The price tag for improving your kitchen

Full Kitchen Remodel

According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2025 Kitchen Trends Report, the average cost for a medium-size kitchen renovation is just over $71,000. The Journal of Light Construction put the number at just shy of $80,000 for a midrange project. Of course, material and labor costs can vary significantly, as will any contractor bids you receive, but it’s fair to say that redoing an entire kitchen is a major investment.

Will a full renovation pay for itself? Returning to data from The Journal of Light Construction, the average cost recouped from a major kitchen remodel was about 50%. In other words, a renovation should be thought of as a purchase for your benefit, rather than an investment that will pay financial dividends.

DIY Pull-out Storage

If your kitchen cabinets are in good shape but simply not serving your storage needs, pull-out shelf installation may just be the ideal solution. Base cabinet pull-outs can significantly increase your usable space, while providing effortless access to all of your stored items.

What will slide-out storage cost? That depends on the avenue you choose.

DIY is an option for some people. With some research and high-level handy homeowner skills, it’s possible to build or buy pull-out drawers and install them yourself. There is a learning curve, of course, but it can be rewarding. The cost will vary widely depending on the quality of materials involved. Cheaper wood and drawer slides can be turned into a serviceable pull-out for under $100. A more sturdy, attractive unit with high quality, full-extension, self-closing slides will likely have a cost closer to $100 or more to build.

Buying pre-built drawers and installing them yourself will avoid the trouble of learning the drawer building process. Once again, cost will vary significantly depending on the level of quality. Big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot offer both standard-sized systems (e.g. Rev-A-Shelf) and made-to-fit pull-out products (e.g. Slide-A-Shelf) with starting prices around the $100 mark. No matter the choice, installation can be tricky and will require some handyperson skills and familiarity with tools. Spacers may be required to make a one-size unit fit your specific cabinet. And it is absolutely critical to take your measurements carefully, or the installation will be a nightmare and the pull-out may not function properly. Take stock of your handy-person skills before taking the leap.

Professional Pull-Out Storage

The final option is to have pull-out shelving custom built and installed for you. This will eliminate the hassles and headaches that come with sizing and installing roll-out cabinet storage yourself.

The national Shelf Genie franchise (shelfgenie.com) offers a broad assortment of pull-out organizers with a tiered pricing structure that allows for a variety of upgrades. For the widest range of available styles and options, Shelf Genie is hard to beat. If things like sloped sides, scooped fronts or multiple color options are features you find important, Shelf Genie has what you are looking for.

The downside is that all of this comes with a premium price tag. What does Shelf Genie cost? Pricing is not transparent, and your cost will vary according to the scope of the project and the materials you choose. A customized quote will give you the best information, and is highly recommended. However, here is some data to give you a general idea.

The franchise disclosure document for Shelf Genie puts the average sales ticket for 2024 at more than $5,000. The median sale (midpoint) for the entire franchise was also slightly more than $5,000. In other words, half of their projects were more than $5,000. On-line commenters over the years have indicated their Shelf Genie purchase equated to more than $500 per drawer. Many customers praise the quality of products, but high prices are a common complaint. Several Shelf Hero customers have shared the details of their own Shelf Genie quote, and every one of them was more than double the quote from Shelf Hero (one of the reasons they became customers!).

What does Shelf Hero charge? Shelf Hero is an affordable alternative to Shelf Genie for Jacksonville homeowners. Size and complexity affect cost, of course, but a standard pull-out from Shelf Hero is never more than $250 (installation included). Small pull-outs are much less. We don’t offer color choices or sloping sides, just highly functional, top-quality roll-out storage with first-rate hardware. All at a much more affordable price point. If that sounds like a fit for you, give Shelf Hero a call!