Yes, a well-designed custom kitchen can increase home value, but the size of that increase depends on the home, the neighborhood, the scope of the remodel and how well the project is executed. Zillow’s 2026 research found that listings mentioning custom features sold for 3.2% more than expected, while gourmet kitchens and custom finishes were associated with premiums of about 3%. Quartzite countertops were associated with a 5.3% premium. Just as important, homes described as fixer-uppers sold for 14% less than expected.
That does not mean spending more automatically produces a better return.
In fact, Cost vs. Value data points in the opposite direction: a relatively minor kitchen remodel recovered 112.9% of its cost, while major kitchen projects recovered roughly 36% to 51%.
That distinction is the key to understanding custom kitchen resale value.
What Zillow’s 2026 Housing Data Actually Shows
Before turning percentages into remodeling decisions, it helps to understand what Zillow actually measured.
Zillow analyzed more than 2 million homes listed for sale in 2025 and examined more than 600 phrases used in listing descriptions. It estimated the expected sale price of each property based on factors including location, size, property type, bedrooms, bathrooms and listing date. Researchers then compared that estimate with the actual sale price.
In other words, these percentages are associations with sale premiums, not guarantees that installing one feature will mechanically increase a home's value by the same amount.
Here are the kitchen- and remodeling-related findings most relevant to homeowners:
| Feature mentioned in listing | Premium vs. expected sale price |
|---|---|
| Fixer-upper | −14% |
| Gourmet kitchen | +3% |
| Custom features | +3.2% |
| Custom finishes | +3% |
| Turnkey | +2.9% |
| Remodeled | +2.2% |
| Quartzite | +5.3% |
| Quartz | +3% |
| Soapstone | +2.7% |
| Marble | +1.9% |
| Onyx | +1.6% |
Across Zillow’s entire study, the largest observed premium was 5.4%, equivalent to roughly $19,500 on the typical home studied. For kitchens specifically, quartzite stood out at 5.3%. Custom features were associated with 3.2%. Custom finishes were associated with 3%. A gourmet kitchen was associated with 3%.
These are useful signals, but I would never interpret them as a shopping list. Spending money on quartzite, for example, does not guarantee that the cost of the stone will come back dollar for dollar. The stronger lesson is that buyers appear to value homes that feel finished, intentional and ready to use.
That is where custom design can make sense.
For us, “custom” is less about attaching expensive finishes to a room and more about making the cabinetry, storage, appliances, work surfaces and circulation feel like they were designed as one system.
The −14% Number May Matter More Than the +3%
The figure I would pay close attention to is not only the 3.2% premium associated with custom features.
It is the −14% associated with fixer-uppers.
There is roughly a 17-percentage-point spread between a home presented as a fixer-upper and categories such as gourmet kitchens or custom finishes associated with a 3% premium.
That does not mean remodeling a kitchen increases the home's value by 17%.
Those are two different categories within Zillow's analysis, and the gap should be treated as a comparison between scenarios — not as an expected appreciation figure.
What it does tell us is that deferred work can matter.
Zillow also found that turnkey homes sold for 2.9% more than expected and remodeled homes for 2.2% more.
Zillow Senior Economist Kara Ng explained an important reason: when affordability is tight, buyers may prefer an updated home because the higher purchase price can be incorporated into their mortgage instead of forcing them to fund a major renovation after closing.
The homeowner still pays for the renovation. A future buyer is not magically paying the remodeling invoice. The difference is one of financing and cash flow: a buyer may be able to finance the purchase price over time instead of paying for a large project immediately after buying the property.
That distinction helps explain why a finished kitchen can have value beyond the individual price of the cabinets or countertops.
How Much Value Does a Kitchen Remodel Add?
This is where the numbers become counterintuitive.
According to Cost vs. Value data, a minor kitchen remodel cost $28,458 and added $32,141 in estimated resale value. Cost recovered: 112.9%.
A major midrange kitchen remodel cost about $82,000 and recovered roughly 51%.
An upscale major remodel cost about $164,000 and recovered roughly 36%.
So how can a smaller kitchen project recover more than 100% while a beautiful major renovation recovers only a fraction of its cost?
Because value added and money spent are not the same thing.
Once a kitchen reaches the standard buyers expect for that property and neighborhood, each additional dollar has to work harder to produce more resale value.
A worn or obviously dated kitchen might benefit enormously from focused improvements. At some point, however, moving from a good kitchen to an extremely expensive one can improve the owner's experience without increasing the future sale price by the same amount.
That does not make a full custom kitchen a bad investment.
It means we need to know what kind of return we are trying to achieve.
If the goal is resale in the near term, disciplined scope matters.
If the goal is to live in the home for years, functionality, storage, enjoyment and durability have value too.
The 2025 Remodeling Impact Report from NAR and NARI confirms that distinction in another way: a kitchen upgrade received a Joy Score of 10 out of 10. REALTORS® also reported a 48% increase in demand for kitchen upgrades, the highest increase among the project categories highlighted in that part of the report.
Kitchen Remodel ROI in Miami: Know the Neighborhood Ceiling
For a kitchen remodel ROI decision in Miami, national percentages are useful benchmarks, but they are not enough.
The property still has to make sense relative to nearby comparable homes.
A practical screening rule is to be cautious when the projected post-renovation value starts moving beyond roughly 110% to 120% of the median value of relevant nearby comparables.
I treat that as a screening range, not an appraisal formula.
