RenoBinderMost kitchen budgets fail in the same way. There's one big number at the start, and nobody checks how it splits up. Then the cabinets come in at 40% of the total and everything after them gets squeezed. The fix is to split the number by category before you shop, and keep a contingency on top.
The category split
The National Kitchen & Bath Association's Kitchen Planner gives this typical allocation of a kitchen remodel budget (NKBA Kitchen Planner):
| Category | Share of budget |
|---|---|
| Cabinetry & hardware | 29% |
| Installation | 17% |
| Appliances & ventilation | 14% |
| Countertops | 10% |
| Flooring | 7% |
| Lighting | 5% |
| Walls & ceilings | 5% |
| Design fees | 4% |
| Doors & windows | 4% |
| Faucets & plumbing | 4% |
| Other | 1% |
It's a rule of thumb from 2010, not a recent survey, so use it as a starting point. Your own priorities will move it. Panel-ready appliances push the appliance line up. Keeping your cabinet boxes pushes the cabinet line down. NKBA also recommends setting aside 10–20% for contingencies (NKBA Kitchen Planner).
Example: a $50,000 kitchen
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Start a free planTake a 15% contingency first: $7,500 in reserve, $42,500 to plan with.
| Category | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry & hardware | 29% | $12,325 |
| Installation | 17% | $7,225 |
| Appliances & ventilation | 14% | $5,950 |
| Countertops | 10% | $4,250 |
| Flooring | 7% | $2,975 |
| Lighting | 5% | $2,125 |
| Walls & ceilings | 5% | $2,125 |
| Design fees | 4% | $1,700 |
| Doors & windows | 4% | $1,700 |
| Faucets & plumbing | 4% | $1,700 |
| Other | 1% | $425 |
| Contingency | — | $7,500 |
(This applies NKBA's percentages to an example total. It's not a price quote.)
What homeowners actually spent
From Houzz's 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study, covering 2025 projects, DIY and professional, not adjusted for inflation (Houzz 2026, PDF):
- All kitchen remodels: median $24,000, 90th percentile $100,000
- Major remodels of large kitchens (200+ sq ft, at least all cabinets and appliances replaced): median $55,000, 90th percentile $150,000
- Major remodels of smaller kitchens (under 200 sq ft): median $35,000, 90th percentile $93,000
Local labor rates swing these numbers a lot. Get real bids before you lock your total.
Where kitchen budgets usually slip
- Appliances drive the cabinets. Custom or panel-ready cabinetry needs exact appliance specs, so decide on appliances first. Panel-ready and imported appliances can take 8–16 weeks to arrive (Remodel Clock).
- Countertops come after the cabinets go in. The fabricator templates only once the cabinets are installed (Remodel Clock), so book the slot early.
- Upgrades get paid for out of the contingency. Houzz found 35% of homeowners who went over budget had chosen more expensive products or materials than planned (Houzz 2026). Give upgrades their own line in the budget instead.
Turn the split into a plan
A percentage split tells you how much you can spend in each category. What keeps it on track is checking each choice against that line as you make it. In RenoBinder, every kitchen decision (appliances, cabinets, hardware, countertops, tile, plumbing, and lighting) has a planned amount, the option you chose, what's paid, and an order-by date.
One room is free. Doing the kitchen and a bath? Project Pass ($49, 12 months) covers every room.
Start your kitchen budget free →Typical published ranges. Confirm with your contractor and suppliers. Not professional advice.
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