I think it is more than reasonable. Sounds to me as if you're getting a heck of a deal. Used to be the rule of thumb was labor usually was equal to cost of materials.

From small town in Michigan.

Please get more than one quote.

Sounds very reasonable.

More than reasonable, as others have said. I would be sure to ask the contractor about any possible extra cost for things unknown/unseen when demo and then installation begins. How is that to be handled?

Where are you getting your quartz? Does that place do installation? The GC is doing the template?

I've lived in a (very) small town in Wisconsin and sometimes there aren't that many other reliable contractors that are willing to drive a longish distance for work, so if this person has a very good reputation (be sure to ask other customers, not just read reviews on line) and you feel comfortable, don't overly worry about other bids. I don't think you'll beat that price.

That said - about small towns - Habitat for Humanity would love to have your old cabinets, if there is a ReStore within pickup distance. We donated all existing cabinetry, appliances, countertops and just about everything reusable to Habitat.

Seems really really cheap, but I'm in Los Angeles and labor rates are high here.

Depending on where you live, that sounds very reasonable to kind of low. Like if you live in more cities areas like Milwaukee or Madison, or more wealthy tourist areas Lake Geneva, that might be kind of low.

I would advise you get another labor estimate or two of the exact same work for the quote and compare.

I am almost concerned it is too low. There is a chance they didn’t include things in the Scope of Work, and then you’ll be faced with expensive Change Orders later. Or, they are lower cost because they aren’t very skilled. It’s hard to know.

In any case, you should always budget an additional 20% over whatever you think it will cost.

I'm in NY and that is quite a bit less than what it would be here...

You should always get more than one estimate though and make sure to have a detailed list of what it covers and doesn't cover, in writing.

Good luck!

I'm in the Chicago 'burbs. That price is very, very reasonable.

In Nj the price is VERY reasonable as noted above as long as scope of work is well defined and he has solid expertise and reputation

I would get another two quotes with detailed information as to what is expected and what it's covered.

In NJ that is less than average.

You expect to pay for the labor the same as materials as a rule of thumb.

Too low for all the work a kitchen needs. I’ll bet it doesn’t include a lot of things you actually need to have happen. Beware.

Get a detailed estimate of what is included, and get several bids. To me (and I don't know your location) this seems low. I'd be concerned they didn't bid correctly. Labor would be about the same as cabinets, at least that what I paid, and my labor included protecting my hardwood floors, demo, disposal of old materials, permitting, leveling, trim, insurance, supervising subs, etc.

Does it include removing flooring and getting that ready for whatever floor you’re installing? What about trim work? I am concerned your quote is too low for quality cabinet installation. That is a skill I had no idea about until I watched them install mine. Making sure filler pieces are scribed correctly, screws are placed in the right spot to make them inconspicuous, doors are hung properly, knobs and pulls are in the right spot.

@traci_from_seattle YES to everything you've said. I watch my guys too and was astounded how good they were....and, I paid for it. But, got a great kitchen in the end.

Great advice to get very detailed estimate. I would like to remind others, though, that if she lives in a rural area in Wisconsin that is not anywhere close to a larger town or city, it's not that easy to get more estimates. Housing prices/costs are less in Wisconsin than in LA or NYC or DC.

No, it does not sound reasonable. It's too low. Remember, you get what you pay for.

You did not say where in Wisconsin. We have friends who have a home in Minneapolis, and also have a large lake home 3 hours north of the cities. He says the price difference for labor is pennies on the dollar cheaper - and he gets better craftsmanship up north!

I'd get several estimates and then I'd do my homework. Check out the contractors on the state website to make sure they're licensed. Check them out on your county website to see if they're being sued for not paying their bills, etc. Carefully consider their online presence - do they only have 1 review after being in business for 30 years, for example? Don't make the mistake of thinking their participation or sponsorship in local groups reflects actual character. Get a detailed contract with dates, amounts, and penalties spelled out. Don't allow the contractor to get paid so much that they can abandon you mid job, and leave you hanging with an unfinished kitchen or unpaid subs.

I paid about that for labor in South Jersey(Philly area) It included enlarging an opening, creating a half wall and removing the soffit, relocating a door, moving the refrigerator, putting a new utility sink in my mud room. They hung the cabinets, including the crown molding, and put up the backsplash. They did not do the floor or the quartzite counter. My total kitchen cost was close to $20,000.

