Kitchen remodel cost in Los Angeles, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $20,200 – $34,400
- Per sq ft
- $163 – $272
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #14
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen remodel in Los Angeles, CA usually costs $20,200 to $34,400 for 120 sq ft. That works out to about $163 to $272 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $2,300 more. Building materials run about 7% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 106.6).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Los Angeles, CA, standard level
$24,400 to $30,100
About $196 to $240 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 21% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,300 | $22,300 |
| Labor | $5,250 | $6,450 |
| Permits and fees | $910 | $1,350 |
| Total | $24,400 | $30,100 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Los Angeles, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,200 | $20,300 | $25,300 | 74% |
| Labor | $4,400 | $5,850 | $7,350 | 21% |
| Permits and fees | $570 | $1,150 | $1,700 | 4% |
| Total | $20,200 | $27,300 | $34,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Los Angeles number
Labor is 21% of the midpoint bill here, against 20% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (45%), electricians (15%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (15%), tile and stone setters (10%), drywall and ceiling tile installers (10%), painters, construction and maintenance (5%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Los Angeles the blended ratio comes out at 1.18.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Los Angeles is at 106.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $20,300 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 113.6: $570 to $1,700.
How Los Angeles compares
Same job, same size (120 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Diego is the priciest of the group at $27,600. Riverside is the cheapest at $25,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CAthis page | $20,200 – $34,400 | $27,300 | |
| Oxnard, CA55 miles | $19,700 – $33,600 | $26,600 | −2% |
| Bakersfield, CA90 miles | $19,600 – $33,400 | $26,500 | −3% |
| Santa Maria, CA110 miles | $19,800 – $33,800 | $26,800 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA110 miles | $20,400 – $34,700 | $27,600 | +1% |
| Riverside, CA120 miles | $19,100 – $32,600 | $25,800 | −5% |
| California (statewide) | $20,100 – $34,300 | $27,200 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Los Angeles ranks #14 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Los Angeles is 0% above the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $21,200 – $36,100 | $28,700 | +5% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $19,100 – $32,600 | $25,800 | −5% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $20,400 – $34,700 | $27,600 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $20,700 – $35,200 | $28,000 | +2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $19,800 – $33,800 | $26,800 | −2% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $19,400 – $33,100 | $26,300 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Los Angeles against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $20,800 – $35,500 | $28,200 | +3% |
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $21,000 – $35,800 | $28,400 | +4% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $18,400 – $31,400 | $24,900 | −9% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | −10% |
Kitchen remodel: what moves the price in Los Angeles
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.
What nearby projects cost in Los Angeles
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Los Angeles wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+15%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (+7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,750 – $16,200 | +15% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,200 – $25,700 | +11% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,950 – $16,400 | +10% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $43,600 – $88,400 | +15% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $3,050 | +9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $320 – $1,600 | +7% |
Cost by quality level and size in Los Angeles
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Los Angeles. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (100 sq ft) to large kitchen (300 sq ft).
Basic
$20,200 to $25,900
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$24,400 to $30,100
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$28,700 to $34,400
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $16,900 – $21,700 | $20,500 – $25,300 | $24,100 – $28,900 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $20,200 – $25,900 | $24,400 – $30,100 | $28,700 – $34,400 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $33,200 – $42,400 | $40,100 – $49,300 | $47,000 – $56,200 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $49,600 – $63,100 | $59,700 – $73,200 | $69,900 – $83,400 |
What local crews earn in Los Angeles
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 6 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Los Angeles the blend is 1.18.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $36.41 an hour, 25% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.59 and $48.37 an hour. About 30,600 work in the metro. That is 48.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $35.49 an hour, which is 17% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $28.29 and $49.01 an hour. BLS counts 20,610 of them working in the area, 32.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 15% of the weighting: a median of $34.19 an hour, 11% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.15 and $48.70 an hour. About 15,690 work in the metro. That is 25.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.18 an hour, 5% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.27 and $35.52 an hour. About 2,170 work in the metro. That is 3.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.19 an hour, which is 7% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $23.40 and $38.77 an hour. BLS counts 7,710 of them working in the area, 12.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $28.41 an hour, 20% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.85 and $33.00 an hour. About 12,100 work in the metro. That is 19.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $920 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $600. That is a swing of roughly 2.2% to 3.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has 6,271,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 2nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $28.59 | $36.41 | $48.37 | $29.12 | 1.25 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $28.29 | $35.49 | $49.01 | $30.38 | 1.17 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $28.15 | $34.19 | $48.70 | $30.67 | 1.11 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $23.27 | $28.18 | $35.52 | $26.77 | 1.05 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.40 | $30.19 | $38.77 | $28.33 | 1.07 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $22.85 | $28.41 | $33.00 | $23.75 | 1.20 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Los Angeles: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Los Angeles?
For 120 sq ft, expect $20,200 to $34,400 in the Los Angeles area. A standard-spec job lands at $24,400 to $30,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Los Angeles?
About $163 to $272 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $570 to $1,700 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Los Angeles or Oxnard?
Oxnard is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $26,600, which is 2% less than Los Angeles ($27,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Los Angeles?
About 21% at the midpoint, or $5,850 out of $27,300. Materials are 74% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Los Angeles?
$33,200 to $56,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Los Angeles?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $570 to $1,700 for fees in the Los Angeles area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Los Angeles expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of California?
Los Angeles is 0% above the California statewide estimate ($27,200 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Los Angeles?
The BLS median is $36.41 an hour in the Los Angeles area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.59 to $48.37.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Los Angeles?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $20,200 to $25,900 and premium work $28,700 to $34,400. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Los Angeles
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.