2021 Kitchen Renovation Costs in NYC

Planning a kitchen renovation in NYC? Here’s what you might spend on materials, labor, and permits

UPDATED: Read our most up-to-date NYC Kitchen Remodeling Costs

Imagining your dream kitchen is easy; budgeting for it is complicated. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, we’ll help you understand your options, and offer guidance on major expenses and hidden costs you may encounter. 

From building requirements to permits and design, here are the average kitchen renovation costs to expect in NYC. These figures are broken out by finish level, and are based on Sweeten renovations: 

• Budget kitchen renovation costs: Starting at $25,000 
• Mid-grade kitchen renovation costs: Starting at $35,000
• High-end kitchen renovation costs: Starting at $65,000

Pro tip: Start planning your kitchen renovation now. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a backlog in the supply of many construction materials and fixtures. For homeowners interested in remodeling, it’s smart to quickly sign with a contractor to lock in your material prices. We also advise locking in a start date on the contractor’s calendar. Waiting could lead to longer delays, and even more severe price inflation on materials. Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and secure payments—at no cost to you.

From budget to high-end kitchen appliances and finishes 

Appliances, fixtures, and finishing materials all lie on a spectrum, whether you’re doing a budget kitchen remodel or a high-end one. Your choice of quality level (often called “finish level”) is a major factor in the cost of a kitchen renovation.

“Budget” kitchen materials are generally off-the-shelf items from “big box” stores or IKEA.

“Mid-grade” kitchen materials balance cost with quality. Examples include engineered wood flooring and products from GE, Caesarstone, Kohler, or Benjamin Moore.

“High-end” kitchen materials prioritize quality over cost. Products include hardwood flooring or marble, and brands like Bertazzoni, Ann Sacks, and Farrow & Ball. This category may also include special materials sourced from overseas suppliers, and fully custom fabrications.

How much do materials for a kitchen renovation cost?

Cabinets   budget: $130/linear foot (LF)  |  mid-grade: $1000/LF |  high-end: $2000/LF Appliances  budget: $2,500  |  mid-grade: $5000  |  high-end: $17,000–$26,000 Vent hood  budget: $200  |  mid-grade: $500  |  high-end: $5,000+ Countertops  budget: $5/sqft  |  mid-grade: $50/sqft |  high-end: $100/sqft Backsplash  budget: $3/sqft  |  mid-grade: $15/sqft  |  high-end: $35/sqft Flooring (tile)  budget: $3/sqft  |  mid-grade: $15/sqft |  high-end: $35/sqft Sink  budget: $150  |  mid-grade: $500  |  high-end: $2000+ Cabinet hardware  budget: $5/piece  |  mid-grade: $30/piece |  high-end: $300/piece Lighting  budget: $50/piece  |  mid-grade: $200/piece |  high-end: $500/piece

A note about cabinetry: In high-end kitchens that feature custom millwork, the cabinetry often accounts for a high percentage of both materials and labor costs. The starting point for basic custom cabinetry is $1,000 per linear foot. There are many other factors—drawers are costlier than shelves, and features such as Lazy Susans, pull-out pantries, specialized compartments, and soft-close hinges all increase costs. 

Custom cabinets are not just for large houses; apartment owners with limited kitchen depth may benefit even more by going custom. Shallower cabinets can fit tighter spaces, while deeper cabinets can hold larger dinner plates and platters. You may also have an odd-shaped space or awkward corner that you’d like to accommodate with a cabinet, to maximize a small kitchen’s storage. Choices like these require custom work, because prefabricated cabinets offer fewer options. Read more about the difference between custom and prefab cabinets here.

Kitchen renovation costs for permits, design, and behind-the-scenes items

The average kitchen remodel costs are comprised of both visible and invisible items. Here are the “invisible” behind-the-scenes budget items to keep on your radar.

Building requirements

Building boards / HOAs can play a significant role in dictating design and budget needs for apartment owners. These requirements can range from insurance coverage minimums, which limit your ability to work with professionals who aren’t carrying high-value insurance policies, to alteration agreements that require anyone doing any work in the building to have far-reaching coverage for problems they may never encounter, like asbestos removal or collapse scenarios.

Contractors who can afford to work in buildings with more extensive requirements tend to have higher operating costs and can meet higher insurance requirements, more stringent debris removal expectations, limited noise and hours-of-work requirements, and stricter parking rules. While there is no exact figure on this, you may see this translate into higher rates overall for teams that can meet those demands.

City permits

• Plumbing services: $2,000 – $3,500.  Possibly higher, if you have more than the usual number of plumbing fixtures.
• Plumbing permits: $2,000 – $5,000 
• Electrical permits: $900
• Asbestos inspection: $500 – $1,000

The City’s Department of Buildings requires a permit for any plumbing work that exceeds a minor repair or a direct swap of a similar fixture. Adding outlets or electrical circuits will require an electrical permit. You may also need an asbestos inspection, depending on your building’s requirements and any work that requires opening the walls.

