Kitchen remodel cost in Raleigh, 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
- #171
- 1 = most expensive
Raleigh homeowners pay roughly $17,500 to $29,800 to remodel a kitchen at 120 sq ft, or $142 to $236 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Raleigh is 5% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.43 an hour in the Raleigh area, 16% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Raleigh, 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 | $3,850 | $4,700 |
| Permits and fees | $790 | $1,200 |
| Total | $21,200 | $26,100 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Raleigh, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,800 | $18,400 | $23,000 | 78% |
| Labor | $3,200 | $4,300 | $5,350 | 18% |
| Permits and fees | $490 | $980 | $1,450 | 4% |
| Total | $17,500 | $23,600 | $29,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Raleigh number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: carpenters at 45%, electricians at 15%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 15%, tile and stone setters at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, painters, construction and maintenance at 5%. Weighted together, Raleigh wages are 0.86 times the national level. Labor makes up about 18% of the midpoint estimate (20% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Raleigh metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 120 sq ft comes to $18,400, compared with $19,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.2) and land at $490 to $1,450.
How Raleigh compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Raleigh. Greenville is the lowest at about $23,300 (midpoint, 120 sq ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NCthis page | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | |
| Durham, NC40 miles | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | level |
| Burlington, NC55 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Fayetteville, NC60 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | −1% |
| Greenville, NC60 miles | $17,200 – $29,300 | $23,300 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC75 miles | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Raleigh comes in at #171 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Raleigh is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | level |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | 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 |
Cities with a workforce like Raleigh's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Raleigh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | +1% |
| Providence, RI | 714,120 jobs | $18,300 – $31,200 | $24,800 | +5% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,600 | level |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $17,800 – $30,200 | $24,000 | +2% |
Related projects, priced for Raleigh
Because every project leans on different trades, Raleigh's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −7% and home addition −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,700 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,100 | −7% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,900 – $68,900 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −8% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Kitchen remodel: what moves the price in Raleigh
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.
Raleigh: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Raleigh 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
$17,500 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 – $18,800 | $17,800 – $21,900 | $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) | $28,800 – $36,800 | $34,800 – $42,700 | $40,700 – $48,700 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,000 – $54,700 | $51,800 – $63,500 | $60,600 – $72,300 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Raleigh is 0.86 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $24.43 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.31 and $29.01 an hour. BLS counts 2,680 of them working in the area, 36.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 15% of the weighting: a median of $27.31 an hour, 10% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.44 and $29.72 an hour. About 3,740 work in the metro. That is 50.3 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 $29.10 an hour, which is 5% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.26 and $33.66 an hour. BLS counts 2,810 of them working in the area, 37.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.57 an hour, which is 19% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.30 and $24.04 an hour. BLS counts 130 of them working in the area, 1.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.07 an hour, 22% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $17.43 and $22.85 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 4.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $21.81 an hour, which is 8% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $18.16 and $23.89 an hour. BLS counts 810 of them working in the area, 10.9 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 ($29.01 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $350. At the 25th percentile ($21.31) it shrinks by about $240. The total moves by 1.5% or 1.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 743,120 jobs in the Raleigh-Cary area. That makes it the 41st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.48% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $21.31 | $24.43 | $29.01 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $23.44 | $27.31 | $29.72 | $30.38 | 0.90 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $23.26 | $29.10 | $33.66 | $30.67 | 0.95 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $19.30 | $21.57 | $24.04 | $26.77 | 0.81 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $17.43 | $22.07 | $22.85 | $28.33 | 0.78 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $18.16 | $21.81 | $23.89 | $23.75 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Raleigh: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Raleigh?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,500 to $29,800 in the Raleigh 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 Raleigh?
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 Raleigh or Durham?
Durham is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,700, which is 0% more than Raleigh ($23,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Raleigh?
About 18% at the midpoint, or $4,300 out of $23,600. Materials are 78% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Raleigh?
$28,800 to $48,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Raleigh expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Raleigh 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 Raleigh?
The BLS median is $24.43 an hour in the Raleigh area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.31 to $29.01.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh
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.