Most of a kitchen budget is decided by three things: whether the plumbing and electrical stay where they are, what grade of cabinet you buy, and what the counters are made of. Set those below and the estimate updates.
This is a planning estimate, not a quote and not a bid. The rates behind it come from Los Angeles County projects and published 2026 cost data, reviewed 2026-10-29. Real pricing needs a site visit, because the things that move a construction budget most are rarely visible from the street. America General Contractors, California contractor licence CSLB 1083262.
Questions about this estimate
What drives a kitchen budget most?
Cabinets, by a distance. Going from stock to custom can double the single largest line in the job. After that it is whether the plumbing moves, and what the counters are made of.
Does this include a permit?
Yes, when the scope needs one. A refresh that touches no plumbing or electrical generally does not. Anything that moves a sink, adds circuits or takes out a wall does.
How long will the work take?
A refresh is 2 to 3 weeks on site. A full replacement is 6 to 10 weeks once the cabinets arrive. A layout change is 10 to 16 weeks. Cabinets take 4 to 12 weeks to build, so they get ordered before demolition.
Should I hold a contingency?
On a house built before 1970, hold 10 to 15 percent back. Old galvanized pipe, undersized wiring and water damage behind cabinets are common and none of them are visible until demolition day.
Read more
For the full picture, see kitchen & bathroom remodeling and the los angeles remodeling cost guide.
Other calculators
ADU Cost Calculator
What a backyard unit, garage conversion or junior ADU actually costs to build in Los Angeles.
Open the calculator →Bathroom Remodel Cost Calculator
What a bathroom costs in Los Angeles, from a refresh to a primary suite with the plumbing moved.
Open the calculator →Home Addition Cost Calculator
What adding square footage costs in Los Angeles, out or up.
Open the calculator →Soft-Story Retrofit Cost Calculator
What a mandatory retrofit costs per building and per unit, and how much of it you can pass through.
Open the calculator →Whole-House Renovation Cost Calculator
What doing the whole house at once costs, by level of work and the age of the building.
Open the calculator →