$75,000 kitchen
Cabinets ~28%, counters 14%, MEP 12%.
Cabinet line ~$21k — compare to three shop quotes before locking floor tile.
Calculator · Free
Remodel Budget Allocator
Split a total remodel budget into line items by room type — and see which categories most often overrun.
Allocated budget
$75,000
Planning weights — not a contractor bid
| Category | Share | Budget | Overrun risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinets & hardware | 28.0% | $21,000 | high |
| Countertops & backsplash | 14.0% | $10,500 | high |
| Appliances | 15.0% | $11,500 | medium |
| Demo, labor & GC | 22.0% | $16,500 | medium |
| Plumbing, electrical, gas | 12.0% | $9,000 | high |
| Flooring & paint | 9.0% | $6,800 | low |
Watch these lines first
Cabinets & hardware, Countertops & backsplash, Plumbing, electrical, gas — where contingency usually goes first.
What this assumes
- Percentages are editorial planning weights, not contractor quotes.
- Hold contingency separately on whole-house plans; kitchen and bath allocations assume you already added contingency elsewhere.
- Excludes furniture, appliances outside standard packages, and landscaping unless noted.
Understanding the result
Overruns cluster in wet work and selections
Tile, plumbing moves, and cabinet upgrades consume contingency first. The allocator flags high-risk lines so you cap allowances early.
How the math works
Total construction budget multiplies fixed planning shares per room type. Dollars per line highlight where overruns cluster. Contingency on whole-house plan is its own line — do not double-count with project contingency tool.
Where to find each input
- Target budget from lender, savings, or planner output
- Room type matching where dollars will be spent
- Allowance caps from draft quotes
Worked examples
$28,000 bathroom
Tile 22%, labor 35%.
Tile near $6k — waterproofing scope must fit inside tile line.
$120,000 whole-house
8% hold contingency ≈ $9,600.
Do not allocate contingency to finishes until mid-project.
What this does not include
- Appliances bought outside GC contract unless you adjust shares
- Temporary housing or storage
- Architect fees
Regional adjustment
Labor-heavy markets shift dollars from materials to labor lines without changing total band much.
Accuracy and references
Shares editorialized from NAHB remodel component studies and True Trade Path planner defaults.
Counterpart bridge
Pricing this on the contractor side?
This page interprets quotes and budgets from the buyer’s chair. The matching pro tool uses the same scope logic to build a defensible price.
Open Job Pricing CalculatorFor trade owners
Pricing this job as a contractor?
Homeowners see national ranges on this page. If you are building the estimate, use the same scope assumptions — then price to burdened labor, overhead recovery and a real margin.
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Common questions
How much of a kitchen budget goes to cabinets?
Often 25–35% of construction budget at mid tier; custom shops run higher.
Should I budget appliances separately?
Many owners fund appliances outside the GC contract — reduce cabinet or labor share if you self-supply.
What contingency should I hold?
Use the project contingency tool — 10–20% on remodels is common.
Can I edit the percentages?
This tool uses fixed planning weights; adjust mentally if your scope is paint-only or MEP-heavy.
Does allocation include design fees?
No — add designer or architect fees on top.
Why is tile high risk?
Waterproofing, subfloor prep, and pattern changes add labor fast.
Whole-house vs single room?
Pick the room type that matches where dollars will actually be spent.
How do I use this with three bids?
Compare each bid’s line weights to these shares — outliers are negotiation targets.
Can I change percentages?
This release uses fixed weights — adjust line dollars manually after export.
Include design fees?
No — add 8–15% on top for design on complex jobs.
What if I overspend on cabinets?
Steal from finish lines or invoke contingency — do not delete MEP budget.
Owner-supplied tile?
Reduce tile share and increase labor share mentally.
GC fee?
Often embedded in labor line — confirm if fee is separate.
Sales tax?
Budget pre-tax; tax applies to materials in many states.
Phased remodel?
Run allocator per phase with smaller totals.
Compare to bids?
Map bid lines to categories — outliers stand out.
High overrun risk meaning?
Historical change-order frequency, not prediction.
Works with financing tool?
Use allocated monthly savings from maintenance budget separately.
You may also need
The next decision usually follows directly from this one.
- EstimatorRenovation Cost EstimatorEstimate a kitchen, bath, basement or addition project by scope, finish level and region.
- EstimatorRoom-by-Room Renovation Cost CalculatorEstimate renovation cost for a single room — kitchen, bath, bedroom, basement, or office.
- CalculatorProject Contingency CalculatorProject type, home age and scope certainty → recommended contingency percent.
- CalculatorHome Service Financing Payment CalculatorCalculate monthly payments for financing a home repair, HVAC replacement, or renovation.
- ComparisonContractor Quote ComparisonCompare two to four contractor bids side by side — price, terms, and what the low bid is probably missing.
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