Kitchen Remodeling Stats Homeowners Should Know in 2026

How to Read These Numbers

Kitchen remodel numbers rarely match from one report to the next. Most of the time, that's because each report measures something different, not because one is wrong.

• Median vs. average: A median is the middle project. An average gets pulled up by a few very expensive jobs. Houzz reports medians. Angi reports an average.
• Minor vs. major: Houzz calls a remodel major when all the cabinets and appliances are replaced. Anything less counts as minor.
• Who was asked: Houzz surveys its own users, who tend to take on bigger projects. HIRI counts kitchen projects of every size. Angi uses jobs booked through its pros.
• Resale value is an estimate: Neither ROI report tracks actual home sales. Both estimate what a project adds, using different methods.

We pulled every figure from the original report and noted its year. When two sources disagree, we show both.

How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost?

How much does a kitchen remodel cost on average?

Angi's 2026 data puts the national average at $26,945, based on 13,100 projects, with most homeowners paying between $14,589 and $41,559. The 2026 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, which surveyed 1,780 homeowners in July 2025, puts the median at $20,000 for a minor remodel and $55,000 for a major one.

How much does a full kitchen remodel cost?

A full remodel, where all the cabinets and appliances are replaced, has a median cost of $55,000 (Houzz, 2026). Size moves that number: $46,000 for kitchens under 250 square feet and $75,000 for larger ones.

Here's how each tier compares across reports:

The bigger the job, the less of it comes back at resale. That's why it helps to decide early whether you're remodeling for yourself or for the next buyer.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost per square foot?

Angi's 2026 data puts it at $75 to $250 per square foot, with labor making up about 25% of the bill. At those rates, a 150-square-foot kitchen runs $11,250 to $37,500.

Does kitchen remodel cost change by region?

Yes. Angi's 2026 regional ranges run highest in the Northwest, at $25,600 to $61,100. Most other regions top out between about $32,000 and $41,000. Get at least three local bids before you set a final budget.

Did kitchen remodel costs go up in 2025?

Yes. The median kitchen renovation cost $24,000 in 2025, up 9.1% from 2024, according to the 2026 Houzz & Home Study. That figure includes kitchen projects of every size, which is why it falls between the minor and major medians above.

Do most home renovation projects go over budget?

Many do. In the 2026 Houzz & Home Study, 75% of renovating homeowners set a budget, and 37% went over it in 2025. The top reason was choosing higher-end materials or growing the project midway (31%). Costs nobody saw coming added the rest. Set aside 10% to 20% as a cushion, and lock in big choices like cabinets and appliances before work starts.

Kitchen Remodel ROI: What Pays Back at Resale

What is the ROI on a kitchen remodel?

It depends on the size of the job. NAR's 2025 Remodeling Impact Report estimates that a complete kitchen renovation and a minor kitchen upgrade each recover about 60% of their cost at resale. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report is kinder to small projects: 113% for a minor remodel, 51% for a major midrange one, and 36% for an upscale one.

The two reports use different cost data and project specs, so treat them as a range, not a promise. Neither shows a major remodel paying for itself. That's a project you take on for how you live, not for the sale.

Is it better to do a minor or major kitchen remodel for resale value?

Minor, if resale is the goal. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, a $28,458 minor remodel added an estimated $32,141 in value. An $82,793 major midrange remodel added $42,130. The bigger job cost almost three times as much and added only about $10,000 more.

Should I renovate my kitchen before selling my house?

Usually not a full renovation. In NAR's 2025 report, 30% of Realtors recommended a kitchen upgrade before listing, behind painting the whole home (50%). Buyers do notice kitchens, though. 48% of Realtors saw more demand for upgraded kitchens over the past two years, the top answer on the list, while only 26% said the same for complete renovations. New paint, hardware, lighting, or countertops usually go further than a gut job.

Where to Spend and Where to Save

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) budget guide shows where kitchen money usually goes. We applied it to the Houzz medians so you can see real dollars:

In a minor refresh, you usually keep the cabinet boxes, so that share moves to countertops, cabinet fronts, and paint.

Spend on what's hard to change later:

• Layout, plumbing, gas lines, and wiring. Moving them later means opening walls again.
• Ventilation and ductwork. A duct is easiest to run while the cabinets and walls are open. This matters most on gas, which 48% of renovating homeowners choose for their new cooktop (Houzz, 2026).
• Cabinet boxes. They're the biggest line item and the hardest to redo.

Save on what's easy to swap:

• Hardware, paint, and light fixtures.
• Backsplash. Angi puts most backsplash jobs at $500 to $1,500, and tile is simple to redo later.
• Extra appliances like a wine fridge or warming drawer, which you can add down the road.

Example: Fitting a Range Hood Into a Mid-Range Budget

Say you're doing a $55,000 major remodel with a gas range. The NKBA split sets aside about $7,700 for appliances and ventilation.

• A 30-inch FOTILE inclined range hood runs about $900 to $1,100.
• Angi's 2026 data puts an under cabinet or wall mount install at $700 to $1,000, plus about $500 if you need a new duct.
• All in, that's about $1,600 to $2,600, or under 5% of the total budget.

The costly mistake is choosing a hood after the cabinets are in, then finding the duct can't run where it needs to. Cooking on gas? Size your hood first, then plan the cabinets around it.

How Long It Takes and Who Does the Work

How long does a kitchen remodel take?

Plan on about three months of construction and much longer to get there. HIRI's 2025 Project Decision Study found medium to large kitchen remodels take 13.3 weeks to build and about 63 weeks from first idea to finished kitchen. About half that time goes to deciding what to do. Most projects break ground between February and April.

