The short answer: a kitchen remodel in Northern Virginia costs $60,000 to $160,000 in 2026 for the projects a design-build firm is hired to do. A refresh that keeps the cabinet boxes runs $35,000 to $60,000. A full remodel in the same footprint runs $60,000 to $100,000. A remodel that moves walls or plumbing runs $90,000 to $140,000. A luxury kitchen with custom cabinetry and built in appliances runs $120,000 to $200,000. The ten kitchens we have published as case studies cost between $60,000 and $120,000 and up, and every one of them is in the table below.
This guide is a price list. It is built from the kitchens EA Home Design has designed and built in Fairfax and Loudoun County, priced by scope, by size and by town, with line item budgets, the costs that move a quote, permits, timelines and how to pay. For the service itself, the process and the showroom, see kitchen remodeling in Northern Virginia; this page answers one question, what it costs.
Two notes before the numbers. The prices here are for licensed, permitted, design-build work with a warranty, which means design, drawings, permits, inspections and project management are inside them; a figure built from material prices and hourly labor leaves those out and lands lower. And the price list is regional: the same cabinets and the same crew cost the same in Vienna as in Ashburn or Alexandria. What changes by town is the kitchen itself, which is why the town section near the end reads the way it does.
Kitchen Remodel Cost by Scope in 2026
Scope sets a kitchen’s price before size and before finish. Four scopes cover nearly every kitchen we build.
| Scope | What it includes | Northern Virginia cost, 2026 | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refresh, cabinet boxes stay | Cabinets refaced, repainted or given new doors; new counters and backsplash; new sink, faucet and lighting; appliances replaced like for like; nothing moves | $35,000 to $60,000 | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Full remodel, same footprint | New cabinets, counters, backsplash, flooring, lighting and appliances, with the sink, range and refrigerator staying where they are | $60,000 to $100,000 | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Full remodel with a layout change | Everything above plus a wall opened, an island added with plumbing or power, or the sink and range relocated | $90,000 to $140,000 | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Luxury full gut | Custom cabinetry to the ceiling, quartzite or natural stone, panel ready and professional appliances, a new layout, often a larger room | $120,000 to $200,000 | 9 to 12 weeks |
The line between the second and third rows is the one that matters most to a budget. Keeping the sink, the range and the walls where they are is what makes a $60,000 to $75,000 full remodel possible. The moment a wall comes down or a drain moves, the same kitchen becomes a $90,000 project, because structure, engineering, a structural permit and rerouted plumbing and electrical arrive together. Our open concept kitchen guide prices the wall on its own: $2,500 to $8,000 for a non load bearing wall and $15,000 to $40,000 for a load bearing one.
What EA Kitchens Actually Cost: Ten Projects
Averages hide more than they show, so here are ten kitchens we have built, with what each cost and how long it took on site. Each links to its case study and the photographs.
| Town | Scope | Cost | Weeks on site | What set the price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling | Full remodel, same footprint | $60,000 to $75,000 | 6 | Layout kept; semi custom cabinets and quartz |
| Leesburg | Full remodel, same footprint | $60,000 to $75,000 | 6 | Layout kept; a walnut island under white quartz |
| Ashburn | Full remodel, same footprint | $75,000 to $90,000 | 7 | A 2000s builder kitchen rebuilt for storage |
| Chantilly | Full remodel, same footprint | $80,000 to $95,000 | 7 | Builder package replaced; the plan already worked |
| Fairfax | Full remodel, same footprint | $90,000 to $100,000 | 8 | City of Fairfax inspections; sight lines opened toward the living space |
| Herndon | Full remodel, same footprint | $90,000 to $100,000 | 8 | Quality semi custom cabinetry; the work triangle corrected in a 1980s house |
| Vienna | Full gut | $100,000 to $120,000 | 9 | Custom white cabinetry to the ceiling, quartz and brass |
| Reston | Full remodel, load bearing wall removed | $120,000 and up | 10 | An engineered beam and a structural permit |
| Great Falls | Full gut, estate scale | $120,000 and up | 10 | Cabinetry and island scaled to a large room with high ceilings |
| McLean | Full gut with a new layout | $120,000 and up | 11 | Custom cabinetry and panel ready appliances; the founder’s own kitchen |
Read down the cost column and the pattern is the scope table: six same footprint kitchens between $60,000 and $100,000, one full gut at $100,000 to $120,000, and three projects that moved structure or worked at estate scale from $120,000 up. None of the ten cost less than $60,000, and the two that came closest were small, same footprint and semi custom.
