Kitchen Remodeling Cost Guide: Houston, TX (2026)
Houston kitchen pricing resolves into four bands: $10,000 to $18,000 small, $18,000 to $35,000 mid-range, $30,000 to $50,000 large, and $50,000 to $80,000 and above at luxury. Cabinetry grade and countertop material determine which band applies.
- Priced per linear foot of cabinetry
- Box grade sets the band
- Cabinet and countertop costs itemised
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Quick Overview
Houston Kitchen Remodel at a Glance
- Small kitchen: $10,000 to $18,000 for cabinet, backsplash and finish work
- Mid-range kitchen: $18,000 to $35,000, where the majority of Houston scopes land
- Large kitchen: $30,000 to $50,000 as runs lengthen and an island enters
- Luxury kitchen: $50,000 to $80,000 and above with semi-custom boxes and stone
- How it is measured: Install labor at $50 to $120 and up per linear foot of cabinetry
- Excluded as standalone: Plumbing and electrical are subcontracted inside the remodel, never sold alone
Direct Answers
Direct Answers
Small kitchens run $10,000 to $18,000, mid-range $18,000 to $35,000, large $30,000 to $50,000, and luxury scopes $50,000 to $80,000 and above.
Cabinetry, at $100 to $300 per linear foot for stock boxes and $200 to $650 for semi-custom, before any install labor is added.
Cabinet tier and whether a fixture moves: stock boxes at $100 per linear foot against semi-custom at $650 is the single widest swing in any quote.
Why Houston Is Different
What Actually Determines a Houston Kitchen Price
A kitchen estimate is an arithmetic exercise. Three variables carry nearly all of the figure: how many linear feet of cabinetry the room holds, what grade those boxes are, and what has to happen before an upper run can be hung level. Everything else is rounding.
Cabinetry Sets the Band Before Anything Else
Measure the run first. Stock boxes carry $100 to $300 per linear foot in material and semi-custom $200 to $650, with install labor on top at $50 to $120 and up per linear foot. A 25-foot galley in stock therefore holds $2,500 to $7,500 of material before a driver is picked up; the same run in semi-custom holds $5,000 to $16,250. That single specification decision is what separates the $18,000 band from the $50,000 band, and it is worth settling before a countertop or a backsplash is ever discussed.
Uppers Are Hung to a Laser Datum, Not to the Floor
Houston kitchens sit on slabs that Beaumont clay has been lifting and dropping differentially for decades, which means the floor is rarely a reliable reference. A level line struck from the floor in a 1960s Meyerland or Oak Forest kitchen will walk out of true across a 14-foot wall. Upper runs are established from a laser datum instead, then base cabinets are shimmed up to meet it, which is also what keeps a countertop template square. Skip that step and the visible symptom is a crown molding joint that opens within a season.
Countertops Are Coordinated, and Some Trades Are Subcontracted
Quartz runs $55 to $120 per square foot and is templated only after boxes are set and verified level, with fabrication frequently handled as a separate order. Plumbing, electrical, roofing and foundation work sit outside our own scope and are subcontracted only as part of a larger remodel; a kitchen remodel is exactly that case, so the sink and circuit work is arranged with the trade that pulls the permit. A job that is purely plumbing or purely electrical is not accepted, and appliance work stops at install support.
Houston: 77002 · 77006 · 77007 · 77008 · 77036 · 77084
Typical Kitchen Remodeling Scopes in Houston
Houston kitchens run $10,000 to $18,000 small, $18,000 to $35,000 mid-range, $30,000 to $50,000 large, and $50,000 to $80,000 and above at luxury. Run length, box grade and countertop material drive the spread. Figures are verified on site.
Stock Box Refit
Original footprint, new boxes and hardware
Existing layout retained, stock boxes set to a laser datum, crown profile added and hardware standardized. No wall moved and no fixture relocated, which is what held this scope in the lower band.
| Rooms | Kitchen |
| Duration | 1 - 2 weeks |
| Lead time | 2 - 3 weeks |
| Products | Prefab kitchen cabinets, cabinet crown molding, Amerock pulls, cabinet jack, Bosch laser level |
Semi-Custom Run with Island
Longer run, deeper boxes, island added
Semi-custom boxes across two walls plus a new island carcass, with filler strips cut to absorb an out-of-square corner. Box grade rather than square footage is what moved this one into the large band.
| Rooms | Kitchen, breakfast area |
| Duration | 2 - 3 weeks |
| Lead time | 4 - 5 weeks |
| Products | Fabuwood semi-custom cabinets, cabinet crown molding, Liberty hardware, DeWalt impact driver, shims |
Quartz and Backsplash Package
Templated after the boxes were verified level
Countertop order coordinated once base cabinets were shimmed to the laser datum, then backsplash tile set to the finished top. Fabrication was placed as a separate order and scheduled around the template date.
| Rooms | Kitchen |
| Duration | 1 - 2 weeks |
| Lead time | 3 - 4 weeks |
| Products | MSI quartz slab, backsplash tile, MAPEI thin-set and grout, Bosch laser level, cabinet shims |
Site Conditions
Conditions Behind a Houston Kitchen Wall
What the estimate adds is usually decided by what the demolition exposes. These are the six conditions that recur in Houston kitchens and the scope each one brings with it.
