Quick answer: Based on the kitchens Resolute Construction and Remodel prices and builds across Greater Cincinnati, a kitchen remodel typically costs $10,000–$20,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $25,000–$45,000 for a mid-range remodel, and $50,000 or more for a full gut renovation. Most take three to six weeks once demolition starts, and Cincinnati costs run about 7–9% below the national average.
"What's this going to cost?" is the first question every homeowner asks us, and it's a fair one — kitchen remodel pricing swings wildly depending on which article you read. Here's a grounded answer, built from the kitchens we price across Greater Cincinnati and the one national study that prices Cincinnati specifically.
National and Cincinnati benchmarks
Nationally, Angi puts the average kitchen remodel at roughly $26,962, with most homeowners spending between $14,585 and $41,534 depending on scope (Angi, 2026). That's a useful national starting point, but it blends every market in the country.
The best local number comes from Remodeling magazine's Cost vs. Value report, which prices the same model kitchen in each metro area. In Cincinnati, its 2025 minor midrange kitchen remodel (new shaker-style doors on the existing cabinet boxes, new laminate counters, a new range and refrigerator, flooring and paint in a 200-square-foot kitchen) comes in at about $25,900. Its major midrange remodel (30 linear feet of new semi-custom cabinets, a 3×5 island, a full appliance package, new lighting and flooring) runs about $76,800, and the upscale version about $150,500 (Cost vs. Value 2025, Cincinnati). All three sit 7–9% below the national figures for the same projects.
Two things to take from that. Southwest Ohio really is a little cheaper than the national average, but not dramatically. And the biggest driver of your number isn't your zip code. It's scope.
Cost by scope: what's realistic in the Cincinnati market
If you're combining a kitchen remodel with an addition or an open-concept layout change, see our whole-home remodeling page for how we plan those projects.
What actually moves the number
- —Cabinetry is usually the single biggest line item. Stock cabinets keep costs down; semi-custom or full-custom cabinetry can add tens of thousands.
- —Moving plumbing or gas lines (relocating a sink or range) adds labor and permitting that a like-for-like replacement doesn't require.
- —Structural changes — removing a load-bearing wall to open up a kitchen — require engineering, permits, and often temporary support, all of which add cost but can dramatically change how a home lives.
- —Countertop material ranges from a few thousand dollars for laminate to $8,000+ for large-format quartz with a waterfall edge.
- —Appliance packages can be a wide swing on their own — a mid-range package might run $3,000–$6,000, while a high-end professional-grade package can exceed $15,000.
Measure your cabinet run in linear feet. Installed, stock cabinets cost about $100–$300 per linear foot, semi-custom about $200–$650 and custom about $500–$1,200 (Angi figures via HomeLight). On the 30-foot run in that Cost vs. Value model kitchen, that's $3,000–$9,000 for stock, $6,000–$19,500 for semi-custom and $15,000–$36,000 for custom. The cabinet line alone can move a kitchen up a full tier, so decide on cabinets first and build the rest of the budget around them.
Hidden problems — outdated wiring, water damage behind cabinets, subfloor issues — show up in the majority of kitchen remodels once demolition starts. A reasonable rule of thumb is to set aside 10–15% of your budget for surprises, so an unexpected finding doesn't derail the whole project.
Two recent kitchens, and what drove the cost
Ranges are easier to picture with real kitchens in front of you. Both of these are Resolute jobs, and both show where the money goes once you move past a basic refresh.
In the green kitchen, custom cabinetry is the largest line, and two details add to it. A waterfall edge takes extra slab and mitered fabrication where the counter turns down to the floor, and a herringbone backsplash means far more tile cuts than a straight-set subway layout. In the oak kitchen, the oversized island does the heavy lifting: more cabinet boxes, a large run of countertop with waterfall ends, and usually power run into the island. Features like these are what push a kitchen from the mid-range tier toward a full renovation. More photos and our process are on our kitchen remodeling in Cincinnati page.
How long a kitchen remodel takes
Most kitchen remodels we build take three to six weeks on site once demolition starts. The calendar before that matters more than most people expect. Design and selections, permits and, above all, cabinet lead times decide when demo day can happen. Cabinets and materials are usually the real bottleneck, not labor, which is why we push to finalize cabinets and major finishes before work starts rather than after. The kitchen is out of use for part of the project, but most families stay home, and we help set up a temporary space. Our guide to what to expect during a remodel walks through each step.
Permits are part of that timeline. Adding electrical circuits, changing plumbing or removing a wall all need one in the City of Cincinnati (City of Cincinnati), and surrounding cities and townships run the work through their own building department or the county. We pull the permits and schedule the inspections as part of the job.
Is a kitchen remodel worth it if you plan to sell?
It depends on how far you go. The same Cost vs. Value report estimates that in Cincinnati a minor midrange kitchen remodel recoups about 89% of its cost at resale, while a major midrange remodel recoups about 46% and an upscale one about 34% (Cost vs. Value 2025, Cincinnati). If you expect to sell within a few years, a focused update (new doors or cabinets, counters, lighting and flooring) gets you the most back. A full renovation is something you do because you plan to live with it.
How to get an accurate number for your kitchen
Cost guides are a starting point, not a quote. The only way to know what your specific kitchen will cost is a walkthrough with a contractor who will give you a clear, itemized estimate before any work begins — not a rough range meant to get you to sign. That's how we handle every kitchen remodel we take on: we listen to how you actually use the space, walk through material selections together, and hand you a written estimate you can hold us to. If the budget is tight but the timing is right, we also offer homeowner financing with fixed monthly payments and no pre-payment penalty, subject to credit approval.
Common questions
What's the biggest cost driver in a kitchen remodel?
Cabinetry is usually the single largest line item. Stock cabinets keep costs down, while semi-custom or full-custom options can add tens of thousands of dollars.
How much do kitchen cabinets cost per linear foot?
Installed, stock cabinets run about $100–$300 per linear foot, semi-custom about $200–$650 and custom about $500–$1,200. On a 30-foot run, that's roughly $3,000–$9,000, $6,000–$19,500 and $15,000–$36,000.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
Most kitchen remodels take three to six weeks on site once demolition starts. Cabinet and material lead times are usually the real bottleneck, so finalizing selections and ordering before demo day matters as much as the build itself.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Cincinnati?
If the work adds electrical circuits, changes plumbing or removes a wall, yes. In the City of Cincinnati that goes through Buildings & Inspections, and surrounding cities and townships handle it through their own building department or the county. Resolute pulls the permits as part of the job.
How much should I budget for unexpected issues?
Set aside 10–15% of your total budget as a contingency. Hidden problems like outdated wiring or water damage behind cabinets show up in the majority of kitchen remodels once demolition starts.
Does moving the sink or range add much to the cost?
Yes — relocating plumbing or gas lines adds labor and permitting costs beyond a like-for-like fixture replacement.
Is a kitchen remodel worth it if I plan to sell?
A focused update pays back best. Remodeling magazine's 2025 Cost vs. Value report estimates a minor midrange kitchen remodel in Cincinnati recoups about 89% of its cost at resale, versus about 46% for a major midrange remodel and about 34% for an upscale one.