Not high end but appropriate for the over 55 community I live in. I was concerned about the low number, compared to other estimaTes I got. He worked with or at least got recommendations from the place I bought my quartzite and cabinets. Interestingly, the cabinet salesmen lives in my neighborhood. That gave me hope that he wouldn’t recommend anyone terrible. It took the guys a week to do the kitchen. They left everything immaculate every day, we’re personable and easy to work with. I hired them to do several other jobs for me. It was actually a pleasant experience.

Things that have to be accounted for:

Home protection from dust and dirt.- Plastic curtains, zip walls,ram board, cardboard, lots of air filters, rosin paper, HEPA air scrubber and HEPA vacuum. An after construction professional cleaning. Averages 1K+ on my jobs. If it’s not listed, it doesn’t happen. No one wants a filthy house.

Demolition and debris removal and disposal.- Cabinet removal for them to be used again adds a day, and expense. You’ll need a dumpster, and a place for it to sit on your drive that the neighbors don’t get upset. Portapotty has to be considered for siting too, unless you’ll furnish a bathroom for them to use. Dump fees have to be paid, and in some locations, that’s a considerable fee. If you’re doing floors too? That’s forever and filthy. And extra money. Then the subfloor has to have prep.

Rough Electrical- for added lighting, under cabinet lighting, new appliances, appliances being moved, added circuits. Adding box extenders so the outlets will pull out to the right depth after the backsplash is done.

Rough plumbing- the plumber has to show for a disconnect before the demo occurs. Cut the pipes off and cap. Then any moving done. New shut offs, drains, supply lines.

Wall repair and paint. All the new lighting, and the demo, makes for lots of repair. If you’re doing things like popcorn or wallpaper removal in the demo phase? Lots of repair.

Floor prep and floor install. Floors are never level. They have to be made so. Tiles are getting larger. Wood is being done. It’s not a 1 hour linoleum install after 1 bag of leveling compound any more.

Cabinet install. WAY harder and longer than most people think! A box has 6 sides. All 6 have to match up with all the rest of the ones in the gang. Walls and floors are never straight. Supports for counter overhangs have to be installed. Holes for the DW hose and electrical. For the MW, or vent hood. Install by itself is usually 20-30% of the cost of the cabinets. More, if they are doing built in appliances like wall ovens, and the install of the rest of the appliances too.

Counter install. See above. The better the cabinet installer is, the easier this goes. It still won’t be perfect. Perfect doesn’t exist.

Backsplash install. That means trying up the wall. Hopefully, the GC got the drywall guys to do that when that was done. If he didn’t, that still has to be done.

Finish electrical. All of those lights, outlets, and everything else get placed. Any hardwired appliances not connected via plug.

Finish plumbing. Garbage disposal, Faucet, Flanges for both. Water for fridge. Faucet. Dishwasher.

Appliances. Anything not built in or hardwired still has to be installed.

And that’s not counting for any expert design advice do you know where the lights should go, and what kind of counter support you need, or how far from the corner the fridge has to be for the door to open.

And that’s why I think the quote is low. Ask what’s missing.

I live in a lower price area of Chicago NW suburbs. In my area, this would be a reasonable price for the given scope of work. Very good kitchen cabinet installers can be even cheaper than the average crew because job price is based on time and the best crews work fast and make it look easy. The issue is finding out which category applies here. Ask how long he has been working in your area and how many years has he worked with some of the same people. Good, stable, high quality contractors attract good employees and lots of repeat business.

It isn't a big deal to remove kitchen cabinets for reuse, if it is a newer kitchen with individual cabinets. If they are in decent shape, it is cheaper than the dump fees and HFH may provide pickup service, depending on the area. In years past, my local ReStore even provided a fully insured crew to remove cabinets.

Disposal fees in my area are about $60 per load plus time and effort, under $200 for the demo bag with removal or $400 for a midsize dumpster. Definitely find out if these fees are included.

Flooring is the biggest missing item in your quote so presume you are hiring that out separately?

Lyndee -- I'm jealous ;) In my area (west/southwest suburbs) I was charged $700 for a dumpster several years ago. But my suburb is considered a bit more affluent so I think we get the added charges just for the name.

It seems reasonable to me and I am in West Michigan. Prices are a lot cheaper here than in other parts of the country.