How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in Metro Vancouver? A 2026 Price Guide

Ask three contractors what a kitchen renovation costs and you'll get three very different numbers — usually because they're describing three very different kitchens. Here is the honest version, based on what Metro Vancouver homeowners are actually paying in 2026.

The short answer

For a typical Metro Vancouver home in 2026, market pricing lands in three broad tiers:

• Cosmetic refresh: roughly $15,000–$25,000. Same layout, same cabinet boxes. New doors or refacing, countertops, backsplash, sink and faucet, paint and lighting.
• Full mid-range renovation: roughly $35,000–$90,000. New cabinets, stone countertops, new flooring and appliances, updated plumbing and electrical at the existing locations.
• Custom or high-end kitchen: $100,000 and up. Layout changes, custom millwork, premium appliances and finishes. Larger high-end kitchens in Vancouver regularly exceed $150,000.

Per square foot, most full kitchen renovations in the region work out to roughly $200–$450 per square foot, with high-end custom work above that. Vancouver labour and material costs run meaningfully above the national average, so guides written for other markets tend to underestimate what things cost here.

These are market ranges, not a quote. The only number that matters for your project is one built from your kitchen, your layout and your finishes — request a free consultation and we'll give you a real one.

What actually moves the price

Two kitchens with the same footprint can land tens of thousands of dollars apart. These are the levers that matter, in rough order of impact.

1. Whether the layout changes

Keeping the sink, stove and fridge where they are is the single biggest money-saver in a kitchen renovation. The moment plumbing, gas or venting moves, you're paying for trades, drywall, inspections — and in most municipalities, permits. In the City of Vancouver, for example, renovation projects that include moving interior walls or existing plumbing, electrical or gas lines require a building permit, while like-for-like replacement of fixtures and cabinets does not.

2. Cabinets

Cabinetry is commonly 30–40% of a full kitchen budget. Stock cabinets, semi-custom lines and full custom millwork can differ by a factor of three for the same footprint. If the budget is tight, this is where a good designer earns their fee — mixing stock boxes with custom fronts, or refacing solid existing boxes.

3. What's behind the walls

Much of the Lower Mainland's housing stock was built between the 1960s and 1990s. Once the old cabinets come off the wall, it's common to find aluminum or undersized wiring, poly-B plumbing, or venting that no longer meets code. Upgrading these isn't optional once they're exposed — which is why we recommend carrying a 15–20% contingency on any kitchen older than 25 years.

4. Countertops, appliances and finishes

Laminate to quartz to natural stone can swing a countertop line item from $2,000 to $15,000+. Appliances range from $5,000 for a solid builder package to $40,000+ for premium panel-ready lines. Neither is right or wrong — they just need to be decided *before* the budget is set, not after.

5. Condo vs house

Renovating a condo kitchen in Burnaby or New Westminster adds a layer a detached Langley home doesn't have: strata approval, insurance certificates, elevator bookings, limited working hours and rules about drain and vent changes. The work itself is similar; the logistics add cost and time.

A realistic example

A 140–160 sq ft kitchen in a 1980s Coquitlam home — new semi-custom cabinets, quartz counters, tile backsplash, new lighting and flooring, appliances at the existing locations — typically prices in the $55,000–$80,000 range in 2026, including design, project management and permits where required. The same kitchen with a wall removed and the island relocated moves into six figures once structural, electrical, plumbing and permit costs are counted.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to renovate my kitchen?

If you're replacing finishes, cabinets and fixtures in place — generally no. If you're moving walls, plumbing, gas or electrical circuits, or creating new openings — generally yes, and the rules are municipal, so they differ between Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and the rest of the region. A good contractor confirms this before quoting, not after starting.

How long does a kitchen renovation take?

A refresh can be done in 2–3 weeks. A full renovation typically runs 6–10 weeks on site, plus design and cabinet lead time before demolition starts. Cabinet lead times are often the schedule driver — custom lines can take 8–12 weeks to arrive.

Is a kitchen renovation worth it for resale?

Kitchens remain one of the strongest-returning renovations in the Lower Mainland market, but the return depends on matching the spend to the home. A $150,000 kitchen in a $900,000 townhouse rarely pays back; a $40,000 renovation that fixes a dated, dysfunctional kitchen usually does. If resale is the goal, see our guide to renovations that sell homes faster.

Can I stay in my home during the renovation?

Usually yes — but plan for 4–8 weeks without a functioning kitchen. Most clients set up a temporary kitchen with the fridge, microwave and a folding table in an adjacent room.

Get a number you can actually plan around

Market ranges get you oriented; they don't get you a budget. PCC renovates kitchens across Metro Vancouver — from Langley to Port Coquitlam to Burnaby — and every project starts with a detailed, line-item estimate, not a per-square-foot guess.

See our kitchen renovation services or book a free consultation and we'll walk your space with you.