Cost guides › Kitchen remodel
Canada
Kitchen remodel cost
Replacing the cabinets, countertop, sink and backsplash in a kitchen with 4.5 m of base cabinets typically costs $27,900, with most mid-range jobs between $21,800 and $36,300 before GST/HST. Stock cabinets with a laminate countertop bring it down to about $17,500, while custom cabinetry and premium stone push it toward $43,000. These figures cover the renovation itself and exclude appliances and flooring.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $19,100 | $29,900 | $45,400 |
| Ontario | $17,400 | $27,800 | $42,900 |
| Alberta | $17,300 | $27,700 | $42,700 |
| British Columbia | $17,300 | $27,600 | $42,700 |
| Saskatchewan | $16,900 | $27,200 | $42,100 |
| Manitoba | $16,500 | $26,600 | $41,400 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16,300 | $26,500 | $41,300 |
| Nova Scotia | $16,200 | $26,300 | $41,000 |
| New Brunswick | $15,600 | $25,600 | $40,200 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Tear-out of the old cabinets, countertop, sink, faucet and backsplash tile, with debris hauled away
- Mid-range base and upper cabinets with soft-close doors and drawers, assembled, levelled and installed
- Engineered quartz countertop, templated and fitted, with the sink cut-out
- Composite or undermount sink with a quality faucet, plus supply and drain hookups for sink and dishwasher
- New hot and cold supply stubs and drain connections, with wall chases cut and patched
- Four duplex receptacles above the counter and for appliances, plus two light points including an under-cabinet feed
- Hookup of your electric range or cooktop, oven and range hood by an electrician
- Wall prepared and porcelain backsplash tile installed and grouted
- Walls and ceiling prepped and painted with two coats of washable paint
What affects the cost
Cabinet grade
Cabinets are the largest single line in the budget. Flat-pack or stock boxes, semi-custom lines with soft-close hardware and custom-built cabinetry can differ several times over for the same run, so settle on the grade before you compare quotes.
Countertop material
Laminate is the cheapest and can be cut on site. Engineered quartz and natural stone have to be templated after the cabinets are set and fabricated in a shop, which adds cost and a wait of one to two weeks before the kitchen is usable.
Keeping the layout
The estimate assumes the sink, range and appliances stay where they are. Moving the sink to an island or relocating a gas range means new drain runs, gas lines and circuits, often opening floors or ceilings, and gas work must be done by a licensed gas fitter.
Appliances and flooring are extra
Our figure does not include the fridge, range, dishwasher, microwave or hood, and it does not include new flooring. Add your own appliance choice on top when you compare with totals that bundle them in.
Condition of the walls and wiring
Out-of-plumb walls make cabinets harder to set level, and older kitchens often lack the dedicated appliance circuits current code expects. Adding circuits or upgrading the panel can raise the electrical line noticeably.
Size of the kitchen
Cost scales with the length of cabinets and countertop. An island, a pantry cabinet or taller upper cabinets to the ceiling add boxes, countertop and installation time.
How to save
- Keep the sink, range and dishwasher in their current spots so plumbing, gas and wiring don't have to move.
- Put your budget into cabinet boxes and hardware and choose a simpler door style; doors can be swapped later, boxes can't.
- Use quartz on the main run and a cheaper laminate or butcher block on a secondary counter or island.
- Order cabinets and the sink early and have everything on site before tear-out, so the crew isn't waiting on back-orders.
Grants, tax and rules
Licensed trades and permits
Electrical, gas and plumbing work needs licensed trades and usually a permit. New circuits and moved supply or drain lines in a kitchen normally fall into that category, so ask whether the permit fee is in the quote.
GST/HST
GST/HST applies to renovation work. Our figures are before GST/HST, for example 13% HST in Ontario or 5% GST in Alberta.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Canada?
For a kitchen with 4.5 m of base cabinets, new mid-range cabinets, a quartz countertop, sink and backsplash typically cost around $27,900 before GST/HST. That excludes appliances and flooring. A basic job with stock cabinets and laminate is closer to $17,500.
Does the estimate include appliances?
No. The electrician's hookup of the range or cooktop, oven and hood is included, and so is the plumbing for the dishwasher, but the appliances themselves are not. Add them separately, since the range between basic and high-end appliances is very wide.
Is quartz worth it over laminate?
Quartz resists scratches, heat marks and stains far better and lasts decades, while laminate can chip and swell at the seams near the sink. On a tight budget laminate is a reasonable choice, and the difference between the two shows in the gap between $17,500 and $27,900.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
With the layout unchanged, expect roughly three to five weeks from tear-out to finished kitchen. A quartz or stone countertop can only be templated once the cabinets are in, and fabrication adds a week or two in the middle.
Do I need a permit to renovate a kitchen?
Swapping cabinets and countertops in the same place may not need one in some municipalities, but new circuits, moved plumbing, gas work and any structural change usually do. Check with your municipal building department before work starts.
Can I save by installing the cabinets myself?
Assembling and setting cabinets is doable for a careful DIYer, but they have to be dead level for a quartz or stone top to sit right. Electrical, gas and plumbing connections must be left to licensed trades.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 50.2 · Labour: $11,827 · Materials: $16,093
Sources: Job Bank wages (Employment and Social Development Canada); Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates.