Kitchen remodel cost in Trenton, NJ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $19,100 – $32,500
- Per sq ft
- $155 – $258
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #46
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen remodel in Trenton, NJ usually costs $19,100 to $32,500 for 120 sq ft. That works out to about $155 to $258 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $810 more. Carpenters earn a median of $31.58 an hour in the Trenton area, 8% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Trenton, NJ, standard level
$23,100 to $28,500
About $186 to $227 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 22% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,100 | $20,900 |
| Labor | $5,200 | $6,400 |
| Permits and fees | $830 | $1,250 |
| Total | $23,100 | $28,500 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Trenton, NJ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $14,200 | $19,000 | $23,700 | 74% |
| Labor | $4,350 | $5,800 | $7,250 | 22% |
| Permits and fees | $520 | $1,050 | $1,550 | 4% |
| Total | $19,100 | $25,800 | $32,500 | 100% |
Where the Trenton price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $31.58 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Trenton is 1.16 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 22% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Trenton is at 99.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $19,000 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.2: $520 to $1,550.
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 Trenton. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Trenton quotes can differ
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.
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).
Planning more than one job in Trenton?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Trenton wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, home addition comes out highest (+12%) and window replacement lowest (+3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $15,100 | +7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,300 | +9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,650 – $15,400 | +3% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $42,700 – $86,300 | +12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,050 | +9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $320 – $1,550 | +5% |
Trenton against nearby metros and the rest of New Jersey
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Trenton. Philadelphia is the lowest at about $24,900 (midpoint, 120 sq ft), 40 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJthis page | $19,100 – $32,500 | $25,800 | |
| Philadelphia, PA40 miles | $18,400 – $31,400 | $24,900 | −3% |
| Allentown, PA50 miles | $18,600 – $31,600 | $25,100 | −3% |
| New York, NY55 miles | $20,800 – $35,500 | $28,200 | +9% |
| Reading, PA65 miles | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,200 | −2% |
| Atlantic City, NJ70 miles | $18,700 – $31,800 | $25,200 | −2% |
| New Jersey (statewide) | $20,100 – $34,200 | $27,100 | +5% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Trenton ranks #46 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Trenton is 5% below the New Jersey figure.
Elsewhere in New Jersey
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City, NJ | 168,700 jobs | $18,700 – $31,800 | $25,200 | −2% |
| Vineland, NJ | 62,300 jobs | $18,900 – $32,200 | $25,500 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Trenton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,500 | −9% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | −7% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | −3% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $17,700 – $30,200 | $23,900 | −7% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing in Trenton
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Trenton. 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
$19,100 to $24,500
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$23,100 to $28,500
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$27,200 to $32,500
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $16,000 – $20,500 | $19,400 – $24,000 | $22,800 – $27,400 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $19,100 – $24,500 | $23,100 – $28,500 | $27,200 – $32,500 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $31,500 – $40,200 | $38,000 – $46,700 | $44,500 – $53,200 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $47,000 – $59,800 | $56,600 – $69,400 | $66,200 – $79,000 |
What local crews earn in Trenton
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 Trenton the blend is 1.16.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $31.58 an hour, 8% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.60 and $51.38 an hour. About 610 work in the metro. That is 25.4 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 $47.21 an hour, which is 55% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $30.21 and $59.33 an hour. BLS counts 600 of them working in the area, 25.0 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 $36.71 an hour, 20% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.93 and $51.14 an hour. About 280 work in the metro. That is 11.7 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 the Trenton metro, so we used the New Jersey statewide median: $29.99 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $46.73 an hour.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $25.87 an hour, which is 9% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $24.04 and $48.27 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 1.7 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 $28.66 an hour, 21% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $24.30 and $39.87 an hour. About 150 work in the metro. That is 6.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,500 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $460. That is a swing of roughly 1.8% to 5.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Trenton-Princeton has 240,190 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 105th 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% | $25.60 | $31.58 | $51.38 | $29.12 | 1.08 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $30.21 | $47.21 | $59.33 | $30.38 | 1.55 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $28.93 | $36.71 | $51.14 | $30.67 | 1.20 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $22.31 | $29.99 | $46.73 | $26.77 | 1.12 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $24.04 | $25.87 | $48.27 | $28.33 | 0.91 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $24.30 | $28.66 | $39.87 | $23.75 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Trenton: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Trenton?
For 120 sq ft, expect $19,100 to $32,500 in the Trenton area. A standard-spec job lands at $23,100 to $28,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Trenton?
About $155 to $258 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $520 to $1,550 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Trenton or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $24,900, which is 3% less than Trenton ($25,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Trenton?
About 22% at the midpoint, or $5,800 out of $25,800. Materials are 74% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Trenton?
$31,500 to $53,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Trenton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $520 to $1,550 for fees in the Trenton area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Trenton expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of New Jersey?
Trenton is 5% below the New Jersey statewide estimate ($27,100 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Jersey; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Trenton?
The BLS median is $31.58 an hour in the Trenton area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.60 to $51.38.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Trenton?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $19,100 to $24,500 and premium work $27,200 to $32,500. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Trenton
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.