Kitchen Remodeling in Los Angeles: The Average Cost

Wondering what’s the average cost to redo kitchens? Our kitchen remodel cost estimator breaks it down for you.

Kitchen Remodel by South Land Remodeling

A kitchen remodel is one of the most common needs our clients have when hiring us as their general contractor. Kitchen remodeling in Los Angeles is a popular home improvement project, but it’s also a large undertaking for the both the GC and the homeowners. It’s always worth it in the end, though, because you’re left with a gorgeous new space to cook, entertain, relax and even work!

Depending on your budget, needs and taste, there’s a range of service options and finishes that can go into your new kitchen, so the cost to redo kitchens can really vary. Overall, our kitchen remodel cost estimator shows you can expect to spend somewhere between $45,000-$90,000 on the average kitchen remodel in Los Angeles, CA. It typically takes 6-8 weeks to complete the entire renovation.

To clarify those kitchen remodel costs, here’s a breakdown of what can go into the renovation.

Kitchen Cabinets

When it comes to replacing kitchen cabinets, you have two options: custom or semi-custom. Semi-custom cabinets are also commonly called pre-fab or ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets. We estimate 90% of our kitchen remodel jobs use semi-custom cabinets because they’re more affordable (about $12,000-$18,000, depending on the size of your kitchen, the cabinet design and the finish).

The difference between the two types of cabinetry? Semi-custom cabinets are made in oversees, typically in China, and are assembled here in the U.S. to fit your kitchen. Custom cabinets are made with a higher-quality wood and designed specifically for your home. Custom cabinets can cost about $18,000-$30,000.

Pro Tip: If you can afford custom cabinets, do it. It’s a much higher quality wood and superior craftsmanship. That means it looks better, wears better and offers more design options.

Kitchen Countertops & Tile Backsplash

There are so many combinations of stone and tile that can create the look you want. Shop around until you find a slab and/or tile supplier you’re happy with in terms of aesthetics and price. For both your new kitchen countertop and backsplash, you can expect to spend between $9,000 and $15,000.

Pro Tip: Be sure check out the latest in kitchen remodeling trends, but we recommend quartz countertops due to their durability, strength and aesthetics. They’re maintenance-free, don’t have to be sealed and are cheaper than most natural stones.

Kitchen Appliances

Most kitchen remodels factor in the need for typical appliances (a refrigerator, microwave, oven, stove and hood). Of course, there are luxury kitchen appliances, like a built-in coffee maker or juicer, that will cost you extra. But, for those typical appliances, you can expect to spend $12,000-$18,000 on run-of-the-mill brands, such as GE and Samsung. High-end brands, such as Thermador, Wolf and Dacor, go up to $36,000 or more.

Pro Tip: As a general contractor and interior designer, we recommend designing your kitchen before purchasing appliances. This way you can take your new kitchen design to the appliance store to discuss sizes, styles and options.

Types of Flooring

There are three main flooring materials to choose from for a kitchen renovation: hardwood, tile and laminate. Most will run about the same in terms of kitchen remodel cost, which would be approximately $3,500-$6,000. The choice is yours based on the look you want and the level of durability your household demands.

Pro Tip: For homes with high-traffic, small children and pets, we typically recommend porcelain tile because it’s the most durable and it’s maintenance-free. That’s a huge benefit with factoring in spills and scratches. You'll find luxury laminate is made so well now that it's hard to tell the difference between it and real wood.

Kitchen Demolition Cost

Demo is the first step of a remodel, and it’s one of the cheapest. Kitchen demolition costs you approximately $2,000 and typically takes a couple of days to complete. The right general contractor will take care of everything for you, including trash and encasing the kitchen to protect the other areas of the house from dust and debris.

Kitchen Plumbing & Electrical

Work on any electrical and plumbing happens right after the demo. If your plumbing and electrical are in good shape and up to code, you’ll save some money. The same goes if you’re not changing the kitchen’s floorplan, thus you don’t need electrical and plumbing moved to different areas of the room. In that case, the typical lighting and plumbing facelift will cost about $3,600. If you’re changing the floorplan or need more serious work done, then the price goes up to around $12,000.

Pro Tip: If your kitchen remodeling contractor isn’t a pro at electrical and plumbing, we can’t stress enough to hire only a licensed and insured electrician and plumber to handle these jobs. It’s incredibly important to the safety of your home and family.

Kitchen Fixtures

When we say “fixtures,” we mean the faucet, sink, pendant lights and cabinet knobs/pulls. Luckily, fixture options are seemingly endless, satisfying every budget and aesthetic. Overall, we estimate they’ll will cost you $2,000-$2,500, depending on which fixtures and quantities you need as well as the brands you select.

Pro Tip: Purchase a high-quality, reliable brand of fixtures. Don’t get sucked into the cheap ones, which could cause leaks or electrical issues, or cheapen the overall look of your brand-new kitchen.

Permits

In most cases, you’ll need a permit to remodel your kitchen. Depending on the city in which you reside, a non-structural permit can cost $300 and can be picked up the same day it’s filed. Structural permits can take one to 30 days to receive, depending on the city.

Creating an Open Floorplan

This service is optional (and requires a structural permit), but we wanted to include it, so you have an idea of how much it’ll cost to open up your kitchen. When doing this, it involves drawing up plans for your new layout, reconfiguring plumbing/electrical and tearing down walls, which may also involve engineering and installing structural support to do so.

When creating an open-concept floorplan like that, the remodel typically spills into other spaces, such as the living room and/or dining area. This means that flooring and paint need to be expanded too. For an open floor plan, you can expect to pay anywhere from $12,000 to $60,000 (depending on the size and structure of the space) – and goes up from there if the structure of a second story is involved.

Overall Kitchen Remodel Cost:

WITHOUT opening the floorplan: $45,000-$90,000

WITH opening the floor plan: $56,000-$162,000

With over 25 years of experience, South Land Remodeling has completed countless kitchen remodels in Los Angeles area. Give us a call today for a free quote on your custom kitchen renovation (and another other home remodeling project!).

Note: Beginning in 2020 and continuing through 2021 at the time of publish, construction and supply costs continue to increase, which affects every market, budget and design individually. The costs we provided are in relation to the average kitchen remodel in Los Angeles. Every kitchen is different, and costs greatly vary depending on structural integrity, supplier costs, finishes, size and more. Also, South Land Remodeling does only full kitchen remodels, not partial remodels.