Average Kitchen Remodel Cost: Northern Virginia Against the National Figures
National averages run lower than a Northern Virginia quote, and both can be right. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, the industry’s annual benchmark, puts a minor kitchen remodel at about $28,500 nationally, a major mid-range remodel at about $83,000 and a major upscale remodel at about $164,000. Our same footprint kitchens bracket the major mid-range figure and our luxury projects sit at or below the upscale one, which is the fair comparison. The $28,500 minor remodel is a counter, door and appliance swap, and it is the number most national averages fold into their headline.
- What the average counts. National averages blend counter replacements and cabinet repaints with full remodels, which pulls the figure down. A quote for new cabinets, counters, appliances, flooring and lighting is a different project from the one the average describes.
- Who does the work. A licensed design-build firm prices design, permits, project management and a warranty into the number. A figure built from material prices and hourly labor leaves those out.
- What the house needs. Labor and permit costs in Fairfax and Loudoun County run 15 to 25 percent above the national average, and a kitchen built between the 1960s and the 1980s usually needs two or three new circuits to meet the current code. Our kitchen permit guide lists what triggers each one.
Use the national numbers as a frame and the figures on this page to set the budget.
Cost Per Square Foot and by Kitchen Size
Per square foot, most full kitchen remodels in Northern Virginia run $300 to $600, a refresh $175 to $300 and a luxury kitchen $600 to $900. The rate climbs as the kitchen shrinks: the appliance package, the sink, the permit and each trade’s minimum visit cost the same in 100 square feet as in 200, so a small kitchen is never half the price of a medium one.
| Kitchen size | Refresh | Full remodel, same footprint | Layout change or luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small, under 100 square feet: galley and L shaped kitchens in townhomes, condos and older colonials | $20,000 to $35,000 | $45,000 to $70,000 | $70,000 to $100,000 and up |
| Medium, 100 to 200 square feet: most Fairfax County single family homes | $35,000 to $60,000 | $60,000 to $100,000 | $90,000 to $140,000 |
| Large, over 200 square feet: newer Loudoun County homes and open plans with an island | $45,000 to $70,000 | $85,000 to $120,000 | $120,000 to $200,000 |
For a small kitchen worked through line by line, our 10×10 kitchen remodel cost guide prices the 20 linear feet of cabinets, 35 square feet of counter and four appliances a 10×10 holds. The galley kitchen guide and the small kitchen layout guide cover the layouts those kitchens use.
Where the Money Goes: Cost Breakdown by Element
Knowing where the money goes is how you set priorities. The shares below hold across most full remodels; the dollar column applies them to the $85,000 kitchen budgeted in the next section.
| Element | Share of the budget | On an $85,000 kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinets | 25 to 35 percent | $21,000 to $30,000 |
| Installation and labor: demolition, carpentry, cabinet and tile setting, paint, project management | 18 to 25 percent | $15,000 to $21,000 |
| Appliances | 10 to 15 percent | $8,500 to $13,000 |
| Countertops | 8 to 12 percent | $7,000 to $10,000 |
| Electrical and lighting | 5 to 8 percent | $4,000 to $7,000 |
| Flooring | 4 to 7 percent | $3,500 to $6,000 |
| Plumbing | 4 to 6 percent | $3,500 to $5,000 |
| Backsplash | 3 to 5 percent | $2,500 to $4,000 |
| Design, drawings and permits | 3 to 5 percent | $2,500 to $4,000 |
Cabinets are the largest line in every kitchen and the one the choice of grade moves most. Labor is second, and in Northern Virginia it stays second because a kitchen pulls in six trades and a county inspector between them.
