Kitchen Remodeling Cost in Boston (2026 Guide)
What a kitchen remodel actually costs in Boston and the surrounding towns, based on the scopes we price every week. Use these ranges to plan a budget, then get a written estimate for your house.
Boston Kitchen Remodel Prices by Scope
The single biggest driver of cost is not the size of the kitchen — it is whether anything moves. Keeping the sink, range and walls where they are keeps the budget in the first tier. Moving plumbing or opening a wall moves you into the second or third.
| Scope | Typical Boston Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet refacing | $5K–$14K | New doors, drawer fronts, veneer and hardware on existing boxes |
| Refresh | $13K–$26K | New cabinets and counters in the same layout, backsplash, lighting |
| Condo full remodel | $20K–$37K | New layout within the unit, electrical, flooring, association paperwork |
| House full remodel | $26K–$52K | New layout, plumbing and electrical upgrades, cabinets, stone, flooring, permits |
| High-end / structural | $52K–$92K+ | Walls removed, custom inset cabinetry, slab stone, paneled appliances |
Where the Money Goes
On a typical $37,000 Boston kitchen remodel, the budget breaks down roughly like this:
- Cabinets and hardware: 30–35% — the largest single line, and the one with the widest range of quality
- Labor and installation: 20–25% — carpentry, tile, finishing and project management
- Countertops and backsplash: 10–15% — quartz, granite or quartzite and the tile or slab behind it
- Electrical and plumbing: 10–15% — higher in older homes with ungrounded wiring or cast-iron drains
- Appliances: 10–15% — unless you are buying a professional range or paneled refrigerator
- Flooring, lighting, paint, permits and disposal: 10%
What Pushes a Boston Budget Up
- Age of the house. Knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized supply lines and sagging floors are common in homes built before 1940.
- Moving the sink. Every foot the drain has to travel adds labor, especially in condos without basement access.
- Removing a bearing wall. Engineering, a beam and posts add $4,600–$18,000 (see open concept conversions).
- Condo logistics. Elevator booking, work-hour limits and protecting common areas add days to the schedule.
- Lead paint. Pre-1978 homes need lead-safe work practices, which add containment and cleanup time.
Where You Can Save
- Keep the plumbing wall where it is.
- Choose semi-custom rather than custom cabinets in a kitchen with square walls.
- Use quartz in the perimeter and save the expensive slab for the island.
- Reface instead of replacing when the boxes are sound — see cabinet refacing.
For a quick estimate for your kitchen, try the kitchen remodel cost calculator. For condo-specific pricing, see condo kitchen remodeling in Boston.
Typical Full-Remodel Ranges by Town
| Town | Typical Full Remodel | Most Common Homes |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $20K–$42K | 1890s–1950s |
| Shrewsbury | $24K–$48K | 1950s–1990s |
| Auburn | $20K–$40K | 1940s–1970s |
| Holden | $22K–$45K | 1950s–2000s |
| Westborough | $26K–$52K | 1960s–2000s |
| Grafton | $22K–$45K | 1850s–2000s |
| Millbury | $20K–$40K | 1900s–1980s |
| Leicester | $19K–$38K | 1900s–1980s |
| West Boylston | $21K–$42K | 1940s–1990s |
| Marlborough | $22K–$46K | 1900s–1990s |
| Cambridge | $32K–$64K | 1870s–1920s |
| Somerville | $26K–$52K | 1890s–1920s |
| Brookline | $35K–$75K | 1880s–1930s |
| Newton | $37K–$81K | 1900s–1960s |
| Quincy | $24K–$49K | 1920s–1960s |
| Milton | $35K–$72K | 1890s–1950s |
| Needham | $32K–$67K | 1940s–1970s |
| Wellesley | $44K–$92K | 1910s–1960s |
| Dedham | $26K–$55K | 1900s–1960s |
| Arlington | $29K–$58K | 1900s–1940s |
| Medford | $26K–$52K | 1900s–1950s |
| Belmont | $35K–$72K | 1910s–1940s |
| Lexington | $37K–$78K | 1950s–1970s |
| Watertown | $28K–$55K | 1900s–1940s |
| Waltham | $26K–$53K | 1900s–1960s |
| Braintree | $24K–$51K | 1950s–1970s |
Kitchen Remodel Cost by Size
Size matters less than scope, but it still moves the number. These ranges assume a full remodel with semi-custom cabinets, quartz counters, new flooring and code-required electrical and plumbing updates in a Greater Boston home.
