Kitchen remodel cost in Nashville, TN
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
- #151
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen remodel in the Nashville area: $17,600 to $30,000 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. 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 Nashville, TN, standard level
$21,400 to $26,300
About $172 to $210 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 19% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $20,100 |
| Labor | $4,100 | $5,050 |
| Permits and fees | $770 | $1,150 |
| Total | $21,400 | $26,300 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Nashville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,700 | $18,300 | $22,900 | 77% |
| Labor | $3,450 | $4,550 | $5,700 | 19% |
| Permits and fees | $480 | $960 | $1,450 | 4% |
| Total | $17,600 | $23,800 | $30,000 | 100% |
Why Nashville prices look the way they do
Labor is 19% 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 Nashville the blended ratio comes out at 0.92.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Nashville is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $18,300 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.3: $480 to $1,450.
Specs and site conditions that change a Nashville bid
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.
Is Nashville 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 $23,800 across Nashville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TNthis page | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | |
| Clarksville, TN65 miles | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −2% |
| Bowling Green, KY70 miles | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | −1% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −2% |
| Chattanooga, TN105 miles | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,500 | −1% |
| Decatur, AL115 miles | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | −1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Nashville ranks #151 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Nashville is 1% above the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −1% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,500 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | −2% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,400 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $17,200 – $29,300 | $23,300 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Nashville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $17,500 – $29,800 | $23,700 | −1% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $17,800 – $30,300 | $24,100 | +1% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | +2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $19,800 – $33,800 | $26,800 | +12% |
Who does the work: Nashville 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 Nashville the blend is 0.92.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $26.81 an hour, 8% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $29.35 an hour. About 3,040 work in the metro. That is 27.7 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 $30.45 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $25.10 and $37.95 an hour. BLS counts 6,220 of them working in the area, 56.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper 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 $23.57 and $36.10 an hour. About 2,760 work in the metro. That is 25.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 10% of the weighting: a median of $21.60 an hour, 19% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $26.98 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 1.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.34 an hour, which is 14% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $20.71 and $26.45 an hour. BLS counts 500 of them working in the area, 4.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is about average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $21.31 an hour, 10% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $18.85 and $24.78 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 8.0 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 $200 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $230. That is a swing of roughly 1.0% to 0.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin has 1,099,300 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 33rd 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% | $23.80 | $26.81 | $29.35 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $25.10 | $30.45 | $37.95 | $30.38 | 1.00 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $23.57 | $28.90 | $36.10 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $17.64 | $21.60 | $26.98 | $26.77 | 0.81 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $20.71 | $24.34 | $26.45 | $28.33 | 0.86 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $18.85 | $21.31 | $24.78 | $23.75 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Nashville
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Nashville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (−4%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,050 – $13,200 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,400 | −4% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $35,300 – $71,600 | −7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Cost by quality level and size in Nashville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Nashville. 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
$17,600 to $22,600
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,400 to $26,300
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,100 to $30,000
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,800 – $19,000 | $17,900 – $22,100 | $21,100 – $25,300 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,600 – $22,600 | $21,400 – $26,300 | $25,100 – $30,000 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,100 – $37,100 | $35,100 – $43,100 | $41,100 – $49,100 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,400 – $55,200 | $52,200 – $64,100 | $61,100 – $72,900 |
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Kitchen remodel in Nashville: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Nashville?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,600 to $30,000 in the Nashville area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,400 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 Nashville?
About $143 to $238 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 Nashville or Clarksville?
Clarksville is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,400, which is 2% less than Nashville ($23,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Nashville?
About 19% at the midpoint, or $4,550 out of $23,800. Materials are 77% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Nashville?
$29,100 to $49,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Nashville?
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 Nashville area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Nashville expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Nashville is 1% 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 Nashville?
The BLS median is $26.81 an hour in the Nashville area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.80 to $29.35.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Nashville?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,600 to $22,600 and premium work $25,100 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 Nashville
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.