Cost Guide · 2026

What a kitchen remodel costs in the Lehigh Valley.

Plan a kitchen remodel in the Lehigh Valley with 2026 budget ranges by scope, room size, component and trade. Compare the options, then confirm the work, allowances and exclusions in an itemized estimate for your home.

This page is the pricing reference — tiers, per square foot, per component and per trade, kept current for 2026.

If you would rather see one budget taken apart line by line — what each trade actually invoices, why two quotes come in $20,000 apart and what to hold back for contingency — read the kitchen cost breakdown. For a number tailored to your room in a minute, use the cost calculator.

By tier.

Our complete kitchen remodels include new cabinetry; the mid-range planning budget is $30k–$60k. Cosmetic-refresh figures below are included for comparison, not as a VM Power package. We do not offer cabinet refacing, refinishing or door-only replacement. Each estimate specifies the included work, material allowances and exclusions.

Cosmetic refresh (market comparison)

$15k–$30k

General planning context for countertops, hardware, paint, lighting and select cabinetry on the existing footprint. This is not VM Power’s complete-remodel scope.

Mid-range

$30k–$60k

The most common Lehigh Valley kitchen — new cabinetry, stone, tile and an updated, more open layout.

High-end / luxury

$100k–$185k+

Full gut: custom cabinetry, premium stone and appliances, and structural changes like removing walls.

Per square foot

$150–$400

The rule of thumb for the budget and mid-range tiers. A full luxury gut runs above it — roughly $400–$750 / sq ft — which is why the high-end row looks out of step with a simple area calculation.

By square foot.

Kitchen remodels here run roughly $150–$400 per square foot all-in. Per-square-foot is a sanity check, not a quote — the finish level and the age of the home move the number more than floor area does.

Small galley (up to 130 sq ft — figured at 120)

$18k–$48k

Cabinet-and-counter refresh to a modest layout change.

Mid-size (130–210 sq ft — figured at 180)

$27k–$72k

The typical Valley kitchen — new everything, one wall opened.

Large / open-plan (over 210 sq ft — figured at 250)

$38k–$100k+

Island, custom cabinetry, structural work, premium finishes.

By component.

Planning ranges for common kitchen components. Confirm whether each allowance includes materials, installation or both in your estimate; component and trade figures can overlap and should not be added together.

Cabinets: $100–$1,200 / lf
Countertops: $50–$155 / sq ft
Appliances: $5k–$15k+
Flooring: $4–$25 / sq ft
Tile backsplash: $800–$1,500
Electrical: $2,500–$4,500
Plumbing: $1,500–$4,000
Demo & dumping: $380–$3,000
Permits: ~$1,000

By trade.

A kitchen brings several trades into one room. Use these labor ranges for early planning; access, existing conditions, scope and finish selections affect your itemized estimate.

Cabinet installation: $200–$500 / cabinet
Countertop fabrication & install: $50–$155 / sq ft
Electrician (circuits, lighting, panel): $2,500–$4,500
Plumber (relocations, supply & drains): $1,500–$4,000
Tile setting (backsplash + floor): $1,500–$5,000
Demolition & disposal: $380–$3,000

Where to splurge, where to save.

Cabinets — about a third of the budget

Stock runs near $100 per linear foot; semi-custom sits in the middle; full custom runs $500–$1,200 per linear foot. Spend on the boxes and hardware you open every day — add interior organizers later if the budget is tight. See our cabinet cost guide.

Countertops & appliances

Quartz installs at $50–$155/sq ft, granite $70–$140 — compare in the countertop cost guide. Appliances are the biggest discretionary swing: $5k–$15k mid-range, $45k+ for luxury suites. It's the easiest place to right-size a budget.

A note on older homes

In an older West End Allentown rowhome, a Historic Bethlehem house, or a College Hill Easton Victorian, budget for what's behind the plaster: galvanized supply lines, knob-and-tube wiring, uneven floors and dated venting. We investigate these before demolition and price them into the scope, with allowances and exclusions stated in writing — so the contract holds for the work it describes. Anything genuinely concealed until demo goes through a written change order you approve first. More on older-home costs →

Timeline.

A typical Lehigh Valley kitchen runs 4–8 weeks once demolition begins, with design, selections and permits adding roughly 3–8 weeks up front. Older homes and structural changes add time — we map the schedule at the estimate and tell you as soon as anything moves, rather than letting a date quietly slip.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

What's the average kitchen remodel cost in the Lehigh Valley?＋

Our planning range for a mid-range complete kitchen remodel is $30,000–$60,000, including new cabinetry. The $15,000–$30,000 cosmetic-refresh tier is market context, not our complete-remodel offer. High-end, full-gut projects can run $100,000 and up. Your itemized estimate defines the included work, allowances and exclusions.

How much should I budget based on my home's value?＋

Tie the budget to the rest of the house rather than to a fixed percentage of its value. Most Lehigh Valley kitchens land in the $30,000–$60,000 mid-range band; spending far above what comparable homes nearby support rarely returns the money at resale. Our kitchen remodel ROI guide cites Remodeling magazine's Cost vs. Value data for Pennsylvania.

Why is the kitchen the most expensive room to remodel?＋

Cabinetry alone is often a third of the budget, and a kitchen combines plumbing, electrical, gas, ventilation, flooring, tile and appliances in one room — each a trade with its own cost.

Where should I splurge, and where can I save?＋

Splurge on the things you touch daily and can't easily change later — cabinet boxes and hardware, the countertop, and the layout. Save on items you can upgrade over time, like specialty appliances, decorative lighting and interior cabinet organizers.

Can I remodel my kitchen in phases?＋

Sometimes — you might do cabinetry and counters now and flooring or appliances later. But anything involving plumbing, electrical or wall changes is cheaper done at once, since you only open the walls and pull permits a single time.

Do older Lehigh Valley homes cost more to remodel?＋

They can. Center-city Allentown rowhomes, historic Bethlehem houses and pre-1978 homes may need galvanized supply-line replacement, knob-and-tube rewiring, floor leveling or asbestos/lead handling. We identify these up front so the estimate holds.

Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Allentown or Bethlehem?＋

Yes. In most Lehigh Valley municipalities (Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton), structural, electrical, or plumbing changes require pulling a permit. Cosmetic updates like replacing cabinets or countertops in the exact same footprint typically do not. We handle all local permitting, which usually runs $500–$1,500 depending on the township.

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