How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost in Los Gatos? (2026)
Los Gatos kitchen remodels range from $36,000 for a cosmetic refresh to $230,000+ for a luxury overhaul in 2026. The town's upscale character, strong design aesthetic, older downtown housing stock, and hillside properties that add structural complexity push costs 10-20% above Bay Area averages.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Los Gatos?
A kitchen remodel in Los Gatos costs $36,000-$230,000+ in 2026. Cosmetic refreshes run $36K-$62K, mid-range remodels cost $88K-$155K, and high-end luxury projects range from $155K-$230K+. Los Gatos costs trend 10-20% above Bay Area averages due to its upscale market, older homes, and hillside property challenges.
What Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost in Los Gatos?
Los Gatos is one of the South Bay’s most distinctive communities. Nestled at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the town blends a charming downtown village atmosphere with residential neighborhoods that range from historic Victorians to modern hillside estates. With a median home price around $2.8 million, Los Gatos homeowners have high expectations for interior quality, and the kitchen is where those expectations are most visible.
Kitchen remodel costs in Los Gatos trend 10-20% above Bay Area averages. This premium reflects the town’s upscale character, older housing stock near downtown, hillside properties that add logistical challenges, and a community that values strong design and craftsmanship. Understanding these factors before you begin budgeting sets the stage for a successful project.
For Bay Area-wide pricing, see our kitchen remodel cost guide.
All pricing is approximate, reflects 2026 Bay Area market conditions, and is subject to change. Every project is unique. Final costs are determined on a project-by-project basis during our design phase.
Cost Breakdown by Tier
| Remodel Tier | Cost Range | Timeline | What Is Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic Refresh | $36,000-$62,000 | 4-8 weeks | New cabinet doors or refacing, quartz countertops, updated appliances, fresh paint, new hardware |
| Mid-Range Remodel | $88,000-$155,000 | 3-5 months | Custom cabinetry, stone countertops, layout modifications, new plumbing fixtures, tile backsplash, updated lighting |
| High-End / Luxury | $155,000-$230,000+ | 5-8 months | Structural changes, fully custom cabinetry, premium natural stone, professional-grade appliances, smart home integration, adjacent room modifications |
Most Los Gatos homeowners invest in the mid-range to high-end tiers. The town’s strong design sensibility means even mid-range projects tend to feature carefully curated materials and thoughtful design details that go beyond the basics.
Cost Breakdown by Component
Cabinetry (30-35% of Budget)
Cabinetry is the single largest expense in a Los Gatos kitchen remodel. The town’s design-forward homeowners frequently choose custom or semi-custom options that reflect a specific aesthetic, whether that is a transitional style with Shaker doors and soft close hardware or a sleek contemporary look with flat-panel fronts and integrated pulls.
| Cabinet Type | Cost Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Stock cabinets | $9,000-$16,000 | Budget refreshes with standard dimensions |
| Semi-custom cabinets | $16,000-$35,000 | Mid-range remodels with specific style and storage needs |
| Fully custom cabinets | $35,000-$70,000+ | High-end remodels with unique dimensions, specialty finishes, or built-in organization |
Many older Los Gatos homes near downtown have kitchens with irregular dimensions, angled walls, or low ceilings that make stock cabinets a poor fit. Custom and semi-custom solutions maximize both function and visual appeal in these spaces.
Countertops (10-15% of Budget)
| Material | Cost Range (Installed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Quartz | $4,500-$11,500 | Popular choice; low maintenance, consistent appearance |
| Granite | $5,500-$13,000 | Natural stone with unique character; requires periodic sealing |
| Marble | $8,000-$17,500 | Elegant and timeless; softer stone that requires more care |
| Quartzite | $10,000-$19,500 | Durability of granite with the look of marble; growing in popularity |
| Porcelain slab | $10,000-$21,500 | Large format, ultra-thin; modern aesthetic with excellent durability |
Los Gatos homeowners often select natural stone to complement the town’s warm, organic aesthetic. Marble and quartzite are more popular here than in neighboring tech-hub cities where quartz dominates. Waterfall edges add $2,000-$6,000.
