Kitchen remodel cost in Charlottesville, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,800 – $30,300
- Per sq ft
- $144 – $240
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #132
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen remodel in the Charlottesville area: $17,800 to $30,300 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 4% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 3% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.8).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Charlottesville, VA, standard level
$21,500 to $26,500
About $173 to $211 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 19% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,600 | $20,200 |
| Labor | $4,150 | $5,100 |
| Permits and fees | $790 | $1,200 |
| Total | $21,500 | $26,500 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Charlottesville, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,800 | $18,400 | $23,000 | 77% |
| Labor | $3,450 | $4,600 | $5,800 | 19% |
| Permits and fees | $500 | $990 | $1,500 | 4% |
| Total | $17,800 | $24,000 | $30,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Charlottesville number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $26.97 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Charlottesville is 0.93 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 19% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Charlottesville is at 96.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $18,400 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 99.1: $500 to $1,500.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Charlottesville. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Charlottesville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Charlottesville. Roanoke is the lowest at about $23,400 (midpoint, 120 sq ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VAthis page | $17,800 – $30,300 | $24,000 | |
| Harrisonburg, VA40 miles | $17,500 – $29,700 | $23,600 | −2% |
| Lynchburg, VA55 miles | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −2% |
| Richmond, VA75 miles | $17,600 – $30,100 | $23,900 | −1% |
| Washington, DC85 miles | $19,400 – $33,000 | $26,200 | +9% |
| Roanoke, VA85 miles | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $18,300 – $31,200 | $24,800 | +3% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Charlottesville ranks #132 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Charlottesville is 3% below the Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $17,600 – $30,000 | $23,800 | −1% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $17,600 – $30,100 | $23,900 | −1% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −2% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $17,400 – $29,700 | $23,600 | −2% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $17,500 – $29,900 | $23,700 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charlottesville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler, TX | 115,220 jobs | $16,700 – $28,400 | $22,600 | −6% |
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $16,500 – $28,100 | $22,300 | −7% |
| Topeka, KS | 115,750 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −3% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $17,400 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −2% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Charlottesville 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.
Who does the work: Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville the blend is 0.93.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $26.97 an hour, 7% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.28 and $29.53 an hour. About 630 work in the metro. That is 54.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $30.28 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.83 and $34.85 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 40.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 15% of the weighting: a median of $27.17 an hour, 11% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.39 and $32.93 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 20.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Charlottesville metro, so we used the Virginia statewide median: $23.50 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.35 and $29.76 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Charlottesville metro, so we used the Virginia statewide median: $26.84 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.84 and $29.22 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $22.02 an hour, 7% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $18.47 and $26.11 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 15.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
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 $360. That is a swing of roughly 1.5% to 0.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Charlottesville has 114,780 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 190th 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% | $22.28 | $26.97 | $29.53 | $29.12 | 0.93 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $24.83 | $30.28 | $34.85 | $30.38 | 1.00 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $23.39 | $27.17 | $32.93 | $30.67 | 0.89 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $18.35 | $23.50 | $29.76 | $26.77 | 0.88 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.84 | $26.84 | $29.22 | $28.33 | 0.95 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $18.47 | $22.02 | $26.11 | $23.75 | 0.93 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Charlottesville
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Charlottesville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (−3%) and shower pan lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,300 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,400 – $21,900 | −6% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,600 | −3% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $35,700 – $72,300 | −6% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $840 – $2,600 | −8% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $280 – $1,400 | −7% |
Charlottesville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Charlottesville. 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
$17,800 to $22,800
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,500 to $26,500
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,300 to $30,300
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,900 – $19,100 | $18,100 – $22,300 | $21,200 – $25,500 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,800 – $22,800 | $21,500 – $26,500 | $25,300 – $30,300 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,300 – $37,400 | $35,300 – $43,400 | $41,400 – $49,500 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,700 – $55,600 | $52,600 – $64,500 | $61,500 – $73,400 |
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Kitchen remodel in Charlottesville: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Charlottesville?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,800 to $30,300 in the Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville?
About $144 to $240 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $500 to $1,500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Charlottesville or Harrisonburg?
Harrisonburg is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $23,600, which is 2% less than Charlottesville ($24,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charlottesville?
About 19% at the midpoint, or $4,600 out of $24,000. Materials are 77% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Charlottesville?
$29,300 to $49,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Charlottesville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $500 to $1,500 for fees in the Charlottesville area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charlottesville expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Virginia?
Charlottesville is 3% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($24,800 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Charlottesville?
The BLS median is $26.97 an hour in the Charlottesville area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.28 to $29.53.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Charlottesville?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,800 to $22,800 and premium work $25,300 to $30,300. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Charlottesville
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.