Kitchen remodel cost in Illinois
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (120 sq ft)
- $20,300 – $34,600
- Per sq ft
- $165 – $276
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $25,000
- Metros covered
- 6
Across Illinois, a kitchen remodel costs about $20,300 to $34,600 for 120 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 10% above the US figure of $25,000. Carpenters earn a median $37.98 an hour in Illinois (US: $29.12).
Inside Illinois, the metros we cover range from $24,800 (Bloomington) to $28,400 (Chicago) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Illinois (statewide), standard level
$24,600 to $30,300
About $198 to $243 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 24% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,800 | $21,700 |
| Labor | $6,050 | $7,400 |
| Permits and fees | $800 | $1,200 |
| Total | $24,600 | $30,300 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Illinois
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,800 | $19,700 | $24,700 | 72% |
| Labor | $5,050 | $6,700 | $8,400 | 24% |
| Permits and fees | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | 4% |
| Total | $20,300 | $27,500 | $34,600 | 100% |
Illinois versus the states around it
Illinois ranks 3 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. Illinois sits at $27,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 120 miles away | $18,000 – $30,700 | $24,300 | −11% |
| Indiana | 140 miles away | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | −12% |
| Michigan | 220 miles away | $18,200 – $30,900 | $24,500 | −11% |
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −15% |
| Kentucky | 280 miles away | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | −14% |
Why two Illinois 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.
Related projects, priced for Illinois
Each project weights the trades differently, so Illinois's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, home addition is +25% and window replacement +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,800 – $16,900 | +19% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,650 – $27,900 | +20% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,100 | +8% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $47,400 – $95,800 | +25% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,250 – $3,350 | +23% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $340 – $1,650 | +11% |
Basic, standard or premium: Illinois 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
$20,300 to $26,000
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$24,600 to $30,300
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$28,900 to $34,600
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $17,000 – $21,800 | $20,600 – $25,500 | $24,300 – $29,100 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $20,300 – $26,000 | $24,600 – $30,300 | $28,900 – $34,600 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $33,600 – $42,800 | $40,500 – $49,700 | $47,400 – $56,600 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $50,100 – $63,700 | $60,300 – $74,000 | $70,600 – $84,200 |
Kitchen remodel cost by metro in Illinois
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $27,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 15%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $21,000 – $35,800 | $28,400 | +3% |
| Springfield, IL | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,200 | −8% |
| Rockford, IL | $18,600 – $31,600 | $25,100 | −8% |
| Champaign, IL | $18,600 – $31,600 | $25,100 | −9% |
| Peoria, IL | $18,500 – $31,400 | $24,900 | −9% |
| Bloomington, IL | $18,300 – $31,200 | $24,800 | −10% |
Wages behind the Illinois number
Illinois'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 1.35 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $37.98 an hour, 30% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.00 and $51.42 an hour. About 19,570 work in the state. That is 32.1 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 $47.87 an hour, which is 58% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $35.35 and $56.47 an hour. BLS counts 23,120 of them working in the state, 37.9 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 $48.05 an hour, 57% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $34.65 and $57.72 an hour. About 16,750 work in the state. That is 27.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 10% of the weighting: a median of $32.29 an hour, 21% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.20 and $44.83 an hour. About 730 work in the state. That is 1.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.38 an hour, which is 7% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $24.78 and $49.27 an hour. BLS counts 740 of them working in the state, 1.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $29.45 an hour, 24% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.07 and $44.82 an hour. About 6,820 work in the state. That is 11.2 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 ($51.42 an hour) would add about $1,050 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($27.00) would take off about $840. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,098,130 jobs across Illinois (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $27.00 | $37.98 | $51.42 | $29.12 | 1.30 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $35.35 | $47.87 | $56.47 | $30.38 | 1.58 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $34.65 | $48.05 | $57.72 | $30.67 | 1.57 | state |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $23.20 | $32.29 | $44.83 | $26.77 | 1.21 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $24.78 | $30.38 | $49.27 | $28.33 | 1.07 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $23.07 | $29.45 | $44.82 | $23.75 | 1.24 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.35 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Illinois: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Illinois?
$20,300 to $34,600 for 120 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Illinois can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Illinois is cheapest for kitchen remodel?
Bloomington at about $24,800 (midpoint, 120 sq ft). The priciest is Chicago at $28,400.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Illinois than the US average?
It is 10% more expensive: $27,500 against $25,000 for 120 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Illinois?
About 24% ($6,700). Materials are 72%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.35x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Illinois?
The BLS statewide median is $37.98 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.00 to $51.42.
+Where does Illinois rank for kitchen remodel costs?
3rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $27,500 for 120 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Illinois?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $20,300 to $26,000 and premium work $28,900 to $34,600. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel by city in Illinois
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.