Cost Guide
Kitchen Remodel Cost in Central Massachusetts
By Dioclecio Gomes, Founder & Owner7 min readUpdated September 26, 2026
In This Guide
A minor kitchen refresh (new countertops, appliances, cabinet refinishing) runs roughly $9,000 to $25,000 nationally, a major remodel with new cabinets and possible layout changes runs $20,000 to $65,000, and a full gut remodel with moved plumbing and electrical can run $65,000 or more. In Central Massachusetts, our own pricing for a full kitchen remodel typically runs $25,000 to $60,000, and cabinets alone are usually the single biggest line item in the budget.
Kitchen remodel cost depends far more on scope than on any single finish choice. According to This Old House's kitchen remodel cost data, a small kitchen remodel averages $16,000 nationally, with a typical range of $9,000 to $25,000, while a full remodel has a national median around $26,000. The gap between those numbers comes down almost entirely to whether the layout changes and how much of the kitchen gets replaced versus refreshed.
We build kitchens across Central Massachusetts every month, so here is what the national data means once you translate it to local labor rates and what we actually see on real jobs.
Cost by Scope: Minor, Major and Full Gut
This Old House breaks kitchen remodels into three tiers. A minor or small refresh, cosmetic updates like new countertops, appliance swaps and cabinet refinishing without moving anything, runs $7,000 to $20,000. A major remodel, which usually includes new cabinets, some layout changes, and updated plumbing or electrical, runs $17,500 to $50,000. A complete remodel that guts the room down to studs and relocates plumbing and electrical can run well past that, often $65,000 to $130,000 on higher-end national projects.
Kitchen size matters just as much as scope. This Old House's data shows a 70 square foot kitchen running $7,000 to $17,500, while a 120 square foot kitchen runs $12,000 to $30,000 for comparable finishes, roughly double the cost for less than double the space.
Why Cabinets Drive the Budget
Cabinetry alone accounts for about 29% of the typical kitchen remodel budget, more than appliances, countertops or flooring individually, according to This Old House. Cabinet costs range from $120 to $1,425 per linear foot depending on whether you choose stock, semi-custom or fully custom construction, which explains why two kitchens the same size can land $20,000 apart based on cabinet choice alone.
Materials and appliances together typically make up 70% to 85% of total project cost, with labor filling the rest. That ratio is why the finishes you choose move your final number more than almost any other decision in the project.
Kitchen Remodel Cost Comparison
| Scope | What It Includes | Typical Cost (National) |
|---|---|---|
| Minor refresh | Countertops, appliances, cabinet refinishing, no layout change | $7,000–$20,000 |
| Major remodel | New cabinets, some layout change, updated plumbing/electrical | $17,500–$50,000 |
| Full gut remodel | Down to studs, relocated plumbing and electrical, custom finishes | $65,000+ |
Want an exact number for your kitchen?
We give you a flat-rate written quote after a free in-home visit, before any demo starts.
Get My Free EstimateWhat We Charge in Central Massachusetts
Our own kitchen remodeling pricing runs $25,000 to $60,000 for a full kitchen remodel, typically taking 4 to 6 weeks. That range sits above the small-refresh end of the national data because most of our kitchen projects involve new cabinets and at least some layout or plumbing work, not just cosmetic swaps. We measure your kitchen and give you a fixed number in writing before demo starts.
Where to Spend and Where to Save
Since cabinetry is the single biggest line item, that is where a quality upgrade shows the most in the finished kitchen, and where cutting corners shows the most too. Keeping your sink, range and refrigerator in their existing locations avoids the cost of moving plumbing and gas lines, which is one of the fastest ways a kitchen budget grows beyond a minor refresh. Countertops and flooring are good places to choose a mid-range material without it reading as a compromise.
The Bottom Line
A minor kitchen refresh starts around $9,000 to $25,000, while a full remodel with new cabinets typically runs $25,000 to $60,000 in Central Massachusetts, and cabinetry is almost always the single biggest line item. Decide your scope before you shop finishes, since scope moves the budget far more than any individual material choice. Get a fixed, written quote before committing to a number based on a national average. Get a Free Kitchen Estimate
FAQ
How much does a small kitchen remodel cost?
A small kitchen remodel, cosmetic updates like countertops, cabinet refinishing and new appliances without changing the layout, typically runs $9,000 to $25,000 nationally, and a similar scope in Central Massachusetts generally falls in the $20,000 to $35,000 range once local labor rates are factored in.
Why are cabinets the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinetry alone typically accounts for about 29% of a kitchen remodel budget, more than any other single component, according to This Old House's cost data. Custom or semi-custom cabinets cost significantly more per linear foot than stock cabinets, which is why cabinet choice moves the total budget more than almost any other decision.
What is included in a full kitchen remodel in Massachusetts?
A full kitchen remodel in Massachusetts, generally $25,000 to $60,000, includes new cabinets, countertops, flooring, appliances, lighting and often a layout change involving plumbing or electrical work. It differs from a minor refresh, which keeps the existing layout and swaps finishes and appliances only.