In short
- One Ottawa firm lists a small kitchen refresh at $15,000–$25,000 and, in the body of the same page, a small kitchen renovation at $15,000–$30,000 (2026).
- HomeStars' Canada-wide guide gives $15,000–$30,000 for a basic update with new cabinets, counters and appliances.
- Keeping sink, range and fridge in place avoids $1,000–$3,000 per moved plumbing or gas connection.
- Taking out a wall to the dining room needs a City building permit.
- In a condo, piping counts as a common element; changes to common elements need the board's approval.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small kitchen refresh | $15,000–$25,000 | One Ottawa firm’s list, May 2026 |
| Small kitchen renovation | $15,000–$30,000 | Same firm; cabinet painting or refacing, counters, backsplash, sink, lighting, floor |
| Basic update, Canada-wide | $15,000–$30,000 | HomeStars; cabinets, counters, appliances |
| Appliance package | $8,000–$40,000 | HomeStars; standard to professional grade |
| Each relocated plumbing or gas connection | $1,000–$3,000 | HomeStars; plus electrical where needed |
| Contingency | 10–15% of the budget | HomeStars; older homes reveal more once walls open |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: Done Right Renovations, How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in Ottawa in 2026? (28 May 2026) (one firm’s list); HomeStars, How Much Does a Home Renovation Cost in Canada 2026 (updated 21/08/2026); City of Ottawa, Building permit projects; City of Ottawa, Projects not requiring Building Permits; Condominium Authority of Ontario, What are common elements in a condo and can you change them; Electrical Safety Authority, Finding the Right Contractor
Why a small room still costs
A short run of cabinets means few counter feet. Twenty square feet of counter at HomeStars’ $20 to $155 per square foot is $400 to $3,100. The rest of the budget does not shrink with the floor area: demolition, the plumbing connection, electrical work, delivery and a week of installers’ time belong to a small room as well. Both Ottawa figures for a small kitchen start at $15,000.
What a refresh covers
One Ottawa firm lists cabinet painting or refacing, new counters, a backsplash, a new sink and faucet, lighting, flooring and paint inside a small renovation. The cabinet boxes and the layout stay. This route suits a kitchen whose bones are sound and whose surfaces are worn. The cabinets and countertops page explains the two largest lines.
Keep the footprint
Moving the sink, range or fridge changes the price. In HomeStars’ table every sink, range or gas line moved costs $1,000 to $3,000, with any new circuit on top. In a small room, one move can take a large share of the budget.
The City lists replacing cabinets as permit-exempt when plumbing fixtures remain in the same place. Plumbing alterations and removed walls need a permit. The kitchen renovation page covers the layout question in full.
Opening a wall
Some small kitchens share a wall with the dining room. Write “wall comes down” in the request, so the company checks what the wall carries before it prices the framing, the drywall and the permit.
Condo kitchens
The Condominium Authority of Ontario lists piping among common elements and says owner-proposed changes to common elements need board approval under section 98 of the Condo Act. A drain or supply line that runs through the unit can fall into that category. Ask the property manager before the kitchen is priced, and give the company the corporation’s renovation rules. Electrical work still goes through a business with an ECRA/ESA licence.
Time and the quote
HomeStars gives four to eight weeks for a kitchen on average. Ask for the order of work and the day the counters go in. Cost lines for the whole kitchen are on kitchen renovation cost in Ottawa; renovation permits sets out the City’s rules.
Who comes to measure
The Desk sends a small-kitchen request to one independent company. It phones, measures the room and writes the quote in its own words.
Questions to ask the company
- Which of my cabinets can be painted or refaced, and which need replacing?
- What is the appliance allowance, and which widths does the cabinet plan assume?
- If the room is in a condo, which approvals from the board do you need before work starts?
- Is there a wall or a bulkhead in the plan, and who applies for the permit if it comes out?
- What is the week-by-week order of work, and when is the sink connected?
Have this ready for the call
- Wall lengths in feet and the ceiling height, with window and door positions.
- Photos of each wall and the inside of the sink cabinet.
- The appliances you keep, with their widths.
- For a condo: the corporation's rules for renovations and the contact at the property manager.
- A corner of another room where a fridge, a microwave and a kettle can run for a few weeks.
Questions people ask
What does a small kitchen refresh include?
One Ottawa firm lists cabinet painting or refacing, new countertops, a backsplash, sink and faucet replacement, lighting, flooring and paint. The layout stays. Say in the request which of these you want, since each line can be priced on its own.
Is a condo kitchen cheaper to renovate?
One Ottawa firm says a compact condo kitchen costs significantly less than a large open-concept family kitchen. A condo also adds approvals: piping is a common element, and owner-proposed changes to common elements need the board’s approval and a formal agreement.
What does opening a small kitchen to the dining room involve?
A permit first: the City lists adding or removing walls as building permit projects, charged at $12.75 for each $1,000 of work and $117 at the least. One Ottawa firm adds that open-concept work often means framing, drywall and possibly a load-bearing wall, so ask the company how it will check the wall before it prices.
Should I keep my appliances in a small kitchen?
It can lower the budget. HomeStars puts a full appliance package at $8,000–$40,000, which is a big slice of a $15,000–$30,000 job. If a fridge or range stays, give the company its width so the cabinet plan fits.
What surprises does a small kitchen in an older house hide?
HomeStars lists moisture damage, outdated wiring and galvanized plumbing as what older homes show once the walls open, and it recommends holding 10–15% of the project for them. On a $20,000 job that is $2,000–$3,000. Ask the company to name the contingency as its own line in the quote.