Build in some slack. In NAR's 2025 survey, 31% of homeowners said their remodel took longer than planned.

Should you hire a contractor or DIY a kitchen remodel?

Most people hire help. The 2026 Houzz study found 87% of renovating homeowners bring in at least one pro, most often a general contractor (48%), followed by building specialists (42%) and cabinetmakers (34%). About 1 in 5 (22%) hires a kitchen designer. On jobs of $50,000 or more, 98% hire a pro.

HIRI's data on kitchen projects over $5,000 shows a similar split: 59% used a contractor, 33% mixed DIY with a contractor, and 9% did the work themselves or with friends and family.

DIY works best for paint, hardware, and backsplash. Leave gas lines, electrical, and any duct through an outside wall or roof to licensed pros.

What Homeowners Change Most

What are the most common features updated in a kitchen remodel?

Countertops (91%), backsplashes (85%), sinks (85%), cabinets (84%), and faucets (82%) top the list in the 2026 Houzz study. Lighting (78%) and flooring (65%) follow. On appliances, 51% replace all of them and 33% replace some.

Which appliances do homeowners replace most?

Among homeowners updating appliances, the 2026 Houzz study found:

• Dishwashers: 74%
• Microwaves: 68%
• Ranges: 64%
• Refrigerators: 62%
• Range hoods: 60%
• Cooktops: 40%
• Wall ovens: 29%

For new cooktops, gas still leads (48%), and induction (26%) has passed electric (22%). Stainless steel is the top finish, chosen by 72%.

Switching fuels changes your hood plan too. Gas puts out more heat plus combustion gases, so it needs a ducted hood sized to its BTUs. Here's how gas, electric, and induction ranges compare.

Do most homeowners change the kitchen layout?

About half do. In the 2026 Houzz study, 52% changed the layout, but 68% kept the kitchen about the same size. Only 6% made it more than 50% larger. L-shaped (35%) and U-shaped (31%) are the most common new layouts.

Moving the range also means moving its gas line or circuit and its hood duct, so settle where it goes before you order cabinets.

What kitchen styles are homeowners choosing?

78% of renovating homeowners change their kitchen's style. Transitional leads (25%), followed by traditional (12%), modern (11%), and contemporary (10%). Wood cabinets (29%) now edge out white (28%).

Why Homeowners Remodel Their Kitchens

What is the most popular type of home renovation?

The kitchen. In the 2026 Houzz & Home Study, 26% of renovating homeowners took on a kitchen project in 2025, just ahead of guest bathrooms (25%) and primary bathrooms (23%).

How many Americans remodeled their kitchens in 2025?

Roughly 1 in 7 homeowners. More than half of homeowners in the 2026 Houzz & Home Study (54%) renovated something in 2025, and about a quarter of them (26%) worked on the kitchen.

How many homeowners think their kitchen needs an upgrade?

About 4 in 10 remodelers. In the 2026 Houzz study, 41% said they were tired of the old style, and 38% said the kitchen had worn out or stopped working well, up 3 points from the year before. Others said they finally had the money (33%) or wanted to raise resale value (25%).

Does remodeling your kitchen make you love your home more?

Yes. NAR's 2025 report gave a kitchen upgrade a perfect Joy Score of 10 and a complete kitchen renovation a 9.7. Across all projects, 64% of homeowners said they wanted to be home more after remodeling, and 46% said they enjoyed their home more.

How much do U.S. homeowners spend on home improvement each year?

About $509 billion. That's the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University estimate for homeowner improvements and repairs in 2025. It expects growth to slow, reaching about $518 billion by the end of 2026.

Ready to Elevate Your Kitchen? Explore FOTILE's Innovative Appliances Today

The numbers point the same way: spend where you'll feel it every day and where changes are hard to make later. Ventilation checks both boxes. Our inclined range hoods open close to the cooktop to catch smoke before it spreads, and most install under a cabinet or on the wall, so they fit the layout you choose. Round out the kitchen with our ranges, cooktops, dishwashers, and ovens.

Shop Range Hoods

Sources

National Association of Realtors. "2025 Remodeling Impact Report." April 9, 2025. https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/remodeling-impact

Zonda and the Journal of Light Construction. "2025 Cost vs. Value Report." https://www.jlconline.com/cost-vs-value/2025/

Houzz. "2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study." Fielded July 6 to 30, 2025. https://st.hzcdn.com/static/econ/2026_Houzz_US_Kitchen_Trends_Study.pdf

Houzz. "2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study: Renovation Trends." 2026. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/2026-u-s-houzz-and-home-study-renovation-trends-stsetivw-vs~185090855

Kate Fann. "How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? [2026 Data]." Angi. Updated September 4, 2026. https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-should-kitchen-remodel-cost.htm

Angi. "How Much Does It Cost to Install a Range Hood? [2026 Data]." Updated September 21, 2026. https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-should-it-cost-install-range-hood-my-kitchen-running-air-ducts.htm

Home Improvement Research Institute. "2026-2030 Market Expectations and Trends in Kitchen Remodeling Activities." June 8, 2026. https://www.hiri.org/blog/2023-2027-market-expectations-and-trends-in-kitchen-remodeling-activities

Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. "Remodeling Growth Set to Downshift in Late 2026." January 26, 2026, revised April 15, 2026. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/press-releases/remodeling-growth-set-downshift-late-2026

National Kitchen & Bath Association. Kitchen remodel budget guidelines.