How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in Toronto & the GTA in 2026?
If you’re planning a kitchen renovation in Toronto, Vaughan or the GTA, one of the first things you probably want to know is what it’s going to cost.
In 2026, a straightforward kitchen renovation can start around $25,000–$40,000. A more complete renovation with new cabinetry, countertops, flooring, electrical and plumbing will often land somewhere around $40,000–$75,000+.
For larger kitchens with custom millwork, structural changes and higher-end finishes, budgets can move beyond $80,000–$100,000.
Those are useful starting points, but they’re not fixed prices. “Kitchen renovation” can mean anything from replacing cabinets and countertops to removing walls and rebuilding most of the main floor.
In our experience, the layout and cabinetry usually have a bigger impact on the final price than the actual size of the kitchen.
Kitchen Renovation Cost in Toronto & the GTA
A better way to look at kitchen renovation costs is by how much you’re actually changing.
$25,000–$40,000 — Straightforward Kitchen Renovation
This range can work well when you like the existing layout and aren’t making major changes to plumbing, electrical or the surrounding space.
The renovation might include:
- New cabinetry
- Standard quartz countertops
- New backsplash
- Sink and faucet
- Updated lighting
- Painting
- Minor electrical or plumbing work
Keeping the sink, dishwasher, stove and other major components close to their existing locations generally helps keep costs down.
You’re still getting a new kitchen, but you’re working with the layout that’s already there instead of rebuilding everything around it.
$40,000–$70,000 — Full Kitchen Renovation
This is where many complete kitchen renovations in Toronto and the GTA start to fall.
At this level, there’s more room to change how the kitchen actually works, not just how it looks.
A project might include:
- Complete demolition
- Custom or semi-custom cabinetry
- New kitchen island
- Quartz or stone countertops
- Tile backsplash
- New flooring
- Pot lights and feature lighting
- Electrical upgrades
- Plumbing modifications
- Appliance installation
- Range hood ventilation
- Painting and finishing
You may also be moving appliances, changing the island or adjusting the cabinetry layout to make better use of the room.
$70,000–$100,000+ — Custom Kitchen & Main-Floor Renovation
Once walls start coming down and the kitchen becomes part of a larger main-floor renovation, the budget can change quickly.
This type of project may include:
- Fully custom millwork
- Large kitchen islands
- Premium countertops
- Waterfall or mitred countertop edges
- Integrated appliances
- Relocated plumbing and electrical
- New hardwood or tile throughout the main floor
- Load-bearing wall removal
- LVL or steel beams
- Custom lighting
- Built-in pantry storage
- Higher-end fixtures and finishes
At this point, you’re really dealing with a main-floor renovation that includes a new kitchen, rather than simply replacing an existing kitchen.
Cabinetry Is Usually One of the Biggest Costs
Cabinetry takes up a large part of most kitchen renovation budgets.
But it’s not just about choosing MDF, wood or a particular door style.
The number of cabinets matters. So does the number of drawers, pantry units, appliance panels, interior accessories, the size of the island and how much custom work is involved.
At Star Builders, we work closely with our millwork fabricators and in-house designer to design the kitchen around the home rather than simply filling the existing cabinet locations.
Sometimes the existing layout already works and there’s no reason to change it.
Other times, moving the fridge, sink, dishwasher or range by a few feet can make a much bigger difference than spending that money on more expensive finishes.
Can You Move the Sink and Appliances?
Yes.
A lot of homeowners assume the sink and appliances need to stay wherever the builder originally put them. They don’t.
During a full kitchen renovation in Vaughan, Toronto or elsewhere in the GTA, we can often relocate plumbing, electrical and appliance locations if it creates a better kitchen.
That might mean:
- Moving the sink into the island
- Relocating the dishwasher with it
- Moving the refrigerator into a pantry wall
- Creating a larger cooking wall for the range
- Adding electrical for a new island
- Relocating range hood ductwork
- Running a new refrigerator water line
There is obviously a cost to moving these services. But if the existing layout doesn’t work, we’d rather address it during the renovation than design an entirely new kitchen around the same problem.
What If You Want to Remove a Wall?
This is where a kitchen renovation can really change the way the main floor feels.
A lot of older homes in Toronto and Vaughan were built with the kitchen separated from the dining and living areas.
Removing that wall can make room for a larger island, improve sightlines and bring more natural light through the space.
But if it’s a load-bearing wall, it isn’t just demolition.
Engineering may be required, along with temporary shoring and an LVL or steel beam to properly support the structure above.
That adds to the budget, but for the right house, removing a wall can make a much bigger difference than putting the same money into more expensive cabinets or countertops.
Learn more about load-bearing wall removal here.
Countertops Can Change the Budget Quickly
Quartz is still one of the most common choices we see. It’s durable, easy to maintain and available in enough colours and patterns to work with almost any kitchen.
