Kitchen remodeling in Cleveland
A minor midrange kitchen remodel in Cleveland cost $25,8951 in the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, against $28,4582 nationally. The local factor to weigh is what the house is worth: the median home in the City of Cleveland is valued at $102,0003, so a full upscale kitchen can cost more than the house around it.
Calls are recorded. One independent company that handles kitchen remodels in the Cleveland area answers.
Updated October 12, 2026
What a kitchen costs in Cleveland
Cost vs. Value prices three standard kitchen jobs, from a refresh to a gut remodel. Cleveland's newest page is in the 2025 edition, so the national column beside it is from 2025 too.
| Measure | Cleveland | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Minor kitchen remodel, midrange, job cost | $25,8951 | $28,4582 |
| Major kitchen remodel, midrange, job cost | $76,8461 | $82,7932 |
| Major kitchen remodel, upscale, job cost | $150,4631 | $164,1042 |
| Minor midrange kitchen remodel, cost recouped at resale | 94%1 | 113%1 |
All three Cleveland job costs fall below the national ones. The smaller refresh also earns back the largest share of its price at resale, which makes it the safer bet in a modest neighborhood.
Kitchen budgets next to home values
Home values inside the City of Cleveland run far below the county's, and that gap changes how far a kitchen budget should go.
| Measure | City of Cleveland | Cuyahoga County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $102,0003 | $195,4003 |
An upscale major kitchen cost $150,4631 in the 2025 report. Set against a city median of $102,0003, that's more than the typical house is worth, so in much of Cleveland a midrange plan or a refresh fits better.
When the houses were built
Census counts by decade for the city and the county. The county's biggest building years came just after the war.
Gas in the house
The Census Bureau asks what fuel heats each occupied home. In Cuyahoga County the answer is overwhelmingly natural gas.
What kitchen trades earn here
A Cleveland kitchen crew is mostly carpenters setting cabinets built by cabinetmakers, plus an electrician and a plumber. Here is what each earns at the median, locally and nationally:
| Measure | Cleveland metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenters, median hourly wage | $29.16/hr6 | $29.12/hr7 |
| Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters, median hourly wage | $24.70/hr6 | $22.44/hr7 |
| Electricians, median hourly wage | $34.07/hr6 | $30.38/hr7 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, median hourly wage | $30.30/hr6 | $30.67/hr7 |
Cabinetmakers and electricians here earn more than the national median, while carpenters and plumbers are close to it.
Weather a Cleveland kitchen sees
A sink under a window on an outside wall has to be protected through a long freezing season, and a range hood ducted outdoors needs a damper that closes tight against the cold.
Hardness at the kitchen tap
Cleveland Water's 2025 report gives one system-wide average hardness for its drinking water.
| Measure | Cleveland Water |
|---|---|
| Average hardness of Cleveland Water's tap water (as calcium carbonate) | 117 mg/L10 |
The USGS classes water at 61 to 120 mg/L of hardness as moderately hard.11 In a kitchen that means some buildup in the dishwasher, the kettle and the faucet aerator over the years, which a filter on the refrigerator line can ease.
Permits
In the City of Cleveland, the Department of Building and Housing handles kitchen permits under the Residential Code of Ohio. New cabinets and counters alone are finish work; a moved sink, new circuits or a gas line need approval and inspection, and plans are reviewed before work starts. A suburban house goes through its own community's building department instead, under the same state code.
- Under the Residential Code of Ohio, anyone who plans to alter or repair a home, or to install, alter, convert or replace its electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, must first apply to a certified residential building department and get approval.12
- The Residential Code of Ohio doesn't require approval for painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work, though that work still has to meet the code.12
- In Ohio, minor repairs can be made without notifying the building official, but that doesn't cover cutting away walls, removing structural supports, or adding, altering or relocating water, drain, gas or vent piping or electric wiring.12
- Cleveland owners of one- or two-family homes may do alterations themselves without registering as contractors, but they must follow the same permit, plan review and inspection rules.13
- Cleveland reviews plans for code compliance once a permit application is made, and review for one- and two-family homes can generally be done in 3 to 5 working days.13
- Cleveland's Department of Building and Housing tells homeowners to ask their contractor for copies of all permits before work begins and not to accept the work before a city inspector's final inspection.13
Checked October 12, 2026
Before you hire
Ohio doesn't license residential remodelers statewide, so ask which city license or registration the company holds where you live, confirm it with that building department, and check any electrician, plumber or HVAC contractor on the state's OCILB lookup.
Talk to a pro who handles kitchen remodels in Cleveland
Calls are recorded. You'll be connected to one independent company that handles kitchen remodels in your area. We never call or text you. Privacy Policy ·Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Kitchens in Cleveland bungalows and doubles
42%4 of Cuyahoga County homes were built from 1940 to 1969, the years of the bungalows and Cape Cods found in inner suburbs such as Parma. Their kitchens tend to be compact, with a side door, a landing and basement stairs taking up one wall.
