Cabinets, countertops and full kitchen remodels across San Diego, with a clear plan and a written price before work begins.
Most kitchen remodels go wrong in the planning, not the building. We start with how you use the room, then match the scope to your budget: refresh what works, replace what is worn out, and only move what is worth moving.
About 48% of San Diego homes are owner-occupied, and the median home value is around $848,500, so a well-planned kitchen protects a real investment.
Prices are written down line by line before work starts, and changes are agreed in writing too.
Each service page covers the work, the typical price and the questions to ask.
Based on a medium-size kitchen, installed, at California prices.
Best for: Your layout works and the cabinet boxes are sound; the finishes just look dated.
Best for: You like where everything is, but cabinets, counters and floors are worn out.
Best for: You want an open kitchen, an island or a layout built around you.
Tell us about the job and we will explain the options and the price before any work starts.
What these items usually cost in California, labor included.
| Item | Typical price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-custom cabinets | $330–$720 | per linear foot |
| Stock cabinets | $110–$330 | per linear foot |
| Cabinet refacing (typical kitchen) | $5,000–$13,300 | per kitchen |
| Cabinet painting (typical kitchen) | $3,300–$8,300 | per kitchen |
| Kitchen island | $4,400–$13,300 | each |
| Recessed light | $220–$500 | each, installed |
| Removing or opening a wall | $3,300–$11,100 | per wall |
| Moving a sink | $2,200–$5,600 | per move |
Use these to plan a budget. The real number comes from a visit and a written quote. Try the cost calculator.
Sources: Remodeling magazine Cost vs Value Report 2025; HomeAdvisor and Angi kitchen remodel cost guides (2025–2026); Fixr cabinet and countertop cost guides (2025); state price level from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
We plan the whole job before it starts, so you know what happens each week and what it costs.
If a refresh will get you what you want, we will say so before quoting a full remodel.
A few questions about the room, the timeline and the budget you have in mind.
A visit to measure the room and hear how you use it.
A clear scope and price, with options where they make sense.
Cabinets and counters are ordered and the work is booked around their delivery.
The kitchen is rebuilt in the right order, with the work area kept tidy.
Backsplash, fixtures and details finished, then we walk the room with you.
San Diego has about 559,653 homes, and the typical one was built around 1978; 54% went up before 1980.
The older the house, the more likely the walls hold surprises such as old wiring or corroded pipes, which is why our quotes list a clear allowance for them.
We remodel kitchens across San Diego, including Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Clairemont, North Park, Mission Hills and Point Loma.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates.
The City says minor work like painting and installing flooring or cabinets needs no permit (San Diego Municipal Code §129.0203), while plumbing, electrical and mechanical changes do, such as moving a sink, adding circuits or relocating a range. The City of San Diego Development Services Department issues building permits for addresses inside city limits.
In California, any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or any job that needs a permit, must be done by a CSLB-licensed contractor. The limit was $500 until AB 2622 raised it in 2025.
A CSLB license lookup takes a minute and shows whether the license is active and bonded. Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
Each city page covers permits, home facts and prices there.
For a medium kitchen in California, a cosmetic refresh typically runs $12,500–$28,000, a pull-and-replace remodel $30,000–$68,000 and a custom remodel with layout changes $61,000–$143,000. Your exact price comes from a walkthrough and a written quote.
About 2–4 weeks for a refresh, 5–10 weeks for a pull-and-replace and 10–20 weeks for a custom remodel. Cabinet lead times are the biggest variable, so the clock usually starts once they are ordered.
The City says minor work like painting and installing flooring or cabinets needs no permit (San Diego Municipal Code §129.0203), while plumbing, electrical and mechanical changes do, such as moving a sink, adding circuits or relocating a range. The City of San Diego Development Services Department issues building permits for addresses inside city limits. Questions go to the City of San Diego Development Services Department.
In California, any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or any job that needs a permit, must be done by a CSLB-licensed contractor. The limit was $500 until AB 2622 raised it in 2025. A CSLB license lookup takes a minute and shows whether the license is active and bonded.
If the cabinet boxes are sound and dry, refacing gets you a new look for about half the price of new cabinets. Water damage, poor storage or a new layout are reasons to replace instead.
Both are durable and priced in a similar range. Quartz needs no sealing and has a more even pattern; granite is natural stone with more variation and needs sealing now and then.
Not for most of it. Most families set up a small temporary kitchen with a microwave, coffee maker and fridge in another room.
In older homes, opening walls can turn up outdated wiring, galvanized pipes or ungrounded outlets that have to be brought up to code; a good quote names this risk up front. Moving plumbing or gas, removing walls and upgrading the electrical panel are the other usual budget changes.
Year after year, the Cost vs Value report shows minor mid-range kitchen remodels recouping more of their cost than big upscale ones. If you are selling soon, keep the scope modest.
Moving a sink typically adds $2,200–$5,600 and opening a wall $3,300–$11,100, before finishes. It is only worth it when the current layout really does not work.
One visit gets you measurements, options and a line-by-line price.
Kitchen for homes and businesses across San Diego and nearby cities.