Appliances (10-15% of Budget)
| Appliance Tier | Package Cost | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $5,000-$10,500 | Name-brand refrigerator, range, dishwasher, microwave |
| Mid-range | $10,500-$23,000 | Bosch, KitchenAid, or similar with built-in options |
| Professional-grade | $28,000-$58,000+ | Sub-Zero/Wolf or Thermador suite with panel-ready refrigeration, pro range, speed oven, premium dishwasher |
Los Gatos homeowners who cook frequently are drawn to professional-grade ranges and built-in refrigeration. The town’s food culture, with its proximity to restaurants and farmers markets, means kitchen functionality is a top priority.
Layout Changes and Structural Work (15-25% When Applicable)
Older Los Gatos homes, especially those near downtown and in the hillside neighborhoods, frequently have closed-off kitchen layouts that separate cooking from entertaining spaces.
- Removing a non-load-bearing wall: $5,000-$13,000
- Removing a load-bearing wall (with beam): $13,000-$33,000
- Adding or relocating a kitchen island with plumbing: $13,000-$29,000
- Moving gas, plumbing, or electrical lines: $7,500-$23,000 depending on complexity
On hillside properties, structural work may require additional engineering analysis and reinforcement, which can add $5,000-$15,000 beyond the standard scope.
Labor Costs
Bay Area labor rates remain among the highest in the country. In 2026, expect to allocate 30-40% of your total kitchen remodel budget to labor.
| Trade | Typical Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| General contractor oversight | $80-$150/hour |
| Electrician | $115-$245/hour |
| Plumber | $115-$245/hour |
| Tile installer | $80-$130/hour |
| Cabinet installer | $80-$120/hour |
Los Gatos attracts skilled tradespeople who specialize in high-end residential work. Their rates reflect both the quality of their craftsmanship and the demand for their services in this premium market.
What Drives Costs in Los Gatos
Hillside Properties Add Complexity
Los Gatos is uniquely shaped by its geography. Many homes are perched on hillsides with steep driveways, narrow access roads, and limited flat areas for staging materials and equipment. These site conditions impact kitchen remodels in several ways:
- Material delivery: Large trucks may not be able to reach hillside homes, requiring smaller vehicles and more delivery trips ($1,000-$3,000 extra)
- Staging and access: Limited flat space near the home means materials may need to be hand-carried uphill or staged at a distance ($2,000-$5,000 extra)
- Structural considerations: Hillside homes may have complex foundation systems that affect wall removal and layout changes ($3,000-$10,000 extra for engineering and reinforcement)
If your Los Gatos home is on a hillside lot, discuss access planning with your contractor during the initial site visit. An experienced firm will identify these challenges early and price them accurately.
Older Downtown Housing Stock
The neighborhoods surrounding downtown Los Gatos include some of the town’s oldest homes, dating from the early 1900s through the 1950s. These homes carry charm and character, but they also come with aging infrastructure:
- Knob-and-tube wiring that needs complete replacement ($5,000-$12,000)
- Cast iron or galvanized plumbing past its useful life ($4,000-$10,000)
- Original subfloors with potential water damage or dry rot ($3,000-$8,000)
- Non-standard framing that complicates layout changes ($2,000-$6,000)
Budget an extra 15-20% for discovery costs if your Los Gatos home was built before 1960.
Strong Design Aesthetic
Los Gatos has a distinct design sensibility that sets it apart from more tech-focused South Bay communities. Homeowners here tend to favor warm, layered interiors with natural materials, artisan tile, and thoughtfully selected hardware. This attention to design detail means more time in material selection, more specialty sourcing, and occasionally higher material costs than a comparable project in a city with more standardized tastes.
Competitive Real Estate Market
With a median home price near $2.8 million, Los Gatos homeowners recognize that a well-executed kitchen remodel protects and enhances their investment. The expectation for quality is high, and cutting corners can actually hurt resale value in a market where buyers look closely at interior finishes.
