What a Kitchen Remodel Really Costs in Cumming, GA - 2026 Budget

"What will my kitchen cost?" is the first question most Cumming homeowners ask us. The honest answer is a range, and it depends on three things: size, scope and cabinet line. Below are realistic 2026 planning ranges for a kitchen remodel in Cumming, GA, what drives them, and how to keep your number under control. It's the same framework our designers use in every Cumming kitchen design consultation.

For a regional benchmark, the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report puts the cost of an Atlanta kitchen remodel at:

• $28,359 for a midrange minor remodel
• $79,591 for a midrange major remodel
• $157,713 for an upscale major remodel

Each figure is based on a 200-square-foot kitchen.

2026 Kitchen Remodel Budget Ranges by Kitchen Size

• Refresh: keep the layout. Refinish or reface the cabinets, or install value-tier cabinets, then add new countertops, backsplash, sink, faucet and hardware.
• Mid-range: new cabinets in the same layout, quartz countertops, tile backsplash, lighting and some new appliances.
• Full gut: down to the studs, with layout changes, new plumbing and electrical, flooring and appliances.

Read More: What no one tells you before starting a kitchen remodel

Scope	10×12 kitchen	12×14 kitchen	Open-concept with island
Refresh	$12,000–$25,000	$15,000–$30,000	$22,000–$40,000
Mid-range	$30,000–$50,000	$38,000–$65,000	$55,000–$90,000
Full gut	$55,000–$90,000	$70,000–$120,000	$100,000–$175,000+

Size matters because cabinet runs grow with the room. A 10×10 kitchen, the industry's standard pricing template, holds about 20 linear feet of cabinets, while an open-concept kitchen with an island can hold far more. These are planning ranges, not quotes. Your design consultation turns them into a real number for your home.

Where the Money Goes: Cabinets Lead the Budget

Cabinets are the biggest line item in almost every kitchen. National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) planning guidance breaks a full remodel down roughly like this:

• cabinetry and hardware: about 29%
• installation: around 17%
• appliances: 14%
• countertops: 10%

When the project is mainly new cabinets and countertops in the same layout, fewer trades are involved, so cabinets often climb toward 40–50% of the spend. That's why your cabinet line matters so much:

• Value lines: Mantra is MasterBrand's value-tier brand, with some of the fastest lead times in the industry.
• Mid-range: Fabuwood builds with plywood boxes, dovetailed drawers and soft-close hardware as standard.
• Semi-custom: Kemper is a semi-custom line, and Wellborn offers factory modifications and a custom-color program. Both cost more but add sizes, wood species and finishes.

In the same 12×14 layout, moving from a value line to a semi-custom line can shift the cabinet total by thousands of dollars, even when everything else stays the same.

One more 2026 factor: since October 14, 2025, imported kitchen cabinets have carried a 25% Section 232 tariff, and that rate is scheduled to rise to 50% on January 1, 2027. Ask your designer which lines are domestic and which are imported.

Cabinet Refinishing vs. Refacing vs. Replacing in Cumming

Refinishing means painting or recoating your existing cabinets. It's the cheapest route: HomeAdvisor data puts typical Atlanta cabinet refinishing at roughly $1,900–$4,800. It makes sense when the boxes are solid, the layout works and you like the door shape.

Refacing replaces doors and drawer fronts and covers the frames with a matching veneer. HomeAdvisor's typical Atlanta range runs about $3,900–$11,500. Full-service refacing with organizers and trim is often quoted in the high teens to low twenties in North Atlanta. Refacing is best when the boxes are sound but the style is dated. Both refinishing and refacing usually take days on site rather than weeks.

Replacing is the right call when:

• the layout doesn't work
• the boxes have water damage
• you need more drawers and storage
• you're about to invest in stone countertops (don't set new quartz on cabinets you'll want to replace in five years)

Forsyth County Permits, HOA Rules and Local Labor Costs

Forsyth County's Department of Building and Licensing handles residential permits through its online Customer Self Service portal. New cabinets are generally treated as a cosmetic update. Relocating plumbing, removing walls, or adding circuits or gas lines typically requires a permit, and new concealed work like gas or plumbing lines may need a rough inspection before the walls close.

The county's renovation paperwork asks for:

• complete floor plans showing the number of bedrooms
• a notarized contractor affidavit, with copies of the contractor's business and state licenses
• a notarized self-work affidavit if you're doing the work yourself

If you live inside Cumming city limits, confirm which office issues your permit.

HOA rules usually focus on the job site and the exterior. Check your covenants for:

• contractor hours
• parking
• dumpsters and portable storage units
• architectural approval for exterior changes, such as a new range-hood vent or window

Local labor adds up quickly. Atlanta-area contractors report these typical rates:

Trade	Typical Atlanta-area rate
Electricians	$75–$150 per hour
Plumbers	$75–$130 per hour
Tile labor	$5–$15 per square foot
Cabinet installation	$69–$119 per linear foot

Lead Times: From Order to Delivery to Install

1. Design and quote. Your layout, 3D rendering and pricing come first.
2. Cabinet delivery. Fast-ship lines move quickly: JSI says it can deliver in 5–7 days, and a Fabuwood dealer reports that pre-assembled Galaxy cabinets ship in as little as seven days. Made-to-order semi-custom lines take longer. A custom paint program like Wellborn's ColorInspire adds a six-week lead time.
3. Installation. Cabinets usually take a few days to set. Countertops are templated after the cabinets are installed, then fabricated and installed, typically within one to two weeks. Plumbing and appliances reconnect last.

For most kitchen remodeling projects in Cumming, GA, cabinets are delivered and installed within a few weeks of design approval. A full gut with permits takes longer. If you're considering an imported line, ordering before the scheduled January 2027 tariff increase may matter.

What Changes the Number Most

1. Moving the sink, range or dishwasher. New supply lines, drains, gas and venting add plumbing and electrical hours fast.
2. Removing walls. Opening a kitchen to the family room, especially through a load-bearing wall, brings structural work and permits.
3. Countertops. Quartz in the Atlanta area typically runs about $60–$100 per square foot installed, so a large island moves the total quickly.
4. Appliances. Plan on $5,000–$15,000 for a new package, depending on brand and features.
5. Hidden conditions. Water damage under the sink or outdated wiring appears once walls open. NKBA guidance suggests holding 10–20% of your budget as contingency.
6. Flooring. New cabinets rarely match the old footprint, so the floor may show gaps or need patching. Decide on flooring before the cabinets go in.

Get Your Real Number

The fastest way to turn these ranges into a real budget is a design built around your actual room. Our free kitchen design starts with a consultation, and our team creates a custom layout and 3D rendering at no cost.

Book your free kitchen design or order samples. Bring your measurements, a few photos and a target budget, and we'll show you what each tier looks like in your space. You can also visit our showroom at 460 Brannon Road, Suite 103, Cumming, GA 30041, or call 770-697-0166.