Floors from those decades can hide older layers. The EPA lists vinyl floor tile, vinyl sheet backing and flooring adhesives among products that may contain asbestos, which is released mainly when the material is disturbed.14 The EPA advises having an accredited asbestos professional inspect before a remodel that could disturb suspect materials, and not sanding or power-stripping suspect flooring yourself.15
In the city itself, 49%4 of homes predate 1940. For homes built before 1978, the EPA advises hiring contractors who use only lead-safe certified renovators.16 The EPA notes that painted window sashes and frames in homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, which opening and closing the window can release as dust, and that a kitchen remodel may be a good time to replace old windows.16
Venting and gas in a Cleveland kitchen
The Residential Code of Ohio, based on the 2018 International Residential Code, applies to the construction, alteration, replacement and repair of every one-, two- or three-family dwelling in the state.12 In Ohio, minor repairs can be made without notifying the building official, but that doesn't cover cutting away walls, removing structural supports, or adding, altering or relocating water, drain, gas or vent piping or electric wiring.12
The EPA says a stove hood with a fan vented to the outdoors greatly reduces exposure to pollutants during cooking, and advises installing and using exhaust fans over gas stoves and ranges.17 In a bungalow with a second floor or attic above the kitchen, ask whether the hood will duct through the side wall or up through the roof, and where the damper goes.
A kitchen that works at any age
Basement stairs right off the kitchen make a fall risk worth planning around. More than one in four adults 65 and older fall each year.18 The National Institute on Aging suggests keeping frequently used pots, pans and utensils where they are easy to reach, and preparing food while seated to prevent fatigue or loss of balance.19
Planning to age in this house? Tell the company early, since grab-bar blocking, lever handles and lower cabinets are cheaper to add now than later. NAHB's Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential trains remodelers in home modifications for aging in place.20
What happens when you call
Calling the number on this page connects you, on a recorded line, with one independent company that handles kitchen remodels in the Cleveland area. Everything about the job, from scope to cost to timing, is between you and them.
We're paid for the connection, not by you. We don't charge you anything and we never follow up by phone or text. How we make money
After you're connected
Check the company on your own before a contract or deposit. Ohio's Department of Commerce says residential contractors are not required to be licensed in Ohio, and advises homeowners to ask their local building department whether a contractor is licensed or registered to work in their city, county or township.21 To build or rehabilitate homes in Cleveland, contractors must be bonded, insured and registered with the Department of Building and Housing, electricians and plumbers must also be licensed, and homeowners can call the department to confirm a contractor is registered.13 Check an Ohio license
Questions people ask
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Cleveland?
In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, a minor midrange kitchen in Cleveland cost $25,8951, a major midrange one $76,8461 and a major upscale one $150,4631. Cabinets, appliances and whether the sink or range moves set your actual price.
Is a big kitchen remodel worth it in Cleveland?
It depends on the house. A minor midrange kitchen recouped 94%1 of its cost at resale here, and the median City of Cleveland home is valued at $102,0003, so a refresh usually pays back better than a gut remodel.
Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Cleveland?
Cabinets and counters by themselves don't need approval. The Residential Code of Ohio doesn't require approval for painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work, though that work still has to meet the code.12 Plumbing, wiring or gas changes do. Under the Residential Code of Ohio, anyone who plans to alter or repair a home, or to install, alter, convert or replace its electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, must first apply to a certified residential building department and get approval.12 Cleveland's online Permit Portal is where you apply for permits, submit plans, pay permit fees, track a permit's progress and see the permit history at an address.22
Who answers when I call?
One independent company that handles kitchen remodels in the Cleveland area, not us; we don't build kitchens. Look the company up yourself before you agree to anything.
Sources
Page updated October 12, 2026. How we source our numbers
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, Cost vs. Value 2025, Cleveland, OH. Released 2025. Cleveland, OH. Industry source.
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, Cost vs. Value 2025, national. Released 2025. United States. Industry source.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year, table B25077. Released January 29, 2026. City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year, table B25034. Released January 29, 2026. City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year, table B25040. Released January 29, 2026. Cuyahoga County, OH.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Cleveland, OH MSA. Released May 15, 2026. Cleveland, OH metro area.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Released May 15, 2026. Carpenters, United States, Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters, United States, Electricians, United States, Plumbers, United States.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Released 2021. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (station USW00014820).
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Comparative Climatic Data, average relative humidity, period of record 1948–2018. Released November 2024. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (WBAN 14820).
- Cleveland Water (City of Cleveland Division of Water), 2025 Water Quality Report. Released 2025. Cleveland Water service area.
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Science School: Hardness of Water. No publication date. View source.
- Ohio Board of Building Standards, Ohio Administrative Code rule 4101:8-1-01 (Residential Code of Ohio, administration). Released July 1, 2019. View source.
- City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing, Home Building, Rehab and DIY Permits. No publication date. View source.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Learn About Asbestos. Released July 13, 2026. View source.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Protect Your Family from Exposures to Asbestos. Released June 25, 2026. View source.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Remodeling Your Home and Indoor Air Quality. Released February 17, 2026. View source.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Sources of Combustion Products. Released December 17, 2025. View source.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Facts About Older Adult Falls. Released September 4, 2026. View source.
- National Institute on Aging, Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room. Released September 12, 2022. View source.
- National Association of Home Builders, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). No publication date. View source. Industry source.
- Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance, OCILB: Verifying Licensed Contractors. No publication date. View source.
- City of Cleveland Department of Building and Housing, Division of Construction Permitting. No publication date. View source.