Kitchen cabinets represent one of the biggest investments when renovating your kitchen. The cost of new kitchen cabinets can vary quite a bit based on the type, quality, and features you choose. On average, new kitchen cabinets cost between $100 and $1000 per linear foot installed. So for a typical 10×10 kitchen with 25 linear feet of cabinetry, total costs usually range from $2,500 up to $25,000. Custom cabinets on the higher end of quality can cost between $1500-$3000 per linear foot installed.
While the price range is wide, in this article we’ll break down the factors that impact the cost of kitchen cabinets so you can estimate your budget and get the most value from your investment.
What Impacts The Cost of Kitchen Cabinets?
Several key factors determine how much you’ll pay for new kitchen cabinets. The primary factors include:
- Cabinet Quality: The materials, construction methods, features, and detailing have a significant impact on cost. Custom cabinets are generally the highest quality and cost.
- Cabinet Style: The door style you choose influences cost with ornate, decorative styles being more expensive.
- Cabinet Brand: Well-known brands made with quality materials cost more than lesser-known or economy brands.
- Cabinet Size: Larger cabinets and those with more drawers/features cost more than standard sizes.
- Specialty Features: Things like pull-out shelves, lazy susans, and slide-out bins add to cost.
- Construction Type: Stock, semi-custom, and fully custom construction greatly impact prices.
- Retailer: Big box, specialty kitchen stores, design-build firms, and custom shops affect pricing.
- Location: Costs for installation and shipping impact total costs based on location.
Beyond these factors, costs are also influenced by the complexity of your kitchen layout, installation requirements, delivery fees, and sales tax in your location. Let’s take a closer look at how some of the most important factors impact the cost of your new kitchen cabinets.
Cabinet Quality Greatly Impacts Cost
The materials used in manufacturing, along with the construction methods and finishing details, have the biggest impact on the cost of kitchen cabinets. Higher quality cabinetry simply costs more than lower quality products. The main quality levels include:
Economy or Stock Cabinets
The most affordable option is economy or stock cabinetry. These mass-produced cabinets use lower-grade plywood boxes with melamine laminate interiors and doors made of particle board with plastic laminate finishes. Durability and longevity are limited, but stock cabinets start around $100 per linear foot.
Mid-Range Semi-Custom Cabinets
A better value is mid-range semi-custom cabinets, which offer more sizes, wood species, finishes, and modifications to suit your kitchen’s dimensions. These cabinets have plywood boxes with hardwood doors and drawers and higher-end finishes. Expect to pay $200-$500 per linear foot for good quality semi-custom cabinets.
Premium Custom Cabinets
For the highest quality, consider premium custom cabinets designed specifically for your kitchen. These are built of all plywood construction, solid hardwood doors and drawers, and top-quality finishes. Custom kitchen cabinets range from $500 up to $1500 or more per linear foot.
Spending more on quality cabinet construction often pays off long-term because they will last longer with fewer issues. Economy cabinets may save money up front but have a shorter lifespan. We recommend investing in the best quality cabinets your budget allows.
Cabinet Door Styles Impact Costs
The style and aesthetics of the cabinet door play a big role in cost differences. Ornate door styles require more materials and labor to construct, driving up costs. Some examples of door styles that impact price include:
- Slab Cabinet Doors: Simple flat panel doors are the most affordable at around $75-$150 per door.
- Shaker Cabinets: A step up in style, these doors have a square center panel and cost about $100-$200 per door.
- Raised Panel Cabinets: Classically styled with a center raised panel, these cost about $150-$250 per door.
- Distressed or Decoratively Painted Doors: Weathered, crackled, or decorative finishes add $50-$100 per door.
- Arched Cabinet Doors: The curved shape adds design detail for $75-$100 more per door.
- Inset Cabinet Doors: Set inside the cabinet frame, these cost $100-$200 more per door than overlay doors.
