If you’ve searched “kitchen renovation cost Vancouver,” you’ve probably found a wide range of numbers — and a lot of them are out of date or just made up. This post gives you real 2026 Vancouver kitchen renovation pricing by tier, with itemized line-items from actual projects we’ve quoted this year.
The four tiers
| Tier | Cost range | Timeline | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | $15,000 – $30,000 | 2-3 weeks | Cabinet refacing, counter swap, paint, hardware |
| Mid-range full | $45,000 – $80,000 | 5-8 weeks | New cabinets, quartz, mid-tier appliances, tile backsplash |
| High-end full | $80,000 – $150,000 | 8-12 weeks | Custom cabinetry, stone counters, premium appliances, layout change |
| Open-concept conversion | $120,000 – $250,000+ | 10-16 weeks | All of high-end + load-bearing wall removal + structural beam |
Tier 1: Cosmetic refresh — $22,500 example
1995 East Van Vancouver Special, kept the cabinet boxes:
- Cabinet refacing (doors and drawer fronts in painted MDF): $6,800
- Quartz counters (Caesarstone Pure White or similar): $4,200
- Tile backsplash (porcelain subway): $1,400
- Sink and faucet (Kohler/Moen): $850
- Paint (kitchen + adjacent dining area): $1,800
- Hardware (knobs, pulls): $400
- Electrical (under-cabinet LED lighting + 1 new pendant): $1,400
- Labour and project management: $4,800
- Disposal: $850
- Total: $22,500
Tier 2: Mid-range full renovation — $65,000 example
2003 Burnaby split-level, full kitchen tear-out, same footprint:
- Cabinets (BC-made shaker, painted): $18,500
- Quartz counters: $5,800
- Tile backsplash: $1,800
- Appliances (KitchenAid range, fridge, dishwasher, range hood): $8,500
- Plumbing rough-in + new fixtures: $3,200
- Electrical updates + recessed lighting: $4,500
- Flooring (hardwood-look LVP, ~280 sq ft): $3,800
- Drywall, paint, trim: $3,500
- Demolition + disposal: $2,400
- Permits + project mgmt: $4,800
- Contingency (10%): $5,700
- Total: $62,500
Tier 3: High-end full with layout change — $128,000 example
1988 Kerrisdale character home, full tear-out + dining wall removed (load-bearing):
- Custom cabinetry (BC fabricator, inset shaker, painted): $32,000
- Stone counters (Cambria or similar): $12,500
- Glass backsplash (custom mosaic): $3,500
- Premium appliances (Wolf range, Sub-Zero fridge, Miele dishwasher): $24,000
- Plumbing rough-in + premium fixtures: $6,200
- Electrical upgrades + designer lighting: $7,500
- Engineered hardwood: $7,800
- Structural beam for load-bearing wall removal: $9,500
- Engineering fees (structural): $2,800
- Drywall, paint, crown moulding: $5,500
- Demolition + disposal: $3,200
- Permits + project mgmt: $8,000
- Contingency (10%): $11,500
- Total: $124,000
What drives cost variation within a tier
Three biggest swing factors:
- Cabinetry choice — BC-made shaker can run $14,000-$25,000 for a typical kitchen; fully custom inset shaker from a specialty shop runs $30,000-$50,000. Same room, double the cabinet budget.
- Appliances — KitchenAid package: $8,000-$12,000. Wolf/Sub-Zero/Miele package: $25,000-$60,000.
- Plumbing/electrical relocation — keeping the same fixture locations saves $5,000-$15,000 vs. moving the sink to the opposite wall.
What’s NOT in these numbers
These prices assume:
- You stay within your existing floor plan (no addition)
- The home doesn’t have unusual problems (knob-and-tube wiring, asbestos, lead paint, structural rot)
- You’re in Vancouver or central Greater Vancouver — West Vancouver pricing runs 20-40% higher
How to budget realistically
Three honest pieces of advice from someone who quotes these every week:
- Add 10-15% to whatever number a contractor gives you for unforeseen issues. Real kitchens have real surprises.
- If a quote is 20%+ below the ranges above, ask questions. Either the scope is missing things, or the contractor is undercutting to win the job and will up-charge later.
- Get a fixed-price quote, not an “estimate” with allowances. Allowances are how a $65K quote becomes a $95K invoice.
See our kitchen renovation service overview for our full scope of work, or Vancouver kitchen renovation for city-specific details. Ready for a fixed-price quote on your kitchen? Request a free estimate.
