Thinking about a kitchen remodel in Miami or the greater South Florida area? Costs have shifted meaningfully over the past two years, and what you paid neighbors quoted in 2023 no longer reflects today’s market. This guide breaks down real 2026 price ranges for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties — including what drives cost up, where smart homeowners save, and what a fair mid-range quote should look like.
Across South Florida, a full kitchen remodel in 2026 typically falls into three tiers:
- Basic refresh — $18,000 to $32,000. Reface or repaint existing cabinets, new countertops (quartz or solid surface), mid-grade appliances, tile backsplash, updated lighting.
- Mid-range remodel — $38,000 to $68,000. Full cabinet replacement with quality semi-custom lines, quartz or upgraded natural stone, modern appliance package, recessed lighting plan, minor plumbing reroute, new flooring.
- Luxury remodel — $85,000 to $180,000+. Custom cabinetry, large island with waterfall edge, premium appliance brands (Wolf, Sub-Zero, Thermador), natural stone slabs, structural changes, designer lighting, integrated smart-home features.
Quick reference — 2026 Miami-area
Basic refresh: $18K–$32K • Mid-range: $38K–$68K • Luxury: $85K–$180K+
Price per square foot — the quick rule
A practical benchmark for Miami in 2026: $275–$550 per square foot for a mid-range remodel, and $600+ for luxury. A typical 180 sq ft kitchen therefore lands between $50,000 and $100,000 for quality work. Our own prices usually come in below these benchmarks because the cabinets come from our shop, not a distributor; the calculator on our kitchen pages shows the range for your size. If one quote is far below the others, ask what’s missing: labor only, or the cheapest cabinet grade.
What drives the price up or down
Five factors account for roughly 80% of the final number:
- Cabinets (35–45% of budget). The biggest single line item. Stock cabinets save money; semi-custom offers the best balance; fully custom doubles the cost. Material matters too — plywood boxes with soft-close hardware will outlast particleboard by decades. We build ours in our own Coral Springs shop, so on our quotes this line is a manufacturing cost rather than a dealer margin.
- Countertops (10–15%). Quartz ($70–$120/sq ft installed) remains the durability leader. Exotic natural stone can exceed $200/sq ft installed.
- Appliances (10–20%). A full stainless package from a mainstream brand runs $6,000–$10,000. Premium (Wolf/Sub-Zero) easily hits $25,000+.
- Labor & permits (20–25%). Miami-Dade’s permitting is rigorous, especially for plumbing, electrical, and any structural change. Factor $1,500–$4,500 for permits and inspections on a full remodel.
- Surprises behind the walls. Older Florida homes (1970s–1990s) often reveal galvanized plumbing, undersized electrical panels, or moisture damage once cabinets come off. A 10–15% contingency is standard.
Where Miami homeowners actually save
Real, non-obvious savings without cutting quality:
- Keep the layout. Moving the sink, stove, or load-bearing wall adds $5,000–$15,000 fast. A refreshed layout in the same footprint often looks just as new.
- Choose quartz over exotic natural stone. Modern quartz patterns rival marble at a third of the cost and require zero sealing.
- Pick one “wow” element. Splurge on the island or the range hood — pair it with clean, mid-priced finishes elsewhere. Looks designed, not expensive.
- Schedule in the off-season. Late summer and early fall in Miami (August–October) typically gets faster crew availability and sometimes 5–10% better pricing than the January–March rush.
Timeline: how long does a Miami kitchen remodel take?
A typical Dreamery kitchen takes 4–6 weeks from signed contract to final walkthrough, plus about two weeks before that for the design and the quote:
- Before the contract: about 2 weeks. Consultation at your home, then the 3D design and one itemized price within 5 business days, and a few days to choose finishes.
- Weeks 1–3: permit and cabinets at the same time. Our coordinator prepares the permit paperwork while our Coral Springs shop builds the cabinets to your measurements. Miami-Dade permits typically come back in 2–4 weeks.
- Weeks 3–6: the work on site. Demo, rough plumbing & electrical, cabinets, countertops (templated after the cabinets are set), backsplash, punch list.
Structural changes, a condo board review or special-order stone can add time; the finish date is written into the contract either way. Our week-by-week timeline shows what happens in each week, and the permits guide covers the paperwork.
Financing: what’s available in Florida in 2026
Most homeowners combine cash with one of three financing options:
- Home equity line (HELOC) — typically 8–10% APR in 2026. Interest may be tax-deductible when used for home improvements.
- Cash-out refinance — only makes sense if you’re already refinancing for other reasons.
- Contractor-partnered financing. Dreamery works with lending partners that offer monthly payment plans for qualifying projects — terms depend on credit profile and loan amount.
Red flags in a Miami kitchen quote
A few warning signs that separate a professional quote from a risky one — our guide on comparing kitchen remodel quotes goes through them line by line:
- No mention of permits — a “we work permit-free” answer is a liability problem later.
- All-cash, no written contract, large upfront deposit (>30%).
- No itemized breakdown between cabinets, tops, appliances, and labor.
- Vague timeline (“a few weeks”) instead of a dated schedule.
Getting a real Miami kitchen quote
A quality quote requires about 30 minutes on-site: measuring the existing footprint, checking utility locations, and discussing the finish level you want. Dreamery’s team has remodeled more than a hundred kitchens across South Florida, and we price every project with an itemized breakdown so you know exactly what you’re paying for. See how we run a kitchen remodel and recent projects with their budgets.
Ready to see real numbers for your kitchen? Request a free on-site estimate — we’ll walk you through layout options, finish levels, and financing in one visit.