The average cost of kitchen cabinets for a standard kitchen remodel in the United States typically ranges from \$4,000 to \$15,000, but this number can swing wildly depending on the style, material, size of your kitchen, and whether you choose stock, semi-custom, or custom options.
Getting new kitchen cabinets is one of the biggest expenses in any kitchen remodel. It is smart to know what you are getting into financially. This guide breaks down the real costs, what drives the price up or down, and how to stick to your cabinet remodel budget.
Deciphering the Main Factors Driving Kitchen Cabinet Cost
The price you pay for your new cabinets is not one fixed number. Many things play a role in the final bill. Think of it like buying a car; a basic model costs much less than one loaded with every feature.
Cabinet Quality Tiers: Stock vs. Semi-Custom vs. Custom
The biggest factor affecting new cabinet pricing is the construction style. Cabinets fall into three main groups, each with a different price tag.
Stock Kitchen Cabinet Costs
Stock cabinets are the most budget-friendly choice. These cabinets are pre-made in standard sizes and styles by large manufacturers.
- Pros: They are cheap and easy to get quickly. If you are looking for the best price for kitchen cabinets, this is a great start.
- Cons: You have very limited choices for colors, finishes, and sizes. They often use simpler construction methods.
- Cost Expectation: Stock cabinets usually cost between \$100 and \$400 per linear foot.
Semi-Custom Cabinet Pricing
Semi-custom cabinets offer a good balance between price and personalization. They start with standard base boxes, just like stock cabinets, but allow you to choose from more door styles, finishes, and some size adjustments.
- Pros: Better quality than stock. You can tailor the look to fit your kitchen better.
- Cons: They take longer to arrive than stock units.
- Cost Expectation: This tier usually runs from \$150 to \$650 per linear foot. This is where many homeowners find the sweet spot for good value.
Custom Kitchen Cabinet Prices
Custom cabinets are built just for your space. They are made to order, piece by piece, by a local cabinet maker or specialized company.
- Pros: Total freedom in design, material, size, and special features. If you have an oddly shaped kitchen, custom is the answer.
- Cons: They are the most expensive and take the longest time to complete.
- Cost Expectation: Expect prices to start around \$500 per linear foot and easily climb past \$1,200 per linear foot for premium woods and finishes.
Material Matters: Wood, Veneer, and Laminate
The material your cabinet box and doors are made from heavily impacts the final price.
- Solid Wood: Hardwoods like maple, cherry, or oak offer the best look and durability. They cost the most. Softwoods like pine are cheaper but dent more easily.
- Plywood: High-quality plywood boxes are favored by pros because they hold screws well and resist moisture better than particleboard. Plywood is found in mid-to-high-end cabinets.
- MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard): MDF is often used for painted cabinets. It paints smoothly but doesn’t hold up as well to extreme moisture as plywood. It is often used in affordable kitchen cabinets.
- Laminate and Thermofoil: These plastic or synthetic wraps over an engineered wood core are budget-friendly but less durable than real wood.
Door Style and Finish
The door style is the “face” of your kitchen, and it carries significant weight in the cost.
- Shaker Style: Very popular and often one of the less expensive door styles because it is simple to build.
- Raised Panel or detailed designs (like cathedral or beadboard): These require more labor and materials, pushing the price up.
- Finish: A simple stain over wood is usually cheaper than a complex, multi-step painted finish or a specialty veneer.
Breaking Down the Total Cabinet Installation Costs
It is a common mistake to only budget for the cabinets themselves. You must include the cost of getting them installed correctly. Poor installation can ruin even the most expensive cabinets.
Installation Price Variation
Cabinet installation costs can vary widely based on location and installer skill.
| Installation Factor | Typical Cost Range (Labor Only) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stock Cabinets | \$100 – \$250 per cabinet box | Simple, standard placement. |
| Semi-Custom Cabinets | \$200 – \$400 per cabinet box | Requires minor shimming and fitting. |
| Custom Cabinets | \$350 – \$600+ per cabinet box | Detailed fitting and leveling required. |
| Total Installation (Labor) | 15% to 25% of the cabinet purchase price | This is a general rule of thumb. |
What influences installation fees?
