$23,151
Average
$20,907
Low
$25,115
High
$14,960
Verified Floor
35.4%
Markup
Bid Fairness Checker
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Cost index by David Olson · reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson · 2026.Q1
Independent FatBook v3 cost indexVerified permit/source data where availableReviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Denver
Analyzing…
Denver sits right at the national average for kitchen remodeling, $23,151, but that headline number hides a 35.4% contractor markup. The floor price is only $14,960. The gap between what most people pay and what the most competitive contractors charge is unusually large here, which means prepared buyers can save substantially.
High-margin market. Denver contractors are averaging 35.4% above their verified floor price. The gap is $8,191. Your strongest move: request an itemized line-item breakdown, then compare labor hours and material costs against our benchmark data. The P15 floor of $14,960 represents what 15% of contractors already charge.
Peak-season pricing is in effect. May is high-demand season for Denver kitchen remodeling contractors. Crews are booked out and negotiating power shifts to the contractor. Expect quotes at the upper end of the $20,907–$25,115 range. If your timeline allows it, waiting 2–3 months could save you $2,457–$4,915 vs. peak pricing. If you must move now, get quotes fast, availability matters more than negotiation in peak season.
The gap between what Denver homeowners typically pay and what the market can support is $8,191, one of the largest in our index. To put that in context: the floor price of $14,960 isn't a discount or a coupon. It's the P15, the price point that 15% of verified contractors already charge. The other 85% are charging more, often significantly more, for the same scope of work.
Denver falls in the lower half of our pricing index, more affordable than 3 of 5 tracked metros. This keeps baseline costs reasonable, though the 35.4% markup means contractors are still pricing above their verified floor by $8,191. In lower-cost markets, the percentage savings often matters more than the dollar amount.
Show the math: how Denver Kitchen Remodel (Combined) numbers are derived Click to expand
Derivation for Denver, Kitchen Remodel (Combined) · cost_index 2026.Q2
Step 1: Craftsman labor hours
BOM hours from Craftsman National Estimator: 85.67 hrs
Step 2: BLS wage × burden
Denver wage from BLS OES: $28.85/hr
Burden rate (FICA + workers' comp + insurance + unemployment): 43.0%
loaded_wage = $28.85 × 1.4302 = $41.26/hr
Step 3: Labor cost
labor = 85.67 hrs × $41.26/hr = $3,535
Step 4: Materials (PPI-adjusted)
Craftsman material cost × FRED PPI multiplier (1.0000): $10,190
Materials pass through at cost. PPI multiplier inflation-adjusts the BOM book price to current market.
Step 5: Permit fee
Denver permit office: $441
Verified from permits_compiled.json. City and state fee schedules.
Step 6: Direct cost
direct = labor + materials + permit = $3,535 + $10,190 + $441 = $14,165
Step 7: Overhead
NAHB benchmark: 20% of (labor + permit). Materials are pass-through and don't carry overhead.
overhead = ($3,535 + $441) × 0.20 = $795
Step 8: Cost to deliver
cost_to_deliver = direct + overhead = $14,165 + $795 = $14,960
What it actually costs a contractor to do this job in Denver, before profit.
Step 9: Verified floor
Lowest verified bid in Denver for this scope: $14,960
Floor sits above cost-to-deliver, which is the expected pattern for a fair market.
Step 10: Typical contractor quote
Market average from verified contractor pricing in Denver: $23,151
Step 11: Contractor gross margin
margin = ($23,151 - $14,960) / $23,151 × 100 = 35.4%
The portion of the typical quote that is not cost-to-deliver. Higher = more room to negotiate.
Step 12: Savings potential
savings = $23,151 - $14,960 = $8,191
The gap between the typical quote and the verified floor in Denver.
Same v3 BOM applied to every service in every metro. Sources: BLS OES wages, FRED PPI series, Craftsman National Estimator, city permit offices. Updated 2026.Q2. Full methodology →
2026.Q2 Quick Answer
In 2026.Q2, kitchen remodeling in Denver averages $23,151, with a typical local range of $20,907 to $25,115. The verified floor is $14,960, so inflated bids may leave about $8,191 in negotiable savings.
