Kitchen cabinets cost in San Jose, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $4,900 – $17,200
- Per linear ft
- $174 – $622
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +21%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #5
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace kitchen cabinets in San Jose, plan on $4,900 to $17,200 for 25 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $174 to $622 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 21% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $38.55 an hour in the San Jose area, 32% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in San Jose, CA, standard level
$8,600 to $13,500
About $308 to $487 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,400 | $4,450 |
| Labor | $4,300 | $7,700 |
| Permits and fees | $880 | $1,350 |
| Total | $8,600 | $13,500 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in San Jose, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $3,950 | $5,250 | 36% |
| Labor | $1,700 | $6,000 | $10,300 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $550 | $1,100 | $1,650 | 10% |
| Total | $4,900 | $11,000 | $17,200 | 100% |
What is behind the San Jose number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: carpenters at 80%, electricians at 10%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 10%. Weighted together, San Jose wages are 1.37 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (48% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Jose metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 25 linear ft comes to $3,950, compared with $3,750 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (110.4) and land at $550 to $1,650.
Kitchen cabinets: what moves the price in San Jose
Stock, semi-custom or custom
Stock cabinets run $100-$400 per linear foot installed, semi-custom $150-$700, and custom $500-$1,200 (HomeGuide).
Layout changes
Keeping the plumbing and wiring where it is saves real money. Moving them brings in plumbers and electricians.
Removal
Taking out the old cabinets is $300-$600, though many installers fold it into their labor price.
San Jose labor market for kitchen cabinets
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for San Jose is 1.37 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $38.55 an hour, which is 32% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.23 and $49.38 an hour. BLS counts 4,460 of them working in the area, 39.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $43.77 an hour, 44% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $30.49 and $61.79 an hour. About 5,480 work in the metro. That is 48.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $51.71 an hour, which is 69% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $36.56 and $74.81 an hour. BLS counts 3,830 of them working in the area, 33.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($49.38 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,300. At the 25th percentile ($30.23) it shrinks by about $1,000. The total moves by 11.8% or 9.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,134,970 jobs in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area. That makes it the 27th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.73% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $30.23 | $38.55 | $49.38 | $29.12 | 1.32 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $30.49 | $43.77 | $61.79 | $30.38 | 1.44 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $36.56 | $51.71 | $74.81 | $30.67 | 1.69 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.37 | |||||
Related projects, priced for San Jose
Because every project leans on different trades, San Jose's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +26% and kitchen backsplash +9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,700 – $35,200 | +12% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $410 – $1,100 | +16% |
| Front door | 1 door | $610 – $2,750 | +12% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,750 – $28,500 | +22% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,250 – $3,450 | +26% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,650 | +9% |
San Jose against nearby metros and the rest of California
Same job, same size (25 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group. Salinas is the cheapest at $9,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CAthis page | $4,900 – $17,200 | $11,000 | |
| Santa Cruz, CA35 miles | $4,750 – $16,300 | $10,500 | −5% |
| Merced, CA40 miles | $4,600 – $15,700 | $10,200 | −8% |
| Salinas, CA45 miles | $4,550 – $15,300 | $9,900 | −10% |
| Modesto, CA50 miles | $4,650 – $15,800 | $10,200 | −8% |
| Stockton, CA70 miles | $4,550 – $15,300 | $9,950 | −10% |
| California (statewide) | $4,750 – $16,200 | $10,500 | −5% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | −17% |
Across 300 US metros, San Jose comes in at #5 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $12,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,050 (midpoints, 25 linear ft). Statewide, San Jose is 5% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $4,750 – $16,200 | $10,500 | −5% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $5,100 – $18,000 | $11,600 | +5% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,500 – $15,300 | $9,900 | −10% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $4,750 – $16,100 | $10,400 | −6% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $4,650 – $15,900 | $10,300 | −7% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $4,450 – $14,700 | $9,550 | −13% |
Cities with a workforce like San Jose's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Jose against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $4,200 – $14,000 | $9,100 | −17% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $3,850 – $12,300 | $8,100 | −27% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $4,800 – $16,600 | $10,700 | −3% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | −17% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen cabinets pricing in San Jose
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for San Jose wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,900 to $9,800
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$8,600 to $13,500
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$12,300 to $17,200
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $3,150 – $6,300 | $5,500 – $8,650 | $7,850 – $11,000 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $4,050 – $8,050 | $7,050 – $11,100 | $10,100 – $14,100 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $4,900 – $9,800 | $8,600 – $13,500 | $12,300 – $17,200 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $7,500 – $15,100 | $13,200 – $20,800 | $18,900 – $26,500 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Multi-page report for San Jose, CA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen cabinets in San Jose: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in San Jose?
For 25 linear ft, expect $4,900 to $17,200 in the San Jose area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,600 to $13,500. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in San Jose?
About $174 to $622 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $550 to $1,650 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $500.
+Is kitchen cabinets cheaper in San Jose or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $10,500, which is 5% less than San Jose ($11,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Jose?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $6,000 out of $11,000. Materials are 36% and permits 10%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in San Jose?
$4,900 to $17,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in San Jose?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $550 to $1,650 for fees in the San Jose area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Jose expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of California?
San Jose is 5% above the California statewide estimate ($10,500 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in San Jose?
The BLS median is $38.55 an hour in the San Jose area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.23 to $49.38.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in San Jose?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $4,900 to $9,800 and premium work $12,300 to $17,200. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets near San Jose
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Do Kitchen Cabinets Cost? (2026 Prices) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Cabinet Installation Cost? (New 2026 Prices) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's labor figure of $50-$300 per linear foot, matched low-to-low and high-to-high. Treat the split as a rough guide: labor swings with the cabinet type.