A kitchen remodel touches every trade in the house. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, tile setters, painters, sometimes even structural engineers, all pass through the same few hundred square feet. That coordination has a cost, and it is why kitchen budgets can feel slippery until you pin down scope, finish level, and contingencies. I have remodeled kitchens in old farmhouses with plaster walls and in mid-century colonials with modest bones. The pricing ranges are real, and so are the trade-offs behind them. If you want a realistic plan, start by understanding where the money actually goes.
The realistic range for a full kitchen remodel
Across the Midwest, a full kitchen remodel commonly falls between 45,000 and 125,000 dollars for a 180 to 250 square foot space. Simple pull-and-replace projects with stock cabinets, laminate counters, and no layout changes often land near the low end. The range climbs as you move to semi-custom or custom cabinetry, stone counters, better appliances, and any significant layout work. When someone asks, “How much for a kitchen remodel?” I reply with two numbers: the floor for a quality job you will be proud to use daily, and the ceiling where diminishing returns begin. In most markets similar to Lansing, the comfortable floor for durable, attractive results sits around 60,000 dollars. The ceiling depends on taste and square footage, but most homeowners cap the spend somewhere under 150,000.
If you are searching for kitchen remodeling near me in or around Lansing, you will see bids cluster around similar tiers. Labor rates in the region are stable, materials travel similar distances, and building codes are consistent. A reputable Lansing kitchen remodeler should walk you through a budget by category and explain any line that seems high or low.
How the budget typically breaks down
Percentages help you sense where money collects. These are common for a midrange project, then I will explain how each line behaves in the real world.
- Cabinets: 25 to 35 percent Labor and general conditions: 18 to 28 percent Countertops: 8 to 15 percent Appliances and ventilation: 10 to 18 percent Plumbing, electrical, and lighting: 10 to 18 percent Flooring: 5 to 10 percent Backsplash and tile: 3 to 6 percent Paint, trim, and finishes: 2 to 5 percent Design, permits, and inspections: 2 to 5 percent Contingency: 8 to 12 percent
If your kitchen remodel sits high in one area, you should expect a corresponding shift elsewhere to keep the total in line. Spend 40 percent on cabinets and you will likely compress flooring and tile choices or reduce appliance spend.
Cabinets set the tone and the timeline
Cabinetry claims the largest slice because it drives both cost and function. Stock cabinets from big-box stores can serve well in rentals or basic refreshes. Expect 6,000 to 12,000 dollars for a modest 10 by 12 layout with standard heights, limited accessories, and box construction that uses thinner plywood or particleboard. Semi-custom lines, often built in regional factories with better hardware and more sizes, live in the 12,000 to 25,000 dollar range for the same footprint. Custom shops that build to exact dimensions with high-end joinery and finishes can start around 25,000 and climb.
In my experience, semi-custom gives the best value for most families. It solves awkward corners and ceiling heights without the premium of full custom. You also gain access to upgrades that matter in daily use: plywood boxes, soft-close hardware, full-extension drawers, rollout trays in base cabinets, and moisture-resistant finishes around the sink. Where budgets crack is in the tower of extras. Knife blocks, dividers, tray pullouts, and corner mechanisms add hundreds each. Individually they seem minor, together they push cabinet costs up by thousands. Pick the two you will use most. For most cooks, those are full-extension drawers and trash/recycling pullouts.
Lead times for cabinets range from two weeks for stock to 12 or more weeks for custom. Your schedule should track this, because trades can only set counters once cabinets are installed and verified.
Countertops and the false economy of thin slabs
Countertops often come up early in kitchen remodeling ideas because they are tactile and visible. Laminate remains the most cost-effective surface, usually 25 to 45 dollars per square foot installed, with a wide pattern range and improved edge profiles. But seams and heat sensitivity remain limitations. Butcher block sits near 60 to 100 dollars per square foot installed, and while it warms a room visually, it demands sealing and regular maintenance. Keep it to an island or a breakfast bar if you love the look.
Granite and quartz dominate midrange choices. Expect 65 to 120 dollars per square foot installed for commonly available colors. The quarry and brand matter less than fabrication skill and thickness. A 2 centimeter slab with a laminated edge can look like a thicker piece for less money, but the edge seam reveals itself over time. If budget permits, a 3 centimeter slab with a simple eased edge kitchen remodeling lansing mi often costs the same as a thinner slab with complex edgework, and it resists chipping better.
Quartzite and porcelain slabs occupy the higher end, both hard and heat resistant, often in the 100 to 180 dollar range. If you cook with cast-iron pans, quartzite tolerates a mislaid hot skillet better than many quartz products. I have seen homeowners save a few hundred bucks by skipping an undermount sink cutout or a faucet hole only to pay more when installers return. Measure twice, plan for accessories like soap dispensers, and cut the holes during fabrication.