| Condition | Where you see it in Houston | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| Out-of-level slab | Postwar ranch citywide, especially Meyerland | Uppers struck from a laser datum, bases shimmed, filler strips cut to suit |
| Racked wall at an opening | Anywhere clay has moved a slab edge | Affected wall plane replaced in full before boxes are hung |
| Plaster over wood lath | Pre-WWII bungalows in the Heights and Woodland Heights | Backing added for cabinet rails; anchors selected per substrate |
| Original 1960s wiring run | Oak Forest, Garden Oaks, Spring Branch ranch stock | Scoped by the electrical trade inside the remodel, permit pulled by them |
| Soffit above the upper run | Almost every kitchen built before 1990 | Removal priced separately; opens 12 to 18 inches of usable cabinet height |
| Flooring running under cabinets | Open-plan remodels and earlier LVP installs | Tie-in detailed at the toe kick so the new floor reads continuous |
Materials
Specification for a Houston Kitchen
Material choices are made against run length and alignment tolerance rather than catalogue appeal. Box grade, crown profile, hardware schedule and countertop material are fixed in writing before the order is placed.
| Product | Brand | Why it earns the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch laser level | Bosch | Critical for upper cabinet alignment. |
| Cabinet jack | ProLift / Bora | Helps lift and hold cabinet boxes. |
| DeWalt impact driver | DeWalt | Common install driver for framing and cabinetry. |
| Prefab kitchen cabinets | IKEA / Home Depot / Lowe's | Entry to mid-market cabinet option. |
| Cabinet crown molding | MDF / wood crown | Provides finished top profile. |
| Cabinet pulls and knobs | Amerock / Liberty | Finish hardware for cabinet doors and drawers. |
| Quartz countertop slab | MSI / Caesarstone | Countertop install coordinate only; fabrication may be separate. |
| Semi-custom cabinets | Fabuwood / Schrock | Higher flexibility than prefab. |
Material grades are specified per substrate after the on-site walkthrough. Material prices are carried in the project scope.
Pricing
Houston Kitchen Remodel Pricing
Ranges reflect current Houston project pricing. Cabinetry is quoted per linear foot and countertops per square foot. Project minimum is $500.
| Scope | Typical Houston range | What drives the spread |
|---|---|---|
| Small kitchen, full scope | $10,000 - $18,000 | Run length under roughly 20 feet, stock boxes, no island |
| Mid-range kitchen | $18,000 - $35,000 | Longer runs, upgraded hardware, quartz, and a backsplash package |
| Large kitchen | $30,000 - $50,000 | Island carcass, taller uppers, soffit removal, flooring tie-in |
| Luxury kitchen | $50,000 - $80,000+ | Semi-custom boxes throughout, stone, and a full trim and paint package |
| Cabinet install labor | $50 - $120+ / linear ft | Run length, box weight, filler work where the wall is out of square |
Minimum project size is $500. Every figure is confirmed on site before work starts.
Materials Versus Install Labor, Line by Line
Kitchen quotes get compared badly because bidders bundle differently. Split the same scope into what you are buying and what you are paying someone to do, and two bids become comparable.
| Line | Materials | Install labor |
|---|---|---|
| Stock cabinet run | $100 - $300 / linear ft | $50 - $120+ / linear ft |
| Semi-custom cabinet run | $200 - $650 / linear ft | $50 - $120+ / linear ft |
| Quartz countertop | $55 - $120 / sq ft | Fabrication and set coordinated as a separate order |
| Backsplash tile | $2.75 - $9.50 / sq ft | $12 - $22 / sq ft set |
| Cabinet crown molding | $4 - $12 / linear ft | Carried inside the cabinet install line |
| Pulls and knobs | $2 - $18 each | Drilled and set during the cabinet install |
| Flooring tie-in, LVP | Included in the installed rate | $4 - $8 / sq ft installed |
Across the whole scope, labor typically accounts for 30 to 50 percent of a Houston kitchen budget.
Cabinet and Countertop Tiers
The band your kitchen lands in is mostly a cabinetry decision. This table sets the two grades beside each other with the countertop choices that normally accompany them.
| Tier | Unit price | What it typically accompanies |
|---|---|---|
| Prefab boxes | $150 - $650 / linear ft | Stock door styles, standard heights, a tiled backsplash |
| Stock boxes, trade supply | $100 - $300 / linear ft | Painted or thermofoil fronts, crown added as a separate profile |
| Semi-custom boxes | $200 - $650 / linear ft | Specified heights and depths, integrated panels, deeper drawer banks |
| Quartz countertop | $55 - $120 / sq ft | Mid-range and luxury scopes; templated after boxes are set |
| Cabinet crown | $4 - $12 / linear ft | Ceiling-height uppers where the gap has to be closed |
| Hardware schedule | $2 - $18 each | Pull count rises with drawer banks rather than with run length |
What Moves a Houston Kitchen Quote
Five variables account for nearly every difference between two Houston kitchen bids. Each is listed with the direction it pulls and the reason behind it.