| Kitchen Size | Typical Layout | Full Remodel Range |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 sq ft | Condo galley, triple-decker kitchen | $18K–$32K |
| 100–150 sq ft | Cape, rowhouse, smaller Colonial | $23K–$41K |
| 150–250 sq ft | Most single-family homes | $32K–$55K |
| 250+ sq ft | Open plan with island | $46K–$92K+ |
Kitchen Remodel Cost per Square Foot in Boston
Contractors sometimes quote per square foot, and homeowners search for it, so here is a realistic figure: roughly $200–$410 per square foot of kitchen floor area for a full remodel in Central MA and Greater Boston. Treat it as a sanity check, not a price. A 90-square-foot condo galley packed with cabinets, stone and a new electrical feed can cost more per foot than a 250-square-foot kitchen with simple finishes, because the trades, permits and fixed costs don’t shrink with the room.
Is $30,000 Enough for a Kitchen Remodel? Is $10,000?
These are two of the most searched kitchen questions. At our prices, $30,000 is usually enough for a full remodel of an average Boston-area kitchen: new cabinets, quartz, backsplash, flooring, lighting, code-required electrical and plumbing updates and permits — as long as no bearing wall comes out and the cabinets are semi-custom rather than custom. $10,000 is just short of a cabinet replacement; our same-layout refreshes start around $13,000. At $10,000 the realistic scope is cosmetic — refacing or painting cabinets, a budget countertop, hardware and lighting — which can still transform a kitchen with solid boxes.
Condo vs. Single-Family: Why Prices Differ
Condo kitchens are smaller, but they carry costs single-family homes don’t: association approval and paperwork, sound underlayment under hard floors, elevator reservations and protection, restricted work hours that stretch the schedule, and sometimes an upgraded electrical feed from the building panel. Single-family homes, especially older ones, more often need structural fixes, subfloor repair and full electrical service upgrades. The result is that a Back Bay condo galley and a Newton Colonial kitchen can land at similar prices for very different reasons.
How to Read a Kitchen Remodeling Estimate
Comparing estimates is only fair when they describe the same job. Look for these items in writing:
- A line-item scope: demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, insulation, drywall or plaster, flooring, cabinets, counters, backsplash, trim, paint
- Cabinet brand, line, construction (plywood or particleboard) and finish
- Countertop material, thickness, edge and number of cutouts
- Allowances — dollar amounts for items you haven’t chosen yet, such as tile or light fixtures
- Who pulls which permits, and whether inspections are included
- A payment schedule tied to progress, with a deposit no larger than Massachusetts law allows
- Start and completion dates, and how change orders are handled
A low estimate with large allowances or missing electrical work often ends up costing more than a complete one.
Paying for a Kitchen Remodel
Most Boston homeowners pay from savings, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), a cash-out refinance or a renovation loan. Each has different costs and timelines, so it is worth talking to your bank or a mortgage advisor before signing a contract. Whatever the source, the payment schedule should follow the work: a deposit at signing, payments at milestones such as cabinet delivery and rough inspection, and a final payment after the walkthrough.