Appliances and where performance matters
Appliance budgets swing wildly, from 4,000 dollars for a basic suite to 25,000 and beyond. What you need depends on how you cook, not on glossy photos. Gas ranges still have a loyal following for flame control, but induction cooktops now match or beat them in responsiveness and cleanliness. An induction range paired with a proper 600 CFM hood vents steam and smells without the soot that gas can leave on white enamel.
The range, the fridge, and the dishwasher drive most of the spend. For a midrange remodel, a 36 inch counter-depth refrigerator and a 30 inch slide-in range often cover 80 percent of cooking needs. Ventilation is non-negotiable if you sear proteins or use high-heat techniques. If you are changing layouts, budget for ducting to the exterior rather than recirculating hoods. It will add a few hundred for duct and labor, but it protects cabinets and keeps air quality in check.
As a rule of thumb, keep appliance spend under 20 percent of the total unless you entertain heavily or need specialized features. When clients fixate on a 9,000 dollar range, I point out that the same money could upgrade cabinets from painted particleboard to furniture-grade plywood with dovetailed drawers, which you will notice every day.
Electrical, plumbing, and the code tax that saves you later
Kitchen remodels in older homes reveal two things with high frequency: undersized electrical panels and haphazard plumbing. Modern codes expect at least two 20-amp small appliance circuits on the countertop, GFCI and AFCI protection, and dedicated lines for the dishwasher, microwave, and disposal. If you add undercabinet lighting, a beverage fridge, and an induction range, you can quickly exceed an older 100-amp service panel. Upgrading to 200 amps might add 2,000 to 4,000 dollars, but it closes a safety gap and supports future loads like car chargers.
Plumbing often needs rerouting when layouts change. Moving a sink five feet can be straightforward in a basement or crawlspace, tough in a slab-on-grade house. A simple sink swap may cost a few hundred in labor, while moving a sink, dishwasher, and adding a pot filler can push the plumbing line well over 3,000. Bundle rough-ins intelligently. If you already have walls open, think about adding a water line for an ice maker, or a drain and power box in a pantry for a future coffee station.
Lighting pays dividends. A layered plan with recessed cans for general light, pendants for visual focus, and undercabinet LEDs for task work makes the room feel intentional. You do not need to splurge on designer fixtures if the lighting design itself is sound. Money spent on dimmers and proper switch locations will matter every day.
Flooring and the path of least regret
Floors set both look and maintenance workload. Luxury vinyl plank has matured, with products in the 3 to 6 dollar per square foot material range that resist spills and look credible. It floats over reasonably flat subfloors, saving labor. I use it in rentals and busy family kitchens where dogs and toddlers rule. It is not as tough under direct heat from stoves or as stiff as ceramic, but it recovers from floods better than wood.
Engineered hardwood brings warmth, and it can be a solid choice if the kitchen connects to open living areas where you want visual continuity. Expect 8 to 14 dollars per square foot installed in many cases. Site-finished hardwood costs more and takes longer, but it can blend seamlessly with adjacent rooms. Tile remains the durability king, yet grout lines and the cold feel turn some cooks away. If you want tile without chilly feet, budget for an electric radiant mat under the tile. The mat itself often runs a few hundred dollars for a typical kitchen zone, with additional labor for the dedicated circuit and thermostat.
If you are in an older Lansing home with floors that are out of level by more than half an inch across a room, expect charges for self-leveling compound and extra prep. Skipping this will haunt cabinet installs and cause gaps at toe kicks.
Backsplash and the art of restraint
Tile backsplash is where many kitchens overspend visually and financially. Complex mosaics require more cutting and layout time, which drives labor. If budget is tight, a classic 3 by 6 subway tile with a clean grout joint looks timeless, installs quickly, and leaves money for more meaningful upgrades elsewhere. Running the countertop material up the wall to 4 or 6 inches creates a low-maintenance splash on the cheap, but it rarely carries the design on its own. For a small kitchen, a simple field tile installed to the upper cabinets or to the ceiling behind the range reads more high-end than a busy pattern.
Paint, trim, and the cost of the last 10 percent
By the time walls are closed, budgets feel stretched. The last details determine whether the kitchen looks finished. High-grade paint in a satin or semi-gloss on walls and trim will clean better and hide micro-scuffs. Caulking gaps between crown moulding and ceilings, or scribing trim to uneven walls, takes time. I have spent a day making a window stool meet tile neatly, and while it never shows up as a line item, the result separates professional work from weekend projects. Ask your kitchen remodeler who handles punch-list details and how they plan to protect fresh finishes during appliance deliveries.
