Cost per running foot, by renovation depth
Counter run is the total length of base units. An L-shaped 8×10 ft kitchen is usually 14–16 running feet; a straight galley in a 1BHK is 8–10.
| Counter run | Refresh ₹9,000/rft | Standard ₹24,000/rft | Full ₹38,000/rft | Premium ₹58,000/rft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 rft (compact straight or L) | ₹90,000 | ₹2.40 L | ₹3.80 L | ₹5.80 L |
| 14 rft (typical 2BHK L-shape) | ₹1.26 L | ₹3.36 L | ₹5.32 L | ₹8.12 L |
| 18 rft (3BHK L with utility) | ₹1.62 L | ₹4.32 L | ₹6.84 L | ₹10.44 L |
| 22 rft (U-shape or island) | ₹1.98 L | ₹5.28 L | ₹8.36 L | ₹12.76 L |
Counter run × rate. Ex-GST, ex-appliances. Wall and tall units are included in the rate.
| Depth | ₹ / running foot | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Refresh | ₹9,000 | New shutters, counter and hardware on an existing sound carcass. Tiles, plumbing and layout untouched. 5–8 days. |
| Standard replacement | ₹24,000 | Old kitchen removed, new modular in BWP with laminate, dado retiled, same layout and same service positions. 3–4 weeks. |
| Full renovation | ₹38,000 | Layout change, plumbing and gas repositioned, floor and dado replaced, acrylic shutters, tall units, branded hardware. 5–6 weeks. |
| Premium gut renovation | ₹58,000 | Quartz counter, island or breakfast counter, appliance-ready cabinetry, profile lighting, integrated chimney and hob. 6–8 weeks. |
Where the money goes in a full renovation
A full renovation of a 12 running foot kitchen at ₹4,50,000, itemised:
| Component | Cost | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Strip-out of the old kitchen and debris disposal | ₹18,000 | 4% |
| Plumbing and drainage rework — sink relocation, new trap | ₹35,000 | 8% |
| Electrical — new points for chimney, hob, oven, purifier, DB load check | ₹28,000 | 6% |
| Waterproofing, dado tiling and floor replacement | ₹62,000 | 14% |
| Modular carcass and shutters — BWP ply, acrylic fronts | ₹1,85,000 | 41% |
| Hardware and accessories — soft-close, tandem baskets, corner units | ₹52,000 | 12% |
| Countertop, sink, faucet and splash-back | ₹48,000 | 11% |
| Painting, sealing, snagging and deep clean | ₹22,000 | 5% |
| Total (ex-GST) | ₹4,50,000 | 100% |
Renovating a kitchen that is already in use
What changes the price
| Change | Delta | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Moving the sink or the drain point | +8 – 14% | New waste run at fall, floor chasing, waterproofing and making good |
| Relocating the gas point | +4 – 7% | Piped-gas providers charge for the alteration and it must be done by their approved agency |
| Keeping the existing dado tiles | −10 – 15% | Removes tiling material, labour, waterproofing and debris — sensible if the tiles are sound and the new layout matches |
| Adding tall units — larder, oven tower, fridge surround | +12 – 20% | Three times the board area of a base unit per running foot |
| Laminate to acrylic shutters | +18 – 26% | ₹6,000–₹9,000 a sheet against ₹1,800–₹2,500 |
| Granite to quartz countertop | +6 – 11% | ₹700–₹1,800/sq ft against ₹250–₹600, plus fabrication of a mitred edge |
| Built-in oven, dishwasher and integrated fridge | +10 – 18% | Appliance-ready cabinetry, ventilation clearances and dedicated circuits — the joinery cost, not the appliance |
| Adding an island or breakfast counter | +15 – 25% | Separate carcass, a second counter slab, and often a socket and drain run through the floor |
| Working while the family lives in the flat | +5 – 8% | Dust barriers, a temporary cooking setup, daily clean-down and slower phasing |
Refresh, replace or rebuild
Most people who ask for a kitchen renovation need one of three different jobs, and the price gap between them is four-fold. The test is the carcass.
- Refresh if the carcass is BWP or WPC, square, dry and less than about twelve years old. New shutters, a new counter and new hardware transform the room for ₹9,000 a running foot.
- Replace if the carcass is particle board, MR ply, swollen at the sink bay, or if the hinges have torn out of the sides. Nothing you bolt onto a failing box will last.
