Kitchen remodel cost in Lake Charles, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,000 – $28,900
- Per sq ft
- $138 – $230
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #274
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a kitchen in Lake Charles, plan on $17,000 to $28,900 for 120 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $138 to $230 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Lake Charles, LA, standard level
$20,600 to $25,300
About $166 to $203 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 19% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $3,850 | $4,700 |
| Permits and fees | $690 | $1,050 |
| Total | $20,600 | $25,300 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Lake Charles, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,400 | $17,800 | $22,300 | 78% |
| Labor | $3,200 | $4,300 | $5,350 | 19% |
| Permits and fees | $430 | $860 | $1,300 | 4% |
| Total | $17,000 | $23,000 | $28,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Lake Charles number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.08 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Lake Charles is 0.86 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 19% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lake Charles metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 120 sq ft comes to $17,800, compared with $19,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.9) and land at $430 to $1,300.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Lake Charles. The wage table below marks each row.
Lake Charles labor market for kitchen remodel
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 Lake Charles is 0.86 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $22.08 an hour, which is 24% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $16.13 and $28.48 an hour. BLS counts 630 of them working in the area, 62.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 15% of the weighting: a median of $30.59 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.38 and $34.83 an hour. About 590 work in the metro. That is 58.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 15%) the local median is $32.69 an hour, which is 7% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.59 and $35.49 an hour. BLS counts 560 of them working in the area, 55.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Lake Charles metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $21.52 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.96 and $22.99 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Lake Charles metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $22.80 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $16.01 and $29.20 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $22.50 an hour, which is 5% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $20.71 and $22.92 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 52.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.48 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $490. At the 25th percentile ($16.13) it shrinks by about $460. The total moves by 2.1% or 2.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 101,690 jobs in the Lake Charles area. That makes it the 202nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $16.13 | $22.08 | $28.48 | $29.12 | 0.76 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $23.38 | $30.59 | $34.83 | $30.38 | 1.01 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $28.59 | $32.69 | $35.49 | $30.67 | 1.07 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $18.96 | $21.52 | $22.99 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $16.01 | $22.80 | $29.20 | $28.33 | 0.80 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $20.71 | $22.50 | $22.92 | $23.75 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Lake Charles?
Because every project leans on different trades, Lake Charles's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs −8% and kitchen cabinets −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,800 – $12,100 | −13% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,050 – $13,600 | −10% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,100 – $67,100 | −13% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,600 | −8% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,300 | −12% |
Why two Lake Charles 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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing in Lake Charles
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lake Charles 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
$17,000 to $21,800
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$20,600 to $25,300
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,200 to $28,900
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,200 – $18,300 | $17,300 – $21,300 | $20,300 – $24,300 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,000 – $21,800 | $20,600 – $25,300 | $24,200 – $28,900 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,100 – $35,800 | $33,800 – $41,600 | $39,600 – $47,300 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $41,900 – $53,300 | $50,400 – $61,800 | $59,000 – $70,400 |
Is Lake Charles cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Lake Charles. Alexandria is the lowest at about $22,700 (midpoint, 120 sq ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LAthis page | $17,000 – $28,900 | $23,000 | |
| Beaumont, TX60 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | +2% |
| Lafayette, LA65 miles | $16,900 – $28,700 | $22,800 | −1% |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $16,800 – $28,600 | $22,700 | −1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | +2% |
| Houston, TX130 miles | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | +6% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $17,100 – $29,000 | $23,100 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Lake Charles comes in at #274 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Lake Charles is 0% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $17,100 – $29,100 | $23,100 | +1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | +2% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $16,900 – $28,700 | $22,800 | −1% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $16,900 – $28,800 | $22,800 | −1% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $17,000 – $28,900 | $22,900 | level |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $16,900 – $28,700 | $22,800 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Lake Charles's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lake Charles against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $17,700 – $30,200 | $24,000 | +4% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,200 | +10% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | +2% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 98,500 jobs | $20,100 – $34,200 | $27,200 | +18% |
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Kitchen remodel in Lake Charles: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Lake Charles?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,000 to $28,900 in the Lake Charles area. A standard-spec job lands at $20,600 to $25,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Lake Charles?
About $138 to $230 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $430 to $1,300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Lake Charles or Beaumont?
Beaumont is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,400, which is 2% more than Lake Charles ($23,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lake Charles?
About 19% at the midpoint, or $4,300 out of $23,000. Materials are 78% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Lake Charles?
$28,100 to $47,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Lake Charles?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $430 to $1,300 for fees in the Lake Charles area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lake Charles expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Lake Charles is 0% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($23,100 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Lake Charles?
The BLS median is $22.08 an hour in the Lake Charles area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.13 to $28.48.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Lake Charles?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,000 to $21,800 and premium work $24,200 to $28,900. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Lake Charles
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.