Design, permits, and the value of drawings
You can spend a weekend adjusting cabinet layouts online, but dimensioned drawings and elevations save money once demolition starts. A design package from a reputable kitchen remodeling firm might add 1,500 to 5,000 dollars, often credited in part if you proceed with the build. It should include a measured floor plan, cabinet elevations, lighting and electrical plan, and a finish schedule. In municipalities around Lansing, permits and inspections are required for electrical and plumbing changes. Permit fees can range from a couple hundred dollars for a simple swap to 1,000 or more if structural work is involved. Skipping permits may seem tempting in a quick flip, but it complicates resale and insurance claims.
Contingencies are not padding
I have opened walls to find knob-and-tube wiring safely abandoned, and other times still actively powering half the kitchen. Sometimes subfloors rot under a slow leak that no one noticed. A contingency fund covers the unknowns between framing and drywall. Eight to twelve percent is reasonable for homes older than 30 years. If you do not need it, great. If you do, the money is already accounted for and the schedule can absorb the extra work without daily arguments.
The difference between a budget and an estimate
Budgets track categories and help you pick finishes. Estimates, by contrast, attach real prices to that scope from professionals who will perform the work. Once you have a budget direction, ask two or three vetted builders for detailed estimates. A clear bid should specify materials by brand and model, name the allowances for items you have not chosen, and note what is excluded. If a bid feels cheap because it carries a low allowance for countertops or lighting, ask to raise the allowance to your target. It is better to confront the real total now than under pressure later.
If you are comparing kitchen remodeling Lansing MI companies, look closely at general conditions. A contractor who owns dust control systems, invests in daily cleanup, and assigns a dedicated lead carpenter may cost more on paper but will protect your home and schedule. The best value rarely comes from the lowest line.
Where to save without hurting longevity
Every project has pressure points. You will not hit a perfect balance unless you let some elements stay humble while others shine. Here are disciplined places to trim spend without punishing yourself later.
- Keep the layout where it works. Moving plumbing stacks and range locations multiplies costs. If you need a peninsula instead of an island, do it, but avoid bouncing the sink across the room. Choose semi-custom cabinets with smart interiors. Skip glass doors, ornate moldings, and complex corner hardware. Spend on drawer boxes and slides. Use a standard-color quartz or granite from in-stock inventory. Exotic slabs look wonderful, but they rarely cook better. Buy the right-size appliances, not the biggest. A 30 inch range is plenty for most households. Splurge on the hood’s performance, not its brand badge. Scale tile ambitions. A clean field tile installed well beats a fussy pattern installed poorly.
Notice these are not quality compromises. They prioritize function, durability, and schedule over visual flourishes that are easy to admire but rarely pull their weight.
Where spending more pays off
Some upgrades return daily dividends. Full-height backsplash behind the range keeps grease off paint and makes cleaning a two-minute job. Under-cabinet lighting transforms prep work, allowing you to keep ceiling lights dim during late dinners. An extra-deep single-bowl sink swallows sheet pans and stock pots without a divider getting in the way. Soft-close everything is more than a party trick; it stops slamming that loosens boxes and hardware over time.
If your budget allows, integrated drawer outlets hide charging clutter, and a narrow pullout next to the range for oils and spices keeps the counter clear. These are small ergonomic wins that you notice every day.
Scheduling, phasing, and living through the work
A straightforward midrange kitchen, no walls moved, stays on a 6 to 10 week construction schedule once materials are in hand. Add several weeks for design, ordering, and permitting. The longest lead item sets your start date, usually cabinets or special-order windows. Demolition to rough-in takes a week or two. Inspections follow, then drywall, cabinet set, counters, tile, and punch list. Appliance delays are common, so have substitutes or confirm delivery windows early.
Living without a kitchen for two months is hard. If you have a basement or garage, set up a temporary station with a hot plate, microwave, and a utility sink. Label boxes and store only what you actually use. A good kitchen remodeler will tape off doorways with zipper barriers and run air scrubbers. Dust still finds its way into bookshelves. It is the nature of the work.
Local realities if you are remodeling in the Lansing area
Regional markets shape pricing and schedules. In Lansing and neighboring communities, winter slabs slow plumbing relocations and exterior venting. Plan floor work around humidity swings, and avoid installing hardwood in the coldest, driest weeks if possible. Many older Lansing homes carry mixed wiring vintages. Budget for electrical updates when moving or adding outlets, especially above counters and on peninsula ends where code requires specific spacing and protection. Inspectors in the area are reasonable but attentive to GFCI, AFCI, and ducting details. A Lansing kitchen remodeler who knows local inspectors will guide you through those checkpoints without drama.