Los Gatos Permit and Regulation Info
The Town of Los Gatos requires building permits for kitchen remodels involving structural, plumbing, or electrical work. Here is what to expect:
Application process. Submit permit applications to the Community Development Department at Town Hall (110 E. Main Street). The town accepts both online and in-person submissions. Plan review for standard residential kitchen projects takes approximately 2-4 weeks.
Hillside development standards. If your home is in a designated hillside area, additional review requirements may apply. Hillside projects can require geotechnical reports, additional engineering, and compliance with the town’s Hillside Development Standards. These add both time and cost to the permitting process.
Code compliance. All kitchen remodels must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards and California Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24). Key electrical requirements include AFCI protection for all kitchen outlets and receptacles at every countertop area with a minimum dimension of 12 inches.
Permit costs. Building permit fees are based on project valuation. Expect $1,400-$5,000 in permit and plan review fees for a mid-range to high-end kitchen remodel. Structural, plumbing, and electrical sub-permits are additional.
Inspections. The town inspects at standard milestones: rough framing, rough electrical, rough plumbing, insulation, and final. Each inspection must pass before the next phase continues.
Custom Home has completed projects throughout Los Gatos and handles all permitting and inspections as part of our project scope.
How Los Gatos Compares to Other Bay Area Cities
| City | Cosmetic Refresh | Mid-Range Remodel | High-End Remodel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Gatos | $36,000-$62,000 | $88,000-$155,000 | $155,000-$230,000+ |
| Saratoga | $40,000-$75,000 | $80,000-$170,000 | $170,000-$325,000+ |
| San Jose | $35,000-$65,000 | $75,000-$140,000 | $140,000-$225,000+ |
| Cupertino | $35,000-$60,000 | $85,000-$150,000 | $150,000-$210,000 |
| Campbell | $30,000-$52,000 | $72,000-$130,000 | $130,000-$185,000 |
| Los Altos | $40,000-$75,000 | $75,000-$150,000 | $150,000-$300,000+ |
Los Gatos sits in the upper tier of South Bay pricing, just below neighboring Saratoga and comparable to Cupertino. The premium reflects the town’s upscale housing market, hillside challenges, and strong design expectations. Campbell, just next door, offers lower costs primarily because of its more modest home values and newer housing stock.
Sample Kitchen Remodel Budgets
Mid-Range Remodel: Downtown Los Gatos Bungalow ($135,000)
A 1940s bungalow near downtown Los Gatos with a 160 sq ft kitchen. The homeowners wanted to open the kitchen to the dining room, maximize storage, and update all finishes while respecting the home’s character.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Semi-custom cabinetry (Shaker style) | $28,000 |
| Marble countertops | $12,000 |
| Mid-range appliance package (Bosch) | $14,000 |
| Engineered hardwood flooring | $6,000 |
| Handmade tile backsplash | $5,500 |
| Plumbing fixtures and installation | $8,500 |
| Electrical (rewiring, new panel, lighting) | $12,000 |
| Wall removal with beam (load-bearing) | $16,000 |
| Painting and finishing | $4,500 |
| Permits and fees | $3,000 |
| Design and project management | $12,000 |
| Contingency (15%) | $13,500 |
| Total | $135,000 |
High-End Remodel: Los Gatos Hillside Home ($215,000)
A 1985 hillside home with a 230 sq ft kitchen and challenging site access. The homeowners wanted a complete luxury transformation with a redesigned layout, professional-grade appliances, and premium finishes throughout.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Fully custom cabinetry | $48,000 |
| Quartzite countertops with waterfall edge | $16,500 |
| Sub-Zero/Wolf appliance suite | $42,000 |
| Wide-plank engineered hardwood | $8,000 |
| Designer tile backsplash | $6,000 |
| Plumbing fixtures (premium brands) | $9,500 |
| Electrical (undercabinet LEDs, pendants, smart switches) | $11,500 |
| Layout reconfiguration with island plumbing | $15,000 |
| Hillside access and staging premium | $6,000 |
| Painting, trim, and finishing | $5,500 |
| Permits and fees | $4,500 |
| Design and project management | $16,000 |
| Contingency (12%) | $26,500 |
| Total | $215,000 |
How to Control Kitchen Remodel Costs in Los Gatos
Get a thorough site assessment on hillside properties. If your home has challenging access, a pre-project site evaluation can identify delivery logistics, staging needs, and structural considerations before they become expensive mid-project surprises. This single step can save thousands.
