Data study · 2026
Average Kitchen Remodel Cost, 2026
A homeowner-survey average near $27,000 and an industry benchmark near $83,000 for a “major midrange” project are both published as “the average kitchen remodel cost.” They agree closely at the light end of the scope and diverge sharply the moment a layout changes.
By homeowner survey (Angi, 10,000+ customers), the national average kitchen remodel costs $26,941, and most homeowners spend $14,589–$41,547. By industry standardized-project benchmark (Zonda's Cost vs. Value Report), a fixed midrange major remodel spec averages $82,793 — three times higher. The two sources agree closely at the minor-refresh tier and pull apart once the project involves a layout change.
Why published kitchen remodel figures diverge above the minor tier
“Kitchen remodel” covers a wider range of actual work than almost any other home-cost phrase, from swapping cabinet doors to a full gut renovation with a moved wall. The two source types below sample very different slices of that range.
| Source | Job cost | Recouped at resale | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angi (homeowner survey) | $26,941 average, $14,589–$41,547 typical | — | Self-reported completed jobs, all scopes |
| Zonda Cost vs. Value 2025 — minor, midrange | $28,458 | 112.9% | Fixed standardized minor-refresh project spec |
| Zonda Cost vs. Value 2025 — major, midrange | $82,793 | ~51% | Fixed standardized major-remodel project spec |
| Zonda Cost vs. Value 2025 — major, upscale | $164,104 | ~36% | Fixed standardized upscale-remodel project spec |
Angi's figure averages every completed kitchen job its surveyed customers reported, which is dominated by lighter refreshes and partial updates — that is why it sits close to Zonda's minor standardized spec ($28,458) rather than its major one. Zonda prices three separate, fixed project specifications (minor midrange, major midrange, major upscale) using professional estimating software across roughly 115–119 US markets and averages each one on its own. It is not one blended average; it is three distinct benchmarks, and most of what circulates online as “the average kitchen remodel cost” picks one of the four figures above without saying which.
What to do with this
Identify your own project's scope first — cosmetic refresh, midrange with no layout change, or major with a layout change — then price it with our Kitchen Renovation Estimator, which is built on RealCostIQ's own four scope bands (minor, midrange, major, upscale) — a separate taxonomy from the four rows in the comparison table above — or price cabinets specifically with the Kitchen Countertop & Cabinet Cost Calculator. A single national average, from either source, is not a budgeting number on its own.
A correction to our own numbers
Researching this study, we found our own Kitchen Remodel Cost Breakdown guide stated a “mid-range” figure of $15,000–$55,000 that its own Methodology section claimed came directly from RealCostIQ's published kitchen cost table — but no combination of that table's bounds actually produces either $15,000 or $55,000. We corrected it on August 19, 2026 to $25,000–$50,000, the table's actual midrange scope band, which is what a genuinely mid-range project — good materials, no structural change — costs in our own model. That figure sits between Angi's survey average ($26,941) and Zonda's minor standardized spec ($28,458), which is a reasonable place for it to land: RealCostIQ's “midrange” scope is deliberately broader than either single source's narrowest category.
What you get back at resale
Kitchen remodels are the sharpest illustration in Zonda's entire report of how return on investment falls as scope rises. A minor midrange remodel recoups roughly 113% of its cost at resale on average — genuinely rare, a project that adds more resale value than it costs. A major midrange remodel recoups closer to 51%, and a major upscale remodel recoups only about 36%. Past the minor tier, a kitchen remodel is increasingly a lifestyle purchase rather than an investment, which is a legitimate reason to do it as long as you know that going in.
Methodology
Sources and vintage
Homeowner-survey figures are Angi's published 2026 kitchen remodel cost data, drawn from a survey of 10,000+ customers combined with BLS wage data. Standardized-project figures are Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, the 38th annual edition, published September 18, 2025.
What each source counts
Angi: self-reported spend across every completed kitchen project its survey respondents described, unweighted by scope. Zonda: three fixed project specifications (minor midrange, major midrange, major upscale), each priced identically in concept across roughly 115–119 US markets using professional estimators and Verisk's XactRemodel software, then averaged per spec.
