When investing in your home, the spaces that provide the largest return on investment (ROI) are kitchens and bathrooms. According to the 2025 report on the Journal of Light Construction (JLC), the kitchen remodel ROI ranges from about 50 to 113 percent. Some may remodel to get the best price when selling and others may simply want a more updated space. The JLC reports the national midrange major kitchen remodel costs around $82,793 with a 51 percent ROI. A minor kitchen remodel can cost $28,458 with an ROI of 113 percent. In the luxury market where design is very personal and appliances are top-of-the-line, the average cost is $164,104.
David Wilkes, founder of David Wilkes Builders, Austin’s premier luxury home builder and remodeler, says the most common updates in a kitchen remodel are cabinetry, countertops, tile/backsplashes, appliances, lighting and hardware.
David’s Tips: Talk with your builder to determine the best plan for your budget. Things to consider:
- Cabinetry. Options include painting existing cabinetry, updating existing cabinets with new doors and drawers or hardware, or building out custom cabinetry.
- Countertops. Clients can choose from luxury, natural stones like marble and quartzite or engineered surfaces like quartz. Other trending materials to consider are butcher block, concrete, stainless steel, or recycled surfaces.
- Backsplashes. Kitchen backsplashes can be the same countertop surface applied as a backsplash, providing a seamless look, or the alternative is a tile backsplash.
- Appliances. This tends to be one of the largest line items in a remodel, but there is a range of costs and quality for each appliance.
- Lighting. This makes a statement and should compliment your design style.