Kitchen remodel cost in Pasadena, CA (2026): the published figures
Published Pasadena kitchen prices run from about $18,000 to well over $100,000, and they split into two groups. The models adjust national averages for Pasadena labor and permits; the local guides price the kitchens Pasadena remodelers actually build.
| Source | Date | Scope | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| homecostcheck, Pasadena model | Jun 2026 | Minor: paint, hardware, counters | $12,200 to $24,400 |
| homecostcheck, Pasadena model | Jun 2026 | Mid-range: cabinets, counters, appliances | $30,500 to $54,900 |
| homecostcheck, Pasadena model | Jun 2026 | Major: layout change, custom | $61,000 to $122,000 |
| NailThePrice, Pasadena model | Jun 2026 | Typical range (average $36,330) | $18,160 to $72,660 |
| Southern California remodeler's guide | Apr 2026 | Cosmetic refresh | $40,000 to $66,000 |
| Southern California remodeler's guide | Apr 2026 | Full mid-range gut, 6 to 12 weeks | $66,000 to $110,000 |
| Southern California remodeler's guide | Apr 2026 | Premium, structural changes | $130,000 to $200,000+ |
| Pasadena builder's cost page (niche research) | Oct 2026 | Mid-range / layout change / high end | $35,000 to $75,000 / $75,000 to $140,000+ / $140,000+ |
| Fixr, national | Jan 2026 | Average; most pay | $27,000; $15,000 to $45,000 |
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Pages read October 2026. The two models are national data scaled to Pasadena; the two local guides are written by firms that build in Pasadena and are named here only by type.
Why the gap is so wide
A model's “mid-range kitchen” is new stock or semi-custom cabinets on the same layout with the wiring already in decent shape. A typical Pasadena kitchen from before 1960 is not that: the City's handout wants two 20-amp small-appliance circuits, AFCI and GFCI protection, a receptacle within 24 inches of every point along the counters and a hood vented outdoors, and the handout itself warns the panel may need an upgrade. Add semi-custom cabinets and stone counters and a real Pasadena kitchen moves from the model's range into the local guides'.
Kitchen remodel line items
| Item | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Labor share | 50 to 60% of the total | Fixr |
| Cabinets, stock | $100 to $300 per linear foot | NailThePrice, Pasadena |
| Cabinets, semi-custom | $200 to $600 per linear foot | NailThePrice, Pasadena |
| Cabinets, custom | $500 to $1,500 per linear foot | NailThePrice, Pasadena |
| Painting existing cabinets | $2,500 to $6,500 | Fixr |
| Island | About $5,000 on average | Fixr |
| Countertops, quartz | $50 to $100 per sq ft; $80 to $120 installed in one local guide | NailThePrice / local guide |
| Countertops, average replacement | About $3,000 for ~35 sq ft | Fixr |
| Backsplash | $500 to $1,500 | Fixr |
| Appliances | $2,500 to $15,000; premium packages $25,000+ | Fixr |
| Plumbing and electrical changes | $1,000 to $4,000 | Fixr |
| Layout change | Adds $5,000 to $20,000+ | NailThePrice, Pasadena |
| Removing a load-bearing wall | Adds $1,400 to $11,500 | Fixr |
| Gas line for a range | $200 to $1,300 | Fixr |
| Lighting | About $1,350 average | Fixr |
| Designer or architect | $2,750 to $6,000 | Fixr |
| Permit, Pasadena | $171 to $684 | NailThePrice |
| Contingency | 5 to 10% of the budget | Fixr |
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NailThePrice Pasadena updated June 2026; Fixr national updated January 2026.
Cost by kitchen size
Fixr's national averages, at about $150 per square foot for a mid-range job, scale like this. Treat them as a floor for Pasadena, not a ceiling:
| Kitchen size | Mid-range at $150 per sq ft |
|---|---|
| 75 sq ft (small galley) | $11,250 |
| 100 sq ft | $15,000 |
| 150 sq ft | $22,500 |
| 180 sq ft | $27,000 |
| 225 sq ft | $33,750 |
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Where to spend and where to save
- Spend on the circuits, the vented hood and the plumbing; they're hard to redo later
- Keep the sink and range where they are if you can: layout changes add $5,000 to $20,000+
- Reface sound cabinet boxes instead of replacing them; in Pasadena refacing needs no permit
- Use quartz or granite on the perimeter and save a premium slab for the island only
- Order cabinets early; their lead time usually sets the schedule
More on each: the kitchen remodel in Pasadena page, kitchen cabinets, countertops, removing a wall for an open kitchen and the permit guide.
