Decorating or renovating your kitchen often involves installing new cabinets. Cabinets play an essential role in kitchen functionality and aesthetics. When budgeting for new cabinets, one of the key factors is determining the cost per linear foot. Understanding what impacts the price per foot allows you to estimate costs accurately and get the most value from your cabinet investment.
What Influences the Cost of Cabinets Per Foot?
Several variables determine the cost per linear foot for kitchen cabinets, including:
Cabinet Quality
The quality of cabinetry dramatically impacts price. Higher quality materials, durable construction, and detailed finishes command more per linear foot.
Low: Particalboard boxes with laminate fronts cost $50-100 per foot.
Medium: Plywood boxes with solid wood doors run $100-200 per foot.
High: All plywood boxes with inset doors and dovetail joinery cost $200-500+ per foot.
Premium features like soft-close hinges and full-extension drawers also increase cost.
Door Styles
Simple slab cabinet doors are generally the most affordable, while intricate door designs cost more.
Inexpensive: Shaker, slab, or recessed panel doors $100-150 per foot.
Mid-range: Raised panel or arched doors $150-250 per foot.
Expensive: Handcrafted decorative or inset doors $250+.
Door material also impacts price, with solid wood being generally more costly than veneers or thermofoil.
Brand
Well-known cabinet brands charge a premium for the reputation behind their products. Smaller regional brands tend to be more budget-friendly.
Custom vs Stock
Stock cabinets in standard sizes offer the most value. Custom-built cabinets designed for your exact layout and specifications come at a higher cost per foot.
Factors That Impact Linear Footage Calculations
The linear footage of your cabinetry directly impacts the total project cost. Here are some considerations that increase kitchen cabinet linear footage measurements:
- Number of corners and interfaces between cabinet sections
- Island and peninsula cabinet runs
- Deep cabinets like pantry pull-outs and appliance garages
- Tall cabinets like refrigerator surrounds and vaulted ceilings
- Complex cabinetry like angled cabinets or built-in desk areas
- Number of drawers and roll-out trays
- Interior fittings like roll-out shelves, spice organizers, and trash/recycling bins
Kitchens with more corners, transitions, and specialized storage design elements will naturally have higher linear footage totals.
Estimating Cabinet Costs for Your Kitchen
Follow these steps to estimate the cost of your new kitchen cabinets:
1. Measure total linear feet needed
Map out your new kitchen layout and measure the projected linear footage of cabinetry required along each wall, island, and peninsula. Remember to account for blind corners and tall cabinet sections.
Typical 30 inch deep wall cabinets come in 3 inch width increments, like 12, 15, 18, 21, or 24 inches wide. Standard kitchen wall cabinet height is 30 inches.
Island cabinets are usually 24 inches deep and 36 inches tall.
Measure the linear distance that cabinets will occupy along all sections of the kitchen to get your total linear footage.
2. Add up costs for each cabinet type
Multiply the linear footage for each cabinet type by the price per linear foot for that style. For example:
- Wall cabinets: 45 linear feet x $150 per linear foot = $6,750
- Island cabinets: 25 linear feet x $200 per linear foot = $5,000
Tally up the total for each cabinet type needed. Remember that specialty cabinetry like roll-out shelving or custom designs will increase cost per foot.
3. Factor in other costs
Don’t forget to budget for expenses beyond the cabinetry:
- Countertops
- Hardware
- Delivery/installation
- Sink and faucet
- Lighting fixtures
- Flooring
- Paint/trim
Labor and installation costs can range from 10-50% on top of material costs, depending on project scope and complexity.
4. Consider cost-saving measures
To work within your budget, look for ways to save:
- Use stock cabinets over custom designs
- Choose a simple door style like Shaker
- Opt for lower-priced material like thermofoil over solid wood
- Purchase and install cabinets yourself rather than using a contractor
- Shop sales and clearance for deals on quality cabinet brands
- Use open shelving rather than upper cabinets in some areas
Average Costs for Cabinetry Projects
To give you an idea of real-world kitchen cabinet installation costs, here are some typical price ranges:
| Project Scope | Total Cost Range |
|-|-|
Basic update with stock cabinets| $5,000 – $12,000 |
Mid-range remodel with custom cabinets | $15,000 – $30,000 |
High-end remodel with premium custom cabinets | $30,000 – $50,000+ |
Costs range dramatically based on factors like cabinet quality, layout complexity, brand and options selected, countertop materials chosen, and DIY versus hired contractor.
The overall price per linear foot provides a helpful baseline, but the specifics of your kitchen design significantly sway the final budget.
Saving on Stock Kitchen Cabinets
For dramatic savings on stock cabinetry:
- Shop home improvement store lines like Hampton Bay and Decorá for value options.
- Watch for sales around holidays and clearance deals on last year’s styles.
- Buy cabinets, counters, flooring, and fixtures separately to maximize deals.
- Install cabinetry yourself if possible.
- Opt for mid-priced recessed panel or Shaker styles.
- Choose economical material like thermofoil over solid wood.
- Limit specialty extras like glass fronts and intricate designs.
- Use open shelving to reduce linear footage.
- Keep layout simple with fewer corners and transitions.
Key Takeaways
The cost per linear foot of kitchen cabinets provides a starting point for budgeting, but many other factors impact your total investment. Carefully measure your kitchen’s dimensions, account for special storage needs, add up costs per section, and look for potential savings to arrive at an accurate estimate. This allows you to install beautiful, functional new cabinetry that maximizes your return on investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average kitchen remodel cost?
According to the 2021 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors, the average minor kitchen remodel costs around $26,214 and takes about 3 weeks to complete. Major kitchen overhauls range from $63,829 to $137,790 and last 6-12 weeks or longer.
What is the most affordable kitchen cabinet option?
Stock cabinets from home improvement stores provide the most budget-friendly options, averaging $50-100 per linear foot. Opt for mid-priced Shaker or recessed panel door styles and avoid premium features like glass fronts. installation yourself.
Should I choose custom or stock cabinets?
Stock cabinets offer savings but are sized in 3 inch increments, which can lead to filler strips and gaps. Custom cabinets are pricier but sized precisely for your layout. Custom designs also allow more storage personalization. Evaluate your budget, layout complexity, and desired features.
How do I calculate linear feet for kitchen cabinets?
Make a detailed drawing of your kitchen layout. Measure wall lengths from corner to corner, including sections hidden behind appliances. For islands and peninsulas, measure the cabinet run length on all sides. Add up the total linear distances needed, accounting for tall, deep or specialized cabinet sections.
What cabinets styles are cheapest?
Slab, flat panel, and Shaker style cabinets tend to be the most budget-friendly. Avoid ornate decorative cabinetry with intricate door designs or details like arches, inlays and hand-carving. Stick to simple door styles, inexpensive woods like pine or thermofoil surfaces to save costs.
Conclusion:
Determining kitchen cabinet costs per linear foot provides a helpful starting point when budgeting a kitchen remodel. Be sure to measure your space carefully, calculate costs for each cabinet type needed, and account for additional expenses beyond the cabinetry. With some savvy planning and cost-saving measures, you can install beautiful new kitchen cabinets that maximize your investment. Focus on your must-have features, shop sales and clearance deals, limit custom designs, and install cabinets yourself when possible. Taking the time to accurately estimate costs per foot for your new kitchen will help ensure a successful, cost-effective cabinetry investment.