Kitchen remodel cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $18,000 – $30,600
- Per sq ft
- $146 – $243
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #114
- 1 = most expensive
Appleton homeowners pay roughly $18,000 to $30,600 to remodel a kitchen at 120 sq ft, or $146 to $243 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Appleton is almost level. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Appleton, WI, standard level
$21,700 to $26,800
About $175 to $214 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 23% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,100 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $4,950 | $6,050 |
| Permits and fees | $740 | $1,100 |
| Total | $21,700 | $26,800 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,400 | $17,800 | $22,300 | 74% |
| Labor | $4,100 | $5,500 | $6,850 | 23% |
| Permits and fees | $460 | $920 | $1,400 | 4% |
| Total | $18,000 | $24,300 | $30,600 | 100% |
Where the Appleton price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.04 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Appleton is 1.10 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 23% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Appleton metro is 93.8 (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 (92.4) and land at $460 to $1,400.
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 Appleton. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Appleton quotes can differ
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing in Appleton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Appleton 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
$18,000 to $23,000
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,700 to $26,800
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,500 to $30,600
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $15,000 – $19,300 | $18,200 – $22,500 | $21,400 – $25,700 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $18,000 – $23,000 | $21,700 – $26,800 | $25,500 – $30,600 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,600 – $37,800 | $35,700 – $43,900 | $41,900 – $50,000 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $44,200 – $56,300 | $53,200 – $65,300 | $62,300 – $74,300 |
Appleton against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
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 $23,900 to $25,100 across Appleton and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +4% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | level |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | +1% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | −2% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | +1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $18,000 – $30,700 | $24,300 | level |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Appleton comes in at #114 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $30,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $22,100 (midpoints, 120 sq ft). Statewide, Appleton is 0% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $18,100 – $30,900 | $24,500 | +1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | level |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +4% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | level |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $17,900 – $30,400 | $24,100 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Appleton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $18,200 – $31,000 | $24,600 | +1% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $16,900 – $28,800 | $22,900 | −6% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $17,300 – $29,600 | $23,400 | −3% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $18,400 – $31,200 | $24,800 | +2% |
Related projects, priced for Appleton
Because every project leans on different trades, Appleton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +13% and window replacement −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,100 | level |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +5% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,600 | −2% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $39,800 – $80,400 | +5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,150 – $3,100 | +13% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,500 | +1% |
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 Appleton is 1.10 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 45%) the local median is $30.04 an hour, which is 3% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.40 and $40.83 an hour. BLS counts 700 of them working in the area, 56.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 15% of the weighting: a median of $32.13 an hour, 6% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.37 and $39.62 an hour. About 810 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 $44.11 an hour, which is 44% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.35 and $50.33 an hour. BLS counts 890 of them working in the area, 71.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Appleton metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $30.14 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.44 and $36.42 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Appleton metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $28.83 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $33.42 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 5%) the local median is $24.34 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.32 and $29.40 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 6.4 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 ($40.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $830. At the 25th percentile ($24.40) it shrinks by about $430. The total moves by 3.4% or 1.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,230 jobs in the Appleton area. That makes it the 174th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $24.40 | $30.04 | $40.83 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $24.37 | $32.13 | $39.62 | $30.38 | 1.06 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $29.35 | $44.11 | $50.33 | $30.67 | 1.44 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $27.44 | $30.14 | $36.42 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.05 | $28.83 | $33.42 | $28.33 | 1.02 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $23.32 | $24.34 | $29.40 | $23.75 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Appleton?
For 120 sq ft, expect $18,000 to $30,600 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,700 to $26,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Appleton?
About $146 to $243 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 Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $25,100, which is 4% more than Appleton ($24,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 23% at the midpoint, or $5,500 out of $24,300. Materials are 74% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Appleton?
$29,600 to $50,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Appleton?
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 Appleton area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 0% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($24,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $30.04 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.40 to $40.83.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Appleton?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $18,000 to $23,000 and premium work $25,500 to $30,600. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Appleton
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.