What the labor line pays for
| Trade | What they do in a kitchen | When |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and carpentry crew | Protect the house, remove the old kitchen, frame any change, set blocking for the cabinets | First week |
| Electrician | New circuits for the appliances, GFCI and arc fault protection, recessed and under cabinet lighting; the rough inspection before drywall | After demolition, and again at the end |
| Plumber | Sink, disposal and dishwasher connections, a pot filler or island sink if there is one, gas to the range; the rough inspection and pressure test | After demolition, and again after the counters |
| Drywall and paint | Patch or replace what the trades opened, prime, two finish coats | After the rough inspections |
| Cabinet installers | Level, shim and fasten every box, scribe fillers and panels, crown and light rail | Once the walls are closed |
| Countertop fabricator | Template after the cabinets are set, fabricate, install one to two weeks later | After the cabinets |
| Tile setter | Backsplash, and the floor if it is tile | After the counters |
| Project manager | Schedules the trades, meets the inspectors, checks every delivery against the order | Throughout |
Sample Line Item Budget: A Full Remodel in the Same Footprint, $85,000
A realistic budget for a 180 square foot kitchen in Fairfax or Loudoun County, remodeled in its existing layout with semi custom cabinets, quartz and a mid-range appliance package.
| Line item | Cost | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Semi custom cabinets, plywood boxes, soft close drawers, about 28 linear feet, installed | $26,000 | 31 percent |
| Quartz countertops, about 55 square feet, templated and installed | $8,000 | 9 percent |
| Appliance package: range, counter depth refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and hood | $11,000 | 13 percent |
| Demolition, carpentry, tile setting, paint and project management | $17,000 | 20 percent |
| Electrical: two new circuits, recessed and under cabinet lighting, GFCI and arc fault protection | $5,500 | 6 percent |
| Plumbing: sink, faucet, disposal and dishwasher connections | $3,500 | 4 percent |
| Flooring, luxury vinyl plank or tile, tied into the adjoining room | $5,000 | 6 percent |
| Backsplash tile | $3,500 | 4 percent |
| Design, 3D drawings and county permits | $4,000 | 5 percent |
| Dumpster, floor protection and cleaning | $1,500 | 2 percent |
| Total | $85,000 | 100 percent |
Add a contingency of 10 to 15 percent on top, 15 to 20 percent in a house built before 1980, and keep it outside the budget so it is still there when the subfloor or the wiring turns out to need it. Cabinets, labor and appliances are two thirds of the total, which is why the three decisions behind them are the ones to make slowly.
What Each Budget Buys in Northern Virginia
| Budget | What it buys | What it does not |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | A refresh: cabinets refaced or given new doors, quartz counters, a tile backsplash, new sink and faucet, under cabinet and recessed lighting, mid-range appliances and paint, in the existing layout | New cabinet boxes, or any plumbing or wall move; our guide to what $50,000 buys walks the boundary |
| $75,000 | A full remodel of a small or medium kitchen in the same footprint: semi custom cabinets, quartz, new appliances, flooring and lighting. Sterling and Leesburg above. | A layout change; custom cabinetry |
| $100,000 | A full remodel of a medium or large kitchen with upgraded cabinetry (plywood boxes, inset or full overlay doors), a built in refrigerator, or a full gut of a medium kitchen. Fairfax, Herndon and Vienna above. | A load bearing wall; a professional appliance suite |
| $125,000 to $150,000 | A full gut with a wall removed or a new layout, a large island with seating, plumbing and power, panel ready appliances. Reston above. | Estate scale rooms, book matched stone, two islands |
| $160,000 to $200,000 | A luxury kitchen in a large room: custom cabinetry to the ceiling, quartzite or marble, a professional suite, a second sink, a lighting plan, the floor carried through the adjoining rooms. McLean and Great Falls above. | Very little; above this the budget is buying the size of the room and the rarity of the stone |
Kitchen Remodel Cost by Project Type
Not every kitchen project is a remodel. These are the partial projects we are asked to price most, each held to the guide that covers it in full.
