Most cost articles give you one national number and move on. That number is rarely your number. What you'll pay depends on three things more than anything else: whether the layout changes, what cabinets you choose, and what's behind the walls.
Below are the most credible published benchmarks for our region, what each one actually includes, and the decisions that move a kitchen from one tier to the next. We've kept it to published data — no made-up averages.
The short answer: 2025 benchmarks for the Mountain region
The Cost vs. Value Report (Zonda / JLC) is the remodeling industry's longest-running cost study. Its 2025 figures for the Mountain region, which includes Colorado:
| Project type | Typical job cost | What that includes (200 sq ft kitchen, 30 ft of cabinets) |
|---|---|---|
| Minor remodel (midrange) | $28,490 | Keep cabinet boxes, new shaker doors and drawer fronts, new range and refrigerator, laminate counters, new sink and faucet, new resilient flooring, paint |
| Major remodel (midrange) | $81,538 | New semi-custom cabinets with a 3×5 ft island, laminate counters, new appliance package with vented hood, custom lighting, new resilient flooring, paint |
| Major remodel (upscale) | $159,439 | Custom cabinets with interior accessories, stone counters, tile backsplash, built-in refrigerator, commercial-grade cooktop, wall oven, new lighting, tile flooring |
Source: 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, Mountain region, jlconline.com/cost-vs-value.
Read these carefully. The midrange major remodel assumes laminate countertops and no layout change. Many homeowners today choose quartz, and many want to move the sink, open a wall, or relocate the range. Each of those moves you up the table.
For a wider view: HomeAdvisor reports a national typical range of $14,589–$41,559 and $75–$250 per square foot. That range skews toward smaller and cosmetic projects. (HomeAdvisor, updated June 2026.)
Where the money goes
- Cabinets — the biggest single line, close to 30% of a typical budget (HomeAdvisor). Refacing, stock, semi-custom, and custom can differ by tens of thousands on the same kitchen.
- Labor — roughly a quarter of the total.
- Countertops — laminate is the budget line; quartz and natural stone add meaningfully, and the more seams, cutouts, and edge details, the more it costs.
- Appliances — from a few hundred dollars per appliance to many thousands for built-in and pro-style units.
- Electrical, plumbing, lighting, permits — smaller lines individually, but they add up, and they're where surprises show up.
What pushes your kitchen up (or down) the range
Layout changes. Keeping the sink, range, and refrigerator where they are is the single biggest way to control cost. Moving plumbing, gas, or venting means opening floors and walls, and usually more inspections.
Removing a wall. Opening a kitchen to the living room often means checking whether the wall is load-bearing and rerouting anything inside it. A structural wall adds engineering and a beam.
Cabinet level. Refacing (new doors, same boxes) is how the "minor remodel" stays near $28K. New semi-custom boxes are the jump to the major tier.
Countertop material. Laminate vs. quartz vs. natural stone is one of the easiest line items to compare between bids — ask for it separately.
The age of your house. Colorado Springs has plenty of homes built before 1978. Older kitchens can mean outdated wiring, galvanized plumbing, or lead paint that requires lead-safe work practices. None of that is visible until walls open, which is why a contingency matters.
Permits. In Colorado Springs and most of El Paso County, permits run through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. Electrical, plumbing, gas, and structural work typically require one. Cosmetic-only work may not — PPRBD's permit counter (719-327-2883) confirms for your specific scope.
Timing and lead times. Semi-custom and custom cabinets often take weeks to arrive. Ordering late stretches the schedule, and a kitchen out of service costs you in takeout and patience.
How to budget before you call anyone
- Pick your tier honestly. Refresh (keep the layout and cabinet boxes), full remodel (new cabinets, same layout), or reconfigure (move things, open walls).
- Start from the matching benchmark above, then adjust for what you know you want — quartz instead of laminate, an upgraded appliance package, a wall removal.
- Hold a contingency. We recommend setting aside 10–15% on top of the contract for what's found behind the walls — more in pre-1978 homes.
- Decide what you'd cut first if bids come in high. Knowing that in advance makes the bid conversation faster and calmer.
- Compare bids by scope, not by bottom line. Line items, allowances, and exclusions tell you whether two numbers are even describing the same kitchen. Our vetting kit walks through what to ask.
Does a kitchen remodel pay you back when you sell?
Partially — and less the bigger you go. In the same 2025 Mountain region data:
| Project | Cost | Added resale value | Cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor remodel (midrange) | $28,490 | $31,417 | 110.3% |
| Major remodel (midrange) | $81,538 | $40,218 | 49.3% |
| Major remodel (upscale) | $159,439 | $55,644 | 34.9% |
The takeaway: a focused refresh is one of the few remodels that can return more than it costs at sale. A major remodel is mostly for the years you live with it. If you're planning to sell within a couple of years, that's worth knowing before you choose a tier.