But countertop pricing can vary quite a bit.
The cost can increase with:
- Premium quartz
- Quartzite, marble or other natural stone
- Large islands
- Waterfall edges
- Mitred edges
- Full-height stone backsplashes
- Designs that require additional slabs
If you’re trying to keep the overall kitchen budget under control, you don’t necessarily need the most expensive stone.
A good standard quartz with a simple edge can still look great and leaves more of the budget for the parts of the kitchen that are harder to change later.
Don’t Forget About Electrical
Older kitchens weren’t designed around the number of appliances and electrical devices we use today.
A renovation may require new appliance circuits, countertop receptacles, island power, under-cabinet lighting, pendants and pot lights.
And once an older kitchen is demolished, we sometimes find electrical that needs to be updated before the walls can be closed again.
This comes up more often in older Toronto homes, where what’s behind the drywall can sometimes have a bigger effect on the budget than the finishes going back in.
Renovating an Older Toronto Kitchen
Renovating an older Toronto home can be very different from working in a newer Vaughan subdivision.
Once the old kitchen comes out, we may find:
- Older electrical
- Outdated plumbing
- Uneven floors
- Previous renovations
- Modified framing
- Poor ventilation
- Walls that aren’t straight
- Structural conditions that weren’t visible beforehand
That doesn’t mean renovating an older home needs to become an open-ended project.
It does mean you should leave some room in the budget for existing conditions rather than committing every dollar to cabinetry and finishes before demolition starts.
Do You Need a Permit for a Kitchen Renovation?
Not every kitchen renovation requires a building permit.
If you’re replacing cabinetry, countertops and finishes while leaving the basic structure and services alone, the project may be fairly straightforward from a permit standpoint.
Once you’re removing walls, making structural changes or significantly altering plumbing, the requirements can change.
We look at this as part of the project planning so that any engineering, drawings or permits that are needed can be dealt with before construction rather than halfway through the renovation.
Where Should You Spend Your Kitchen Budget?
You don’t need the most expensive version of everything.
If we had to prioritize a kitchen budget, we’d put the money into the things that are difficult and expensive to change later:
Layout, cabinetry, electrical, plumbing, lighting and the construction itself.
Pendant lights can be replaced.
Counter stools can be changed.
Appliances can eventually be upgraded.
But if the island is in the wrong place or the cabinet layout doesn’t work, fixing it later is a much bigger job.
Get the bones of the kitchen right first. Then decide where the premium finishes are actually worth the extra money.
How Long Does a Kitchen Renovation Take?
A straightforward kitchen renovation may take around 6–10 weeks of construction.
Larger renovations involving custom cabinetry, structural work or significant changes to the main floor can take longer.
There’s also work that needs to happen before demolition:
- Kitchen design
- Cabinet drawings
- Material selections
- Engineering, when required
- Permits, when required
- Ordering cabinetry and finishes
This part of the project isn’t as exciting as demolition day, but it’s important.
Having the cabinetry finalized, materials selected and structural work figured out before construction starts can prevent a lot of unnecessary delays later.
Kitchen Renovations in Vaughan
A kitchen renovation in Vaughan can present different opportunities than we typically see in older Toronto homes.
Many Vaughan homes have larger main floors, attached dining areas and enough space to rethink the kitchen around a larger island.
Instead of automatically putting new cabinets where the old ones were, we can look at the whole main floor.
Would moving the fridge create a better pantry wall?
Could the sink work better in the island?
Would removing the wall to the dining room create enough space for the kitchen you actually want?
Sometimes the answer is to make the kitchen larger. Sometimes it’s simply to use the existing space better.
How Much Should You Budget for a Kitchen Renovation in 2026?
As a starting point for a kitchen renovation in Toronto, Vaughan or the GTA:
$25,000–$40,000 — A simpler renovation with limited layout changes.
$40,000–$70,000+ — A complete kitchen renovation with new cabinetry, countertops, electrical, plumbing and finishes.
$70,000–$100,000+ — A custom kitchen with significant layout changes, structural work or renovations extending into the surrounding main floor.
The best way to establish a realistic budget is to figure out what you’re actually changing first.
Two kitchens can be almost identical in size and cost completely different amounts to renovate.
Planning a Kitchen Renovation in Toronto or the GTA?
Star Builders provides complete kitchen renovation services in Toronto, Vaughan and across the GTA.
We work closely with our in-house designer, millwork fabricators and construction team to plan the kitchen around your home and how you actually use it.
From cabinetry and countertops to relocating plumbing, electrical work and load-bearing wall removal, we coordinate the different parts of the project instead of leaving you to manage several separate contractors.
Whether you’re updating an existing kitchen or completely changing your main floor, we’ll help you understand what’s involved, what your options are and what you should realistically budget before construction begins.
Planning a kitchen renovation? Contact Star Builders to discuss your project and get a detailed estimate.