HomeCostGuideHigh-End Kitchen Remodel Cost
Written and reviewed by the HomeCostGuide editorial team
Quick answer
$35k–$48kcustom cabinetry or layout change
A high-end kitchen remodel with custom cabinetry, premium stone countertops, or a layout change typically runs $35,000–$48,000, and can exceed that range once walls, plumbing, or gas lines move. This tier replaces cabinet boxes entirely rather than refacing them, upgrades to a full premium appliance suite, and often reconfigures the room's footprint. It delivers the most dramatic visual transformation of any kitchen remodel tier, but it's also the one where cost most consistently outpaces what buyers will pay extra for — a fact worth weighing if resale value is part of the decision.
How this differs from a full kitchen remodel
This page covers full cabinet replacement, custom cabinetry, premium stone, and layout changes — the top tier of the parent kitchen remodel guide's own cost-by-size breakdown. For a cosmetic refresh that keeps the existing layout and cabinet boxes, see the small kitchen remodel cost page instead.
Customize this estimate
Use the Flooring Calculator with your own measurements.
What's typically included
Included at this scope
- Full cabinet replacement or custom cabinetry
- Premium stone countertops
- Moving walls, plumbing, or gas lines
- Full premium appliance suite
Not included (see the full guide)
- Cabinet refacing without replacement (see the small kitchen remodel cost page)
- Like-for-like appliance swaps
- Cosmetic-only updates
What affects the price
- Custom cabinetry lead time and cost
- Fully custom cabinets cost significantly more than semi-custom or stock, and typically add weeks to the project timeline before installation even starts.
- Structural and utility changes
- Moving a load-bearing wall, sink, or gas line adds engineering, permitting, and labor cost well beyond a like-for-like layout.
- Premium appliance suite
- A professional-grade range, built-in refrigeration, and matching ventilation can add tens of thousands on their own at this tier.
Frequently asked questions
Does a high-end kitchen remodel pay for itself at resale?+
Not fully, in most markets. Zonda's Cost vs. Value report puts major, high-end kitchen remodels at roughly 35–45% cost recouped at resale, well below the 90–110%+ recouped by a minor refresh — the added cost outpaces what most buyers will pay extra for finishes alone.
What drives the cost above $48,000?+
Moving walls, plumbing, or gas lines; fully custom (versus semi-custom) cabinetry; and a premium built-in appliance suite are the three factors most likely to push a high-end remodel above this guide's baseline range.
Full guide
Cost ranges on this page are a narrower cut of our full Kitchen Remodel Cost guide, which covers labor share, regional adjustment, resale value, financing, and sourcing in full. See it for the complete breakdown this page’s figures are drawn from.