Updated May 2026. Sources: BLS OEWS, FRED PPI, Craftsman labor-hour references, city permit data where available, and FatBook v3 cost-index methodology.
How this number is calculated
TheFatBook models kitchen remodeling from Craftsman labor hours, BLS regional wages, burden, PPI-adjusted materials, permit data where available, and contractor overhead benchmarks. Cost index version: 2026.Q2. Updated May 2026.
Sources: BLS, NKBA, Remodeling Magazine, Craftsman
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Read methodology →Data Sources Used On This Page
- Independent FatBook v3 cost index for Kitchen Remodeling in Denver.
- BLS OEWS wage inputs and FRED PPI material inflation references.
- Craftsman labor-hour references and contractor overhead benchmarks.
- Verified permit/source data from PermitCalculator.com and permits_compiled where available.
Cost-index version: 2026.Q2
Updated: May 2026
Sources: BLS, NKBA, Remodeling Magazine, Craftsman
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Estimate Scope
What the kitchen remodeling in denver benchmark includes.
Included in the benchmark
- Kitchen Remodel (Combined) as the headline cost-index scope
- labor-hour assumptions, regional wage inputs, materials, overhead, and permit data where available
- low, average, high, verified-floor, markup, and savings benchmarks from the FatBook cost index
Not included automatically
- hidden damage, change orders, emergency service premiums, or unusual site access conditions
- contractor financing approval, warranties, provider recommendations, or guaranteed final quotes
- permit rulings for a specific address unless the city permit panel lists verified local data
Denver Service Pricing
| Service | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen Cabinet Installation | $6,359 | $7,042 | $7,639 |
| Kitchen Countertop Installation | $3,565 | $3,948 | $4,282 |
| Kitchen Remodel (Combined) | $20,907 | $23,151 | $25,115 |
| Kitchen Demolition | $778 | $861 | $934 |
| Kitchen Faucet Installation | $526 | $583 | $632 |
| Kitchen Sink Installation | $1,426 | $1,579 | $1,713 |
| Garbage Disposer Installation | $379 | $420 | $455 |
| Dishwasher Installation | $1,583 | $1,752 | $1,901 |
| Range Hood Installation | $416 | $460 | $499 |
| Microwave Installation | $982 | $1,087 | $1,179 |
| Cooktop Installation | $2,261 | $2,504 | $2,716 |
| Wall Oven Installation | $3,385 | $3,748 | $4,066 |
| Granite Countertop Installation | $5,434 | $6,018 | $6,528 |
| Solid Surface Countertop | $6,469 | $7,164 | $7,772 |
| Engineered Stone Countertop | $5,801 | $6,423 | $6,968 |
| Laminate Countertop Installation | $1,564 | $1,732 | $1,878 |
| Bar Sink Installation | $393 | $435 | $472 |
| Closet Shelving Installation | $684 | $757 | $821 |
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Permit Information
Denver permits.
Structure
Denver uses same valuation-based fee formula for ALL trade permits (building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC). Plan review is 50% of permit fee for projects over $2,000. Quick permits (water heaters, roof coverings, light fixtures) have no plan review fee.
Department
Community Planning and Development (CPD)
Phone
311 (local) or (720) 913-1311 (outside Denver)
Official Source
Verified
2026-03-23
Fee Anchors
$8k building fee: $83
$12k building fee: $115
$25k building fee: $219
Electrical base: $43
Plumbing base: $43
HVAC base: $83
$12k building fee: $115
$25k building fee: $219
Electrical base: $43
Plumbing base: $43
HVAC base: $83
Source-backed permit facts from PermitCalculator.com and the underlying permits_compiled dataset. Always confirm final requirements with the local building department before filing.
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Cost index built by David Olson, Founder of TheFatBook · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co. · 2026.Q1