Kitchen remodel cost in Cleveland, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,600 – $30,000
- Per sq ft
- $143 – $238
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #158
- 1 = most expensive
Cleveland homeowners pay roughly $17,600 to $30,000 to remodel a kitchen at 120 sq ft, or $143 to $238 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Cleveland is 5% lower. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.6).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Cleveland, OH, standard level
$21,300 to $26,300
About $171 to $210 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 21% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $4,550 | $5,550 |
| Permits and fees | $750 | $1,150 |
| Total | $21,300 | $26,300 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Cleveland, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,400 | $17,800 | $22,300 | 75% |
| Labor | $3,800 | $5,050 | $6,300 | 21% |
| Permits and fees | $470 | $940 | $1,400 | 4% |
| Total | $17,600 | $23,800 | $30,000 | 100% |
Why Cleveland prices look the way they do
Labor is 21% 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 Cleveland the blended ratio comes out at 1.01.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Cleveland metro is 93.6 (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 (93.9) and land at $470 to $1,400.
Cost by quality level and size in Cleveland
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Cleveland 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
$17,600 to $22,600
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,300 to $26,300
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,000 to $30,000
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,800 – $18,900 | $17,900 – $22,100 | $21,000 – $25,200 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,600 – $22,600 | $21,300 – $26,300 | $25,000 – $30,000 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,000 – $37,000 | $35,000 – $43,000 | $41,000 – $49,000 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,300 – $55,100 | $52,200 – $64,000 | $61,000 – $72,800 |
Kitchen remodel: what moves the price in Cleveland
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.
Cleveland against nearby metros and the rest of Ohio
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Cleveland. Youngstown is the lowest at about $23,300 (midpoint, 120 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OHthis page | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | |
| Akron, OH35 miles | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
| Youngstown, OH45 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | −2% |
| Canton, OH65 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
| Erie, PA75 miles | $18,600 – $31,600 | $25,100 | +5% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 miles | $18,800 – $31,900 | $25,400 | +7% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Cleveland comes in at #158 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Cleveland is 0% above the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $17,700 – $30,200 | $24,000 | +1% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | −1% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −1% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | level |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Cleveland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cleveland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $19,800 – $33,800 | $26,800 | +13% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | +2% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $17,800 – $30,300 | $24,100 | +1% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | +3% |
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 Cleveland is 1.01 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $29.16 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $38.03 an hour. BLS counts 3,280 of them working in the area, 31.8 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 $34.07 an hour, 12% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.21 and $41.47 an hour. About 4,420 work in the metro. That is 42.9 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 $30.30 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.28 and $39.94 an hour. BLS counts 3,040 of them working in the area, 29.5 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 $23.99 an hour, which is 10% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.74 and $29.98 an hour. BLS counts 150 of them working in the area, 1.5 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 $30.36 an hour, 7% above the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $23.34 and $34.50 an hour. About 230 work in the metro. That is 2.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $23.84 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.21 and $31.68 an hour. BLS counts 1,110 of them working in the area, 10.8 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 ($38.03 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $680. At the 25th percentile ($24.22) it shrinks by about $380. The total moves by 2.9% or 1.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,031,130 jobs in the Cleveland area. That makes it the 36th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.66% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $24.22 | $29.16 | $38.03 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $24.21 | $34.07 | $41.47 | $30.38 | 1.12 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $24.28 | $30.30 | $39.94 | $30.67 | 0.99 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $21.74 | $23.99 | $29.98 | $26.77 | 0.90 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.34 | $30.36 | $34.50 | $28.33 | 1.07 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $21.21 | $23.84 | $31.68 | $23.75 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Cleveland
Because every project leans on different trades, Cleveland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, home addition runs level and kitchen backsplash −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,700 | −3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,550 – $22,500 | −3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,400 | −4% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $38,100 – $77,100 | level |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $880 – $2,650 | −6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $280 – $1,400 | −8% |
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Kitchen remodel in Cleveland: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Cleveland?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,600 to $30,000 in the Cleveland area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,300 to $26,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Cleveland?
About $143 to $238 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $470 to $1,400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Cleveland or Akron?
Akron is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,900, which is 1% more than Cleveland ($23,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cleveland?
About 21% at the midpoint, or $5,050 out of $23,800. Materials are 75% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Cleveland?
$29,000 to $49,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Cleveland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $470 to $1,400 for fees in the Cleveland area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cleveland expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cleveland is 0% above the Ohio statewide estimate ($23,700 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Cleveland?
The BLS median is $29.16 an hour in the Cleveland area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.22 to $38.03.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Cleveland?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,600 to $22,600 and premium work $25,000 to $30,000. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Cleveland
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.