What Really Drives the Cost of a Kitchen Remodel
Our cost calculators are based on local projects in Montezuma County, so the range you see fits homes here.
Even so, two kitchens the same size can land far apart. Here is what moves a project from the low end of that range to the high end, so you can see where the money goes and where you have room to choose.
The six things that move the price
1. How much you change. This is the biggest one. A refresh keeps your cabinets and layout and updates the surfaces. A bigger remodel replaces the cabinets in the same layout. A full gut takes the room down to the studs and rebuilds it. Each step up adds demolition, labor, and materials.
2. Cabinets. Cabinets are one of the biggest parts of a kitchen budget. Refacing or refinishing the cabinets you have costs the least. Stock and semi-custom cabinets sit in the middle. Full custom costs the most.
3. Moving plumbing, wiring, or walls. Keeping the sink, range, and fridge where they are saves real money. Moving a sink or range means new pipes, gas lines, or wiring. Moving a wall means framing, drywall, and often electrical. If the layout works, keeping it is one of the easiest ways to stay on budget.
4. Countertops, appliances, and finishes. Laminate and butcher block counters cost the least, quartz and granite sit in the middle, and premium stone costs the most. Appliances, faucets, lighting, and tile come at every price too. The same kitchen can cost very different amounts on these choices alone.
5. Size of the kitchen. A bigger kitchen needs more cabinets, more countertop, more flooring, and more hours.
6. Age of the home. Older homes are more likely to have outdated wiring, old plumbing, or hidden damage that only shows up once the walls are open. That can't always be priced until demolition starts.
Where it pays to spend
The parts you use every day and the parts you never see are the ones you least want to redo: cabinet boxes and drawers that hold up to daily use, wiring that can safely handle your appliances, and a range hood that actually moves smoke and grease out of the room. Cutting corners there tends to show up later as sagging drawers, tripped breakers, or grease on the cabinets.
Where you can save
- Keep the layout.
- If the cabinet boxes are solid, reface or paint them instead of replacing them.
- Put the expensive material in one small area, like an island top or the backsplash behind the range, and keep the rest simple.
- Keep appliances that still work well, or choose mid-range models from solid brands.
For reference: the national numbers
The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report puts the average minor kitchen remodel (new surfaces, same layout) at $28,458 and a major midrange one (new cabinets, counters, and appliances) at $82,793. Those are national averages. Prices in your area can run higher or lower.
Your next step
A calculator range is a starting point. To know what your kitchen will cost, someone has to look at the room, the plumbing and wiring, and what you want.
See your price range. Answer a few quick questions in the calculator and see a range right away.
Talk it through. When you reach out, we start with a short phone call to understand your goals, answer your questions, and talk through next steps. From there, we decide together whether an on-site visit makes sense. Call (844) 719-2825, or request a consultation.
