Kitchen remodel cost in Columbus, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,700 – $30,200
- Per sq ft
- $144 – $240
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #139
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a kitchen in Columbus, plan on $17,700 to $30,200 for 120 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $144 to $240 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. 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 Columbus, OH, standard level
$21,500 to $26,500
About $173 to $211 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 22% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $4,700 | $5,700 |
| Permits and fees | $760 | $1,150 |
| Total | $21,500 | $26,500 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Columbus, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,400 | $17,800 | $22,300 | 74% |
| Labor | $3,900 | $5,200 | $6,500 | 22% |
| Permits and fees | $480 | $950 | $1,450 | 4% |
| Total | $17,700 | $24,000 | $30,200 | 100% |
Why Columbus prices look the way they do
Labor is 22% 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 Columbus the blended ratio comes out at 1.04.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Columbus 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 (95.5) and land at $480 to $1,450.
Is Columbus 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 $23,400 to $24,000 across Columbus and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OHthis page | $17,700 – $30,200 | $24,000 | |
| Dayton, OH70 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −2% |
| Canton, OH100 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
| Wheeling, WV105 miles | $17,700 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −1% |
| Cincinnati, OH105 miles | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | −1% |
| Huntington, WV110 miles | $17,700 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −1% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | −1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Columbus comes in at #139 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Columbus is 1% above the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | −1% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −1% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −2% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | level |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −1% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Columbus's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Columbus against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $18,800 – $31,900 | $25,400 | +6% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | +1% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $17,000 – $28,900 | $23,000 | −4% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | −1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Columbus bid
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).
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.
Planning more than one job in Columbus?
Because every project leans on different trades, Columbus's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, home addition runs +2% and kitchen backsplash −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,200 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,550 – $22,600 | −3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,600 | −2% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $38,900 – $78,700 | +2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,600 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −9% |
Cost by quality level and size in Columbus
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Columbus 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
$17,700 to $22,700
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,500 to $26,500
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,200 to $30,200
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,900 – $19,100 | $18,000 – $22,200 | $21,200 – $25,400 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,700 – $22,700 | $21,500 – $26,500 | $25,200 – $30,200 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,200 – $37,300 | $35,300 – $43,300 | $41,300 – $49,400 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,600 – $55,500 | $52,500 – $64,400 | $61,400 – $73,300 |
Columbus 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 Columbus is 1.04 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $31.96 an hour, which is 10% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.61 and $37.69 an hour. BLS counts 3,620 of them working in the area, 32.7 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 $31.11 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.19 and $38.45 an hour. About 7,210 work in the metro. That is 65.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 15%) the local median is $30.41 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.72 and $41.05 an hour. BLS counts 3,060 of them working in the area, 27.7 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 $22.62 an hour, which is 16% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.02 and $27.69 an hour. BLS counts 130 of them working in the area, 1.2 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 $31.47 an hour, 11% above the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $27.12 and $34.41 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 5.2 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 $24.91 an hour, which is 5% above the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.52 and $31.45 an hour. BLS counts 980 of them working in the area, 8.9 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 ($37.69 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $440. At the 25th percentile ($27.61) it shrinks by about $330. The total moves by 1.8% or 1.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,105,580 jobs in the Columbus area. That makes it the 30th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.71% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $27.61 | $31.96 | $37.69 | $29.12 | 1.10 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $24.19 | $31.11 | $38.45 | $30.38 | 1.02 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $23.72 | $30.41 | $41.05 | $30.67 | 0.99 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $21.02 | $22.62 | $27.69 | $26.77 | 0.84 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $27.12 | $31.47 | $34.41 | $28.33 | 1.11 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $22.52 | $24.91 | $31.45 | $23.75 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Columbus: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Columbus?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,700 to $30,200 in the Columbus area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,500 to $26,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Columbus?
About $144 to $240 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $480 to $1,450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Columbus or Dayton?
Dayton is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,500, which is 2% less than Columbus ($24,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbus?
About 22% at the midpoint, or $5,200 out of $24,000. Materials are 74% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Columbus?
$29,200 to $49,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Columbus?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $480 to $1,450 for fees in the Columbus area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbus expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Ohio?
Columbus is 1% 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 Columbus?
The BLS median is $31.96 an hour in the Columbus area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.61 to $37.69.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Columbus?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,700 to $22,700 and premium work $25,200 to $30,200. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Columbus
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.