- Rebuild if the layout itself is the problem — the fridge blocking a drawer, no landing space beside the hob, a sink under a window you cannot open past the tap.
- Do not refresh a wet carcass. A swollen base under the sink will show through a new shutter line within a year, and you will have paid twice.
Bring a screwdriver to the survey. Open the sink base, press the board with a thumb. That thirty seconds decides whether this is a ninety-thousand-rupee job or a four-and-a-half-lakh one.
Greenbox principal designer
How to read a kitchen renovation quote
- Check the counter run it was priced on. A quote that does not state the running feet of base and wall units cannot be compared to anything. Measure it yourself and check their number.
- Find the strip-out and disposal line. This is what separates a renovation quote from a new-kitchen quote. If it is missing, the removal will appear later as an extra.
- Look for a provisional sum on services. On any kitchen over about twelve years old, the condition of the supply lines and the drain is unknown until strip-out. An honest quote carries a stated allowance; a cheap one carries a variation waiting to happen.
- Read the carcass specification before the shutter one. Board type, brand, thickness and whether the sink base is in the same material as the rest — it should be better, not worse.
- Count the hardware. Number of drawers, baskets, corner units, lift-ups and waste bins, each with a brand and series. This line alone is 12% of the job.
- Confirm the countertop. Material, thickness, edge profile, sink cut-out and whether templating happens after carcass installation — which it must.
- Ask who handles appliances. Cut-out dimensions, ventilation clearances and dedicated circuits are joinery and electrical work even when you buy the appliance yourself.
What this excludes
- 18% GST — on the ₹4,50,000 renovation above that is ₹81,000, taking it to ₹5,31,000. Check yours with the GST on interior work calculator.
- Appliances — chimney, hob, built-in oven, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator and water purifier: ₹80,000–₹4 lakh.
- Chimney ducting to an external wall — ₹6,000–₹22,000 including core-cutting, duct and a weather louvre.
- Electrical board upgrade where the existing DB cannot carry an oven and a dishwasher.
- Piped-gas alteration charges levied by the provider's approved agency.
- False ceiling in the kitchen — ₹95–₹210 per sq ft in moisture-resistant board.
- Temporary cooking arrangements while the kitchen is down, which is three to six weeks.
A new kitchen in an empty flat is a different calculation — see modular kitchen cost in India. To price a renovation, use the kitchen renovation cost calculator, and for Mumbai rates see kitchen renovation cost in Mumbai.
Selected work by Greenbox Design Studio. Tap any image to enlarge.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in India?+
₹9,000 per running foot of counter for a shutter-and-counter refresh, ₹24,000 for a standard replacement, ₹38,000 for a full renovation with retiling and plumbing rework and ₹58,000 for a premium gut renovation, all excluding 18% GST. A 14 running foot kitchen is ₹3.36 lakh standard and ₹5.32 lakh full.
What is the difference between a kitchen renovation and a new modular kitchen?+
A renovation starts with removal — stripping out the old kitchen, disposing of debris, and working around plumbing, gas and electrical positions you did not choose. That adds roughly 15–25% over fitting the same kitchen into an empty flat, and it is why a renovation is priced per running foot of existing counter rather than as a fresh design.
Can I keep my existing kitchen carcass?+
Only if it is BWP ply or WPC, square, dry and under about twelve years old. Open the sink base and press the board — if it gives, it is swollen and no new shutter will hide it for long. A sound carcass makes a ₹9,000 per running foot refresh possible instead of a ₹24,000 replacement.
How long is the kitchen unusable during a renovation?+
Five to eight days for a refresh, three to four weeks for a standard replacement and five to six weeks for a full renovation. Fabrication happens off-site in parallel, but strip-out, tiling, installation and countertop templating all need the room empty, so plan a temporary cooking setup.
Does a kitchen renovation include appliances?+
No. Chimney, hob, built-in oven, dishwasher, refrigerator and water purifier add ₹80,000–₹4 lakh and are bought separately. They must be selected during design though, because cut-out dimensions, ventilation clearances and dedicated circuits are all fixed before fabrication starts.
Is it cheaper to keep the existing layout?+
Yes, by 12–20%. Keeping the sink, drain and gas point in place avoids new waste runs at fall, floor chasing, re-waterproofing and the provider's gas alteration charge. Change the layout only when it is the layout that is wrong — no landing space beside the hob, or a fridge that blocks a drawer.