Suppliers in the region stock reliable semi-custom cabinet lines with four to six week lead times. Stone fabricators schedule templates within a week of cabinet install and typically set counters 7 to 10 days later. If you work with a design-build firm that handles kitchen remodeling Lansing wide, ask to visit an active job to see how they manage dust, protect floors, and communicate updates. How a crew moves through someone else’s home predicts how they will treat yours.
The hidden costs homeowners forget
Disposal fees for a full kitchen can reach several hundred dollars, especially with multiple layers of old flooring and tile. Temporary storage or a portable pod adds a few hundred to a thousand if you need to clear space. If you plan to donate salvageable cabinets or appliances, coordinate early with reuse centers so demo day does not go sideways. New stools for a raised island, window coverings, outlet covers that match the new backsplash, and a water filtration faucet are small line items that add up at the end. Leave a cushion for these.
A sample budget for a 200 square foot midrange kitchen
You can adapt these numbers to your space and finish level, but they give a sense of proportion. Let’s assume a 90,000 dollar total project in a typical Lansing home with no structural changes.
- Cabinets and hardware: 26,000 Labor and site protection: 20,000 Countertops and sink: 10,000 Appliances and hood: 12,000 Electrical and lighting: 8,000 Plumbing: 5,500 Flooring: 5,000 Backsplash and tile materials: 3,000 Paint and trim: 2,000 Design, permits, inspections: 2,500 Contingency: 6,000
This is not a quote. It is a working map. If you decide on a 36 inch pro-style range and a panel-ready refrigerator, you might add 8,000 to appliances and trim 3,000 from cabinets by skipping glass uppers. If you keep your existing hardwood and refinish rather than replace, you might move 3,000 from flooring to lighting and tile. The point is to adjust with intention, not let costs slide in without discussion.
Vetting a contractor and protecting your budget
Price is one data point. Experience, process, and communication decide outcomes. Interview at least two firms with a track record in kitchen remodeling. Ask how they sequence trades, what their weekly update process looks like, who will be on site daily, and how many projects they run at once. Request references from jobs completed at least a year ago to see how the work is holding up. A competent kitchen remodeler will welcome these questions.
If you are tempted to hire a friend of a friend who “does kitchens,” insist on a detailed scope and schedule anyway. I have stepped into rescue jobs where half-finished cabinets sat while counters were ordered wrong. The cheap start turned expensive. Signed contracts, clear allowances, and documented change orders are not bureaucracy, they are your budget’s guardrails.
When a phased remodel makes sense
Not every household can vacate a kitchen or fund a full overhaul at once. Phasing can work if you set boundaries. For example, upgrade electrical and lighting now while leaving cabinets and counters intact, then tackle the cabinetry and countertops in a second phase. Or replace appliances first if yours are failing, but verify cutout dimensions and power requirements so future cabinets will fit. What does not phase well is moving plumbing or range locations later. Those changes demand wall and floor disruption twice. If you can, lock layout changes into one coordinated phase.
Resale considerations without remodeling for strangers
If you hope to sell within five years, make design choices that age well. Mid-toned wood, painted shaker in white or soft gray, quartz counters in light neutrals, and brushed hardware rarely scare buyers. Skip super-specific trends that compress buyer pools. You can add personality with stools, art, and a paint color on walls that can be changed cheaply. Appraisers will not assign dollar-for-dollar value to high-end appliances, but a clean, cohesive design and solid craftsmanship lift perceived value and speed offers.
Final thoughts from the field
Budgets succeed when they reflect how you actually live. If you cook daily, invest in the work surfaces, flow, and lighting. If you bake once a month but host often, plan for serving space and seating. A kitchen remodel is not an abstract exercise, it is a construction project with dozens of micro-decisions. Push your kitchen remodeler to price the plan you want, not a vague midpoint. Keep a live spreadsheet, track selections with model numbers, and resist the slow creep of small upgrades that bloat totals.
Kitchen remodeling can be stressful, but it also delivers the most daily joy for the money spent in a house. When the dust clears, a good kitchen feels inevitable, as if the house was waiting for it. If you are in Lansing, look for kitchen remodeling Lansing specialists who know the local housing stock. If you are elsewhere, search kitchen remodeling near me and then filter for firms that lead with process, not glamour shots. The numbers in this breakdown give you a yardstick. Use it to build the kitchen you need, at a cost you can live with.
Community Construction 2720 Alpha Access St, Lansing, MI 48910 (517) 969-3556 PF37+M4 Lansing, Michigan