A kitchen remodel in the DC–Maryland–Virginia 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 the DMV 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 the DMV.
- 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 DMV 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