- Glass Cabinet Doors: Doors with glass inserts start at $200 per door. Etched, beveled, or leaded glass costs $275-$400 per door.
The more detailed the door style, the more labor required to construct. So limit ornate doors to key focal areas rather than the entire kitchen to help control costs.
Cabinet Brand Impacts Price
Higher-end cabinet brands known for quality and craftsmanship come with a higher price tag. For example, brands like KraftMaid, Wellborn, Traditional Cabinetry, and others range from $300-$700 per linear foot. Typically better materials, durable finishes, smooth motion hardware, full-extension drawers, dovetail joinery are features that separate these from economy brands.
Lesser known, economy-line brands generally cost $200 or less per linear foot. Quality varies widely, so inspect construction and finishes closely before purchase.
Larger Cabinets Cost More
The size and number of cabinets and drawers in your kitchen design impact the total price as well. Wider, deeper, or taller cabinetry costs more. Specialty shapes like angled corner cabinets also add costs. Features like the number of shelves, drawers, and split drawer stacks further increase price.
Consider sizing cabinets efficiently so you don’t overspend on oversized cabinets just to fill space. Standard kitchen base cabinets are 24” deep and 34 1⁄2” high. Wall cabinets are typically 12”, 18” or 24” deep and 30” or 36” high. Optimize these standard sizes unless you have specific needs.
Specialty Cabinet Features Increase Costs
While designed to increase convenience and functionality, specialty storage features also increase the cost of cabinets. Some popular options that add cost include:
- Roll-Out Trays: Roll-out shelves and trays allow full access to interior cabinet space at about $75-$150 per shelf.
- Pull-Out Pantries: Pull-out pantries with slide-out baskets simplify access to pantry goods, adding $250-$400 per cabinet.
- Wastebasket Pull-Out: A pull-out cabinet for separated recycling/trash bins averages $300-$400.
- Spice Pull-Outs: Pull-outs to organize spices cost $75-$200 depending on size and configuration.
- Appliance Garages: Roll-up doors to hide small appliances run $200-$300 per garage cabinet.
- Lazy Susans: Rotating corner storage cabinets cost $150-$300 depending on size.
- Tambour Cabinets: Rolll-up tambour cabinet doors add a different look for $500-$800 per cabinet.
While not essential, specialized storage can simplify your kitchen’s organization. Limit these premium features to key cabinets to avoid excessive costs.
Construction Method Impacts Cost
The way kitchen cabinets are constructed also significantly impacts price. Custom cabinets cost more than stock or semi-custom.
Stock Cabinets
Stock cabinets are pre-assembled and produced in standard sizes. They offer the lowest cost but the least flexibility. Expect to pay $100-$250 per linear foot for stock cabinets.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
These are partially constructed but can be modified with different sizes, materials, and configurations. Semi-custom cabinets range from $250-$500 per linear foot.
Custom Cabinets
Each cabinet is built from scratch to your specifications, maximizing utility and aesthetics. Custom cabinets cost $500-$1500 or more per linear foot.
If your kitchen layout is straightforward, stock and semi-custom cabinets help control costs. For challenging kitchens or to create a fully personalized design, custom cabinetry is worth the investment.
Retailer Markup Affects Price
Where you purchase cabinets also impacts the price, with retail markups varying significantly.
Big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s offer economy brands with limited style options at lower costs. Pricing for stock cabinets usually ranges from $100-$300 per linear foot.
Specialty kitchen stores carry mid-range to higher end product lines, with more expertise. Expect to pay $200-$600 per linear foot for semi-custom to premium brands.
Kitchen design-build firms offer a full range of stock, semi-custom and custom cabinetry with professional design services. Prices range from $200-$1000+ per foot.
Custom cabinet shops construct cabinets on-site to your specifications for $500-$1500+ per linear foot.
To get the best value, compare prices across local retailers. Consider the expertise and services each provides when evaluating price.
