Kitchen remodel cost in the District of Columbia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (120 sq ft)
- $20,000 – $34,100
- Per sq ft
- $162 – $270
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $25,000
- Metros covered
- 1
District of Columbia prices for kitchen remodel: $20,000 to $34,100 for 120 sq ft, or $162 to $270 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 8% above the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $29.67 an hour.
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in District of Columbia (statewide), standard level
$24,200 to $29,900
About $195 to $238 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 21% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,200 | $22,300 |
| Labor | $5,150 | $6,250 |
| Permits and fees | $880 | $1,300 |
| Total | $24,200 | $29,900 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in District of Columbia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,200 | $20,300 | $25,300 | 75% |
| Labor | $4,250 | $5,700 | $7,100 | 21% |
| Permits and fees | $550 | $1,100 | $1,650 | 4% |
| Total | $20,000 | $27,100 | $34,100 | 100% |
District of Columbia against its neighbors
District of Columbia ranks 9 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for kitchen remodel, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $29,500 and the cheapest Arkansas at $22,500, both for 120 sq ft at the midpoint. District of Columbia sits at $27,100. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 50 miles away | $19,000 – $32,300 | $25,600 | −5% |
| Virginia | 110 miles away | $18,300 – $31,200 | $24,800 | −8% |
| Pennsylvania | 110 miles away | $18,600 – $31,600 | $25,100 | −7% |
| Delaware | 110 miles away | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | −11% |
| New Jersey | 160 miles away | $20,100 – $34,200 | $27,100 | level |
District of Columbia metro-by-metro prices
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (120 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $19,400 – $33,000 | $26,200 | −3% |
Related projects, priced for the District of Columbia
Each project weights the trades differently, so District of Columbia's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, shower pan is +20% and kitchen backsplash +4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,200 | +8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,350 – $26,500 | +14% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,050 – $16,500 | +11% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $41,700 – $84,500 | +10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,150 – $3,300 | +20% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,550 | +4% |
Why two District of Columbia quotes can differ
Scope
A full kitchen update is $15,000-$50,000, a large remodel $50,000-$70,000+, and a partial refresh $60-$150 per square foot (HomeGuide).
Cabinets
In a 10x10 kitchen, cabinets alone are $3,000-$11,000 for stock or semi-custom and up to $26,500 for fully custom.
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 carpenters and the other trades earn in the District of Columbia
District of Columbia's labor line is priced from 6 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.14 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $29.67 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.48 and $36.18 an hour. About 1,540 work in the state. That is 21.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $37.97 an hour, which is 25% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $29.44 and $58.68 an hour. BLS counts 2,440 of them working in the state, 34.8 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 $48.57 an hour, 58% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $35.88 and $55.00 an hour. About 1,010 work in the state. That is 14.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for District of Columbia, so we used the national median: $26.77 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $33.76 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for District of Columbia, so we used the national median: $28.33 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.81 and $35.69 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $28.61 an hour, 20% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.77 and $33.36 an hour. About 500 work in the state. That is 7.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($36.18 an hour) would add about $500 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($27.48) would take off about $170. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 701,920 jobs across the District of Columbia (May 2025), which is 0.5% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $27.48 | $29.67 | $36.18 | $29.12 | 1.02 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $29.44 | $37.97 | $58.68 | $30.38 | 1.25 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $35.88 | $48.57 | $55.00 | $30.67 | 1.58 | state |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $21.73 | $26.77 | $33.76 | $26.77 | 1.00 | US |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.81 | $28.33 | $35.69 | $28.33 | 1.00 | US |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $22.77 | $28.61 | $33.36 | $23.75 | 1.20 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: District of Columbia prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small kitchen (100 sq ft) to large kitchen (300 sq ft).
Basic
$20,000 to $25,600
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$24,200 to $29,900
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$28,500 to $34,100
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $16,800 – $21,500 | $20,300 – $25,100 | $23,900 – $28,700 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $20,000 – $25,600 | $24,200 – $29,900 | $28,500 – $34,100 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $33,000 – $42,100 | $39,800 – $48,900 | $46,600 – $55,700 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $49,200 – $62,600 | $59,300 – $72,700 | $69,300 – $82,800 |
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Detailed kitchen remodel report for District of Columbia, $9
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Kitchen remodel in the District of Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in the District of Columbia?
$20,000 to $34,100 for 120 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside the District of Columbia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in the District of Columbia is cheapest for kitchen remodel?
Washington at about $26,200 (midpoint, 120 sq ft).
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in the District of Columbia than the US average?
It is 8% more expensive: $27,100 against $25,000 for 120 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in the District of Columbia?
About 21% ($5,700). Materials are 75%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.14x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in the District of Columbia?
The BLS statewide median is $29.67 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.48 to $36.18.
+Where does District of Columbia rank for kitchen remodel costs?
9th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $27,100 for 120 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in the District of Columbia?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $20,000 to $25,600 and premium work $28,500 to $34,100. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel by city in the District of Columbia
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.