- Complexity of the Layout: Corners, tight spaces, and odd angles cost more time and labor.
- Cabinet Attachments: Attaching things like crown molding, light rails, or custom trim adds to the labor time.
- Site Prep: If the walls or floors are uneven, installers charge more to make the cabinets perfectly level and plumb.
Calculating the Average Cost of Kitchen Cabinets for Different Kitchen Sizes
To give a more concrete idea of your kitchen cabinet cost, here are estimates based on standard U.S. kitchen sizes, using mid-range, semi-custom cabinetry as the benchmark (which is the most common choice).
This table excludes countertops, appliances, demolition, and installation labor for clarity on the cabinet box and door cost only.
| Kitchen Size Example | Linear Feet Needed (Approx.) | Mid-Range Cabinet Cost Estimate (Material Only) | High-End Custom Estimate (Material Only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Galley Kitchen (10′ x 10′) | 20 – 25 LF | \$6,000 – \$12,500 | \$15,000 – \$25,000+ |
| Medium U-Shaped Kitchen (12′ x 12′) | 30 – 35 LF | \$9,000 – \$17,500 | \$22,500 – \$35,000+ |
| Large L-Shaped Kitchen (15′ x 15′) | 40 – 50 LF | \$12,000 – \$25,000 | \$30,000 – \$50,000+ |
Note: Linear feet measures the total length of wall space covered by base cabinets and upper cabinets.
Fathoming the Extras: Hidden Costs in Your Cabinet Purchase
When you think you have found the best price for kitchen cabinets, remember that the final price tag often grows with necessary additions.
Hardware
Cabinet knobs, pulls, and hinges are often sold separately from the cabinet boxes.
- Basic Hardware: Simple knobs and standard hinges might cost \$3–\$10 per unit.
- Premium Hardware: Designer pulls or soft-close hinges (a must-have for modern kitchens) can cost \$15–\$50 or more each. For a typical kitchen, hardware adds \$300 to \$1,000 to the kitchen cabinet cost.
Storage Solutions and Inserts
This is where customization really adds up, even in semi-custom lines. If you want drawers instead of cabinets, or special inserts, the price rises fast.
- Pull-out Trash Bins: \$100 – \$250 per unit.
- Spice Pull-outs: \$150 – \$300 per unit.
- Deep Drawer Bases: These cost significantly more than standard door cabinets because they require extra slides and structural support. A base cabinet with four deep drawers can cost 50% more than a simple base cabinet with one shelf.
Specialty Cabinets
Need a place for wine storage, a built-in microwave cabinet, or custom glass fronts? These specialty pieces carry a premium. Glass doors, for example, require special framing and often thicker, tempered glass, increasing the price by 20% to 50% over a standard solid door.
Strategies for Keeping Your Cabinet Remodel Budget in Check
If your goal is to secure affordable kitchen cabinets without sacrificing too much quality, strategic planning is essential.
1. Prioritize Where to Splurge and Where to Save
Not every cabinet needs to be a masterpiece. Decide which cabinets are most visible or get the most use.
- Splurge: The main run of cabinets visible from the doorway should get the better finish or wood type.
- Save: Use stock kitchen cabinet costs for areas like the pantry or laundry room where the appearance matters less than function and budget.
2. Choose Simpler Door Styles
As noted earlier, simple slab or Shaker doors use less material and less labor than intricate raised-panel designs. Sticking to simple styles saves money on both the cabinet box and potential installation complexity.
3. Look for Sales or “Quick Ship” Programs
Many large retailers run sales quarterly. Timing your purchase to coincide with these promotions can offer significant savings on new cabinet pricing. Quick ship lines sometimes offer slightly better pricing than fully custom orders, although selection remains limited.
4. Consider Refacing Instead of Replacing
If your existing cabinet boxes are structurally sound and high quality (often the case with older, solid wood cabinets), refacing them might be a great option. Refacing involves removing the old doors and drawer fronts and replacing them with new ones. This drastically lowers the cost compared to buying entirely new boxes, though it doesn’t save on installation labor if you change the layout.
