What a kitchen remodel actually costs in Portland
Search this question and you will find Portland firms saying a kitchen “typically” costs $100,000, and others saying $30,000. Both are telling the truth about the kitchens they build. As of September 2026, the honest picture is three tiers: about $15,000 to $40,000 for a refresh that keeps the layout, $40,000 to $90,000 for a full remodel in the same footprint, and $90,000 to $175,000 and up once walls or plumbing move and the cabinets go custom. Portland runs 15 to 25 percent above national averages for labor and code reasons.
The three tiers
| Scope | Typical range | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh, same layout | $15,000 – $40,000 | Repaint or reface cabinets, new counters, backsplash, fixtures, lighting |
| Full remodel, same footprint | $40,000 – $90,000 | New cabinets, quartz, appliances, flooring; plumbing stays put |
| Gut or layout change | $90,000 – $175,000+ | Walls or plumbing move, custom cabinetry, design-build scope |
Where the money goes
| Stock cabinets, installed | $100 – $300 per linear ft |
| Semi-custom cabinets | $300 – $600 per linear ft |
| Custom cabinets | $500 – $1,200+ per linear ft |
| Laminate counters | $20 – $50 per sq ft |
| Quartz counters | $50 – $150 per sq ft |
| Building permit | $500 – $2,000 |
| Each trade permit (plumbing, electrical) | $200 – $300 |
Why the published numbers disagree so much
Three kinds of companies remodel kitchens in Portland and they do not compete on the same job. Design-build firms carry designers, project managers, and showrooms, and they take the six-figure kitchens. A general contractor runs leaner and will do a same-footprint remodel with semi-custom cabinets for half. A kitchen-and-bath specialist sits in between. When you read a “typical” number, you are reading which kind of company wrote it. Decide which scope you actually want first, then get bids from the kind of company that does that scope.
The old-house line item
Much of Portland’s housing is 60 to 110 years old. Behind a kitchen wall you may find knob-and-tube wiring, an undersized panel, galvanized supply lines, or a floor that is two inches out of level. Good bidders price a contingency or say plainly that they will bill it as found. A bid that says nothing about what is behind the wall has not thought about your house.
Why two quotes for the same kitchen differ by $30,000
Layout, cabinet tier, counter material, the appliance package, what is behind the walls, permits, and who is bidding. None of it shows in a price chart, including this one. The only real number is several written bids on your kitchen, with photos and the same scope handed to each bidder. HouseRules exists for exactly that: post it once, license-verified contractors bid on it, and you compare real prices side by side without giving out your phone number.
Get real bids on your kitchen, free
Post your projectRanges are a survey of published Portland-metro remodeler pricing as of September 2026, quoted wide on purpose; real bids on a real kitchen are the only exact numbers. Also useful: what a bathroom remodel costs and how to verify a contractor’s license.