Most kitchen remodel quotes you see online are way off for the Greater Boston market. Here is what 47 completed projects told us about real costs in 2026.
What changes the budget the most
The single biggest cost driver is not the appliances or even the cabinets — it is whether you are moving plumbing or HVAC.
Layout-preserving remodels
If your sink, range, and dishwasher stay where they are, you can do a serious tier-2 refresh — Shaker cabinets, quartz counters, new lighting, decent appliances — for $45,000–$72,000 in our service area.
Footprint-changing remodels
Add an island where there was not one. Move the range to a new wall. Take down a load-bearing partition to open the kitchen to the dining room. These typically run $95,000–$160,000 once you factor in structural work, electrical rerouting, and code-required permits.
The 2026 line items most people forget
- Trash and dust containment ($1,200–$2,800)
- Permit fees (Stoneham/Woburn area: $850–$1,400)
- Backsplash tile labor (often quoted separately from materials)
- Range hood ducting if you are going from recirculating to vented
Why our numbers run higher than national averages
Massachusetts CSL-licensed contractors carry insurance and pull permits. Out-of-state averages include a lot of unlicensed weekend work that would not pass a real inspection here. We do not compete on those numbers.
If a quote looks 30% lower than ours, ask whether the contractor is pulling permits and whether their insurance covers your home if a sub-trade damages it.
What to do next
The single most useful next step: get one detailed line-item proposal in writing. Not a one-page lump sum. Line items make the trade-offs visible.