Replacing your kitchen cabinets can be one of the most exciting home renovation projects. However, it can also be one of the most expensive. The cost of new kitchen cabinets can vary widely based on the type, quality, and amount of cabinets you need. Here is a detailed overview of the factors that influence the cost of new kitchen cabinets and what you can expect to budget for an all-new kitchen cabinetry system.
What Influences the Cost of New Kitchen Cabinets?
Several key factors impact the total cost of new kitchen cabinets:
Cabinet Type
The type of cabinet you choose is one of the biggest factors affecting price. Basic options like stock and semi-custom cabinets are the most affordable. Fully custom cabinetry is the most expensive. Popular cabinet types include:
- Stock cabinets: Prefabricated and mass-produced. Offered in standard sizes with limited modification options. Typically made of plywood or particleboard. $50-$300 per linear foot installed.
- Semi-custom cabinets: Offer more size, finish, and layout flexibility than stock. Typically constructed of plywood or solid wood. $200-$650 per linear foot installed.
- Custom cabinets: Fully customizable and made to your exact specifications. Constructed from high-end woods like cherry or maple. $500-$1,500+ per linear foot installed.
Cabinet Quality
Higher quality cabinets made with premium materials and sturdy construction will increase costs. Key quality indicators include:
- Wood species: Oak, maple, cherry, and exotic hardwoods are pricier than pine or plywood.
- Grade/cut of wood: Clear wood grades and rift-sawn cuts are more expensive than natural grades and plain sawn cuts.
- Joinery method: Dovetail joints are stronger and pricier than staples or nails.
- Hardware: Sturdy, soft-closing hinges and full extension drawer glides add cost but also longevity.
- Finish: Multi-step paints and stains take more time and labor than standard finishes.
Cabinet Brand
Well-known cabinet brands like KraftMaid, Yorktowne, Wellborn, and Aristokraft come with a higher price tag than small regional manufacturers or DIY home center brands. You’re paying for the brand name and reputation along with quality.
Amount of Cabinets
The total number of cabinets needed for your kitchen layout directly impacts the overall project cost. More cabinets equals higher cost. This is especially true if you need a lot of specialty cabinets like angled corner cabinets or extra tall pantry cabinets.
Installation Factors
Professional cabinet installation also bumps up the total project cost. Complex designs, accessibility issues, or challenging site conditions can increase installation prices. Average range: $50-$100 per hour.
Location
Like most home improvement projects, local labor costs play a role. Kitchen cabinet costs will be higher in areas like New York City or San Francisco than rural towns. Delivery fees also vary by location from the manufacturer.
Cost to Replace All Kitchen Cabinets
The average cost to replace all the cabinets in a 10×10 kitchen with semi-custom cabinets is $7,000 to $12,000. For a larger 15×15 kitchen, expect to spend $15,000 to $30,000 for a full cabinet overhaul with custom cabinets.
Here’s a breakdown of typical price ranges for all-new cabinets based on kitchen size and cabinet type:
10×10 Kitchen
- Stock cabinets: $3,000 to $6,000
- Semi-custom cabinets: $7,000 to $12,000
- Custom cabinets: $15,000 to $26,000
15×15 Kitchen
- Stock cabinets: $5,000 to $9,000
- Semi-custom cabinets: $15,000 to $30,000
- Custom cabinets: $30,000 to $60,000
These costs include professional installation but don’t account for new countertops, sinks, appliances, lighting, or flooring which can all add $5,000 to $15,000+ to your total kitchen renovation budget.
It’s easy to see how a full kitchen remodel with all new custom cherry cabinets, granite countertops, high-end appliances, tile backsplash, and hardwood flooring can approach $100,000 or more for an expansive, luxury kitchen.
Factors That Increase Kitchen Cabinet Costs
Several factors can increase the cost of your new kitchen cabinets beyond the base price range:
- Special organizational features: Roll-out trays, spice racks, cutlery dividers, and other special storage features add cost.
- Glass cabinet doors: Glass insert panels or fully glass fronts on cabinets will add $100+ per door.
- Unusual sizes or shapes: Extra tall, angled, or curved cabinets cost more than standard rectangles.
- Crown molding and trim: Adding moldings and decorative trim increases material and labor costs.
- Custom finishes: Special glazes, acrylic finishes, or artistic finishes can add hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on complexity.
- Premium hardware upgrades: Knobs and pulls from high-end designers like Emtek can run $10-$25 per piece; upgrading to soft-close hinges and glides also increases cost.
- Lighted cabinets: Integrated lighting like puck lights or LED strips add electrician labor on top of cabinet costs.
- Designer names: Choosing a brand name luxury designer like Poggenpohl or Christopher Peacock could add $10,000+ to the total.
Paying attention to these little extras during the design process will help you avoid budget surprises down the road.
How to Save on New Kitchen Cabinets
Luckily, there are also plenty of ways to reduce costs and work within your budget on a kitchen cabinet replacement project:
- Choose stock cabinets: Opting for off-the-shelf stock cabinetry can reduce cost by 50% or more compared to custom.