Three Example Budgets
| Budget | What It Usually Includes |
|---|---|
| $15,000 | Same layout; semi-custom painted Shaker cabinets; quartz; tile backsplash; new sink and faucet; under-cabinet lighting; paint |
| $35,000 | Improved layout with island or closed doorway; new 20-amp circuits and dedicated appliance lines; plumbing moved; cabinets, quartz, flooring; permits and inspections |
| $70,000 | Bearing wall removed with engineered beam; custom inset cabinets; quartzite slabs; paneled appliances; layered lighting; new hardwood through two rooms |
What Individual Items Cost
When you build a budget, it helps to know what each piece of a kitchen costs on its own. These are typical installed prices in Central MA and Greater Boston in 2026; your estimate will reflect your exact selections.
| Item | Typical Installed Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-custom cabinets (10x12 kitchen) | $10K–$20K | Plywood boxes, painted or stained |
| Quartz countertops (45 sq ft) | $2K–$4.1K | Including sink cutout and eased edge |
| Tile backsplash | $0.9K–$2.9K | Depends on tile and area |
| Undermount sink and faucet | $460–$1.4K | Plus plumbing labor |
| Recessed and under-cabinet lighting | $1.2K–$2.9K | Including new circuits and switches |
| New 20-amp circuits and outlets | $1.4K–$3.4K | More in homes with old wiring |
| Electrical service upgrade (100A→200A) | $2K–$4.1K | Often needed for induction |
| Flooring (150 sq ft) | $1.4K–$4.1K | Porcelain tile, engineered or hardwood |
| Range hood, ducted to exterior | $0.9K–$2.9K | Plus the hood itself |
| Mid-range appliance package | $3.4K–$9K | Range, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave |
| Permits and inspections | $460–$1.8K | Varies by town and project value |
Hidden Costs in Older Boston Homes
The items below don’t show up in a showroom, but they appear in a large share of the kitchens we open in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and the older inner suburbs. We look for them during the estimate visit and price them in writing, so they are part of the plan rather than a surprise.
- Knob-and-tube or ungrounded wiring — replacing it in the kitchen and the circuits feeding it: $1.2K–$3.4K
- Cast-iron or galvanized drains and supply lines — replacing to the next sound joint: $0.9K–$2.9K
- Sagging floors — sistering or leveling joists under the cabinets: $0.9K–$3.4K
- Water-damaged subfloor — under old sinks and dishwashers: $460–$1.8K
- Lead-safe containment — in pre-1978 homes: adds $580–$2.3K depending on scope
- Plaster repair — matching original plaster instead of patching with drywall: $0.9K–$2.9K
- Radiator relocation — moving a radiator to free a wall for cabinets: $0.9K–$2.3K
Kitchen Remodel Costs: Boston vs. the Suburbs
Prices inside Boston, Cambridge and Somerville tend to run higher than in towns like Braintree, Waltham or Dedham, mostly because of access and logistics: parking permits for dumpsters, narrow streets, condo rules and older buildings. The towns west of the city — Wellesley, Newton, Lexington — run high for a different reason: larger kitchens and higher-end finishes. See our service area pages for typical ranges in each town.
Typical Costs Across Boston Neighborhoods
Within the city, the house type drives the price more than the ZIP code. These are typical full-remodel ranges we see by neighborhood and housing type:
| Neighborhood | Common Kitchen | Typical Full Remodel |
|---|---|---|
| Back Bay / Beacon Hill | Brownstone or rowhouse condo galley | $32K–$69K |
| South End | Bow-front duplex, garden-level kitchen | $29K–$64K |
| Jamaica Plain | Two-family or triple-decker unit | $24K–$49K |
| Dorchester / South Boston | Triple-decker or rowhouse condo | $22K–$46K |
| Charlestown | Federal or Greek Revival rowhouse | $29K–$61K |
| West Roxbury / Roslindale | Colonial, Cape or two-family | $26K–$52K |
| Brighton | Brick condo or two-family | $20K–$44K |
| Hyde Park | Post-war single-family | $24K–$49K |
These ranges assume a full remodel with code upgrades and mid-range finishes. Same-layout refreshes cost less everywhere, and high-end projects can exceed the upper figures in any neighborhood.
Cost Questions
Kitchen Remodel Cost FAQ
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- No-cost in-home visit anywhere in Central MA or Greater Boston
- Written scope and price before you commit
- Design drawings you can keep
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