What we could not verify
Zonda does not publish the exact kitchen square footage assumed in each standardized spec in the pages we could access, only the resulting job-cost and resale figures. We have not estimated that assumption or attempted a per-square-foot rate from these totals.
Cite this data
This analysis is free to reuse with attribution, under a Creative Commons BY 4.0 licence. If you publish any figure from this page, please credit RealCostIQ and link back — and please also credit Angi and Zonda as the underlying data sources.
Suggested citation
RealCostIQ, “Average Kitchen Remodel Cost, 2026,” published August 19, 2026. https://realcostiq.com/data/average-kitchen-remodel-cost/ — reconciling Angi (2026) and Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report.
Run your numbers
Price your own kitchen remodel
National averages are for comparison. Price your own project by scope — minor, midrange, major, or upscale.
Open the Kitchen Renovation Estimator →Keep reading
- Kitchen Countertop & Cabinet Cost CalculatorPrice cabinets and countertops specifically, installed, per linear foot.
- Cabinet Refacing Cost CalculatorThe biggest save-vs-splurge lever in a kitchen budget — new doors on boxes you keep.
- Kitchen Remodel Costs: Line by LineWhere every dollar goes — cabinets 29%, labor 17%, appliances 14% — and where budgets break.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of a kitchen remodel?+
Angi's homeowner survey of 10,000+ customers puts the national average at $26,941, with most spending $14,589 to $41,547. Zonda's 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, which prices fixed standardized project specs rather than surveying actual jobs, puts a minor midrange remodel close by at $28,458 but a major midrange remodel at $82,793 and a major upscale remodel at $164,104. Which figure applies to you depends entirely on project scope.
Why do kitchen remodel cost figures vary so much between sources?+
Angi averages what real homeowners report paying across every kitchen project, from a cabinet refresh to a full gut renovation, which pulls its average down toward the lighter end of the spectrum. Zonda's Cost vs. Value Report instead prices three specific, fixed standardized projects using professional estimating software across roughly 115-119 markets. Once you move past a minor refresh, the two measure increasingly different things, which is why the gap widens sharply at the major-remodel tier.
How much does a minor vs. major kitchen remodel cost?+
A minor, cosmetic-only remodel (new doors, countertops, appliances, no layout change) runs roughly $10,000-$28,000 across our sources. A midrange major remodel, where cabinets are fully replaced and the layout usually changes, runs $65,000-$83,000. An upscale major remodel with custom cabinetry and structural changes runs $70,000-$250,000, with Zonda's standardized upscale spec landing at $164,104.
Does a kitchen remodel pay for itself at resale?+
A minor midrange remodel is the rare project that more than pays for itself — Zonda's 2025 report found it recoups about 113% of cost at resale on average. Major remodels do not: a midrange major remodel recoups roughly 51%, and an upscale major remodel recoups roughly 36%. The larger and more custom the project, the smaller the share you get back.
Which kitchen remodel cost figure should I use to budget?+
Use this page to identify which scope tier your project falls into, then price your own kitchen with our Kitchen Renovation Estimator, which is built on the same scope bands (minor $10,000-$20,000, midrange $25,000-$50,000, major $65,000-$130,000, upscale $70,000-$250,000) cited throughout this study.
Sources
- Angi — How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2026 data; survey of 10,000+ customers) — accessed 2026-08-19
- Zonda — 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (38th annual edition, published September 18, 2025) — accessed 2026-08-19
- HomeLight — How Much to Remodel a Kitchen in 2026 (reproduces 2025 Cost vs. Value major-remodel figures) — accessed 2026-08-19
- Angi / HomeGuide / Forbes Home — sourcing behind RealCostIQ's own kitchen scope-band cost table — accessed 2026-07-13
This study is educational and is not a substitute for a professional remodeling estimate. Costs depend on your specific kitchen, scope, and local labor market.