Building on a Year of Stability, a More Gradual and Uneven Recovery is Expected
By NKBA Editorial Staff
The NKBA I KBIS 2026 Kitchen & Bath Industry Outlook Update, which provides a refreshed, mid-year look at U.S.residential kitchen and bath industry activity, indicates that the overall 2026 forecast remains stable and largely unchanged from February.
U.S. K&B revenue, including both materials and labor, will stay essentially flat at $228 billion in 2026.
Here are some additional key insights:
Contraction Has Slowed, Growth is Delayed
While revenue growth is expected to contract for the fourth consecutive year in 2026, the pace of that contraction has noticeably slowed from a high of -2.6% in 2023 to an expected -0.4% this year.
Limiting Factors: Inflation and Weak New Home Construction
Higher-than-expected inflation and weaker new-home construction will keep real market volumes slightly negative, resulting in a more gradual and uneven recovery than previously anticipated. That recovery will be especially dependent on segment, price point and customer profile.
Opportunity in Repair and Remodeling
Repair and remodeling K&B spending is forecast to increase by +3.5% in 2026, with price increases driving the gains. Pro-led K&B spending continues to outpace DIY, rising by +5.3% this year, compared to more modest +1.1% growth in DIY renovations. Meanwhile, new construction K&B spending will decline by -4.7% this year.
“This is shaping up to be a year that is about stabilization and market-share shifts, rather than a broad-based recovery,” said Bill Darcy, Global President & CEO of NKBA I KBIS. “The good news is that our industry is moving from a prolonged period of contraction toward anticipated growth, even if the process is taking longer than we’d like.”
To access additional insights and information, download the full NKBA I KBIS 2026 Kitchen & Bath Industry Outlook Update.
