Published price ranges for 2026
| Source | Scope | Range |
|---|---|---|
| RenoQuotes, Canada kitchen cost guide, updated 4 September 2026 | Basic / mid-range / high-end | $15,000–$25,000 / $30,000–$55,000 / $65,000+ |
| RenoQuotes, same guide | Toronto and GTA mid-range | $40,000–$75,000 |
| Kitchen & Bath Renovation, Toronto cost guide, updated 8 April 2026 | Budget / mid-range / high-end | $15,000–$20,000 / $20,000–$45,000 / $45,000–$70,000+ |
These are guides published by renovation companies and quote-matching sites, not government statistics. Statistics Canada tracks renovation spending in aggregate; nobody publishes an official price for a kitchen. Two sources that broadly agree are worth more than one that sounds confident, which is why both are here — and you can see they do not agree exactly.
Where the money actually goes
| Item | Share of budget | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry | about 30% | $250–$400 per linear foot in melamine, $850+ in solid wood |
| Appliances | about 15% | $3,000–$6,000 for a basic package |
| Labour and installation | 16–25% | Cabinet installation $80–$120 per hour; a medium kitchen install $5,000–$12,000 |
| Countertops | about 10% | $35–$70 per sq ft laminate, $110–$180 per sq ft quartz |
| Flooring | about 8% | $1,500–$6,000 |
| Plumbing | — | $1,500–$4,500 on existing rough-in; add $2,500–$5,500 to relocate |
| Electrical | — | $80–$150 per hour, and it must be done by a licensed electrical contractor |
| Lighting | about 4% | $800–$3,000, or $100–$400 per fixture |
| Backsplash | — | $800–$2,500 |
Why are two quotes for the same kitchen $25,000 apart?
Almost always one of four things, and none of them is greed.
- Cabinet grade. Melamine boxes with laminate doors against solid wood with dovetail drawers is a three-fold difference on 30% of the budget. Ask what the boxes are made of, not what the doors look like.
- Layout changes. One quote assumes the sink stays under the window. The other prices moving it across the room. That single decision carries plumbing, drywall, flooring patching and often electrical with it.
- What is excluded. Appliances, lighting fixtures, backsplash and disposal are the four items most often left out of the cheaper quote.
- Who does the electrical. A licensed electrical contractor filing an ESA notification costs more than a general labourer with a drill. Only one of those two leaves you insurable.
Do I need a building permit for a kitchen renovation?
For a straight swap — same layout, new cabinets, new counters, same plumbing and electrical locations — usually no. You are into permit territory once you remove or move a wall, relocate plumbing, add circuits, or change a window or exterior door.
Electrical work is separate from the building permit. In Ontario it has to be done by a licensed electrical contractor who files a notification with the Electrical Safety Authority, and that applies even to small jobs like adding an island outlet. Our permit guide covers what needs one and who applies.
How long does a kitchen renovation take?
Four to eight weeks of site work for a typical mid-range kitchen is a realistic expectation, once demolition starts. The part people underestimate is what happens before that: custom cabinets are commonly quoted at six to ten weeks lead time, and stone is templated only after the cabinets are installed.
Ask for the schedule to name the cabinet order date. A contractor who can tell you when the cabinets were ordered is running a project. One who cannot is hoping.
Red flags in a kitchen quote
| What you see | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “Cabinets included” with no brand, line or box material | Cabinets are a third of your budget and the range is enormous | Ask for the manufacturer, the door line and the box construction in writing |
| Countertop given as a lump sum | Stone is priced per square foot and by edge profile and cutouts | Ask for the material, the thickness, the square footage and what the sink cutout costs |
| No line for appliances or disposal | These reappear later as “not included” | Confirm in writing who buys and installs appliances and who removes the old kitchen |
| Electrical priced without a licensed contractor named | Unfiled electrical work is a problem at resale and with insurance | Ask for the ECRA/ESA licence number of the company doing the wiring |
| Deposit above 10% | Ontario’s own guidance to homeowners is no more than 10% down | Tie the larger payment to cabinet delivery, not to a date |
| A start date but no cabinet order date | The cabinets are the long pole; everything waits on them | Put the order date and the lead time in the contract |
Frequently asked questions
Cost guides commonly quote partial recovery at resale rather than full return, and the figure varies by market and by how the kitchen suits the rest of the house. Treat any specific percentage you read as an estimate, not a promise.
Relocating plumbing usually requires a permit, and the plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber. Confirm with your municipality’s building department before the work starts, and put in the contract who applies for the permit.
Ontario’s guidance to homeowners is no more than 10% down. For custom cabinets, tie the next payment to their delivery rather than to a calendar date, so your money moves when materials do.
Refacing keeps the boxes and replaces doors and fronts, so it costs less than new cabinetry and takes less time. It only works when the existing boxes are sound and the layout already suits you.
Cabinetry, at around 30% of the budget, followed by appliances at about 15% and labour at 16–25%. Countertops, which people worry about most, are typically around 10%.
Published 2026 guides put a cosmetic refresh of a small kitchen at roughly $15,000 to $25,000 — new doors or stock cabinets, counters, backsplash and paint, with the layout and plumbing left alone. Moving anything pushes it past that band quickly.
Sources
- RenoQuotes, Kitchen renovation cost in Canada in 2026, updated 4 September 2026 — renoquotes.com
- Kitchen & Bath Renovation, Kitchen renovation cost Toronto 2026, updated 8 April 2026 — kitchenandbath.ca
- Government of Ontario, Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs — ontario.ca, checked 18 September 2026
Prices are published ranges collected on 18 September 2026, not quotes. Costs move with material choice, kitchen size and what is found behind the walls. Get local quotes before you budget.
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