- Use a cabinet discounter: Home centers and lumber yards often discount surplus or slightly damaged stock cabinets by up to 40%.
- Buy unfinished cabinets: Unfinished cabinets reduce cost by avoiding professional finishing but do require painting/staining.
- Select a DIY home center brand: Hampton Bay, Allen + Roth and House of Hampton offer quality cabinets at lower prices than major brands.
- Install DIY: Installing cabinets yourself, if possible, saves thousands on labor compared to hiring a contractor.
- Reface existing cabinets: Refacing just the cabinet boxes and doors can cost 50-70% less than fully replacing cabinets.
- Choose economical wood species: Opt for maple over pricier exotic woods to reduce costs.
- Minimize specialty pieces: Limit extra tall, curved, or specialty cabinets to keep costs down.
- Skip unnecessary details: Avoid unnecessary costs like glass doors, trim, and lighting.
- Get contractor discounts: Contractors get wholesale pricing on cabinets, maximizing savings for you.
Finding the right balance of quality, function, and style for your budget is key to a successful, affordable kitchen cabinet installation.
What is Included in Professionally Installed Cabinet Pricing?
When getting quotes for professionally installed cabinets, be sure to understand exactly what is included. Standard services from reputable contractors generally include:
- Detailed measurements of existing kitchen and creation of 3D layout plans
- Recommendations for optimizing workflow, storage, and efficiency
- Procurement of all new cabinets with delivery and inspection
- Protection of existing floors, walls, and other surfaces
- Removal and environmentally-friendly disposal of old cabinets
- Installation of new cabinets with all required hardware and fasteners
- Adjustments during install to ensure proper alignment, plumb walls, and straight corners
- Integration of specialty storage solutions and organizational inserts
- Touch up finishing including caulk, anchoring to walls, covering exposed fasteners, sanding, and wiping
- Multi-point inspection and quality control checks after install
- Minor repairs to existing drywall, flooring, backsplash from install process
- General cleaning, haul away of debris, and job site restoration
Any modifications like electrical work, new lighting, tile backsplash, or new flooring should be priced separately. Be sure your quote clearly outlines the full scope of work so there are no surprises. Many reputable cabinet contractors also provide a warranty covering defects in materials or workmanship for 1-2 years after project completion.
How Are New Kitchen Cabinets Priced?
Kitchen cabinet costs are typically quoted in price per linear foot, which accounts for different cabinet widths and quantities needed for your unique kitchen layout. Here are the key measurements contractors use to calculate linear feet pricing:
Total Linear Feet = Total Width of Upper Cabinets + Total Width of Lower Cabinets
- To determine linear feet for uppers, measure the total width of the wall space where upper cabinets will go from corner to corner. For example, if you have 30 feet of wall space for upper cabinets, and your uppers are 12 inches deep, you will have 30 linear feet.
- For lowers, measure the total width of base cabinet runs, excluding open spaces for sinks, stoves, and other appliances. For example, if you have a 10 foot section of base cabinets at 24 inches deep, that equals 10 linear feet of lowers.
- Add uppers and lowers together for the total linear feet. From here, multiple by the price per foot for the type/quality cabinet you select.
Keep in mind that unique kitchen layouts, including islands, peninsulas, or angled walls will increase overall linear footage and costs. Experienced kitchen designers can help calculate accurate linear feet measurements and pricing.
New Cabinet Cost Estimator
Use the table below as a handy cost estimator when budgeting for new kitchen cabinets. Simply enter your total linear feet and the estimated price range per linear foot based on the quality you desire. This will provide an approximate budget for your new kitchen cabinets.
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|Total Linear Feet of Cabinets||
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For example, for a total of 50 linear feet of semi-custom cabinets at $500 per linear foot, the estimated total cost would be $25,000.
New Cabinet Installation Cost Per Day
Another useful guideline when estimating your budget for a cabinet replacement is cost per day. Installing new cabinets for a full kitchen generally takes professional contractors between 3-5 days depending on scope.
The average cost range for installation labor per day is:
- Carpenter: $400-$800 per day
- Lead Carpenter/Foreman: $600-$1,200 per day
For a 3-day install with two carpenters, you may budget around $2,400 to $4,800 in labor costs. For a 5-day install with a carpenter foreman overseeing two carpenters, costs could range from $4,600 to $9,600. Keep in mind this does not include the cost of materials.
DIY vs Professional Cabinet Installation
Installing kitchen cabinets is a challenging process requiring carpentry skills, professional tools, and experience getting everything plumb, level, and installed securely. However, for the ambitious and competent DIYer, self-installing stock cabinets can save thousands in labor costs.
Be aware that DIY cabinet installs require:
- A full understanding of how to hang and secure cabinets properly
- Ability to read layout plans and follow precise measurements
- Adequate tools including drills, nail guns, saws, laser level, clamps, etc.
- At least two strong people to lift and maneuver heavy cabinets
- Significant time and patience for adjustments during install
- Skills for flawless finishing trim work
Unless you are highly skilled and have the proper tools, professional installation is highly recommended for semi-custom or custom cabinets. The potential for expensive mistakes and rework is much higher.
