Nationally, homeowners spent a median of $35,000 on a major kitchen remodel under 200 square feet and $55,000 on a larger one in 2025, according to the 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study. In the Middle Atlantic region, which includes New Jersey, a midrange major kitchen remodel costs about $89,679, according to the Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com).
Those are the best public numbers for a New Jersey kitchen. No survey publishes a New Jersey-only kitchen figure. Here is what the surveys measure, what moves a kitchen up or down, and what Central New Jersey's older housing adds to the picture.
What kitchen remodels cost in 2025
The 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study counts a "major" kitchen remodel as one that replaced at least all the cabinets and appliances.
| Kitchen size | Median spend | Top 10% spent |
|---|---|---|
| Under 200 sq ft | $35,000 | $93,000 or more |
| 200 sq ft or more | $55,000 | $150,000 or more |
Counting kitchen projects of every scope, including refreshes that kept the cabinets, the median spend in 2025 was $24,000 (same study).
For our region, a midrange minor kitchen remodel (new cabinet fronts, counters, sink, appliances and flooring in a 200-square-foot kitchen) costs about $31,212, and a midrange major remodel with new cabinets and an island costs about $89,679, according to the Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com).
What should you budget for a kitchen remodel in New Jersey?
Start from the scope. For a refresh that keeps the cabinet boxes and layout, the Middle Atlantic benchmark is about $31,212; for a full remodel with new cabinets and an island, about $89,679, according to the Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com). Then hold back a contingency for what turns up once walls and floors are open, which is more likely in an older house.
Four ways to keep the number in check:
- Keep the layout. Leaving the sink, range and walls where they are avoids new plumbing, gas and structural work.
- Decide before demolition. Cabinets, counters and appliances chosen up front do not stall the job or force rush orders.
- Spend where you touch. Cabinets, the sink, the faucet and the range get used every day; paint and backsplash are easy to change later.
- Get the scope in writing. New Jersey requires home improvement contracts over $500, and every change to them, to be written and signed (N.J.S.A. 56:8-151).
Minor or major: the choice that sets the budget
The gap between those two Cost vs. Value jobs is the single biggest decision in a kitchen. Keeping the cabinet boxes and the layout keeps plumbing, gas and electrical where they are. A full remodel that moves the sink, adds an island or takes out a wall brings in new cabinets, new rough-in work and a permit.
- Cabinets. Usually the largest line. Stock, semi-custom and custom lines differ a lot in price and lead time.
- Layout changes. Moving the sink, range or a wall means plumbing, gas or structural work.
- Counters and backsplash. Material, edge detail and how much wall you tile.
- Appliances. A standard package and a pro-style range with a custom hood are different budgets.
- The house itself. Older wiring, plaster walls and out-of-level floors show up once demolition starts.
Does a kitchen remodel pay off when you sell?
The smaller job wins on resale. In the Middle Atlantic region a midrange minor kitchen remodel recoups about 107.2% of its cost at sale, while a midrange major remodel recoups about 49%, according to the Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com). If you are remodeling to sell, that is a strong argument for a refresh. If you are staying, it is your kitchen.
Central New Jersey kitchens sit in older houses
Most homes near Hamilton were built before 1980, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 2024 5-year):
| Town | Median year built | Built before 1980 |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton township, Mercer County | 1964 | 75% |
| Ewing township | 1964 | 72% |
| Princeton | 1965 | 64% |
| Lawrence township (includes Lawrenceville) | 1979 | 51% |
| Hopewell township, Mercer County | 1977 | 53% |
| East Windsor township | 1976 | 60% |
| Plainsboro township | 1986 | 26% |
| West Windsor township | 1990 | 23% |
| Robbinsville township | 1992 | 19% |
In a home built before 1978, federal rules require lead-safe work practices when a renovation disturbs painted surfaces (EPA, 40 CFR 745). Older electrical service may also need an upgrade to carry new appliances.
Permits for a kitchen in New Jersey
Replacing cabinets or flooring is ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7 and needs no permit. Moving the sink, adding circuits or running a gas line does, under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14. In Hamilton, permits come from the Hamilton Township construction office at 2090 Greenwood Avenue, (609) 890-3666; each town page on this site lists its own office from the New Jersey DCA roster (as of 2026-09-02).
How long a kitchen remodel takes
Kitchen projects averaged 9.5 months of planning and 5.8 months of construction across the U.S. in 2025, according to the 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study. Those averages include do-it-yourself projects. Cabinet lead time is usually what sets a contractor-run kitchen's start date. More detail in our kitchen timeline guide.
How MHG prices your kitchen
MHG Contracting is a family-owned contractor at 2145 Nottingham Way in Hamilton. Every kitchen gets a free in-home estimate, and the process runs like this:
- A short phone call to hear what you want and set up a visit.
- A first meeting at your house to walk the space.
- A written preconstruction estimate.
- A second pass through the estimate together to settle scope and finishes.
- A deposit, then the final plan, budget and schedule before work starts.
- Week-by-week progress updates while the work is underway.
- A final walkthrough with you before the last payment.
See finished kitchens in the portfolio, or read about kitchen renovations with MHG.