| Project | Northern Virginia cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet painting or refinishing | $3,000 to $8,000 | Sound doors and boxes, a new color; our refacing versus replacing guide has the decision |
| New cabinet doors and drawer fronts | $6,000 to $14,000 | Boxes stay, every visible surface changes |
| Cabinet refacing | $12,000 to $25,000 | New doors, drawer fronts and veneer on sound boxes; three to five days |
| Semi custom cabinet replacement | $25,000 to $55,000 | New boxes, doors and hardware, installed; the largest line in most full remodels |
| Custom cabinetry | $50,000 to $100,000 and up | Built to the room; inset doors, furniture finishes, unusual sizes |
| Countertop replacement only | $4,000 to $12,000 | About 55 square feet of quartz or granite, installed; see the countertop cost tables |
| Backsplash | $2,000 to $5,000 | Tile to the uppers; a full height slab behind the range costs more |
| Island added to an existing kitchen | $6,000 to $25,000; $18,000 to $35,000 with a sink and dishwasher | Cabinetry, quartz and power; plumbing through the floor is the step up; see the kitchen island cost guide |
| Non load bearing wall removed | $2,500 to $8,000 | Demolition and patching floors, walls, ceiling and paint |
| Load bearing wall removed | $15,000 to $40,000 | Engineering, a structural permit, an LVL or steel beam, posts and finishes |
| Appliance package | $8,000 to $15,000 mid-range; $15,000 to $35,000 premium; $40,000 and up professional and built in | Our appliance brands guide compares the tiers |
| Kitchen bump out or addition | $80,000 to $150,000 for the structure, before the kitchen inside it | Foundation, framing, roof and the permit set for new square footage |
Cabinet Costs by Grade
Because cabinets are the largest line, the grade you choose moves the total more than any other decision. The ranges below are installed, per linear foot of base and wall cabinets together; a medium kitchen carries 25 to 35 linear feet.
| Grade | Installed cost per linear foot | What you get | In a 28 linear foot kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | $300 to $600 | Standard sizes in three inch steps, particleboard or plywood boxes, a short finish list, quick delivery | $8,000 to $17,000 |
| Semi custom | $700 to $1,200 | More sizes and depths, modifications, plywood boxes, soft close drawers, a wide door and finish range; the grade most of our kitchens use | $20,000 to $34,000 |
| Custom | $1,200 to $2,500 and up | Built to the room, inset or full overlay, furniture finishes, any size, eight to twelve week lead times | $34,000 to $70,000 and up |
The door style changes the price less than the grade does, but it is not free: inset doors add 15 to 30 percent over full overlay in the same line. Our kitchen cabinet ideas guide covers what is behind the door at each tier, and the transitional kitchen guide prices the shaker doors most of those orders are.
Countertop Costs by Material
| Material | Installed, per square foot | A typical kitchen, about 55 square feet |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate | $15 to $40 | $825 to $2,200 |
| Butcher block | $40 to $100 | $2,200 to $5,500 |
| Porcelain slab | $60 to $120 | $3,300 to $6,600 |
| Quartz | $60 to $150 | $3,300 to $8,250; most kitchens $5,000 to $8,000 |
| Granite | $50 to $200 | $2,750 to $11,000; most kitchens $4,000 to $9,000 |
| Marble and quartzite | $100 to $250 | $5,500 to $13,750 |
Quartz is the counter in most of our kitchens: it never needs sealing and it resists stains, and the price difference against granite has narrowed. Our quartz versus granite guide settles that choice on heat, stains, sealing and resale, and the countertops guide prices ten materials for three kitchen sizes.
What Moves a Kitchen Quote Up or Down
1. The layout
Keeping the sink, the range and the walls where they are is worth $30,000 to $40,000 against the same kitchen with a layout change. Moving a sink adds drain, vent and supply work; moving a range adds a gas line or a 240 volt circuit and a hood duct; opening a wall adds the beam, the engineer and the structural permit.
2. Cabinet grade and construction
Stock to semi custom roughly doubles the cabinet line; semi custom to custom doubles it again. Plywood boxes, dovetailed drawers and full extension soft close slides are the construction choices worth paying for in any grade; a second finish on the island, glass doors and crown to the ceiling are the ones that add up quietly.
3. Appliances
A mid-range package runs $8,000 to $15,000. A premium package with a counter depth built in refrigerator and an induction range runs $15,000 to $35,000. A professional suite with a 48 inch range, a column refrigerator and freezer and panel ready dishwashers runs $40,000 and up, and it also raises the cabinetry, the ventilation and the electrical lines around it.
4. Counters, tile and the finishes you touch
Quartz against quartzite is $60 to $150 against $100 to $250 a square foot. A handmade tile backsplash to the ceiling instead of a subway tile to the uppers adds $2,000 to $4,000. Brass hardware, a workstation sink and a pot filler each add a few hundred to a few thousand dollars and are the lines most often cut when a budget needs trimming.
5. The age of the house
A kitchen built between the 1960s and the 1980s typically needs two or three new circuits to meet the current code, and a house from before 1975 may need a panel upgrade, new drains or the correction of aluminum branch wiring before the inspector will sign off. Anything built before 1978 is presumed to carry lead paint, and old floor tile may carry asbestos, which changes how demolition is done. These are the reasons a contingency is 15 to 20 percent in an older house and 10 to 15 percent in a newer one.