If comparable properties support a certain value level and a proposed kitchen pushes the total investment far beyond it, we should ask why before spending the money.
Maybe the homeowner plans to stay for 15 years and values the lifestyle improvement. That can be completely rational.
But if the objective is resale within a short period, over-improving can create a mismatch between the kitchen and the property around it.
This is why the right question is not: “How expensive can this kitchen be?” It is: “What level of kitchen makes sense for this house?”
In Miami, that decision can vary substantially from one property and neighborhood to another. Instead of inventing a citywide ROI percentage, I would look at recent comparable sales, the current condition of the kitchen, the quality level buyers expect in that segment and the likely post-renovation value.
A beautiful custom kitchen can still be the wrong financial investment if the finished home is being pushed well beyond what comparable properties support.
What Makes a Custom Kitchen Add Value?
A custom kitchen earns its premium when customization solves real problems.
Custom Cabinetry That Uses the Space Better
One of the advantages of custom cabinetry is that storage can be designed into the architecture instead of added afterward.
Full-height cabinets can use vertical space. Pantry storage can disappear behind a clean facade. Appliances can be integrated into cabinetry rather than interrupting the room visually.
The outside matters, but so does what happens behind the doors.
This is also where working with a custom kitchen design team in Miami pays off: the cabinetry is planned around the home, not ordered from a catalog.
A Layout That Improves How the Kitchen Works
An island earns its place when it does more than photograph well.
In the kitchen shown here, the island can operate as preparation space, seating and a gathering point while preserving circulation around it.
That type of planning is one reason custom design can create value without relying exclusively on more expensive finishes.
Materials That Fit the Home
Materials matter, but context matters more.
Zillow found that quartzite was associated with a 5.3% sale premium, compared with 3% for quartz, 2.7% for soapstone, 1.9% for marble and 1.6% for onyx.
Those numbers do not mean quartzite automatically delivers the best ROI.
They tell us that certain materials are associated with stronger sale performance in Zillow's dataset. The final remodeling return still depends on purchase cost, installation, design, condition of the rest of the house and the local market.
Execution Is What Makes the Materials Work
The materials matter, but execution is what makes them read as a finished kitchen rather than a collection of upgrades.
When cabinet lines align, appliances feel integrated, stone transitions make sense and the finishes relate to one another, the room feels intentional.
This is why I prefer a cohesive design direction and clear responsibility for execution rather than treating cabinetry, stone, storage and appliances as unrelated purchases.
Custom does not have to mean eccentric, either.
A resale-friendly custom kitchen can use highly tailored cabinetry and storage while keeping the broader palette restrained enough to work for different buyers.
Should You Remodel Your Kitchen Before Selling?
Sometimes yes. Sometimes the smarter answer is a smaller update.
I would be more inclined to renovate before selling when the existing kitchen is visibly holding the property back: worn finishes, poor storage, damaged surfaces or a level of design significantly below comparable homes.
I would be more cautious when the layout already works and most of the proposed budget would be spent moving from “good” to “exceptionally expensive.”
The data supports that caution.
Minor kitchen projects can produce very strong cost recovery.
Major projects can still add substantial value, but their percentage recovery falls to roughly 36%–51%.
At the same time, resale is not the only measure.
NAR/NARI gave kitchen upgrades a 10/10 Joy Score. Americans spent an estimated $603 billion on remodeling in 2024.
And useful customization extends beyond kitchens. The same NAR/NARI research estimated 83% cost recovery for closet renovations, second only to a new steel front door at 100% among the highest-recovery projects cited in the report.
That makes a natural connection to custom closet design: useful storage can have measurable appeal when it genuinely improves how the home works.
The goal is not to spend the most.
It is to make the house feel more functional, more complete and appropriately finished for its market.
FAQs About Custom Kitchens and Home Value
- Does a custom kitchen increase home value?
- It can. Zillow’s 2026 analysis associated listings mentioning custom features with a 3.2% premium and custom finishes with a 3% premium. That is an association, not a guaranteed return. The actual result depends on the quality of the project, the home's price range, local comparable sales and how much was invested.
- How much value does a kitchen remodel add?
- Cost vs. Value data shows a minor kitchen remodel costing $28,458 and adding $32,141 in estimated resale value, equal to 112.9% cost recovery. Larger projects can add value too, but the percentage recovered tends to decline as project cost rises.
- What is the ROI of a major kitchen remodel?
- Major kitchen remodels in the Cost vs. Value data recovered roughly 36% to 51% of project cost. That lower percentage does not mean a major renovation has no value. It means the additional dollars spent on an extensive remodel do not necessarily produce an equal increase in resale value.
- Is a custom kitchen worth it before selling a home?
- It can be when the current kitchen is dated, dysfunctional or below the standard of comparable homes. I would be more cautious when a proposed remodel pushes the property substantially beyond neighborhood values. For resale, the best project is usually one that improves buyer appeal without over-improving the house.
- How much should I spend on a kitchen remodel in Miami?
- There is no responsible one-size-fits-all Miami number. Start with relevant nearby comparable sales, the property's current condition and its likely post-renovation value. As a screening rule, be cautious if the projected value exceeds roughly 110%–120% of comparable neighborhood values. The appropriate budget should follow the property — not the maximum available spend.
Sources
Planning a custom kitchen in Miami?
We design, build and install custom kitchens as one accountable team from our Doral studio. Tell us about your home and we will help you find the level of kitchen that makes sense for it.