Kitchen remodel cost in Memphis, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,400 – $29,600
- Per sq ft
- $141 – $236
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #193
- 1 = most expensive
Memphis homeowners pay roughly $17,400 to $29,600 to remodel a kitchen at 120 sq ft, or $141 to $236 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Memphis is 6% lower. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.2).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Memphis, TN, standard level
$21,100 to $26,000
About $170 to $207 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 18% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,100 |
| Labor | $3,900 | $4,750 |
| Permits and fees | $740 | $1,100 |
| Total | $21,100 | $26,000 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Memphis, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,700 | $18,300 | $22,900 | 78% |
| Labor | $3,250 | $4,300 | $5,400 | 18% |
| Permits and fees | $460 | $920 | $1,400 | 4% |
| Total | $17,400 | $23,500 | $29,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Memphis 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, Memphis wages are 0.87 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 Memphis metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 120 sq ft comes to $18,300, compared with $19,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.2) and land at $460 to $1,400.
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 Memphis is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $24.34 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $28.26 an hour. BLS counts 1,240 of them working in the area, 20.3 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 $29.27 an hour, 4% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.23 and $36.87 an hour. About 2,770 work in the metro. That is 45.3 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 $28.22 an hour, which is 8% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.82 and $36.24 an hour. BLS counts 1,920 of them working in the area, 31.4 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 $22.00 an hour, which is 18% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.87 and $24.63 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 0.8 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 $22.65 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $18.97 and $27.12 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 2.3 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 $21.45 an hour, which is 10% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $17.93 and $22.56 an hour. BLS counts 590 of them working in the area, 9.6 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 ($28.26 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $300. At the 25th percentile ($22.58) it shrinks by about $140. The total moves by 1.3% or 0.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 611,670 jobs in the Memphis area. That makes it the 46th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.39% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $22.58 | $24.34 | $28.26 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $23.23 | $29.27 | $36.87 | $30.38 | 0.96 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $22.82 | $28.22 | $36.24 | $30.67 | 0.92 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $17.87 | $22.00 | $24.63 | $26.77 | 0.82 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $18.97 | $22.65 | $27.12 | $28.33 | 0.80 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $17.93 | $21.45 | $22.56 | $23.75 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing in Memphis
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Memphis 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
$17,400 to $22,300
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,100 to $26,000
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$24,800 to $29,600
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,600 – $18,700 | $17,700 – $21,800 | $20,800 – $24,900 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,400 – $22,300 | $21,100 – $26,000 | $24,800 – $29,600 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $28,700 – $36,600 | $34,700 – $42,600 | $40,600 – $48,500 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $42,900 – $54,500 | $51,600 – $63,300 | $60,400 – $72,100 |
Planning more than one job in Memphis?
Because every project leans on different trades, Memphis'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 | $3,950 – $12,600 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $33,900 – $68,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,550 | −9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Why two Memphis quotes can differ
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.
How Memphis compares
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 $22,300 to $23,600 across Memphis and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TNthis page | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | |
| Jonesboro, AR65 miles | $16,500 – $28,100 | $22,300 | −5% |
| Jackson, TN75 miles | $17,200 – $29,300 | $23,300 | −1% |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $16,700 – $28,400 | $22,500 | −4% |
| Decatur, AL160 miles | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | level |
| Clarksville, TN170 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Memphis comes in at #193 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Memphis is 0% above the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | +1% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,500 | level |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $17,200 – $29,300 | $23,300 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Memphis's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Memphis against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $17,600 – $30,100 | $23,900 | +1% |
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +7% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $17,000 – $29,000 | $23,000 | −2% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | +1% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed kitchen remodel report for Memphis, TN, $9
Multi-page report for Memphis, TN: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen remodel in Memphis: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Memphis?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,400 to $29,600 in the Memphis area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,100 to $26,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Memphis?
About $141 to $236 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $460 to $1,400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Memphis or Jonesboro?
Jonesboro is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $22,300, which is 5% less than Memphis ($23,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Memphis?
About 18% at the midpoint, or $4,300 out of $23,500. Materials are 78% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Memphis?
$28,700 to $48,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Memphis?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $460 to $1,400 for fees in the Memphis area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Memphis expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Memphis is 0% above the Tennessee statewide estimate ($23,500 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Memphis?
The BLS median is $24.34 an hour in the Memphis area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.58 to $28.26.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Memphis?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,400 to $22,300 and premium work $24,800 to $29,600. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Memphis
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.