Costs
How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? Olympia, Lacey and Tacoma (2026)
The short answer
In the Seattle area, a cabinet-and-counter refresh runs about $32,000, a full midrange remodel about $96,000 and an upscale one about $188,000, according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value report.
Most modern kitchens we build land between $45,000 and $65,000. In Washington, sales tax applies to the labor as well as the materials, so budget about 10 percent on top.
Two kitchen quotes can be $60,000 apart and both be fair. The difference is almost always in what gets replaced, and whether anything moves.
Here is what a kitchen remodel costs around Olympia, Lacey and Tacoma in 2026, what each budget buys, and the costs that are specific to Washington and to older South Sound houses.
Kitchen remodel cost in the Seattle area
Cost vs. Value is a yearly report from Zonda and the Journal of Light Construction. It prices the same projects in each metro area, and its closest city to us is Seattle. Each project is a 200 square foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinets.
| Kind of remodel | Seattle area | National average |
|---|---|---|
| Minor, midrange | $32,271 | $28,458 |
| Major, midrange | $95,542 | $82,793 |
| Major, upscale | $188,401 | $164,104 |
These are the 2025 figures, the latest available. Seattle runs about 13 to 15 percent above the national average for each kind of kitchen.
What each budget gets you
A minor remodel (about $32,000) keeps the cabinet boxes where they are and puts new shaker-style doors and drawer fronts on them. It replaces the laminate counters, the sink and faucet, the range and the fridge, and adds new resilient flooring and paint.
A major midrange remodel (about $96,000) replaces the cabinets with new semi-custom ones, including a 3 by 5 foot island. It adds a range, vented hood, built-in microwave, dishwasher and disposal, new lighting and new flooring. The report prices it with laminate counters.
An upscale remodel (about $188,000) brings top-of-the-line custom cabinets, stone counters, a tile backsplash, a built-in fridge, a commercial-grade cooktop, a wall oven, under-cabinet lighting and tile flooring.
What our kitchens cost
Most modern kitchens we build land between $45,000 and $65,000. That sits between the report's minor and major remodels. Where your kitchen lands depends mostly on the cabinets, the counters and whether anything moves.
We give a written, line-item estimate after a free design consultation, so you can see where every dollar goes before anything starts.
Washington taxes the labor too
In many states you only pay sales tax on materials. In Washington, a remodel for a homeowner is a retail sale. The Department of Revenue says the taxable amount includes labor, materials, profit, subcontractors, and permits and other fees, at the rate where the work is done.
| City | Sales tax rate (late 2026) |
|---|---|
| Olympia | 10.0% |
| Lacey | 9.8% |
| Tumwater | 9.8% |
| Tacoma | 10.5% |
| Lakewood | 10.3% |
| University Place | 10.2% |
On a $55,000 kitchen that is about $5,500 in Olympia and $5,775 in Tacoma. Rates change each quarter, and the Department of Revenue's tax rate lookup gives the exact rate for your address. When you compare quotes, check whether each one includes sales tax.
Older houses cost more to open up
Many South Sound homes are decades old. When the old cabinets come out, it is common to find wiring that cannot carry today's appliances, old plumbing, or a soft subfloor under the sink or dishwasher. If you already have a soft spot, see what a soft floor means and what it costs to fix.
If your house was built before 1978, Washington requires anyone paid to renovate it to be RRP certified for lead-safe work, or to work for a certified firm. We are EPA Lead-Safe Certified. Ask any contractor you are considering whether they are.
A contingency of 10 to 15 percent is sensible in an older house, so a surprise behind the wall does not stop the job.
What moves the price most
- Moving things. Keeping the sink, range and fridge where they are is the biggest saving. Moving plumbing, gas or a wall adds trades, time and usually permits.
- Cabinets. New doors on the old boxes, semi-custom, or fully custom is the largest single choice in the budget.
- Counters. Laminate costs far less than quartz or natural stone.
- Appliances. A standard range and a built-in or commercial-style one can be thousands of dollars apart.
- What is behind the walls, especially in an older house.
Does a kitchen remodel pay for itself?
The smaller job pays back best. In the same Seattle figures, a minor remodel added about $38,100 in resale value, 118 percent of its cost. A major midrange remodel recouped 53 percent and an upscale one 39 percent.
So if you are selling soon, refresh. If you are staying, build the kitchen you will use every day, and treat the resale value as a bonus.
Where to go from here
We remodel kitchens across Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Tacoma and University Place. See our recent work on the remodeling page.
Tell us about your kitchen and what bothers you about it. We will tell you what it would take and what to budget for.
Common questions
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Washington?
The 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts a minor midrange kitchen remodel in the Seattle area at about $32,000, a major midrange remodel at about $96,000 and a major upscale remodel at about $188,000. Sales tax of about 10 percent applies to labor as well as materials.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Olympia or Tacoma?
Most modern kitchens KOI Build Co builds in the South Sound land between $45,000 and $65,000. Keeping the layout costs less, and moving plumbing, gas or walls costs more.
Do you pay sales tax on remodeling labor in Washington?
Yes. The Washington Department of Revenue treats a remodel for a homeowner as a retail sale, so sales tax applies to labor, materials, subcontractors and permit fees, at the rate where the work is done.
Is a kitchen remodel worth it for resale?
A minor remodel returns the most. In the 2025 Seattle-area figures it added about 118 percent of its cost in resale value, against 53 percent for a major midrange remodel and 39 percent for an upscale one.
Code requirements on this page were last checked on 7 November 2026. Codes change, so confirm current standards with your city or county before you apply.
Planning a project in Thurston or Pierce County?
We handle the permit work as part of the build. Tell us the site and what you want.
Where this applies
We work in every one of these towns, and each has its own page covering the rules that apply there.