Mother-In-Law Moving In? Here’s How Much It Costs to Add a Small Kitchenette
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Matthew Stalcup, Contributing AuthorClose
Matthew Stalcup Contributing AuthorMatt is a Sacramento Valley native and current Portland, Oregon resident who is always happy to be writing. He holds a degree in English Literature and Technocultural Studies from the University of California, Davis, and is a recent inaugurate to the exciting world of real estate.
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Fran Metz, Contributing EditorClose
Fran Metz Contributing EditorFran Metz is a freelance content writer, editor, blogger and traveler based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has seven years of experience in print journalism, working at newspapers from coast to coast. She has a BA in Mass Communications from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and lived in Arvada for 15 years, where she gained her experience with the ever-changing real estate market. In her free time, she enjoys 4-wheeling, fishing, and creating digital art.
Maybe your mother-in-law is moving in or your adult child is living at home until they find a job. Or perhaps you’re looking to start an Airbnb side hustle. For whatever reason, you’ve decided to build a kitchenette and are wondering how much it’s going to cost.
Despite their small size, the cost of a kitchenette may surprise you. They run $15,750 on average — though costs vary widely depending on size, features, and finishes. To help you get a better idea of what your miniature kitchen will run you, HomeLight spoke with an experienced contractor and analyzed project data from reputable sources on the web.
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The average cost of a kitchenette addition
According to Angi, a website that records millions of remodeling estimates, the cost to build a kitchenette ranges between $7,500 and $30,000. A basic kitchenette may cost only a few thousand if plumbing and wiring are easily accessible.
According to Chad Ruhoff, owner of East Avenue Design+Build, the cost of your kitchenette depends on two main factors: what you want and where you want it.
“The two basic things are infrastructure — which is very site-specific and depends on how you’ll run plumbing and electricity to the site — and what level of finish you want. Is it a temporary thing or something that you want to look really nice?” explains Ruhoff, who has 30 years of construction experience, specializing in small renovation projects.
To help you estimate how much your project will cost, let’s take a look at kitchenette cost factors:
Plumbing
Even in more simple kitchenette designs, a sink is fairly standard. The cost to install a new sink in a room with existing plumbing is $100 to $1,600.
To install an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), you’ll need access to your home’s water supply and drainage system. If your kitchenette is near a bathroom or the main kitchen, installation costs will be lower due to the proximity to existing plumbing. However, if the ADU is located farther from the main house, like 40 feet away, connecting it to your water and drainage system can be more expensive.
Additionally, if you need to run pipes underground, whether you have a concrete slab or crawl space underneath significantly affects the price. Ruhoff shares that, with a crawl space, adding new plumbing is easy, but if your contractor needs to break concrete, you’ll pay more for the additional labor.
Additionally, Ruhoff tells us that the type of pre-existing pipes in your home influences cost. Homes with old pipes require more complicated (and, therefore, more expensive) plumbing jobs.
Electrical
If you want to install an electric stove or add appliances like toasters and microwaves to your kitchenette, you’ll need to wire electricity to the area.
If the room is already wired, you’re in luck. The national average to install an electrical outlet runs from $100 to $450.
However, if your kitchenette is further away, you’ll need to pay for additional wiring and labor time. The cost of new wiring and labor runs between $6 to $10 per square foot on average.
Running power to an ADU is even more expensive. In this case, you’ll have to install a ground wire and possibly a new electrical panel. Together, these expenses can cost you $800 to $4,000.
Cabinetry and countertops
When it comes to cabinetry and countertops, it’s more affordable to install prefabricated than custom units. A small prefab cabinet from IKEA costs as little as $200, whereas custom cabinets from a high-end cabinet designer range between $500 to $1,200 per linear foot.
Likewise, countertops vary in price depending on the material. Here’s a quick rundown of the prices of popular countertop materials per square foot:
- Laminate: $20 to $60/sq ft
- Tile: $25 to $75/sq ft
- Butcher Block (Wood): $30 to $100/sq ft
- Solid Surface (Corian): $50 to $150/sq ft
- Concrete: $65 to $135/sq ft
- Granite: $70 to $175/sq ft
- Soapstone: $70 to $120/sq ft
- Quartz (Engineered Stone): $75 to $200/sq ft
- Stainless Steel: $80 to $225/sq ft
- Dolomite: $90 to $175/sq ft
- Quartzite (Natural Stone): $90 to $250/sq ft
- Marble: $100 to $250/sq ft
- Onyx: $100 to $300/sq ft
Remember that these cost ranges are averages. High-end options like unique slabs and handmade tiles may exceed the upper end of these ranges.
Appliances
Appliances are another major cost factor. Tally up how much appliances will cost for your kitchenette with these average cost ranges:
- Microwave: $60 to $1,440
- Toaster Oven: $25 to $1,000
- Dishwasher (with installation): $700 to $1,970
- Electric Range: $680
- Gas Range: $760 to $1,260
- Mini Refrigerator: $100 to $300
Don’t forget about permit costs
Before you start ringing up contractors, check to see if kitchenettes are legal in your area.
“Depending on your city or housing jurisdiction, you may not be allowed to add a second kitchen,” Ruhoff says.
“The reasoning behind this is that governments often don’t want a situation where you’re turning a single-family dwelling into multi-family property without going through the proper steps … They might allow you to build a kitchenette, but it might not be able to have all of the features you want.”
If your county allows kitchenettes, you’ll need to obtain a permit for the addition. Ruhoff estimates that permits can range from $500 to $1,500. To determine what permits you need and how much they’ll cost, check out your city or county’s home construction ordinances. If you aren’t sure where to look, ask a local contractor.
Don’t skip this step — if you build without a permit, your jurisdiction could hit you with a hefty fine and require you to apply for a retroactive permit that’s double or even triple the standard fee.
Kitchenettes: A smart investment that can pay off
While kitchenettes can cost a pretty penny, they’re a worthy investment for many homeowners. On top of enjoying the benefits of an additional cooking area, you can increase your home’s value and marketability.
Homes with mother-in-law suites that include kitchenettes are in high demand. As of late 2023, over half of U.S. adults aged 18 to 24 and about 33% of adults 25 to 34 live with their parents, a trend driven by high student loan debt, rising living costs, and a tough job market. This shift highlights a generational change in family dynamics, with many young adults relying on parental support to stabilize their financial footing.
Kitchenettes are also popular with buyers looking to run a short-term rental. Airbnb reports that its site currently has 2.25 million listings in the US alone. An increase in popularity of Airbnbs can only mean more demand for kitchenettes.
Adding a kitchenette can be more than just a functional upgrade; it’s a strategic investment that taps into growing trends in multi-generational living and the short-term rental market. This could lead to higher resale value, quicker sale times, and more rental income potential.
Header Image Source: (House Method / Unsplash)
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