| Variable | Direction | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Box grade, stock to semi-custom | Up, often by a full band | Material per linear foot roughly doubles while labor stays flat |
| Run length and an island | Up proportionally | Cabinetry, countertop and install labor are all measured linearly |
| Keeping the existing layout | Down, and removes a permit | No fixture relocation, so no plumbing or electrical trigger |
| Slab out of level | Up modestly | Filler strips, shimming and a laser datum add install hours |
| Soffit removal | Up, priced separately | Opens 12 to 18 inches of cabinet height but adds wall-plane work |
| Appliance panel integration | Up | Semi-custom panels and scribe work replace stock filler pieces |
Process
Sequence of a Houston Kitchen Remodel
- 1Measure the cabinet run. Linear feet of cabinetry is the unit the whole estimate is built on, so the run is measured wall by wall and the island treated as its own figure.
- 2Specification fixed in writing. Box grade, door style, crown profile, hardware schedule and countertop material are settled before any order goes out, because changes after that point are re-orders.
- 3Subcontracted trades scheduled. Plumbing and electrical inside the remodel are arranged with the trade that pulls the permit, and their inspection dates set the rest of the calendar.
- 4Demolition and wall-plane work. Boxes, soffit and finishes come out, and any wall plane that the slab has racked is replaced in full rather than skimmed over.
- 5Datum struck, uppers hung. A laser line is established across the run and upper cabinets are hung to it, then bases are shimmed up to meet the same reference.
- 6Template, tops, then finish. Countertops are templated against verified-level boxes, and backsplash, crown, trim and paint follow once the tops are set.
Coverage
Houston Kitchens We Build
Work runs from River Oaks and Memorial out through the Energy Corridor and back inside the Loop. What changes the scope is the age of the cabinet run and how far the slab has moved.
Our Services
Trades Sequenced Around the Kitchen
A kitchen touches five other trades before it is finished. Each is scheduled against the cabinet install rather than queued behind it.
Tile Installation
Backsplash and floor tile set at $12 to $22 per square foot, with uncoupling membrane under any floor field. Backsplash is set to the finished countertop, never to the box.
Flooring Installation
LVP at $4 to $8 per square foot installed and hardwood at $5 to $12, with slab flatness corrected before the first plank. Toe-kick tie-ins are detailed so the floor reads continuous.
Painting Services
Walls, ceiling and trim finished at $1.50 to $3 per square foot interior, scheduled after the tops are set so nothing is coated twice or masked twice.
Drywall Installation
Where clay movement has racked a wall at an opening, we replace the affected wall plane in full and finish it to match. Patch work is not something we take on.
Fence Installation
New runs and full replacements at $30 to $50 per linear foot, with posts set below the active soil layer so the gate still latches after a dry summer.
Common Questions
Houston Kitchen Cost Questions
What does a kitchen remodel cost in Houston?
Small kitchens run $10,000 to $18,000, mid-range $18,000 to $35,000, large $30,000 to $50,000, and luxury $50,000 to $80,000 and above. Cabinetry grade decides the band.
How is cabinetry priced?
Per linear foot. Stock boxes carry $100 to $300 per foot and semi-custom $200 to $650, with install labor added at $50 to $120 and up per foot.
What does a quartz countertop cost?
$55 to $120 per square foot for the material. Templating happens only after boxes are set and verified level, and fabrication is frequently placed as a separate order.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel?
Not for cabinets, countertops, backsplash or flooring, which Houston treats as exempt finish work. Relocating a plumbing or electrical fixture does trigger a permit from that trade.
Do you do the plumbing and electrical yourself?
Those trades are subcontracted, and only as part of a larger remodel. A kitchen remodel qualifies; a job that is purely plumbing or purely electrical is not accepted.
How long does a Houston kitchen take?
One to four weeks on site with a crew of two to five, driven by run length and whether a subcontracted inspection sits in the middle of the schedule.
Why do my cabinet doors sit out of line?
Usually because the run was set to the floor rather than to a laser datum. Beaumont clay has moved most Houston slabs enough that the floor is not a reliable reference.
Can you remove the kitchen soffit?
Yes, priced as its own line. It opens 12 to 18 inches of upper cabinet height, and the wall plane above it is finished before boxes are hung.
How We Quote a Kitchen
Priced Per Linear Foot
Cabinetry is measured and quoted by the foot, with box material and install labor shown separately. That is the only way two kitchen bids can be compared honestly.
Specification Before Order
Box grade, door style, hardware and countertop material are fixed in writing before anything ships. A change after the order is a re-order, and we say so upfront.
Datum Established First
Upper runs are hung to a laser line rather than to a slab that has been moving for sixty years. Bases are then shimmed up to the same reference.
Subcontracted Trades Named
Plumbing and electrical inside the remodel are arranged with the trade that pulls the permit, and their line appears in your scope rather than hiding in an allowance.
Price It From the Run
A kitchen estimate should be built from linear feet of cabinetry and a countertop schedule rather than from a photograph. Reach 512-290-5153 to book the measure, and we will work around your Saturday at Urban Harvest on Richmond.
Our Houston Homeowner Resources
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