Location Impacts Installation and Shipping Costs
Where you live also affects the total cost of new kitchen cabinets when factoring in installation and shipping. Areas with higher labor rates typically charge more for installation. Shipping costs are also higher for locations farther away from manufacturing hubs.
Installation costs range from $50-$100 per cabinet on average. Total costs for installing an entire kitchen range from $2000-$5000 or more depending on location and complexity. Be sure to consider these location-based factors when budgeting your overall costs.
Additional Factors Affecting Total Cost
Some additional factors impact the final price including:
- Sales tax adds anywhere from 0% up to 9% or more depending on your state and city taxes.
- Disposal fees to remove old cabinets average $1000-$2000 but can be higher if extensive repairs are needed after demolition.
- Modifications like adding additional cabinets after the initial order can incur higher costs.
- Rush delivery fees for faster production timelines can add 10% or more to costs.
Accounting for these supplementary costs helps provide a more accurate estimate of what new kitchen cabinets will cost for your specific project.
Estimating New Cabinet Costs
Now that you know what impacts cabinet pricing, here are some ballpark estimates for average new kitchen cabinet costs:
- Economy Cabinets: $100-$250 per linear foot
- Mid-Range Cabinets: $250-$500 per linear foot
- Premium Cabinets: $500-$1500+ per linear foot
To estimate costs for your kitchen:
- Measure total linear feet of cabinets needed
- Multiply linear feet by cost per foot for your quality range
- Add ~10-20% more for installation costs
- Factor any additional costs like modifications, shipping, disposal, etc.
This will provide an approximate range for budgeting purposes. Get quotes from at least 3 retailers once you have measurements and cabinet specifications in place.
Here are some examples to illustrate rough costs:
- Small Kitchen (10×10, 25 linear feet of cabinets):
- Economy Cabinets: 25 x $150/ft = $3,750
- Mid-Range Cabinets: 25 x $300/ft = $7,500
- Premium Cabinets: 25 x $800/ft = $20,000
- Medium Kitchen (15×15, 40 linear feet):
- Economy Cabinets: 40 x $200/ft = $8,000
- Mid-Range Cabinets: 40 x $400/ft = $16,000
- Premium Cabinets: 40 x $1000/ft = $40,000
- Large Kitchen (20×20, 60 linear feet):
- Economy Cabinets: 60 x $200/ft = $12,000
- Mid-Range Cabinets: 60 x $500/ft = $30,000
- Premium Cabinets: 60 x $1500/ft = $90,000
Kitchens requiring more specialty cabinets or with higher-end customizations can easily cost $50,000 to $100,000 or more. Carefully thinking through your needs, quality expectations, and style preferences helps guide smart investment in your new kitchen cabinets.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Cabinets
With how much kitchen cabinets impact your budget, invest wisely by carefully considering:
- Kitchen size and layout – Make sure to choose cabinets suited to your space. Custom sizing may be needed for challenging kitchens.
- Usage and traffic – opt for more durable finishes and harder woods if high traffic.
- Features needed – Decide which specialty items like pull-outs will enhance functionality.
- Door styles – balance decorative doors with affordable slab or shaker styles.
- Quality and durability – higher quality cabinets withstand wear and last longer.
- Easy to clean – look for water and stain-resistant surfaces.
- Design style – choose a style aligned with your overall kitchen design tastes.
- Budget – focus spending on visible surfaces like doors and skimp on utilitarian interior components.
Evaluating these factors will help narrow your options to cabinets that meet both form and function.
Lead Times For New Cabinets
Ordering kitchen cabinets well in advance ensures your materials arrive on schedule for installation. Typical lead times are:
- Stock cabinets: 1-2 weeks
- Semi-custom cabinets: 3-6 weeks
- Custom cabinets: 6-12 weeks
Rush orders can decrease lead times but often incur upcharges. For major remodels, order 12-16 weeks out from your target installation date to ensure on-time delivery.
