Kitchen remodel cost in Seattle, WA
Typical cost: $34,371 (range $17,434 to $57,347)
Typical all-in
$34,371
Job cost plus the local permit fee at this size.
- Low
- $17,434
- Typical
- $34,371
- High
- $57,347
Room area. 150 to 250 sqft is a common mid-range kitchen.
Breakdown
| Labor (allocated) | $8,138 |
|---|---|
| Materials (allocated) | $24,412 |
| Job subtotal | $32,550 |
| Permit | $1,821 |
| All-in typical | $34,371 |
Labor is adjusted for construction wages in this metro. Materials stay at the national figure. This is an estimate, not a contractor quote.
Remodeled kitchen $75 to $250/sf; average remodel $14,600 to $41,300.
A typical kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA is about $34,371, including a permit fee of $1,821.
What we assumed
For the permit line we assumed the Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review path (100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI), plus the 5% technology fee and the WA State Building Code Council fee, at the official $35,000 typical valuation, so listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $1,159.40, typical $1,820.90, and high $3,096.65. The DFI walk and the not listed electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are in the calculation note on this page.
Typical job we price for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA
- Typical scope
- 200 sf affected area
- Low scope
- 150 sf
- High scope
- 400 sf
- Project value for permit formula (typical)
- $35,000
- Project value range for permit formula
- $15,000 to $75,000
Same-footprint kitchen. The high size is a larger gut of the room.
2026 remodel $14.6k–$41.3k; high = larger gut
Typical job sizes and assumed values from our published sources. Assumed values feed the permit formula. They are not the city's assessed value.
Local context
City facts
- County
- King County
- Population
- 784,777
- Estimate year
- 2025
- Source
- U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 city estimates (July 1, 2025)
Census and county figures. These are estimates, not a permit requirement.
Why kitchen remodel costs differ in Seattle, WA
Labor for kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA is adjusted for local construction wages. Materials stay at the national figure.
The official typical permit fee for kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA is $1,820.90, the Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review path (100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI) at the official $35,000 typical valuation. Listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $1,159.40, typical $1,820.90, and high $3,096.65. Band arithmetic is in the calculation note on this page.
Separate electrical (Table D-14 / OTC), King County Public Health plumbing, and separate mechanical (Table D-8 / D-2) permits are not used in the official totals. Those not listed trade permits, and cosmetic cabinet-only same-layout work, are in the calculation note on this page.
Building and trade permits for Seattle, WA run through Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) under the official 2026 fee schedule. The cited schedule is Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2 (source retrieved 2026-08-13). This kitchen row uses the full plan-review path (100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI) plus the 5% technology fee and the WA BCC fee. The DFI walk stays in the calculation note on this page. Peer listed typical permit fees in this cluster include Charlotte, NC $257.83, Denver, CO $450, Nashville, TN $292.50, Atlanta, GA $175, Austin, TX $1,499.44, Phoenix, AZ $1,106, Tucson, AZ $804.14, Portland, OR $210.07, Raleigh, NC $496, Tacoma, WA $1,214, St. Louis, MO $460. We only use fees extracted from the official schedule.
Uses the city fee schedule and BLS wage data. If a fee is not published, that line stays blank.
Cost details
Cost by size
| Size | All-in typical | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| 150 sf | $26,234 | $1,821 |
| 200 sf affected area (typical) | $34,371 | $1,821 |
| 400 sf | $66,921 | $1,821 |
All-in at this size, adjusted for local wages. The permit is the city fee when the schedule lists one.
Labor vs materials
- Labor share
- 25%
- Materials share
- 75%
- Cost source
- Kitchen Installation Cost [2026 Data]
Budget around 25% of project cost for labor. Cabinets, counters, and appliances dominate.
Our labor and materials split for this estimate. It is for the local wage adjustment, not a surveyed contractor split.
What moves the price
What changes the total
- Size is the kitchen floor area. The size table lists the low, typical, and high.
- Labor for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA is adjusted for local construction wages.
- The permit fee on the typical job is $1,820.90. The permit section on this page has the schedule detail.
Metro wage index
- Metro
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Metro construction mean hourly
- $42.11/hr
- Metro OEWS vintage
- May 2025
- National construction mean hourly
- $31.42/hr
- National OEWS vintage
- May 2025
- Labor wage multiplier
- 1.340× labor
- Method
- BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to the labor share only. Not a city-specific bid survey.
- Metro source
- BLS OEWS metro release
- National source
- BLS OEWS national release
For this metro the whole job is 1.085 times the national typical, because only the labor portion is adjusted for local wages.
