A kitchen remodel in the Washington, DC and Maryland area runs $28,000 to $85,000 for most homes in 2026, with small refresh projects landing under $20,000 and full custom design-build kitchens passing $120,000. The spread is wide because “remodel” covers everything from new counters and paint to moving walls and gas lines. Here’s the honest breakdown, from a veteran-owned design-build firm that prices this work every week.
Kitchen remodel cost by project size
- Refresh ($12,000–$25,000): keep the layout — new counters, backsplash, paint, hardware, lighting, maybe refaced cabinets and a new floor.
- Mid-range remodel ($28,000–$55,000): new semi-custom cabinets, quartz counters, tile, new appliances, updated electrical — same footprint. This is where most 10×10 kitchens land.
- Full remodel ($55,000–$85,000): layout changes, an island, relocated plumbing or gas, recessed lighting throughout, custom storage.
- Custom design-build kitchen ($85,000–$150,000+): walls moved or removed, structural work, custom cabinetry, high-end appliances and stone — designed, permitted, and built by one team.
How much does a 10×10 kitchen remodel cost?
A 10×10 kitchen — the industry’s standard 100-square-foot benchmark — typically runs $28,000–$45,000 in DC and Maryland for a mid-range remodel keeping the existing layout, and $45,000–$65,000 when plumbing moves or cabinetry goes custom. National averages you’ll see online run lower; DC-area labor, permits, and older housing stock push real numbers up.
What about a 12×12 kitchen?
At 144 square feet, plan on roughly 25–35% above 10×10 pricing: $35,000–$60,000 mid-range, more with layout changes. Cabinet linear footage — not floor area — is what actually drives the number, which is why two same-size kitchens can price $15,000 apart.
Where the money actually goes
- Cabinets: 30–40%. The single biggest line. Stock vs. semi-custom vs. custom is the biggest lever you control.
- Labor: 20–30%. Demo, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, tile, finish.
- Countertops & backsplash: 10–15%. Quartz runs $70–$120/sq ft installed in DC and Maryland.
- Appliances: 10–20%. $4,000 outfits a kitchen; $25,000 outfits a chef’s kitchen.
- Flooring, lighting, paint, permits: the rest. Permits matter — moving gas, plumbing, or walls triggers county or DCRA review, and unpermitted work surfaces at resale.
What makes DC and Maryland kitchens cost more than the national average
Three things, mostly: older housing stock (a 1950s Maryland colonial or a 1925 DC row house hides galvanized supply lines, two-wire electrical, and out-of-square walls), stricter permitting than most of the country, and labor rates that track the region’s cost of living. A national cost article won’t price your knob-and-tube discovery. A local walkthrough will.
Get your number two ways
1. Use the free estimator. Our kitchen remodel cost calculator gives you a real range from your kitchen’s size and finish level in about two minutes.
2. Get a design-build quote. One team handles design, drawings, budget, permits, and construction under one contract — so the number you approve is the number that gets built. Call (301) 648-3181 or book a consultation.
Kitchen remodel cost FAQs
Can I remodel a kitchen for $15,000?
As a refresh, yes — counters, backsplash, paint, hardware, and lighting with the cabinets kept or refaced. As a gut remodel, no — not honestly, not in this market. Anyone quoting a full remodel at that price is planning change orders.
Is a kitchen remodel worth it for resale?
Mid-range kitchen remodels recoup roughly 50–70% at resale in this region — and kitchens sell houses. The better math: remodel for the years you’ll live with it, with resale as the tailwind.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
Construction runs 4–8 weeks for a same-footprint remodel and 8–14 weeks with layout changes. Add design, selections, permitting, and cabinet lead times up front — realistically 3–5 months door to door.
Does design-build cost more than hiring separately?
Usually it costs less by the end. Separate designer-then-contractor projects lose money in the seam — designs that can’t be built on budget, bids that miss scope, change orders to reconcile the two. Design-build prices the design as it’s drawn.
Related: Kitchen Remodel Cost Estimator · Kitchen Remodeling in Maryland · Design-Build Services · Renovation Financing
