There's no single right answer, but there is a right answer for your situation. Run the decision through three lenses and the order usually becomes obvious.
If you want the biggest impact: kitchen first
The kitchen is the room buyers judge a home by, and the one you live in most. A great kitchen lifts the feel of the whole house and tends to carry the most weight at resale. If your goal is maximum impact — for your own enjoyment or for a future sale — lead with the kitchen. Just go in clear-eyed on budget; see our kitchen remodel cost guide, since it's the pricier of the two.
If budget or disruption is the concern: bathroom first
A bathroom is smaller, costs less, and is far easier to live through. You can usually still use another bathroom while it's torn up, whereas losing your kitchen for weeks means takeout and a microwave on a folding table. If money is tight or you want a lower-stress first project to test how you work with a contractor, the bathroom is the gentler entry point. Check the bathroom remodel cost guide to size it up.
The practical case for doing the bathroom first
Many homeowners do the bathroom first precisely because it's lower-risk. It's a smaller financial commitment, it lets you build trust with a remodeler before handing them the big kitchen job, and it keeps daily life mostly intact. If that first project goes well, you've got a proven pro for the kitchen.
One thing not to skip
Whichever room goes first, the prep is the same: get three written bids, confirm the scope matches across them, and verify the contractor's L&I registration. Doing the smaller room first is also a great way to learn how a contractor communicates before the bigger job.
Not sure which makes more sense for your home and budget? Get free quotes from vetted Washington remodelers and let local pros help you sequence it.