Cost Guide

Kitchen Renovations The Real Numbers

Keystone Editorial May 2, 2026 5 min read

Kitchen Costs Explained

A kitchen renovation in Metro Atlanta can run anywhere from $40,000 to $150,000, and the gap rarely comes down to square footage. It comes down to the cabinet line, the countertop tier, the appliance package, and whether you keep the existing footprint or move plumbing. The number you see quoted is mostly a reflection of the choices behind it.

What follows is a breakdown of what real kitchens cost in 2026, by tier, with line items we’d quote a friend. Use it as a benchmark for the estimates you’re getting elsewhere. If a contractor’s number falls far outside these ranges in either direction, ask why before you sign anything.

Real kitchen costs, broken down by tier

Why Kitchen Quotes Vary So Much

Two contractors can walk through the same kitchen and quote $20,000 apart. That gap is rarely about who’s trying to gouge you. It’s about what each contractor is quietly assuming. One might be pricing stock cabinets and laminate counters. The other might be pricing semi-custom cabinets and quartz. Same kitchen, very different finish package, very different number.

The honest framing is that you cannot compare kitchen quotes until they’re scoped identically. We give every homeowner a line-item estimate so you can see exactly what each dollar buys, and exactly where you can trade down if budget matters more than top-tier finish.

Budget Tier ($40k to $60k)

Stock cabinets, laminate or entry-level quartz, keep existing footprint, builder-grade appliance package, standard tile.

Mid Tier ($60k to $90k)

Semi-custom cabinets, mid-grade quartz, some layout changes, mid-tier appliance package, designer tile and lighting.

High Tier ($90k and up)

Custom cabinetry, premium stone, layout reworked from scratch, professional appliance suite, integrated lighting design.

The Real Line Items

What actually drives the number? A breakdown of the major budget buckets in a Metro Atlanta kitchen renovation. Percentages assume a $70,000 mid-tier project. Dollar ranges shift with scope, but the proportions hold up.

Cabinetry: 35 to 45% of the total, the single biggest variable in any kitchen budget
Countertops: 8 to 15%, with quartz running $60 to $120 per square foot installed
Appliances: 10 to 18%, depending on whether you go consumer or pro-grade
Plumbing relocation: $2,500 to $6,000 if you move the sink or add an island
Electrical: $3,000 to $8,000 for new circuits, under-cabinet lighting, and outlets

Backsplash: $1,200 to $4,500 depending on tile, pattern, and complexity
Flooring: $4 to $14 per square foot installed, with LVP at the low end
Labor: 25 to 35% of the total, the line where contractor experience shows up
Permits and inspections: $400 to $1,200 in Cobb County
Contingency: 10% reserved, almost always used somewhere along the way

Note: The single fastest way to blow your kitchen budget is moving plumbing. If you can work with your existing sink and dishwasher locations, you save thousands. We tell every homeowner this up front, even when the new layout would be marginally better on paper.

Custom cabinetry close-up Metro Atlanta kitchen — From the project archive

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Line-item kitchen estimate, no sales padding, no vague lump sum. Just an honest number you can plan around and compare against anything else you’re seeing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Usually because each contractor is assuming a different finish tier, cabinet line, and labor scope. Two quotes for the same kitchen can be $20,000 apart and both be honest. The way to compare is to insist on a line-item estimate so you can see exactly what each dollar buys.

Appliance brand and flooring are the easiest places to trade down. A mid-tier dishwasher works as well as a premium one for most households, and LVP flooring holds up to kitchen use almost as well as hardwood. Where we’d never cut is cabinetry quality and the labor doing the install.

Plan a 10% contingency on top of the quoted total. It almost always gets used, especially in older Marietta homes where walls and plumbing can hide surprises. A contractor who tells you no contingency is needed is either inexperienced or selling.

Only if your kitchen has unusual angles, ceiling heights, or you want a specific wood species or door style that semi-custom lines don’t offer. For 80% of kitchens, semi-custom delivers the same look and longevity at 30 to 50% less cost. We tell homeowners this even when it means a smaller invoice.

Six to ten weeks for a typical Metro Atlanta kitchen, depending on scope and whether plumbing moves. Stone fabrication adds 10 days from the day countertops are templated. Custom cabinet orders can add four to six weeks of lead time before work even begins.

Keystone Extreme Renovations

Hi, we’re Keystone Extreme

Marietta-based custom kitchen renovations, handled end-to-end by one licensed team. Get a free estimate and let’s build around the budget you actually have.

(770) 378-0094

Kitchen Renovations The Real Numbers