Puget Sound Pricing Guide
Kitchen Remodel
Lite — $25,000–$50,000. A focused update to a kitchen whose layout and major systems work well. It might include cabinet painting or refacing, countertops, backsplash, fixtures, lighting, flooring, and selected appliances. Keeping the existing cabinets and utility locations helps hold down the price.
Moderate — $50,000–$100,000. A substantial remodel, commonly with new cabinets, counters, appliances, flooring, lighting, and some electrical or plumbing work. The kitchen generally stays in its current footprint, though the design may change.
Complex — $100,000–$200,000+. A larger or highly customized kitchen with substantial layout changes, structural work, moved utilities, custom cabinetry, premium appliances, or extensive finish work. An addition would require its own scope and budget.
As a local check, the 2025 Cost vs. Value Seattle report modeled a $32,271 minor kitchen remodel, a $95,542 midrange major remodel, and a $188,401 upscale major remodel.
Bathroom Remodel
Lite — $15,000–$30,000. A modest bathroom update that keeps the layout and plumbing locations. The low end assumes limited demolition and a relatively simple tub or shower solution; extensive tile work or hidden water damage can move it up quickly.
Moderate — $30,000–$70,000. A more complete renovation of a typical bathroom, potentially including a new shower or tub, waterproofing, tile, vanity, ventilation, lighting, and plumbing fixtures.
Complex — $70,000–$130,000+. A larger primary bathroom, major reconfiguration, custom shower, accessibility work, premium materials, or significant plumbing, structural, or moisture repairs. This range is for remodeling an existing room, not building a new bathroom addition.
The same Seattle Cost vs. Value report modeled a $36,146 midrange bath remodel and a $107,451 upscale bath remodel.
Whole Home Remodel
Lite: $75–$150/sq. ft. - $150,000–$300,000
Coordinated finishes such as flooring, paint, trim, doors, lighting, and selected kitchen or bath updates; limited layout changes.
Moderate: $150–$300/sq. ft. - $300,000–$600,000
Major kitchen and bath work plus broad interior updates, with some layout or systems changes.
Complex: $300–$550+/sq. ft. - $600,000–$1.1 million+
Extensive demolition, structural changes, major electrical, plumbing, or HVAC replacement, and substantial custom work.
These are planning estimates assembled from scope and regional market evidence, not a published Puget Sound statistical average. Whole-home bids are particularly sensitive to what lies behind the walls. A roof, exterior envelope, foundation repair, or addition should be identified separately when a client compares proposals.
New Construction
Lite: $350–$450/sq. ft. - $700,000–$900,000
Relatively simple plan and roofline, efficient footprint, standard finishes, straightforward site.
Moderate: $450–$700/sq. ft. - $900,000–$1.4 million
More customized design, upgraded finishes and systems, and typical custom-home coordination.
Complex: $700–$1,100+/sq. ft. - $1.4 million–$2.2 million+
High-end architecture or finishes, difficult terrain or access, substantial engineering, or extensive custom details.
Lumber matters most when framing is a substantial part of the job. The National Association of Home Builders’ construction cost survey assigns 16.6% of new-home construction costs to framing, compared with 24.1% to interior finishes and 19.2% to major system rough-ins. NAHB’s September 2026 framing-lumber update put its lumber index at $524.55 per 1,000 board feet on September 11, up 8.8% year over year. That index is a market signal, not the delivered lumber price for a Brown Dog job. For kitchens and baths, cabinets, tile, waterproofing, fixtures, and skilled installation can matter more to the total than framing lumber.
