Kitchen remodel cost in Boston, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $19,600 – $33,400
- Per sq ft
- $159 – $265
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #37
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a kitchen in Boston, plan on $19,600 to $33,400 for 120 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $159 to $265 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $36.16 an hour in the Boston area, 24% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Boston, MA, standard level
$23,800 to $29,300
About $191 to $233 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 24% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,100 | $20,800 |
| Labor | $5,850 | $7,100 |
| Permits and fees | $870 | $1,300 |
| Total | $23,800 | $29,300 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Boston, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,200 | $19,000 | $23,700 | 71% |
| Labor | $4,850 | $6,500 | $8,100 | 24% |
| Permits and fees | $540 | $1,100 | $1,600 | 4% |
| Total | $19,600 | $26,500 | $33,400 | 100% |
Why Boston prices look the way they do
Labor is 24% 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 Boston the blended ratio comes out at 1.30.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boston metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 120 sq ft comes to $19,000, compared with $19,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (108.3) and land at $540 to $1,600.
Data note: 10% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Boston. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Boston cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 120 sq ft range from $24,700 to $26,500 across Boston and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MAthis page | $19,600 – $33,400 | $26,500 | |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $18,300 – $31,100 | $24,700 | −7% |
| Worcester, MA50 miles | $18,900 – $32,100 | $25,500 | −4% |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $18,300 – $31,200 | $24,800 | −7% |
| Barnstable, MA70 miles | $18,800 – $32,000 | $25,400 | −4% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $18,400 – $31,400 | $24,900 | −6% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $19,400 – $33,100 | $26,300 | −1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, Boston comes in at #37 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Boston is 1% above the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $18,900 – $32,100 | $25,500 | −4% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $19,000 – $32,300 | $25,600 | −3% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $18,800 – $32,000 | $25,400 | −4% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $18,800 – $31,900 | $25,300 | −4% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Boston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $18,600 – $31,800 | $25,200 | −5% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $17,700 – $30,200 | $24,000 | −10% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $18,200 – $30,900 | $24,500 | −7% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $21,200 – $36,100 | $28,700 | +8% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing in Boston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boston 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
$19,600 to $25,100
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$23,800 to $29,300
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$27,900 to $33,400
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $16,400 – $21,100 | $19,900 – $24,600 | $23,400 – $28,100 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $19,600 – $25,100 | $23,800 – $29,300 | $27,900 – $33,400 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $32,300 – $41,200 | $39,000 – $47,900 | $45,700 – $54,600 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $48,200 – $61,400 | $58,100 – $71,200 | $67,900 – $81,100 |
Planning more than one job in Boston?
Because every project leans on different trades, Boston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +29% and kitchen cabinets +14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $16,100 | +14% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,600 – $27,800 | +19% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,350 – $17,100 | +15% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $44,300 – $89,700 | +16% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,300 – $3,500 | +29% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $370 – $1,750 | +19% |
Boston 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 Boston is 1.30 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $36.16 an hour, which is 24% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.26 and $47.47 an hour. BLS counts 12,720 of them working in the area, 47.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Electricians (47-2111), 15% of the weighting: a median of $38.42 an hour, 26% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $28.03 and $49.11 an hour. About 13,410 work in the metro. That is 49.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 15%) the local median is $46.52 an hour, which is 52% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $30.12 and $56.68 an hour. BLS counts 9,200 of them working in the area, 34.0 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 $39.54 an hour, which is 48% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $37.62 and $46.13 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Boston metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $33.42 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.51 and $38.60 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $27.80 an hour, which is 17% above the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.30 and $33.92 an hour. BLS counts 3,220 of them working in the area, 11.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($47.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $870. At the 25th percentile ($29.26) it shrinks by about $530. The total moves by 3.3% or 2.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,703,890 jobs in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area. That makes it the 10th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.74% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $29.26 | $36.16 | $47.47 | $29.12 | 1.24 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $28.03 | $38.42 | $49.11 | $30.38 | 1.26 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $30.12 | $46.52 | $56.68 | $30.67 | 1.52 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $37.62 | $39.54 | $46.13 | $26.77 | 1.48 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $29.51 | $33.42 | $38.60 | $28.33 | 1.18 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $23.30 | $27.80 | $33.92 | $23.75 | 1.17 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.30 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Boston bid
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.
Get 3 local quotes
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Kitchen remodel in Boston: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Boston?
For 120 sq ft, expect $19,600 to $33,400 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $23,800 to $29,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Boston?
About $159 to $265 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $540 to $1,600 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Boston or Manchester?
Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $24,700, which is 7% less than Boston ($26,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?
About 24% at the midpoint, or $6,500 out of $26,500. Materials are 71% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Boston?
$32,300 to $54,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Boston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $540 to $1,600 for fees in the Boston area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boston expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Boston is 1% above the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($26,300 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Boston?
The BLS median is $36.16 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.26 to $47.47.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Boston?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $19,600 to $25,100 and premium work $27,900 to $33,400. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Boston
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.