New Cabinet Installation Process
Replacing kitchen cabinets follows a general sequence for proper installation and a kitchen that functions as it should:
- Remove old cabinets: Disconnect plumbing and electrical, then demo old cabinets. Dispose of debris.
- Prepare the space: Make any needed drywall repairs. Install additional wiring, vents, or plumbing.
- Install ledger boards: Secure 2×4 ledger boards to wall studs to support weight of upper cabinets. Ensure they are perfectly level.
- Hang upper cabinets first: Lift into place and securely fasten uppers to ledger. Verify they are plumb and level.
- Install lower cabinets: Set base cabinets in place, shim as needed to level, and fasten securely to wall through back panel.
- Scribe and trim: Make precise cuts for sides and front edges of cabinets to fit flush to walls.
- Install fillers, valances and trim: Add custom wood pieces to fill gaps and cover edges for a seamless look.
- Install cabinet doors and drawers: Adjust doors/drawers to ensure proper alignment and ideal reveals.
- Install hardware: Add knobs, pulls, hinges, and sliding racks based on cabinet specifications.
- Complete finishing details: Caulk seams, touch up paint, clean work area thoroughly.
New cabinets should pass careful inspections throughout the process to confirm plumb, level, and secure installation. Taking the proper steps will guarantee your kitchen cabinets function and look beautiful for many years.
How Long Does It Take to Install Kitchen Cabinets?
The time required to complete new kitchen cabinet installation depends on factors like:
- Scope of demolition/removal work
- Complexity of kitchen layout and cabinetry design
- Accessibility of work areas
- Skill level of installers
- Quality control and adjustments
- Finishing and cleanup process
However, typical guidelines for the length of new kitchen cabinet installs are:
- Stock cabinet install: 1-3 days
- Semi-custom cabinet install: 3-5 days
- Custom cabinet install: 5+ days
Working with an experienced local contractor with availability to dedicate multiple workers to your project full-time can often expedite timelines by at least 25-50%. Larger crews allow for simultaneous installation of uppers and lowers.
DIY installs generally take at least 50% longer than professionals. Be conservative in estimating your own timeline as a novice. Rushing the process often leads to frustrating errors that only create more delays.
Key Takeaways and Advice
- For most dated or worn out kitchens, replacing cabinets with new quality cabinetry makes the biggest impact in creating a fresh, functional space.
- Stock, semi-custom, and fully custom cabinets provide good-better-best options at vastly different price points. Select the level that aligns with your budget and design goals.
- Work with an experienced kitchen designer or contractor early on for accurate measurements and pricing.
- Understand exactly what is covered in cabinet installation quotes to avoid change orders.
- Allow 3-6 months lead time for quality cabinets that are not in stock.
- Be prepared for your kitchen to be out of commission for at least 1-2 weeks during the renovation process.
With careful planning, budgeting, and hiring reputable professionals, replacing your kitchen cabinets can be a smooth, exciting home improvement that adds functionality and value to your most important room. Enjoy the process of personalizing your dream kitchen!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most affordable option for new kitchen cabinets?
Stock cabinets offer the most affordable option for new kitchen cabinets, ranging from $50-$300 per linear foot installed. Opting for a DIY home center brand like Hampton Bay rather than a luxury brand provides significant savings on quality stock cabinets.
What are the most expensive kitchen cabinets?
Fully custom cabinets designed to your exact specifications and crafted from premium hardwoods like maple, cherry, or exotic species are the most expensive option. Prices often exceed $500 per linear foot. Brand name luxury designers can command prices of $1,500 per linear foot or more.
Should I choose custom or semi-custom cabinets?
Semi-custom cabinets offer a nice middle ground in terms of affordability and customization capabilities. Consider full custom only if you need unique sizing, storage features, or intricate detailing options exceeding the semi-custom range.
How much do installed cabinets cost per foot?
Exact prices per linear foot vary based on type and quality, but typical ranges are:
- Stock cabinets: $50-$150 per foot
- Semi-custom cabinets: $200-$500 per foot
- Custom cabinets: $500-$1,500+ per foot
Can I install kitchen cabinets myself?
With proper tools and carpentry skills, stock cabinets can be self-installed by ambitious DIYers to save on labor costs. However, specialized tools and expertise are required to install semi-custom or custom cabinets properly on your own.
Does replacing kitchen cabinets increase home value?
Yes, upgrading to new quality kitchen cabinets typically yields a 70-80% return on investment in increased home value. Kitchen remodeling ranks among the top renovations for recouping costs when selling.
Conclusion
The cost of replacing your kitchen cabinets can range dramatically based on the type, quality, size, complexity, accessories, and installation factors that come into play. From basic stock cabinets to luxurious custom, you can find options that fit both your lifestyle needs and your budget. Focus on identifying the features that matter most to you and your family when evaluating new kitchen cabinet solutions. And remember – investing in good quality cabinets that suit your space will pay dividends for many years to come in terms of functionality and added home value. With some thoughtful planning upfront, you can install the kitchen of your dreams.