The Average Cost of a Kitchen Remodel in Northern Virginia

A kitchen remodeling project can be a great way to update your home and add value. If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, it’s good to understand the average cost of a kitchen remodel in Northern Virginia to plan appropriately. The cost of a kitchen remodel can vary depending on the size of your kitchen, the type of materials you choose, the changes to the structure you make and the labor costs involved. You can plan accordingly and avoid surprises by understanding what to expect.

Cost to Remodel a Kitchen in Northern Virginia

kitchen remodeling project is typically a significant investment because so many components make up a kitchen: cabinets, flooring, major appliances, countertops, tile for backsplash and lighting are just some of the items. A kitchen remodel is also complex because your contractor must touch your plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems. All of these building materials and labor costs go into formulating your kitchen remodeling budget.

Midrange vs. High-end Kitchen Remodel Cost

Most remodeling projects are classified as midrange or high-end (upscale) remodeling projects. Recognizing the difference is the first step in understanding how to budget for your remodel and answering the question, “How much does it cost?”

Midrange Major Kitchen Remodel Cost

In Remodeling 2024 Cost vs Value Report, the average cost for a major midrange kitchen remodel is $79,982 in the Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia area.

In our opinion, this is a good starting point, BUT this figure does not include many of the popular modifications that people in our region have come to expect as standard. These upgrades include quartz, granite or soapstone countertops (as opposed to laminate, which the report assumes); tile backsplashes; layered lighting; removal of soffits; door/window modifications; stainless steel appliances, upscale faucets, wood or tile flooring (as opposed to vinyl flooring which the report assumes).

In Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties (the areas we serve) where homeowners often select a mixture of upgraded products and making some structural modifications, such as removing non-load-bearing or load-bearing walls, the cost to remodel a kitchen is slightly higher.

Generally, the starting point is between $105,000 -$120,000 and can quickly move into the $135,000-$150,000 range when the project is a large space, and includes soffit removal, a fair number of upgrades and structural modifications.

If your project does not require structural changes, tile backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, and you are okay with laminate countertops and vinyl floor, then you should be in the low-to-mid $90’s.

To summarize, we see your neighbors investing in the $115,00 range for a nice kitchen renovation without changes to the structure. However, we see a lot of people investing $135,000 – $150,000 for a nice kitchen remodel with some changes to the structure, such as removing soffits or taking down a non-load bearing wall and some flow of the project into the adjacent spaces.

Modern kitchen with blue and white cabinets, a large island with books, stainless steel appliances, and a floral ceiling. A vase with pink flowers sits on the island's countertop.

Upscale Kitchen Remodel Cost

In the same report, a high-end or upscale major kitchen remodel costs $158,530. This is consistent with our experience with an upscale kitchen remodel that includes some minor structural changes.

However, most upscale kitchen remodeling projects include structural changes to the kitchen space, relocating plumbing and/or appliances, and remodeling work that flows into adjacent spaces, the budget can break $165K pretty quickly.

When homeowners combine these types of changes with the selection of commercial-grade appliances, stone floors, top-of-the-line cabinets, and layered lighting, it’s not uncommon for the kitchen remodeling budget to move above $200,000.

Bottom line: However, if your kitchen renovation does not affect other areas of the house and doesn’t include any significant structural changes, $160,000-$180,000 is an accurate starting budget for a high-end kitchen remodeling project for the Northern Virginia market.