Your kitchen is the heart — and the busy hub — of your home. It’s where you make meals, catch up with your family, and gather with your friends; in many homes, it’s also the place where homework gets done, work calls are made, and projects are completed. You want a kitchen that works for you and meets your many different needs.
When your kitchen isn’t as functional or inviting as it could be, it can make your daily life a little less productive, efficient, and joyful. Whether your current kitchen has never been your dream space or your family has simply outgrown it, a full kitchen remodel may be on your mind.
And top of mind when you’re dreaming of your renovated kitchen is how much it will cost. Even if you know what you can afford to spend, you may not have a firm grasp on the various factors that go into setting an estimated price range for your project.
It’s one of the questions we get most often here at Hogan Design & Construction: How much does a kitchen remodel cost in the Chicagoland area these days?
Read on as we explore the elements that go into calculating the cost of a full kitchen remodel, and discover how those elements translate to the average kitchen renovation cost, as well as cost per square foot, in the far western suburbs and the greater Chicagoland area today.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Calculation Basics
“How do you calculate kitchen remodeling costs?” It’s typically one of the first questions that arises during our initial meeting with homeowners. While the specific answer depends on a variety of factors, key elements of any kitchen renovation cost include project size and scope, level of finish, and needed services.
In any home renovation project, there are several main cost components that help form the basis of the overall cost. In the average full kitchen remodel, this typically includes most if not all the following:
- Materials and fixtures
- Labor and installation
- Any needed demolition
- Electrical and plumbing
- Drywall and painting
- Tiling and millwork
- Windows and doors
As you might imagine, the cost of each of these elements depends on the scope and finish level of the project itself. Overall scope and finish level of everything from countertops and cabinetry to fixtures and flooring determine whether a project falls into a low-end, moderate, or high-end cost range.
A basic kitchen remodel cost estimate must further factors in any known underlying structural problems that must be addressed during construction. It’s important to recognize that any unknown underlying structural issues can add to the total cost later. Your final renovation cost estimate also includes:
- Design fees
- Sales tax
- Permit fees
- And appliances
Design fees are typically 5-10% of construction costs; sales tax and permit fees (and rules) vary by municipality and project considerations.
What Does the Average Kitchen Remodel Cost?
In the Chicagoland area, including the northern and western suburbs, the median cost of full kitchen remodel in a single-family home is about $118,000 if it's completed by a professional.
The total cost of the average full kitchen renovation in the Chicagoland area can land anywhere between $85,000 and $200,000, depending on its finish level, size, and scope.
According to the most recent information from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), the average kitchen size in the United States is:
- 161 square feet in single-story homes
- 174 square feet in multi-story homes
- 103 square feet in homes that are 1,500 square feet or smaller
- 238 square feet in homes that are 4,000 square feet or larger
It’s worth noting, however, that a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) study finds that the average kitchen size in a newer home that’s around 3,000 square feet (which is about the average size of a new single-family home in the Chicagoland area), is 424 square feet.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Per Square Foot
Why does all this square footage business matter so much? Besides the fact that the square footage of your kitchen plays a major factor in determining the overall cost of its complete renovation, home remodeling expenses are often expressed in the form of cost per square foot.
In the Chicagoland area, most kitchen remodels cost an average of $195 to $580 per square foot, and more for higher-end projects. These figures reflect the less involved minor kitchen updates ($60,000 to $85,000 total cost) to the complete mid-range kitchen remodel ($85,000 to $115,000 total cost).
A complete dream kitchen remodel in the Chicagoland and northern & western suburban area typically costs $115,000 to $200,000 or more. In a 424 square foot kitchen, that’s a price point of $271 to $472 per square foot, or more.
Get Started with Our Comprehensive Pricing Guides
At HDC, we believe that open communication and accurate, comprehensive information are key to every successful renovation project, no matter how large or small it happens to be. That’s why we’ve developed four comprehensive pricing guides to help you understand what you can expect when you begin conversations surrounding your upcoming renovation project:
- Kitchen Remodel 2022 Pricing Guide
- Bathroom Remodel 2022 Pricing Guide
- Basement Remodel 2022 Pricing Guide
- Whole-House and Additions 2022 Pricing Guide
Our guides offer price ranges based on current Chicagoland area building and remodeling cost estimates, as well as our own 20+ years of experience within the industry.
Although the figures listed in these resources are only approximate estimates, they can help you gain valuable insight into what you can expect before you even set up your first meeting with our team.
If you’re ready to take the first step toward a new kitchen, give us a call or fill out our easy online contact form today. We’re ready to help you make your dream space a reality.
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