Budget generously for discovery in older homes. Los Gatos homes built before 1960 almost always need infrastructure work behind the walls. A 15-20% contingency for older homes is not conservative; it is realistic.
Focus on design-impactful choices. Los Gatos kitchens thrive on quality materials and thoughtful details. A beautiful handmade tile backsplash and carefully selected hardware can elevate a mid-range kitchen to feel custom. Spend on the details that create character.
Consider keeping the existing footprint. Hillside properties and older homes often present structural challenges that drive up costs for layout changes. If your current kitchen footprint works reasonably well, focusing on new surfaces, cabinetry, and fixtures within the existing layout can save 15-25% compared to a full reconfiguration.
Time your project with material lead times in mind. Specialty tiles, custom cabinetry, and professional-grade appliances can have lead times of 8-16 weeks. Starting the design phase well in advance of your target construction date prevents costly delays.
Why Custom Home for Your Los Gatos Kitchen Remodel
Custom Home has been serving Bay Area homeowners since 2005 and holds CSLB license #986048. We have completed projects throughout Los Gatos, including hillside properties with complex access requirements.
Our two-phase process is designed to eliminate the budget overruns that plague kitchen remodels.
Phase 1: Design. We create detailed 3D visualizations of your new kitchen showing every cabinet, countertop, appliance, and fixture in place. You see exactly what your kitchen will look like before demolition begins. We deliver an itemized budget covering every material, labor category, and permit fee. No hidden costs.
Phase 2: Build. Construction proceeds from fully approved plans with locked-in pricing. Because every design decision was finalized in Phase 1, there are no mid-project change orders and no budget surprises.
For Los Gatos, where hillside logistics, older infrastructure, and high design expectations create wide cost variability, this approach is particularly valuable. The design phase identifies every challenge before construction starts, so the budget you approve is the budget you pay.
Start Planning Your Los Gatos Kitchen Remodel
The best first step is a conversation about your kitchen: what works, what does not, and what your ideal result looks like. We will assess your current space, discuss realistic options at your budget level, and outline a clear path forward.
Contact Custom Home for a free consultation to start planning your Los Gatos kitchen remodel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average kitchen remodel cost in Los Gatos?
The average mid-range kitchen remodel in Los Gatos costs $88,000-$155,000 in 2026. This includes semi-custom or custom cabinetry, stone countertops, updated appliances, new flooring, and moderate layout changes. Cosmetic refreshes start around $36,000, while high-end remodels reach $155,000-$230,000+.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Los Gatos?
Yes. The Town of Los Gatos requires building permits for kitchen remodels involving structural, plumbing, or electrical work. Applications are submitted to the Community Development Department. Plan review takes approximately 2-4 weeks for standard residential projects. Hillside properties may face additional review requirements.
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Los Gatos?
A cosmetic kitchen refresh in Los Gatos takes 4-8 weeks. A mid-range remodel with layout changes takes 3-5 months. A high-end remodel with structural modifications takes 5-8 months. Hillside properties with access challenges may add extra time. Add 4-8 weeks before construction for design, material selection, and permitting.
Do hillside properties in Los Gatos cost more to remodel?
Yes. Hillside properties in Los Gatos typically add 10-20% to kitchen remodel costs. Factors include difficult material delivery access, limited staging areas, potential structural reinforcement needs, and additional engineering requirements. A thorough site assessment during the design phase identifies these challenges before construction begins.