Kitchen remodel cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,500 – $29,800
- Per sq ft
- $142 – $236
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #167
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen remodel in the Durham area: $17,500 to $29,800 for 120 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 5% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, 15% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Durham, NC, standard level
$21,200 to $26,100
About $170 to $208 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 18% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,200 |
| Labor | $3,900 | $4,750 |
| Permits and fees | $780 | $1,150 |
| Total | $21,200 | $26,100 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,800 | $18,400 | $23,000 | 78% |
| Labor | $3,250 | $4,350 | $5,400 | 18% |
| Permits and fees | $490 | $980 | $1,450 | 4% |
| Total | $17,500 | $23,700 | $29,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Durham number
Labor is 18% 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 Durham the blended ratio comes out at 0.87.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Durham is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $18,400 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.6: $490 to $1,450.
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 Durham. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Durham cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Durham. Fayetteville is the lowest at about $23,300 (midpoint, 120 sq ft), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | level |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | −2% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Durham ranks #167 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Durham is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | level |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $18,900 – $32,100 | $25,500 | +8% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $16,700 – $28,400 | $22,500 | −5% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $16,600 – $28,300 | $22,500 | −5% |
Cost by quality level and size in Durham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Durham. 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
$17,500 to $22,400
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,200 to $26,100
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,900 to $29,800
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,700 – $18,900 | $17,800 – $22,000 | $20,900 – $25,100 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,500 – $22,400 | $21,200 – $26,100 | $24,900 – $29,800 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,900 – $36,800 | $34,800 – $42,800 | $40,800 – $48,800 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,100 – $54,800 | $51,900 – $63,600 | $60,700 – $72,400 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Durham bid
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+.
Related projects, priced for Durham
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Durham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (−6%) and home addition lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,800 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −8% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,900 – $68,800 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Who does the work: Durham trade wages
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 Durham the blend is 0.87.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $24.78 an hour, 15% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.40 and $29.03 an hour. About 520 work in the metro. That is 15.1 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 $28.47 an hour, which is 6% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.95 and $30.77 an hour. BLS counts 1,160 of them working in the area, 33.7 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 $28.90 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.25 and $31.27 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 18.0 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 Durham metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.47 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $24.36 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Durham metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.67 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.43 and $24.29 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $22.37 an hour, 6% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $18.56 and $24.01 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 7.6 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 $330 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $260. That is a swing of roughly 1.1% to 1.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Durham-Chapel Hill has 344,020 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 74th 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% | $21.40 | $24.78 | $29.03 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $23.95 | $28.47 | $30.77 | $30.38 | 0.94 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $23.25 | $28.90 | $31.27 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $17.43 | $21.67 | $24.29 | $28.33 | 0.76 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $18.56 | $22.37 | $24.01 | $23.75 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Durham?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,500 to $29,800 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,200 to $26,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Durham?
About $142 to $236 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $490 to $1,450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,400, which is 1% less than Durham ($23,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 18% at the midpoint, or $4,350 out of $23,700. Materials are 78% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Durham?
$28,900 to $48,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Durham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $490 to $1,450 for fees in the Durham area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($23,500 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Durham?
The BLS median is $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.40 to $29.03.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Durham?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,500 to $22,400 and premium work $24,900 to $29,800. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Durham
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.