Key Takeaways
- Most DC kitchen remodels cost $165,000 to $300,000 in construction. Only very large luxury kitchens reach $500,000 or more.
- Budget about 10% of construction cost for design. For a $300,000 kitchen, that's roughly $30,000.
- The more significant the change, the more expensive the project. Moving the kitchen, removing a structural wall and adding heated floors all raise the cost.
- Finish level is the other big lever. Invest in the pieces you'll use every day and keep other selections simpler.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Washington, DC? It's a common question many homeowners ask us. The answer depends on two things: how much you're changing and the level of finish you want.
Most DC homeowners we work with invest between $165,000 and $300,000 in construction for a kitchen remodel. Here's what moves a project toward either end of that range, what to budget for design, and why kitchens cost more than most other rooms in the house.
Kitchen remodel cost in Washington, DC: three tiers
Construction costs generally fall into three tiers:
Even at the high end, most kitchens top out around $250,000 to $400,000. Those are extensive renovations with high-end finishes, and that range covers most of the high-end kitchens we build. A kitchen that reaches $500,000 or more is the exception. It's very large, filled with very expensive cabinetry and materials, and usually includes heated floors, structural wall changes, moved or new windows, a breakfast nook and other custom details.
Most DC homeowners land somewhere between the first two tiers, from $165,000 to $300,000. You can see examples at every level in our kitchen portfolio. If your kitchen is part of a larger project, our post on what a luxury home remodel costs covers whole-house budgets.
How much does kitchen design cost?
Design fees vary by project, but they tend to land around 10% of construction cost. For a $300,000 kitchen, plan on roughly $30,000 for design.
Build that into your budget from the start. Design is where the big decisions happen, like layout, storage and how the kitchen connects to the rest of the house. It's also where you get a clear picture of cost before construction begins. Our design-build process is set up so pricing develops alongside the design.
What drives kitchen remodel costs?
A good rule of thumb for managing cost: the more significant the change, the more expensive the project. A few questions to ask yourself:
- Are you moving the kitchen? Relocating it from one side of the house to the other means rerouting plumbing, gas, electrical and ventilation.
- Is there a structural wall in the way? Are the windows changing? Opening up a load-bearing wall requires engineering, new beams and careful sequencing. Windows work the same way. Moving, replacing or adding a window means reframing the opening and patching the exterior, and sometimes adding new structure.
- Do you want heated floors or other custom features? Radiant heat is a great upgrade, but it adds to the budget. So do specialty design elements like a built-in breakfast nook or a custom dog feeding station. They make a kitchen work for the way you live, and each one takes its own design and carpentry.
These are all details that add up. Thinking about them early keeps your design and your budget on the same page.
Mid-range vs. high-end finishes: where the budget goes
Finish level is the other big lever. Two kitchens with the same layout can land tens of thousands of dollars apart based on selections alone. A few examples:
- Appliances. A range can cost anywhere from $1,000 to more than $30,000. Add a refrigerator, dishwasher, wall ovens and a hood, and appliances alone can swing your budget in a big way.
- Tile. Tile runs from about $10 per square foot to $100 or more. How much of the kitchen is tiled matters as much as the tile you pick. A backsplash behind the range is a very different number than tile on every wall. Looking for ideas? Here are eleven of our favorite kitchen backsplashes.
- Cabinetry. Built-in cabinets have one of the widest price ranges of any selection. Are they paint grade or stain grade? Do you want integrated handles, glass door fronts or drawers with custom inserts? Each choice adds labor and material. It's also why we work with Bremtown for our custom cabinetry.
- Specialty features. Do you want a pot filler over the range? An appliance garage to hide the toaster and coffee maker? These are the details that make a kitchen feel custom, and each one adds to the total.
The list goes on and on. You don't need the top option in every category, though. A smart approach is to invest in the pieces you'll use every day and keep other selections simpler. Our selection tips from a design insider can help you make those calls, and our 2026 kitchen design guide shows what DC-area homeowners are choosing right now.
How your home's location affects cost
Where your home sits in DC, Maryland or Virginia changes how easy or hard it is to build, and that shows up in the budget.
In historic neighborhoods like Georgetown, Capitol Hill and Alexandria, many homes are small rowhouses, sometimes without an alley. That means everything has to come in and out through the front door: demolition debris, cabinets, appliances, stone and every other piece of material. These areas are often dense and parking is difficult, so more time goes into coordinating deliveries and crew parking than on other jobs. On some projects we've even brought materials in by crane. If your kitchen is part of an older home, our historic renovation work shows what's possible.
In Chevy Chase or McLean, it's often a different story. Large single-family homes with driveways make it much easier to coordinate labor and deliveries, and less time spent on logistics means more of your budget goes into the kitchen itself.
Why is a kitchen remodel so expensive?
Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be some of the most expensive parts of a house to renovate. There's a lot packed into a small space: plumbing, electrical, gas, ventilation, lighting, cabinetry, countertops, tile and appliances. Each of those takes skilled labor.
A living room renovation might involve paint, flooring and lighting. A kitchen usually involves nearly every trade on the job.
Planning your DC kitchen remodel
For most homeowners in Washington, DC, a kitchen remodel means a construction investment of $165,000 to $300,000, plus roughly 10% for design. Where you land depends on how much you change and the finishes you choose.
Every home is different, so the best way to get a real number is to talk through your project with us. Because Landis is a design-build firm, we talk about cost throughout the design process, not just at the end. Browse our kitchen remodels for inspiration, then contact us to talk about your kitchen.
