Kitchen remodel cost in Tucson, AZ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,400 – $29,700
- Per sq ft
- $141 – $235
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #189
- 1 = most expensive
Tucson homeowners pay roughly $17,400 to $29,700 to remodel a kitchen at 120 sq ft, or $141 to $235 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Tucson is 6% lower. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.2).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Tucson, AZ, standard level
$21,100 to $26,000
About $170 to $207 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 18% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,100 |
| Labor | $3,850 | $4,750 |
| Permits and fees | $780 | $1,150 |
| Total | $21,100 | $26,000 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Tucson, AZ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,700 | $18,300 | $22,900 | 78% |
| Labor | $3,200 | $4,300 | $5,350 | 18% |
| Permits and fees | $480 | $970 | $1,450 | 4% |
| Total | $17,400 | $23,600 | $29,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Tucson number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.61 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Tucson is 0.86 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 18% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Tucson metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 120 sq ft comes to $18,300, compared with $19,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.9) and land at $480 to $1,450.
How Tucson compares
Same job, same size (120 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. El Centro is the priciest of the group at $26,800. Yuma is the cheapest at $23,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZthis page | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,600 | |
| Phoenix, AZ75 miles | $17,700 – $30,200 | $24,000 | +2% |
| Yuma, AZ130 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| Prescott Valley, AZ180 miles | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
| El Centro, CA215 miles | $19,900 – $33,700 | $26,800 | +14% |
| Flagstaff, AZ255 miles | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
| Arizona (statewide) | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Tucson comes in at #189 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Tucson is 1% below the Arizona figure.
Other Arizona metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $17,700 – $30,200 | $24,000 | +2% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 56,490 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Tucson's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tucson against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $18,600 – $31,600 | $25,100 | +7% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,500 | level |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
Related projects, priced for Tucson
Because every project leans on different trades, Tucson's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs −6% and home addition −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,500 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,500 | −8% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,800 – $68,600 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,650 | −6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $280 – $1,400 | −6% |
Why two Tucson quotes can differ
Counters
New countertops are $50-$150 per square foot installed; HomeGuide gives $1,500-$6,000 for an average kitchen.
Structure
Moving or removing walls can need a structural engineer at $1,900-$3,700+.
Permit
Kitchen remodel permits are $500-$1,500 and are usually based on project value.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 6 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Tucson is 0.86 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $23.61 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $28.94 an hour. BLS counts 1,380 of them working in the area, 35.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 15% of the weighting: a median of $28.60 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.34 and $35.30 an hour. About 1,340 work in the metro. That is 34.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 15%) the local median is $28.40 an hour, which is 7% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.88 and $31.05 an hour. BLS counts 1,170 of them working in the area, 30.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.30 an hour, which is 9% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $20.66 and $28.99 an hour. BLS counts 100 of them working in the area, 2.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.16 an hour, 18% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $22.18 and $27.07 an hour. About 340 work in the metro. That is 8.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $21.63 an hour, which is 9% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $20.27 and $26.66 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 15.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), 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 ($28.94 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $410. At the 25th percentile ($22.31) it shrinks by about $100. The total moves by 1.7% or 0.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 389,630 jobs in the Tucson area. That makes it the 68th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.25% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $22.31 | $23.61 | $28.94 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $22.34 | $28.60 | $35.30 | $30.38 | 0.94 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $22.88 | $28.40 | $31.05 | $30.67 | 0.93 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $20.66 | $24.30 | $28.99 | $26.77 | 0.91 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.18 | $23.16 | $27.07 | $28.33 | 0.82 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $20.27 | $21.63 | $26.66 | $23.75 | 0.91 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Tucson
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Tucson 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
$17,400 to $22,300
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,100 to $26,000
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,800 to $29,700
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,600 – $18,800 | $17,700 – $21,900 | $20,800 – $25,000 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,400 – $22,300 | $21,100 – $26,000 | $24,800 – $29,700 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,700 – $36,700 | $34,700 – $42,600 | $40,600 – $48,500 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $42,900 – $54,600 | $51,600 – $63,300 | $60,400 – $72,100 |
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Detailed kitchen remodel report for Tucson, AZ, $9
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Kitchen remodel in Tucson: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Tucson?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,400 to $29,700 in the Tucson area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,100 to $26,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Tucson?
About $141 to $235 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $480 to $1,450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Tucson or Phoenix?
Phoenix is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $24,000, which is 2% more than Tucson ($23,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tucson?
About 18% at the midpoint, or $4,300 out of $23,600. Materials are 78% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Tucson?
$28,700 to $48,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Tucson?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $480 to $1,450 for fees in the Tucson area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tucson expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Arizona?
Tucson is 1% below the Arizona statewide estimate ($23,900 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Arizona; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Tucson?
The BLS median is $23.61 an hour in the Tucson area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.31 to $28.94.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Tucson?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,400 to $22,300 and premium work $24,800 to $29,700. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Tucson
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 Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 70% of the low installed price and 85% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that professional labor is 15-30% of a kitchen remodeling budget. Cost to Renovate's mid-range kitchen split (45% labor, 50% materials) sits inside that band.