Compare kitchen remodel across metros
| City | All-in typical | Permit | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $29,328 | $257.83 | Open |
| Seattle, WA | $34,371 | $1,821 | This page |
| Denver, CO | $30,810 | $450 | Open |
| Nashville, TN | $29,603 | $292.50 | Open |
| Atlanta, GA | $29,425 | $175 | Open |
| Austin, TX | $30,539 | $1,499 | Open |
| Phoenix, AZ | $30,626 | $1,106 | Open |
| Tucson, AZ | $29,694 | $804.14 | Open |
| Portland, OR | $32,130 | $210.07 | Open |
| Raleigh, NC | $29,596 | $496 | Open |
| Tacoma, WA | $33,764 | $1,214 | Open |
| St. Louis, MO | $31,420 | $460 | Open |
Other home projects in Seattle, WA
| Job | All-in typical | Permit | Open |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | $12,147 | $742.97 | Open |
| HVAC replacement | $8,392 | $126.73 | Open |
| Deck | $17,907 | $1,059 | Open |
| Kitchen remodel | $34,371 | $1,821 | This page |
Questions about this estimate
- How much does kitchen remodel cost in Seattle, WA?
- Typical all-in is about $34,371. The official SDCI permit fee of $1,820.90 on the Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review path is included in the all-in.
- Is a permit required for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA?
- Yes. Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) requires a permit for a typical Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA. The typical listed fee is $1,820.90. The official path is the Seattle SDCI Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan review (100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI). Listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $1,159.40, typical $1,820.90, and high $3,096.65.
- What is included in this Kitchen remodel estimate for Seattle, WA?
- The estimate is labor adjusted for local wages in Seattle, WA, plus materials at the national figure, at the typical size in the table above. The official typical permit fee of $1,820.90 is included in the all-in typical. That fee is the official full plan-review path: building permit at 100% of DFI, plan review at 100% of DFI, the 5% technology fee, and the WA State Building Code Council fee. Separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are not included in the typical.
- Why might the Seattle permit fee differ from this typical figure?
- The official Seattle, WA fee comes from Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2 (valuation). Listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $1,159.40, typical $1,820.90, and high $3,096.65. Band arithmetic and the not listed electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are in the calculation note on this page. Verify the kitchen permit path with Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI).
- How is the typical permit fee calculated for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA?
- Listed full-plan-review fee bands are low $1,159.40, typical $1,820.90, and high $3,096.65. Full arithmetic is in the calculation note on this page.
- What project value is this Kitchen remodel permit fee based on in Seattle, WA?
- The official typical project value is $35,000. Project values used only for the permit formula (not your total cost): low $15,000, typical $35,000, and high $75,000. This permit fee is the Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review valuation path. Listed fees are low $1,159.40, typical $1,820.90, and high $3,096.65. The walk is in the calculation note on this page.
Permit in Seattle
Fee schedule retrieved Aug 13, 2026
Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) lists a typical permit fee of $1,821 for this Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA (range $1,159 to $3,097). Source: Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2.
Building-permit portion only (200% of DFI + 5% technology SMC 22.900A.100 + $6.50 WA BCC RCW 19.27.085) using Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle Tables D-1 and D-2 (retrieved 2026-08-13). Listed bands: low valuation $15,000 → $1159.4; typical $35,000 → $1820.9; high $75,000 → $3096.65. Real kitchen jobs almost always add separate electrical (Table D-14 / OTC) and King County Public Health plumbing permits – those amounts are not listed here and are not included in the official typical/low/high. Cosmetic cabinet-only same-layout work may not need a building permit.
Fee model
- Fee model
- Valuation-based
Typical $35,000: Tables D-1 and D-2 set DFI at $864.0 (Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle, SMC 22.900; source retrieved 2026-08-13). On the official path the building permit is 100% of DFI and plan review is 100% of DFI. That is the full plan-review path: 100% building permit + 100% plan review of DFI, or 200% of DFI. It is not the STFI 40% plan-review path used for like-for-like reroofs. Building plus plan review is the $1,728 building+plan subtotal. The technology fee is 5% of that $1,728. The WA State Building Code Council fee is a flat $6.50 when a building permit is issued, at low, typical, and high. Add the official pieces: DFI $864.0, building permit $864.0 + plan review $864.0 (100% of DFI) + technology $86.4 (5%, SMC 22.900A.100) + WA BCC $6.50 (RCW 19.27.085) = $1820.9. That is the official typical fee at the $35,000 typical project value. Low $15,000 valuation = $1159.4 total ($549.0 building + $549.0 plan + $54.90 tech + $6.50 WA BCC). At $15,000 the DFI is $549.0. Building permit $549.0 plus plan review $549.0 is $1,098. Technology is 5% of $1,098, which is $54.90. Add the flat $6.50 WA BCC and the low total is $1159.4. The high $75,000 valuation = $3096.65 total ($1471.50 building + $1471.50 plan + $147.15 tech + $6.50 WA BCC). At $75,000 the DFI is $1471.50. Building permit $1471.50 plus plan review $1471.50 is $2,943. Technology is 5% of $2,943, which is $147.15. Add the flat $6.50 WA BCC and the high total is $3096.65. Listed totals use that full plan review (200% of DFI), not the STFI 40% plan-review path used for like-for-like reroofs. Like-for-like reroofs use plan review at 40% of DFI; this kitchen remodel uses full plan review instead. Cosmetic cabinet-only same-layout work may not need a building permit. Alternate paths not used in listed totals: separate electrical (Table D-14 / OTC), King County Public Health plumbing (not SDCI), and separate mechanical (Table D-8 / D-2 if range hood or HVAC changes are not in the building plans). Those amounts were not listed as fee lines. These figures are the building-permit portion only. Confirm the kitchen permit path with SDCI before filing.
