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The honest range for a kitchen remodel in Idaho Falls in 2026: $12,000 cosmetic refresh on the low end, $225,000+ full custom on the high end. Here’s how to figure out where you fit.

By scope tier

Cosmetic refresh: $12,000–$28,000. Paint cabinets, swap hardware, quartz counters, tile backsplash, sink/faucet, mid-range appliances. 3–5 weeks.

Mid-range remodel: $45,000–$95,000. Semi-custom cabinets, quartz counters, full tile backsplash, mid-range appliances, LVP or tile floor, new lighting. 8–12 weeks.

Full custom: $95,000–$225,000. New layout, custom cabinets, premium counters, Sub-Zero/Wolf or Thermador, hardwood floors, designer lighting. 14–20 weeks.

Line-item ranges for a 250 sq ft kitchen

• Semi-custom cabinets: $18K–$32K
• Custom cabinets: $35K–$65K
• Quartz counters: $4K–$8K
• Quartzite or premium stone: $9K–$22K
• Mid-range appliance package: $9K–$15K
• Premium appliance package: $25K–$60K
• Tile backsplash: $1.8K–$5K
• Plumbing rough adjustments: $2K–$6K per fixture moved
• Electrical rough: $3K–$7K
• Drywall, paint, trim: $3K–$7K

A custom kitchen is the single highest-ROI room remodel in any Eastern Idaho home. It’s also the easiest place to overspend by 40% without realizing it. Here’s how the process should go in 2026.

Real 2026 budget ranges in Rigby

• Cosmetic refresh (paint, hardware, counters): $12K–$28K
• Mid-range remodel (new cabinets, counters, appliances, layout intact): $45K–$95K
• Full custom (new layout, custom cabinets, premium appliances): $95K–$225K
• Luxury (custom millwork, La Cornue/Wolf appliances, stone slabs): $225K+

Where the money actually goes

• Cabinets: 35–45% of total
• Countertops: 10–15%
• Appliances: 10–20% (more for premium)
• Labor (install, plumbing, electrical): 15–20%
• Flooring, tile, paint: 8–12%
• Design, permits, contingency: 5–10%

Process timeline

1. Design phase (3–6 weeks): Layout, selections, budget.
2. Permit and lead time (4–8 weeks): Cabinets ordered, permits pulled.
3. Demo and rough-in (1–2 weeks): Plumbing, electrical, drywall prep.
4. Install (3–5 weeks): Cabinets, counters, tile, appliances.
5. Punch list and final (1–2 weeks): Trim, paint, fixtures.

Total: 12–20 weeks design through move-back.

Three budget mistakes to avoid

1. Cabinet allowances

“Cabinet allowance: $25K” sounds fine until you realize custom cabinets for a 250 sq ft kitchen start at $35K. Get real cabinet pricing before signing.

2. Appliance package surprise

Spec the actual model numbers, not “premium package.” The difference between Bosch Benchmark and Sub-Zero/Wolf is $15K–$30K.

3. Moving plumbing or gas

Each fixture relocation adds $1,500–$4,000. If you’re moving the sink AND the cooktop, that’s $8K you didn’t plan for.

How SwagerBuilds runs kitchen remodels

Design-build under one contract. Real selections before pricing. Cabinet shop relationships in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and Salt Lake. Fixed price after design, JobTread access for daily photos and live budget.

Not all basement remodel work pays you back. Here’s what recoups at resale in Idaho Falls, Rigby, and Rexburg, and what you should build only because you want to live with it.

High ROI (70–85% recoup)

• Adding a legal bedroom (with egress). Turns a 3-bed home into a 4-bed in MLS listings. Huge price comp impact.
• Full bathroom. The difference between 2-bath and 3-bath is significant in resale.
• Open family room with LVP and good lighting. Buyers see usable square footage.
• Proper egress and code-compliant finish. Buyers don’t pay for unpermitted work.

Medium ROI (50–69% recoup)

• Wet bar or kitchenette
• Built-in entertainment center
• Storage room with shelving
• Tile shower in the basement bath

Low ROI (under 40%, do only if you want it)

• Home theater with tiered seating
• Wine cellar
• Sauna or steam shower
• Custom built-in bunk room (great for your kids, doesn’t pay back)

The hidden ROI nobody talks about

Daily livability. You’re paying mortgage on basement square footage you can’t use. Even a 60% ROI on the eventual sale is irrelevant compared to 10+ years of using the space. Build for yourself first.

If you’re finishing a basement bedroom in Idaho, the room needs an egress window. This is enforced. Here’s exactly what’s required and what it costs.

Idaho code requirements (IRC R310)

• Minimum 5.7 sq ft of clear opening (5.0 sq ft for grade-floor openings).
• Minimum 24″ clear height and 20″ clear width.
• Maximum 44″ sill height from finished floor.
• Window well required if sill is below grade. Minimum 36″ projection, 9 sq ft area.
• Permanent ladder required in window wells deeper than 44″.
• Operable from inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge.

Install cost in Eastern Idaho (2026)

• Cut concrete + install + window well + window: $3,500–$6,500
• Above-grade existing rough opening (just window swap): $1,200–$2,400
• Steel window well with stairs: $400–$900
• Composite/landscape well: $600–$1,400

Workarounds that don’t work

• “It’s a bonus room, not a bedroom.” Inspectors call this. A closet plus a door makes it a bedroom.
• “I’ll just call it an office.” Same problem if there’s a closet.
• “The existing window is close enough.” If it doesn’t hit 5.7 sq ft clear, it fails.
• “I won’t pull a permit.” Insurance won’t cover a fire fatality in a non-permitted, non-egress bedroom. Don’t.

Bonneville and Jefferson County process

Both counties require a permit for egress install. Plan review takes 3–7 business days. Final inspection happens after install. Budget 2 weeks total from permit pull to passed inspection.

Adding a bathroom is the single biggest cost line in a basement finish, and the easiest place to blow the budget. Here’s the real breakdown.

The two scenarios

Plumbing was roughed in (best case): $12K–$22K

If your builder pre-roughed plumbing for a basement bath, you’re connecting fixtures and finishing. A standard 5×8 three-piece bath in Idaho Falls runs $12K–$18K with mid-range finishes, up to $22K for a 6×10 with tile shower.

No rough-in (cut concrete): $20K–$38K

Cutting and patching the basement slab for new plumbing adds $6K–$12K. Add a sewage ejector pump ($1,800–$3,500) if your bath sits below the main sewer line.

Line-item cost (mid-range basement bath, Idaho Falls, 2026)

• Plumbing rough-in and connections: $4,500–$8,000
• Toilet (mid-range): $400–$700 installed
• Vanity, top, faucet: $1,400–$3,200
• Tub or shower pan: $1,200–$2,800
• Shower wall tile + labor: $1,800–$4,500
• Floor tile + labor: $900–$2,200
• Exhaust fan (vented to exterior): $400–$700
• Lighting and mirrors: $400–$1,000
• Drywall, paint, baseboard: $1,200–$2,200

Where to save without regret

• Big-box vanity with a custom top: looks custom, costs half.
• Subway tile shower instead of imported stone slabs.
• Skip the rainhead, pick a pressure-balanced single function head you’ll actually love.

Where not to save

• Waterproofing membrane behind tile (Schluter or equivalent). Skip this and you’ll re-tile in 7 years.
• Exhaust fan sized to the room and vented all the way to outside.
• The valve. Cheap valves fail and force you into the wall.