“What will my kitchen cost?” is the first question we get, and the honest answer is a range — not because we are hedging, but because a kitchen is thirty decisions stacked on top of each other. Here is how those decisions actually move the number in Calgary right now.
The three tiers we quote most often
Almost every kitchen we price lands in one of three bands. The difference is rarely labour — it is cabinetry construction, counter material and how much of the room you are moving.
Refresh
$28k – $45k
Same layout, new cabinetry or refacing, quartz counters, new sink, lighting and paint.
Full renovation
$55k – $95k
New layout, custom cabinetry, appliance changes, flooring, electrical and drywall work.
Structural rework
$95k – $160k+
Walls removed with beams, relocated plumbing and gas, island added, whole main-floor finishes.
Those ranges assume a typical 180–260 sq ft Calgary kitchen and include labour, materials, permits and finishing — not appliances.
Where the money actually goes
Cabinetry is usually 35–45% of a kitchen budget, and it is the single biggest lever you have. Stock boxes with good doors can look excellent; full custom earns its cost when your walls are out of square or your storage needs are unusual. Counters are next: quartz has been the default for years, and the price gap between entry and designer slabs is often $3–6k on an average kitchen.
Then there is the part nobody quotes: what is behind the drywall. Older Calgary homes routinely hide undersized electrical, cast-iron drains and framing that has moved. We budget a contingency for it up front rather than surprising you with a change order in week three.
The line items most quotes leave out
- Permits and inspections for electrical, plumbing and structural work
- Temporary kitchen setup if you are living in the home
- Disposal bins and daily site cleanup
- Painting the adjoining spaces so the new work does not stop at a line
- Appliance delivery, install and any gas or water line changes
- Contingency for what is found behind the walls
If a quote is materially cheaper than everyone else’s, this list is usually where the difference is hiding.
A fixed, itemised quote is worth more than a low one. You cannot compare two numbers if only one of them includes everything.
How long it takes
A refresh usually runs three to five weeks on site. A full renovation is six to ten. Structural work pushes toward twelve, mostly because of engineering, permits and the lead time on custom cabinetry — which is why we lock selections before demolition instead of during it.
What to do before you call anyone
Write down the three things that annoy you most about your current kitchen, and the one thing you would never change. Take a rough measurement and photograph the room from each corner. That is enough for a real conversation about scope and budget — and it means your first consultation produces a number instead of a follow-up appointment.