Comparing Retailers: Where to Buy Your Cabinets
The place you purchase your cabinets will heavily affect the kitchen cabinet cost.
- Big Box Home Improvement Stores (e.g., Home Depot, Lowe’s): They offer a wide range of stock and semi-custom options. Their pricing is competitive, especially during sales events. Staff knowledge can be hit-or-miss, so bring your measurements ready.
- Local Cabinet Shops: These shops specialize in semi-custom or custom kitchen cabinet prices. While the initial quote might seem high, they often provide superior design services and project management, which can save money by avoiding costly mistakes later.
- Online Retailers: You can often find very affordable kitchen cabinets online. Be very cautious here. Shipping large, heavy items is expensive, and returns can be a nightmare if the pieces arrive damaged or incorrectly sized. You must be your own project manager.
The Total Kitchen Remodel Picture: Cabinets vs. Other Costs
Cabinets usually represent the largest portion of the renovation budget—often 40% to 50% of the total spend. For context, here is a general cost breakdown for a mid-range kitchen remodel (assuming average quality cabinets):
| Component | Estimated Percentage of Total Budget |
|---|---|
| Cabinets & Hardware | 40% – 50% |
| Appliances | 10% – 15% |
| Installation Labor (Cabinets, Plumbing, Electrical) | 10% – 15% |
| Countertops | 8% – 10% |
| Flooring & Backsplash | 5% – 7% |
| Permits, Design, Contingency | 5% – 10% |
If your average cost of kitchen cabinets hits the high end of the range, you will need to trim expenses elsewhere, such as opting for laminate countertops instead of granite, or choosing simpler tile work.
Fathoming the Longevity and Warranty
A higher upfront price for cabinets often buys you a better warranty and longer life.
- Stock Cabinets: Often carry a limited 1-to-5-year warranty.
- Semi-Custom: Usually offer a 10-to-25-year warranty covering manufacturing defects.
- Custom Cabinets: Often come with lifetime warranties, provided you are the original owner.
When looking at new cabinet pricing, factor in replacement costs. A cheap cabinet that needs replacement in 7 years costs you more in the long run than a premium cabinet that lasts 25 years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabinet Pricing
H5: Does the color affect the cabinet cost?
Yes, color does affect the price. White and standard wood stains are usually the cheapest because they are produced in huge volumes. Custom colors, glazes, or specialty finishes (like high-gloss lacquer) require extra steps and specialized materials, pushing the kitchen cabinet cost up significantly.
H5: Can I reduce the cost by installing the cabinets myself?
If you are skilled, installing your own stock kitchen cabinet costs can be reduced by eliminating professional cabinet installation costs. However, DIY installation carries risks. If you install them poorly, they may not line up, leading to problems with doors binding or countertops not sitting flat. For semi-custom or custom work, professional installation is strongly recommended to protect your investment.
H5: What should I budget for an average-sized kitchen remodel including cabinets?
For a mid-range remodel where the cabinets are semi-custom, expect the total project cost to be anywhere from \$20,000 to \$45,000, depending heavily on your location, appliance choices, and countertop material. The cabinet portion will be the largest single line item in your cabinet remodel budget.
H5: How can I find the best price for kitchen cabinets?
Get at least three quotes from different sources: a big box store (stock/semi-custom), an independent kitchen dealer (semi-custom/custom), and perhaps a local millwork shop (custom). Compare the quotes item-by-item, focusing not just on the final dollar amount but on the quality of the box construction (e.g., plywood vs. particleboard) and the included hardware.
H5: Are there truly affordable kitchen cabinets that are still good quality?
Yes. Look for entry-level, full-overlay Shaker style cabinets made from plywood boxes with a durable thermofoil or melamine finish. Buying stock sizes and sticking to simple layouts helps keep the new cabinet pricing low while still delivering a clean, modern look. Avoid heavy ornamentation.