6. Size and finish expectations
A large kitchen carries more of everything, and in McLean, Great Falls and the in town streets of Vienna the finish level expected by the house next door pushes a kitchen that would be a $90,000 project in Burke toward $120,000. That is not a town premium on labor; it is a different specification.
Kitchen Remodel Cost by County and Town
The price list is regional. What changes from Vienna to Ashburn to Alexandria is the kitchen itself: how big it is, how old the house is, what the neighborhood expects, and which office issues the permit. The project column shows where our own kitchens in each area landed, and each town links to its page for the service.
| Area | The typical kitchen | Where our projects landed | Permit office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna and McLean | 1960s to 1980s colonials being opened up, newer custom homes, the highest finish expectations in the region | Vienna full gut $100,000 to $120,000; McLean full gut with a new layout $120,000 and up | Fairfax County for both; the Town of Vienna reviews zoning only when the outside of the house changes |
| Fairfax, Burke and Centreville | Established 1970s and 1980s neighborhoods, medium kitchens, wiring and plumbing found at demolition | Fairfax same footprint $90,000 to $100,000 | Fairfax County; the City of Fairfax has its own building department for addresses inside the city |
| Reston and Herndon | Townhomes and 1970s to 1990s single family homes, galley and medium kitchens | Herndon same footprint $90,000 to $100,000; Reston with a load bearing wall removed $120,000 and up | Fairfax County for Reston; the Town of Herndon runs its own building office |
| Chantilly and Great Falls | 2000s builder kitchens in Chantilly; large rooms with high ceilings in Great Falls | Chantilly $80,000 to $95,000; Great Falls $120,000 and up | Fairfax County |
| Ashburn, Sterling and Leesburg | 1990s to 2010s colonials with larger open kitchens; Sterling Park ramblers and split levels | Sterling and Leesburg $60,000 to $75,000; Ashburn $75,000 to $90,000 | Loudoun County; a Leesburg address needs the Town’s zoning permit first |
| Arlington and Falls Church | Older colonials, bungalows and condos with small closed kitchens | Same footprint projects tend to the lower half of the range, $60,000 to $80,000; more when a wall opens | Arlington County; the City of Falls Church has its own building department |
| Alexandria | Row houses and older homes with narrow kitchens, and condos | As Arlington; a condo adds association approval and elevator scheduling to the plan | City of Alexandria |
A reader in Vienna asking what a kitchen costs gets the same answer as one in Ashburn. The Vienna figure in the table is higher because that kitchen was a full gut with custom cabinetry, not because the town adds a premium. The Fairfax County guide and the Loudoun County guide cover the housing stock of each area in more depth.
Permit Costs and How Long a Kitchen Takes
Nearly every kitchen on this page needed a permit, because new circuits, a moved dishwasher or a gas connection trigger one. County fees for a kitchen run $200 to $1,500 by scope, review takes one to three weeks, and a wall removal adds $500 to $1,500 of engineering for the structural letter. The kitchen permit guide has the full table and the inspections in order.
| Kitchen scope | Permits | Typical county fees |
|---|---|---|
| Same footprint, new circuits and a dishwasher move | Building with electrical and plumbing | $200 to $500 |
| Island with a sink, or a gas range conversion with a ducted hood | Building with electrical, plumbing and gas, mechanical | $400 to $900 |
| Wall removed or a full gut with a panel upgrade | Building, structural, all trades | $700 to $1,500, plus $500 to $1,500 of engineering |
Our ten projects spent six to eleven weeks on site. Add design, ordering and permits in front of that and a kitchen is three to five months from the first meeting to the final inspection; the kitchen remodel timeline walks every phase, and the Fairfax County planning guide puts the county’s steps in order.
| Phase | Typical duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Design and selections | 3 to 6 weeks | Layout, cabinetry, counters, tile, fixtures and appliances chosen and priced in 3D |
| Ordering and lead times | 6 to 12 weeks | Semi custom cabinets take 6 to 10 weeks, custom longer; counters are templated after the cabinets are in |
| Permit review | 1 to 3 weeks | Runs alongside ordering once the drawings are final |
| Construction | 6 to 11 weeks | Demolition, rough trades, inspections, drywall, cabinets, counters, finishes |
| Punch list and final inspection | 1 to 2 weeks | Adjustments, touch ups and the county’s sign off |
How to Pay for a Kitchen Remodel
- Home equity line or loan. The most common choice in Fairfax and Loudoun County, where equity is deep; interest is usually the lowest of the options.
