Cabinets are the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel, usually 29 to 40 percent of the total. A full kitchen in Tampa Bay runs $15,000 to $25,000 for a small kitchen, $25,000 to $45,000 mid-range, and $45,000 to $80,000+ for large or high-end, over about 6 to 10 weeks. CraftLine is a licensed design build contractor and we show you where every dollar goes.
Where Your Kitchen Budget Actually Goes
People expect appliances or countertops to be the big number. In reality cabinets lead, then labor. Here is the typical share of a Tampa Bay kitchen budget by category.
| Category | Share of Budget | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinets | 29% to 40% | The single largest line, driven by custom vs semi-custom |
| Labor | 20% to 35% | Demo, install, plumbing, electrical, tile |
| Countertops | 10% to 15% | Quartz $50 to $120 per sq ft installed |
| Appliances | 10% to 15% | Wide range by brand and package |
| Flooring, lighting, trim | 10% to 20% | Tile, LVP, fixtures, paint, hardware |
Those Percentages in Real Dollars
Percentages are easy to nod at and hard to budget with. Here is the same breakdown in dollars at three Tampa Bay price points.
| Category | $20,000 kitchen | $35,000 kitchen | $60,000 kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinets | $6,000 to $8,000 | $11,000 to $14,000 | $18,000 to $24,000 |
| Labor and trades | $4,500 to $7,000 | $8,000 to $12,000 | $14,000 to $21,000 |
| Countertops | $2,000 to $3,000 | $3,500 to $5,500 | $6,000 to $10,000 |
| Appliances | $2,000 to $3,000 | $4,000 to $6,000 | $7,000 to $12,000 |
| Flooring, lighting, tile, paint, hardware | $2,000 to $4,000 | $3,500 to $7,000 | $6,000 to $12,000 |
Two things stand out. Cabinets stay the biggest line at every level, and labor scales with complexity rather than with finish quality. A $60,000 kitchen usually costs more in labor because walls move and plumbing relocates, not because the installers charge more.
Full Kitchen Price by Size
| Kitchen Size | Tampa Bay Price |
|---|---|
| Small (under 120 sq ft) | $15,000 to $25,000 |
| Mid (120 to 200 sq ft) | $25,000 to $45,000 |
| Large or high-end | $45,000 to $80,000+ |
Dig into the line items in our kitchen cost guide or run your own kitchen in the free cost calculator.
What Drives Cabinet Cost in Tampa Bay
Three things move the cabinet number: custom versus semi-custom boxes, the door style and finish, and how much specialty storage you add. In our market the smart middle is semi-custom boxes with soft-close drawers and a few real upgrades like a pantry pull-out. Older St. Petersburg and South Tampa kitchens sometimes need wall or plumbing changes to fit a modern layout, and that labor is where a small kitchen can still land at the top of its range. Newer Hillsborough homes in Brandon and Riverview usually keep the layout, so more of the budget goes straight into nicer cabinets and counters.
Underneath the door style, the thing that actually determines whether cabinets last is box construction. Plywood boxes with dovetailed drawers and quality slides hold up for decades. Particle board boxes with stapled drawer bottoms sag at the hinges and swell permanently if they ever get wet, which in a Florida kitchen with a dishwasher and an ice maker line is a question of when. The difference is usually $500 to $800 across a kitchen. It is the least glamorous money in the whole project and the easiest call we make.
Finish is the other multiplier people underestimate. A painted finish costs more than stained because it takes more steps and shows every imperfection, so the millwork underneath has to be better. Add a specialty color or a glaze and the order price climbs again. If the budget is tight and you want painted cabinets, a standard white or off-white from the manufacturer’s stock palette costs meaningfully less than a custom color match and looks identical on the wall.
The Second Biggest Line: Labor
Labor runs 20 to 35 percent and it is the part homeowners have the least visibility into, because it is not one thing. A kitchen remodel is six trades in sequence, each with its own inspection.
- Demolition and disposal: $1,000 to $2,500 including the dumpster
- Electrical: $1,500 to $4,000 for new circuits, recessed lighting, and code updates, more with a panel upgrade
- Plumbing: $800 to $4,500 depending entirely on whether anything moves
- Cabinet installation: $2,000 to $5,000, higher in old homes where nothing is level or square
- Tile and backsplash: $1,200 to $3,500
- Drywall, trim, and paint: $1,500 to $4,000
This is also where the quote you accept matters most. A number that comes in $8,000 under everyone else is almost always missing a trade, assuming the panel is fine, or planning to handle the permit as a change order later.
How to Spend Less Without a Cheap Kitchen
- Keep plumbing and appliances where they are. This alone can save $2,000 to $4,500 in a slab home.
- Choose semi-custom plywood boxes over full custom. Same durability, roughly half the lead time.
- Use a stock finish rather than a custom color match.
- Put quartz on the perimeter and a butcher block or a lower-cost slab on the island if you want two materials.
- Spend the savings on lighting. It is the cheapest thing in the room and it changes how everything else reads.
- Do not cut the exhaust hood, the waterproofing, or the electrical. Those are the three places where saving money now costs money later.
What Homeowners Say
CraftLine Remodeling holds a 5.0 rating across 93 Google reviews. We are a licensed and insured Tampa Bay contractor and a NARI Tampa Bay member. You can see real before and after work on our Tampa Bay project showcase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinets. They run 29 to 40 percent of a typical kitchen budget, more than labor, countertops, or appliances.
How much should I budget for a kitchen remodel in Tampa?
Plan $15,000 to $25,000 for a small kitchen, $25,000 to $45,000 for a mid-range remodel, and $45,000 or more for a large or high-end kitchen.
Are appliances or countertops more expensive?
They land in roughly the same band, 10 to 15 percent each, but appliances have the wider spread. A functional package runs $4,000 to $6,000, while a panel-ready or professional-series package can pass $15,000 on its own and change nothing about how the kitchen works.
Can I save money without making the kitchen look cheap?
Yes. Keeping the existing layout avoids moving plumbing and electrical, which is one of the biggest hidden costs. Semi-custom cabinets and quartz give you a high-end look for less than full custom and stone. We go line by line on that in our budget-friendly tips for a Tampa Bay kitchen remodel, including the corners that are not worth cutting.
Is refacing cabinets worth it instead of replacing them?
Only if the existing boxes are solid plywood, the layout works, and you like where everything is. Refacing puts new doors and veneer on old boxes, so it saves real money but keeps every existing limitation, including the wasted corner and the cabinets that stop short of the ceiling. In most 1960s and 1970s Tampa Bay kitchens the layout is the problem, and refacing does not fix a layout.
Do permits add to my Tampa kitchen cost?
If the job moves plumbing, electrical, or a wall, you need a permit in Hillsborough or Pinellas. The permit fee is small, but the work it covers is part of the labor cost. CraftLine pulls and manages permits for you.
Get a Real Number on Your Project
Want a fixed price for your own home? Schedule a free quote or call (813) 522-4359. CraftLine is a licensed design build contractor serving Tampa, St. Petersburg, Brandon, and the rest of Tampa Bay.