Kitchen Market Stalls as Uncertainty Weighs

Industry professionals report flat growth, with consumer uncertainty and rising costs cited as the main obstacles.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Home Renovation

Flat gouache-painted editorial illustration of a pale oak kitchen drawer pulled partly open, revealing an empty interior with a brass pull, against a warm cream background. — Kitchen and bath professionals reported flat market growth over the past year, with designer sales down 2% year-over-year in the third quarter, according to the NKBA and John Burns Research. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Kitchen and bath professionals reported market growth was relatively flat over the past year, according to the 3Q26 Kitchen & Bath Market Index Report released by the National Kitchen & Bath Association and John Burns Research and Consulting. Designer sales fell 2% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026.

Why it matters

Demand is increasingly concentrated in luxury projects as mid-range clients postpone remodeling or trade down to lower-grade products. Higher prices and persistent consumer uncertainty make these barriers difficult to overcome.

The figures come from a survey of roughly 500 NKBA members across design, building and remodeling, retail, and manufacturing segments. Designer sales fell 2% and project completions fell 4% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2026, while pricing rose 5.1% on average.

The players

National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)

The Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based trade association for kitchen and bath professionals, which co-published the market index report.

John Burns Research and Consulting

A real estate research and consulting firm that co-produced the quarterly Kitchen & Bath Market Index with the NKBA.

The details

Nearly one-third of design firms reported clients trading down to lower-grade products. Surveyed respondents also cited tariffs and trade issues (44%) and a skilled-labor shortage (30%) as growth constraints.

Third quarter of 2026: designer sales declined 2% and project completions fell 4% year-over-year.
November 5, 2026: the 3Q26 Kitchen & Bath Market Index Report was published.

Market Context

The 3Q26 index continues a quarterly series that tracks kitchen and bath demand, and this report shows the market leaning on luxury projects as mid-range spending softens. Pricing gains of 5.1% alongside falling project completions suggest higher costs are narrowing the set of homeowners able to remodel.

Homeowners planning kitchen or bath projects may face higher contractor quotes, since builders and remodelers expect to pass along costs through sharper price increases. Designers and retailers project more modest increases, so comparing bids across firm types may help manage budgets.

The takeaway

Homeowners weighing a remodel may find more room to negotiate by asking designers and retailers for quotes, since they project smaller price increases than builders. Planning around tariff- and labor-driven costs early can reduce the risk of mid-project trade-downs.