Design costs for kitchen renovation

In the design stage, you’ll collaborate with the professionals you hire, who will create detailed drawings for all the tradespeople to follow. The design will cover details of the room footprint, plumbing, cabinetry, counters, sinks, backsplashes, flooring, lighting, hardware, and appliances. Kitchen renovation design costs will depend on the scope, and also who you hire. In some cases, your Sweeten general contractor will have design experience and will be able to make recommendations and draw up basic plans. For a higher level of service, some general contractors operate full-service design/build firms, with dedicated designers on staff. Some contracting firms also have architects on staff; many can refer an architect. 

• If you are considering major layout changes, such as removing walls, rerouting gas or plumbing lines, and rewiring electrical, you are looking at spending at least $32,000 for a basic kitchen gut. If you are considering this kind of transformative work, you’ll need architectural designs from a registered architect and to plan for the cost of permits, building approvals, high insurance coverage requirements, and more involved oversight from your general contractor.
• These “soft costs”—expenses critical to the success of the work but often invisible or unforeseen—can represent 15 to 20% of the total cost of a kitchen renovation. Read more about layout changes here.

Demolition and site prep

In the site prep stage, your general contractor needs to do significant work behind the scenes to ensure that your kitchen renovation maintains its value over time. Old materials and fixtures need to be pulled out and disposed of—this can be complicated on busy city streets with limited parking. Your contractor will probably need to strip the walls and flooring in order to frame and level the room. This step is labor-intensive, typically costing around $4,000. Other site prep includes protecting surfaces and valuables outside the renovation area, fixing any problems discovered within the walls, and adding insulation or waterproofing.

Installation

This is the main event. High-quality materials are only as good as the installation—if hinges are not properly aligned on drawers or cabinets, or if the shelving is not completely level, these faults can make the work look shoddy, can make your kitchen harder to use, and can lead to your expensive fixtures aging poorly. Appliances are often installed by the store where you made the purchase (as a built-in cost or an added delivery/installation fee), while countertop suppliers often also manage installation. If installation costs aren’t included in an item’s purchase price, they’ll typically fall under the “general construction” or “labor” budget and be handled by your general contractor.

Behind-the-scenes kitchen renovation costs

Overhead costs

General contractors always factor in a percentage of the project to cover overhead costs, including insurances, administrative support, and the inevitable costs of growing a business. Sweeten contractors range from two-person crews to firms employing dozens of professionals (including designers, project managers, millworkers, laborers, bookkeepers, and operations staff). No matter the size of your contractor’s business, you will absorb some of the cost increases they bear from year to year.

Sweeten contractor Thomas explained that as a business grows, costs also go up. “Insurances increase yearly, and anything related to MEPs (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) has also increased a bit as these subcontractors—especially plumbers—have seen an increase in their costs.” This is because the rules have become more stringent and there needs to be “more eyes on the project.” Additionally, he mentions, “Buildings are being more stringent on their [insurance] requirements which cause us to keep up with those needs.”

Raw material costs

While Sweeten contractors attempt to explore all avenues to stay competitive, the industry is affected by global trade. The prices you’re quoted at any given time may not be the same six months or a year from now. Prices on labor and materials fluctuate and this will be reflected in your overall quote.

For 2021, Sweeten general contractors are seeing wood materials as the main increase in costs. “These material costs have increased approximately 3x the amounts mainly due to Covid related issues, from what we have seen,” said Sweeten contractor Thomas. “These, in turn, relate to higher costs for plywood subfloors, kitchen cabinets, and other woodwork-related projects.”

Frequently asked questions about kitchen renovations in NYC

How long does a kitchen remodel take?

Anywhere from 3 weeks to 4 months, depending on the complexity of your project. Will you be altering the room’s footprint? Changing or adding electric wiring, plumbing, or gas lines? Ordering custom cabinetry or millwork? Each of these options will add significant time. You may also encounter delays with the city’s permitting process, or with permission from your building’s board.

Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen?

If you’ll be changing the kitchen’s footprint, making changes to wiring, gas lines, or plumbing, or removing asbestos, you’ll need the appropriate permits from the city. If you live in an apartment building, you’ll almost certainly need approval from the building’s board for any construction work. Discuss with your Sweeten general contractor if they’ll assist with the permit process which is typically 10% of the budget. 

How do I remodel a kitchen on a budget?

The first step is to make a clear, prioritized list of must-haves and nice-to-haves. Next, you should think about your wishes for appliance quality, quality of materials and fixtures, and overall finish level. Explore scaling back the biggest budget items: footprint changes, changes to wiring/plumbing/gas, custom cabinetry, and millwork, high-end appliances. Your Sweeten general contractor may help find creative solutions—like Ikea cabinets with a similar look to the custom ones you were considering, or ways to accomplish your goals without moving walls. Sweeten recommends setting aside a 10% contingency budget, so you won’t have to worry about unwelcome surprises. Ready to budget for your NYC kitchen renovation costs? Knowing the real costs involved in a New York City kitchen renovation will help you align your budget to your scope, avoid surprises, and bring your dream kitchen within reach. Find out how long a kitchen renovation takes—and what’s involved—in our step-by-step guide and process timeline.

—

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.