Official permit schedule figures. Check the city's calculator before you apply.
Fee schedule
- Schedule year
- 2026
- Official schedule
- Official fee schedule
- Cited source
- Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2
- Retrieved
- Aug 13, 2026
- Department
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
City permit office figures. Confirm current fees with Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) before you apply.
Portal
- Department
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
- Apply online
- Official permit portal
City permit office figures. Confirm current requirements with Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) before you apply.
Line items
| Line item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building permit (100% of DFI) | $864 |
| Plan review (100% of DFI) | $864 |
| Technology fee (5%) | $86.40 |
| WA State Building Code Council fee | $6.50 |
| Electrical permit | Blank |
| Plumbing permit (King County Public Health) | Blank |
| Mechanical permit | Blank |
Assumed project value
| Band | Assumed project value |
|---|---|
| Low | $15,000 |
| Typical | $35,000 |
| High | $75,000 |
Process
- Does a typical Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA need a permit?
- A typical Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA is listed as requiring a permit. Real kitchen jobs almost always add separate electrical (Table D-14 / OTC) and King County Public Health plumbing permits, those amounts are not listed here and are not included in the official typical/low/high.
- Who issues the permit in Seattle, WA, and where do I apply?
- Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) issues permits for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA. Apply at https://cosaccela.seattle.gov/portal/.
- What extra fees or surcharges are listed for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA?
- The official permit lists these extra line items for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA: Building permit (100% of DFI): $864; Plan review (100% of DFI): $864; Technology fee (5%): $86.40; WA State Building Code Council fee: $6.50; Electrical permit: not published in the fee schedule; Plumbing permit (King County Public Health): not published in the fee schedule; Mechanical permit: not published in the fee schedule.
Schedule FAQ
- Which official schedule is this Kitchen remodel fee based on in Seattle, WA?
- The official typical for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA cites Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2 (retrieved Aug 13, 2026). Fee model: valuation.
- What local fee-schedule notes are on file for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA?
- 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC Ch. 22.900) effective Jan 1, 2026. 5% technology fee (22.900A.100).
- Why does the Kitchen remodel permit fee in Seattle, WA show a low-to-high range?
- Listed permit fees for Kitchen remodel in Seattle, WA are $1,159.40 low, $1,820.90 typical, and $3,096.65 high. These are the Tables D-1 and D-2 full plan-review fee bands. Full arithmetic is in the calculation note on this page.
Citations
- Kitchen Installation Cost [2026 Data] Retrieved Aug 13, 2026. Remodel $75–$250/sf; average remodel $14,600–$41,300; new install ~$65,000 ($35k–$95k); labor ~25%.
- Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2 Retrieved Aug 13, 2026.
- BLS OEWS construction wages – Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to the labor share only. Not a city-specific bid survey.
Cite this page
Fee schedule retrieved Aug 13, 2026
CostInMyCity. "Kitchen remodel cost in Seattle, WA." https://costinmycity.com/cost/kitchen-remodel/seattle-wa/. Fee schedule retrieved Aug 13, 2026. Source: Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2.
Seattle SDCI 2026 Fee Subtitle (SMC 22.900), Tables D-1 and D-2
Related
In Seattle
- Roof replacement in Seattle, WA, ~$12,147
- HVAC replacement in Seattle, WA, ~$8,392
- Deck in Seattle, WA, ~$17,907
Related kitchens
- Kitchen remodel in Charlotte, NC, ~$29,328
- Kitchen remodel in Denver, CO, ~$30,810
- Kitchen remodel in Nashville, TN, ~$29,603
- Kitchen remodel in Atlanta, GA, ~$29,425
- Kitchen remodel in Austin, TX, ~$30,539
- Kitchen remodel in Phoenix, AZ, ~$30,626
- Kitchen remodel in Tucson, AZ, ~$29,694
- Kitchen remodel in Portland, OR, ~$32,130
- Kitchen remodel in Raleigh, NC, ~$29,596
- Kitchen remodel in Tacoma, WA, ~$33,764
- Kitchen remodel in St. Louis, MO, ~$31,420