fewer trades touch the job and there is less to open, patch and inspect.
What pushes it higher
Semi-custom or custom cabinet lines, natural stone or premium quartz, full-height backsplash or intricate tile.
Not included
- Appliances
- Permits and permit fees
- New flooring
- Drywall repair and painting beyond the backsplash
MID
Same layout, opened up and brought current
Starting at$30,000Most projects: $30K–$50K.
Standard kitchen, about 120–200 sq ft
Who it fits. The layout still works, but the room needs more than new surfaces: more outlets, better light, tired plumbing at the sink, damaged walls.
What the work involves
- Everything in the low tier
- Electrical work: new outlets and circuits, lighting under the cabinets and overhead
- Plumbing updates at the sink, dishwasher and shutoffs
- Drywall repair where the old cabinets and splash came off
- Fresh paint through the kitchen
Why the price lands here
When the cabinets come off, the wall behind them is exposed. That is the cheapest moment the house will ever offer to fix what is inside it. This tier adds an electrician, a plumber and drywall finishing to the cabinet and countertop crews, and it is the work a homeowner notices every day after the dust settles.
What pushes it higher
A lighting plan with many fixtures, an electrical panel without room for new circuits, old galvanized or cast-iron drain lines.
Not included
- Appliances
- Permits and permit fees
- New flooring
HIGH
A different kitchen, not a refreshed one
Starting at$50,000Most projects: $50K–$80K. Can run higher.
Larger kitchen, over 200 sq ft
Who it fits. A larger kitchen where the plan itself is the problem: the range is in the wrong place, a wall closes the room off, the work triangle never worked.
What the work involves
- Everything in the mid tier
- Relocating appliances, with new gas, electrical, water and ventilation runs to their new spots
- Removing or opening walls between the kitchen and nearby rooms
- New flooring through the whole space
- More cabinetry and counter to fill a bigger room
Why the price lands here
Moving an appliance is never just moving a box. A range needs gas or a heavy circuit and a vent to the outside; a sink needs a drain that slopes the right way. Taking out a wall means patching floor and ceiling where it stood and running one floor through the new open room. A bigger kitchen also simply holds more of everything.
What pushes it higher
A load-bearing wall that needs an engineer and a beam, an island with a sink or cooktop, custom cabinetry, premium stone, new ductwork for a more powerful range hood.
Not included
- Appliances
- Permits and permit fees