- Cash out refinance. Worth a look only when the new mortgage rate is no worse than the old one.
- Personal loan. Fast and unsecured, at a higher rate; sensible for a refresh, expensive for a full remodel.
- Contractor financing. Some firms offer payment plans through a lending partner for qualified homeowners.
- Savings with a contingency held back. The contingency is the part of the budget that must be cash.
A typical payment schedule
A design-build kitchen is paid in steps: a design retainer when design begins, a deposit when the contract is signed, a payment when the cabinets and other long lead items are ordered, progress payments at the rough in inspections and when the cabinets are installed, and the balance at completion after the final inspection. Virginia’s contractor regulations require the written contract to state the total price and the schedule of progress payments, including the down payment, so the schedule belongs in the contract, not in a conversation.
How to Get an Accurate Kitchen Remodel Estimate
Two estimates for the same kitchen can differ by $30,000 without either being wrong, because they are rarely pricing the same thing. These are the questions that make them comparable.
- Bring the same brief to everyone: measurements or a plan, photographs, the appliance list, a wish list in priority order and the budget range you can actually spend.
- Ask for line items, not a lump sum: cabinets, counters, appliances, each trade, design and permits, and the dumpster and protection that someone has to pay for.
- Read the allowances: an estimate with a $4,000 countertop allowance and a $4,000 appliance allowance is $8,000 cheaper than reality for a quartz and mid-range kitchen, and the difference arrives as a change order.
- Look for what is excluded: permits, engineering, electrical panel work, flooring into the next room, painting beyond the kitchen, disposal.
- Ask whether the price is fixed or an estimate, and what happens to the number when the subfloor is rotten or the wiring is aluminum.
- Check the license: a Virginia contractor’s class and number belong on the contract. EA Home Design is a Class A contractor, license 2705157182.
We price every kitchen from a free in home design consultation: measurements, a 3D design of the finished kitchen and a line item price before anything is ordered, across Fairfax and Loudoun County. The kitchen visualizer shows your own kitchen remodeled from a photograph if you want to start there, and our guide to the pitfalls of hiring a remodeler covers what to check before you sign anything.
How to Save on a Kitchen Remodel Without Cutting Corners
| The decision | What it saves |
|---|---|
| Keep the layout | The $30,000 to $40,000 step between a same footprint remodel and one that moves walls or plumbing |
| Reface sound cabinet boxes instead of replacing them | $12,000 to $25,000 against $25,000 to $55,000 |
| Quartz instead of marble or quartzite | $60 to $150 against $100 to $250 a square foot, and no sealing |
| A mid-range appliance package with one splurge | $8,000 to $15,000 against $40,000 and up for a professional suite |
| In stock materials and standard sizes | Weeks of lead time and the surcharge on anything made to order |
| Keep appliances under five years old | The whole appliance line, for now |
| Finish the design before demolition | The change orders, which are the most expensive dollars in any remodel |
The cheapest way to remodel a kitchen
If the cabinet boxes are sound, the layout works and the appliances are young, the cheapest kitchen that still reads as remodeled is paint on the cabinets, new counters, a tile backsplash, new hardware, a new sink and faucet and better lighting: $15,000 to $30,000 in Northern Virginia, with no plumbing or wall work beyond the fixtures. The refresh scope at $35,000 to $60,000 is the same idea with refacing or new doors and new appliances. Below either, you are decorating rather than remodeling, which is sometimes the right answer; our guide to the remodels that pay off before selling says when.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Remodel Costs
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Northern Virginia in 2026?
Most kitchen remodels built by a design-build firm in Northern Virginia cost $60,000 to $160,000 in 2026. A refresh that keeps the cabinet boxes runs $35,000 to $60,000, a full remodel in the same footprint $60,000 to $100,000, a remodel that moves walls or plumbing $90,000 to $140,000, and a luxury kitchen with custom cabinetry and built in appliances $120,000 to $200,000. EA Home Design’s ten published kitchens cost between $60,000 and $120,000 and up.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Fairfax County?