How to Save on New Kitchen Cabinets
To maximize value from your cabinet investment, consider these tips for savings:
- Shop warehouse stores and home centers for economy brands
- Use stock sizes to minimize modifications
- Choose economical door styles like shaker or slab
- Buy during seasonal sales events and promotions
- Opt for unfinished cabinets and do your own painting
- Order a larger quantity for bulk discount
- Use semi-custom for better quality vs. full custom
- Get quotes from several retailers to compare pricing
- Provide your own sink, hardware and accessories
Finding the right balance of quality, style, and affordability takes careful planning. But the right cabinets elevate the aesthetics and functionality of your new dream kitchen!
How Much Do Kitchen Cabinets Usually Cost: Key Takeaways
- Expect to spend $100-$1000 per linear foot for new kitchen cabinets, with most quality, semi-custom installations averaging $200-$500 per linear foot.
- Cabinet quality is the biggest factor impacting cost. Stock is cheapest from $100-$250/ft. Semi-custom averages $250-$500/ft. Custom cabinets cost $500-$1500+/ft.
- More decorative door styles add cost. Slab doors are cheapest, followed by Shaker and Raised Panel styles.
- Larger, deeper cabinets and extra features like pull-outs add price.
- Optimize standard cabinet sizes except where specialized storage is needed.
- Retailer markups range from 50-100% so shop around for best pricing.
- Budget for shipping, installation, disposal fees and other costs beyond the cabinet price.
- Carefully evaluating your needs and style preferences guides smart investment in quality kitchen cabinets.
How Much Do Kitchen Cabinets Usually Cost: FAQs
How much does the average kitchen remodeling cost?
The average minor kitchen remodel costs $20,000-$40,000. Major gut renovations typically run $60,000-$150,000 or more. The cost of new cabinets alone averages 5-15% of the total kitchen remodel cost.
What is the most affordable option for kitchen cabinets?
Stock, economy-line cabinets are the most budget-friendly option starting around $100/ft. Mid-range semi-custom cabinets offer better quality and more customization for $250-$500/ft on average.
Should I choose custom or semi-custom cabinets?
For challenging kitchen layouts, custom cabinetry maximizes utility. For more standard layouts, semi-custom offers more flexibility than stock at moderate cost.
What should I splurge on for kitchen cabinets?
Splurge on visible surfaces like highly decorative door styles or premium wood species. Save on utilitarian components like cabinet box interiors which don’t impact aesthetics.
Can I install kitchen cabinets myself?
With some DIY expertise, you can self-install kitchen cabinets to save on labor. However, it’s complex and mistake-prone so often worth hiring a professional.
What cabinet brands are best quality?
Well-known midrange to premium cabinet brands include KraftMaid, Yorktowne, Wellborn, Merillat, Aristokraft, Kemper, Diamond, and many more. Compare warranties and construction to assess quality.
Should I get plywood or particle board cabinets?
Plywood construction is stronger and resists warping better than particle board. Opt for plywood if budget allows, especially on frequently used cabinets.
How long do kitchen cabinets last?
With proper care, quality wood cabinets can last 30-50 years or longer. Economy cabinets may need replacement after 10-15 years. The quality of materials impacts longevity.
Conclusion
Investing in new kitchen cabinets represents a significant cost. But properly designed and well-constructed cabinets elevate your kitchen’s functionality and give it a beautiful, cohesive aesthetic. Carefully evaluating your needs and style preferences allows you to invest wisely in cabinets that will sustain decades of use.
Focus spending on durable construction, full-extension drawers, smooth hardware, and attractive visible surfaces like cabinet doors. Look for quality indications like solid wood doors, plywood carcases, dovetail joinery and strong warranties from reputable brands.
While upgrading your kitchen is exciting, stay grounded when budgeting. Avoid overdesigning with excess features that inflate costs with limited practical benefit. With some savvy shopping and smart planning, you can realize your dream kitchen within your budget.