Santa Barbara planning tool
Kitchen budget planner
Plan a kitchen renovation budget as a transparent range. Every unit figure below is an editable illustration — replace it with real proposals as they arrive. Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.
Illustrative planning range built from editable hypothetical unit assumptions — not a quote, not a bid, not market survey data. Replace every assumption with real proposals before making financial decisions.
Your planning range
Room area: 168 sq ft · High-end custom · Full remodel (same footprint)
| Item | Low | High | Assumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demolition & preparation | $1,714 | $2,722 | Scaled by room area and scope intensity. |
| Labor & general conditions | $22,848 | $36,288 | Crew labor, supervision and site protection; scales with area and scope. |
| Cabinetry & millwork | $29,376 | $46,656 | Per linear foot; finish band drives the spread. |
| Countertops | $7,181 | $11,405 | Assumed to run the cabinet length; edit the unit for stone tier. |
| Appliances allowance | $24,480 | $38,880 | Lump-sum allowance — replace with a real appliance schedule. |
| Sink, faucet & fittings | $1,768 | $2,808 | Typical kitchen sink + faucet set; edit count via the unit. |
| Tile & wall surfaces | $15,422 | $24,494 | Assumes ~1.5× floor area of tiled surface (backsplash/shower walls); edit freely. |
| Flooring | $6,397 | $10,161 | Installed per sq ft of floor area. |
| Electrical & lighting | $2,570 | $4,082 | Circuits, lighting and controls; scope intensity drives the spread. |
| Rough & finish plumbing | $4,760 | $7,560 | Per fixture; layout changes add a separate relocation row. |
| Construction subtotal | $116,516 | $185,056 | Sum of the itemized rows above. |
| Contingency (12%) | $13,982 | $22,207 | On construction only. |
| Design allowance (8%) | $9,321 | $14,804 | On construction only. |
| Materials tax allowance (0%) | $0 | $0 | On material rows only; confirm current rates. |
| Permit/fee allowance | $0 | $0 | Your editable allowance; check the agency schedule. |
| Planning range total | $139,819 | $222,067 | A planning range — not a quote or bid. |
What this range excludes
- Permit and plan-check fees (enter your own allowance after checking the agency fee schedule)
- Sales tax on materials (editable allowance; confirm the current rate for your jurisdiction)
- Hazardous-materials survey or abatement (asbestos, lead) in pre-1980 homes
- Hidden-condition repairs discovered at demolition (rot, galvanized piping, knob-and-tube wiring)
- Temporary housing, storage or moving costs during construction
- Landscaping, exterior work or utility service upgrades
- Design professional fees beyond the optional editable allowance
Preconstruction checklist
- Measure the room and photograph every wall, the panel and the shut-offs
- Decide whether the layout stays or moves — relocation drives plumbing and electrical scope
- Collect two or three cabinet proposals on the same linear-foot basis before comparing
- Build an appliance schedule with model numbers so allowances are real
- Ask each bidder what their number excludes — compare exclusions, not just totals
- Confirm with the City of Santa Barbara whether your scope needs a building permit
- Hold a contingency of at least 10–15% for hidden conditions in older homes
Keep researching
- Kitchen remodeling in Santa Barbara — scope, process and decision guidance for this room.
- Santa Barbara construction cost guide — how the eleven cost components combine into a project total.
- Santa Barbara hub — permits, design review and every City service page.
Ready to talk through a real scope? Contact the studio — nothing from this planner is sent unless you choose to write to us.