The same price list applies across the county. EA Home Design’s Fairfax County kitchens ran $80,000 to $95,000 in Chantilly, $90,000 to $100,000 in Fairfax and Herndon, $100,000 to $120,000 for a full gut in Vienna, and $120,000 and up in Reston, Great Falls and McLean where a wall came down or the room was estate scale. A City of Fairfax address uses the city’s own building department; everywhere else in the county it is Fairfax County.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Loudoun County?
Loudoun County projects follow the same price list. EA Home Design’s Sterling and Leesburg kitchens, both full remodels in the same footprint, cost $60,000 to $75,000, and the Ashburn kitchen $75,000 to $90,000. Loudoun County issues the building permit; a Leesburg address needs the Town’s zoning permit first.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Vienna, VA?
A full remodel in the same footprint costs $60,000 to $100,000 in Vienna as it does anywhere in Northern Virginia. EA Home Design’s Vienna case study, a full gut with custom white cabinetry to the ceiling, cost $100,000 to $120,000 over nine weeks. Fairfax County issues the building permit for a Vienna kitchen; the Town reviews zoning only when the outside of the house changes.
What is the average cost per square foot to remodel a kitchen in Northern Virginia?
Most full kitchen remodels run $300 to $600 per square foot, a refresh $175 to $300 and a luxury kitchen $600 to $900. The rate is higher in a small kitchen because the appliance package, the sink, the permit and each trade’s minimum visit cost the same regardless of size.
Can you remodel a kitchen for $50,000 in Northern Virginia?
Yes, as a refresh: cabinets refaced or given new doors, quartz counters, a tile backsplash, new sink, faucet and lighting, mid-range appliances and paint, in the existing layout. $50,000 does not buy new cabinet boxes or a layout change; a full remodel in the same footprint starts around $60,000.
How much does a 10×10 kitchen remodel cost?
In Northern Virginia a refresh of a 10×10 kitchen that keeps the cabinet boxes runs $20,000 to $35,000, a full remodel in the same footprint $45,000 to $70,000, and a high end 10×10 $70,000 to $100,000 and up. A 10×10 holds about 20 linear feet of cabinets, 35 square feet of counter and four appliances, and the appliances take a larger share of a small budget.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets, at 25 to 35 percent of the budget, followed by installation and labor at 18 to 25 percent and appliances at 10 to 15 percent. On an $85,000 kitchen that is about $26,000 of cabinets, $17,000 of labor and $11,000 of appliances.
How much does it cost to remove a wall between the kitchen and living room?
In Northern Virginia, $2,500 to $8,000 for a non load bearing wall, and $15,000 to $40,000 for a load bearing wall including engineering, the structural permit and the beam. A full remodel that includes the wall runs $90,000 to $140,000.
How much should I set aside for surprises?
Hold a contingency of 10 to 15 percent outside the budget, and 15 to 20 percent in a house built before 1980, where new circuits, a panel upgrade, old drains or aluminum wiring are the common finds behind the walls.
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Northern Virginia?
EA Home Design’s ten published kitchens spent six to eleven weeks on site. With design, ordering and permits in front of construction, a kitchen takes three to five months from the first meeting to the final inspection; cabinets alone take six to ten weeks to arrive.
Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen, and what does it cost?
Yes, as soon as the work adds or moves a circuit, moves a drain or supply line, changes a gas connection, cuts a wall or reroutes a duct; cosmetic work such as paint, floors, counters and a backsplash does not need one. County fees for a kitchen run $200 to $1,500 by scope, review takes one to three weeks, and a wall removal adds $500 to $1,500 of engineering.
The Budget, in One Paragraph
Decide the scope first, because the line between keeping the layout and moving it is worth more than any finish. Budget $60,000 to $100,000 for a full remodel in the same footprint, $90,000 to $140,000 if walls or plumbing move, and $120,000 and up for a luxury kitchen, with 10 to 20 percent held outside the budget for the house’s surprises. Spend slowly on cabinets, labor and appliances, which are two thirds of the total, and get a line item price from a licensed design-build firm before anything is ordered.
Related cost guides: what a 10×10 kitchen remodel should cost, kitchen island cost, cabinet refacing versus replacing, countertop costs by material, open concept kitchen costs, what $50,000 buys in a remodel, bathroom remodel cost in Northern Virginia, basement remodel cost in Northern Virginia, what an interior designer costs, flooring compared by cost and the Northern Virginia permit checklist. For the service, the showroom and the process, see kitchen remodeling in Northern Virginia or the Northern Virginia home remodeling guide.
