How to Finance Kitchen Remodel Costs

In 2026, average kitchen remodel costs can range from $14,588 to $41,550 according to Angi.com. You may find that you don’t have this amount of cash on hand but still want to complete the remodel. In this article, we’ll explore your financing options from credit cards to savings to personal loans and help you determine which fits best for your financial situation.

How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen?

The typical cost of remodeling a kitchen can range from less than $10,000 to well over $100,000. The overall expense can depend, for example, on the size of the project and how many appliances you want or need to replace.¹

$10,000 to $20,000: This is the average minor kitchen renovation cost. Minor renovations include painting walls, upgrading flooring or countertops, or adding a few energy-efficient appliances.
$20,000 to $65,000: This is the average major kitchen remodel cost. Major renovations include new lighting fixtures, semi-custom cabinets, or adding a new kitchen island.
$65,000 to $130,000+: This is the average cost of a complete kitchen remodel. A full remodel includes altering the existing layout and including specialty or luxury additions like high-end countertops, custom cabinets, or smart appliances.

How can you lower the cost of a kitchen remodel?

There are effective ways to help control the cost of a kitchen remodel without sacrificing quality or style. When you're planning your remodel, costs can be controlled through things like material choices, layout decisions, and labor involvement.

Consider refacing cabinets instead of replacing them

If you’re wanting to lower the cost of your remodel, you can update the cabinets you already have instead of getting brand-new ones. This means adding new cabinet doors, applying a new veneer or paint, or swapping out the hardware. It usually costs a lot less. On average, refacing costs about $2,100 compared with roughly $6,400 for replacements.²

Keep your current layout

When you’re financing a kitchen remodel, not moving electrical, plumbing, or gas lines can help you save money. Major structural changes may require licensed professionals, and the labor involved with those upgrades can be expensive. Focus on the aesthetic changes you’d like to make instead of changing the layout of your kitchen.

Pick standard or lower-cost options for materials

Staying on budget for your kitchen remodel could include finding attractive options that cost less. If you want to save money on countertops, for example, think about using materials such as ceramic tile, laminate, or quartz. For flooring, hardwood is popular, but it can be pricey—as much as $45 per square foot. The cost will depend on which materials you choose.³ Options that may be a better fit for tighter budgets include vinyl, bamboo, and cork.

DIY when and where you can

If you’re comfortable doing some of the work of your kitchen remodel yourself, you can save on costs. But remember, plumbing, electrical, and gas work require licensed professionals in many locations. Can you replace a backsplash or apply a fresh coat of paint? These are activities that some homeowners could safely handle themselves to help balance their budgets.

How can you pay for a kitchen remodel?

There are several ways to cover the cost of your kitchen remodel. The right solution depends on how much money you have, the size of the project, and when you plan to get started. You may find that one payment option, or a combination of several, best fits your budget.

Savings

If your savings are large enough, you might use some of those funds to pay for the remodel. It’s important, though, to avoid dipping into your retirement or emergency savings funds. These accounts are meant to protect your long-term financial security and provide a safety net in case of unexpected expenses. You can also delay your project and consider setting a savings goal, but not all remodels can wait and you may need more immediate financing.

Credit cards

Using credit cards may be an attractive alternative. They may be immediately available, and they allow you to spread out payments over time. Keep in mind, though, that if you’re paying with a credit card, interest rates may be high and you’re adding to your revolving debt. This can lead to an increase in the amount of interest you pay, so if you can’t pay the bill in full quickly, your carefully budgeted project could end up costing you more than you intended.

Home equity loans

If you need to borrow a large amount of money for your kitchen remodel costs, borrowing against the value of your home may be a good option. With a home equity loan you borrow a fixed amount against the equity in your home. Or you might consider a home equity line of credit (HELOC). This is a revolving line of credit based on the value of your equity in your home. Since these are types of secured loans, the interest rates charged may be lower than on other types of loans, though the tradeoff for a secured loan means your home is your collateral and you could lose it if you default on your loan.

Personal loan

For many kitchen remodels, a convenient option may be a personal loan. A personal loan can be used for nearly any expense. Personal loans are also incredibly predictable—their fixed rates and regular monthly payments make building a budget a lot easier. There is also usually no collateral required.

Comparing Kitchen Remodel Financing Options

	Risk	Interest Rates	Repayment Structure
Savings	Your savings could be depleted and not available for emergencies	None	None
Credit Card	High interest can compound if you can’t pay off your balance quickly	Varies based on promo periods, but often higher than personal loans	Flexible minimum payments, balance revolves indefinitely
Home Equity Loan & Line of Credit	Your home is used as collateral, missed payments could result in foreclosure	Often lower than a personal loan due to being secured with collateral	Fixed monthly payments over as set term
Personal Loan	Missed payments can negatively affect your credit score	Varies based on your credit health, but often lower than credit cards and higher than home equity	Fixed monthly payments over a set term

No matter how you choose to pay, remodeling your kitchen can help make your home more comfortable and enjoyable. It might even add significant value if you ever decide to sell. But high costs can make paying for your renovation more difficult. Considering financing options with more manageable monthly payments could be key to your dream remodel.

With Discover^® Personal Loans, you can borrow between $2,500 and $40,000. You choose how long you’d like to repay your loan—from 36 up to 84 months. Funds can be sent as soon as the next business day after your acceptance. And 84% of surveyed customers told us their Discover personal loan was simpler than their other financial options.*

Want to learn more about paying for your dream kitchen?

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The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as professional advice. Nothing contained in this article shall give rise to, or be construed to give rise to, any obligation or liability whatsoever on the part of Discover, a division of Capital One, N.A., or its affiliates.

* ABOUT SURVEY

All figures are from an online customer survey conducted in September and October 2025. A total of 461 Discover personal loan customers were interviewed about their most recent Discover personal loan with 332 of them using the funds to consolidate debt. All results @ a 95% confidence level. Respondents opened their personal loan between January and July 2025 for the purpose of consolidating debt. Agree includes respondents who ‘Somewhat Agree’ and ‘Strongly Agree’.