The average cost of new cabinets for a kitchen remodel in the United States typically ranges from \$2,400 to over \$24,000 for materials alone, depending heavily on the cabinet type, size of the kitchen, and features chosen. This wide range exists because kitchen cabinet pricing is affected by many things, such as the materials used, the brand, and whether you buy ready-to-assemble units or fully built custom pieces.
Deciphering Cabinet Costs: A Quick Look at Budgeting
Knowing what you might spend is the first step in planning your new kitchen. Your kitchen remodel cabinet budget will likely be one of the largest single expenses. Cabinets can take up 30% to 50% of your total remodel budget.
Here is a simple chart showing typical ranges based on cabinet quality tiers:
| Cabinet Quality Tier | Typical Material Cost Range (for an average kitchen) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Stock Cabinets | \$2,400 – \$7,500 | Limited styles, standard sizes, basic hardware. |
| Semi-Custom Cabinets | \$6,000 – \$14,000 | More style options, flexible sizes, better materials. |
| Custom Cabinets | \$12,500 – \$24,000+ | Built specifically for your space, premium materials, unique features. |
Factors Affecting Cabinet Cost
Many things make cabinet prices go up or down. Getting a grip on these factors helps you control your spending.
Cabinet Material Pricing: Wood vs. Alternatives
The material your cabinets are made from is a huge cost driver. Solid wood costs more than engineered wood products.
Solid Wood Options
Solid wood offers beauty and strength. Hardwoods generally last longer and look richer.
- Maple: A popular mid-to-high-end choice. It takes stain well.
- Cherry: Known for its deep, rich color that darkens beautifully over time. It is usually more costly.
- Oak: A durable, classic choice often seen in traditional kitchens. It has a prominent grain pattern.
- Hickory: Very strong and has a highly varied grain, often costing more due to its unique look.
Engineered Wood Products
These materials are cost-effective and stable. They use wood fibers or veneers glued together with resin.
- Plywood: The best engineered option. High-quality plywood boxes are strong and resist moisture well. They cost more than particleboard.
- MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard): Often used for cabinet doors and drawer fronts, especially for painted finishes. It is smooth but heavy and less resistant to water damage than plywood.
- Particleboard: The least expensive option, usually only found in very low-end or RTA cabinet costs. It swells easily if it gets wet.
Door Style and Finish
How the cabinet door looks changes the price a lot. Simple doors cost less than complex ones.
- Shaker Style: This is a simple, flat panel door. It is popular and usually one of the most affordable styles.
- Raised Panel Doors: These have detailing in the center panel, adding complexity and cost.
- Glass Inserts: Adding glass, especially decorative or seeded glass, increases the price because it needs careful framing and specialized inserts.
The finish also matters greatly. A simple clear coat costs less than a multi-step painted finish or a high-end glaze.
Construction Type: Stock, Semi-Custom, or Custom?
This is perhaps the biggest factor in kitchen cabinet pricing.
Stock Cabinet Pricing
Stock cabinet pricing is the lowest tier. These cabinets come in standard sizes (e.g., 9, 12, 15 inches wide).
- Pros: Low cost, quick delivery.
- Cons: Limited choices in depth, height, and finish. You might need filler strips to make them fit perfectly.
Semi-Custom Cabinet Prices
Semi-custom cabinet prices offer a middle ground. You start with standard cabinet boxes but can change the depth, width, and door style.
- Pros: Better fit than stock, more choices, reasonable price increase over stock.
- Cons: Still not fully tailored to your exact needs.
Custom Cabinets
Custom cabinet installation cost is the highest because every single piece is built for your space.
- Pros: Perfect fit, endless options for materials, finishes, and features.
- Cons: High cost, long lead times (often 8–12 weeks or more).
Hardware and Features
The “extras” add up fast. Simple knobs and hinges cost little. Fancy features cost much more.
- Drawer Glides: Basic metal slides cost much less than soft-close, full-extension glides.
- Cabinet Organizers: Pull-out spice racks, tiered cutlery dividers, and tilt-out trash bins add significant cost but improve function.
- Decorative Elements: Crown molding, light rail molding, and decorative legs increase the bill.
Exploring Budget Cabinets: RTA and Stock Options
If keeping costs down is the main goal, look closely at budget-friendly options.
RTA Cabinet Costs
RTA cabinet costs (Ready-to-Assemble) are usually the cheapest option overall. These cabinets arrive flat-packed. You assemble them yourself.
- Cost Savings: You save on factory assembly time and shipping costs.
- Trade-Off: Assembly can be time-consuming and requires basic tools. If you are not skilled at assembly, you might end up paying a carpenter anyway, which eats into the savings.
Stock Cabinet Pricing Deep Dive
When looking at stock cabinet pricing, remember that you are paying for volume production. Manufacturers make thousands of the same size box, which lowers the unit cost significantly. Always check the construction quality, even in budget lines. Look for plywood boxes over particleboard if possible.
Comprehending Semi-Custom Pricing
Semi-custom cabinet prices often represent the best value for homeowners wanting some personalization without the custom price tag. These lines allow you to customize depth (e.g., making a cabinet 27 inches deep instead of the standard 24 inches) or choose from dozens of door profiles.
Key components that drive semi-custom prices up include:
- Choosing premium wood species like cherry or walnut.
- Opting for specialty finishes like glazes or distressing.
- Selecting high-end drawer and door inserts right from the factory.
The Cost of Custom Cabinet Installation
When you invest in custom pieces, you should also expect a higher custom cabinet installation cost. Custom cabinets require skilled installers who can precisely shim, level, and secure unique units into a non-standard space.
Labor Cost for Cabinet Installation
The labor cost for cabinet installation varies by region and complexity. Labor usually runs between \$100 and \$250 per linear foot, or sometimes charged hourly.
Factors influencing this labor cost:
- Complexity of the Layout: Kitchens with many angles, specialized corner units (like blind corners or lazy Susans), or stacked upper cabinets take much longer.
- Site Conditions: If walls are uneven or floors are not level, the installer must spend more time shimming and adjusting, increasing the labor time and cost.
- Installation of Custom Features: Installing complex built-in features, like wine racks or custom appliance panels, requires more meticulous labor.
If you buy stock cabinets, the installation is faster and cheaper because the installer is fitting standardized boxes rather than fine-tuning every piece.
Material Pricing: How Wood Choice Impacts Your Wallet
The raw materials are the foundation of the price. Here is a breakdown of how material pricing often stacks up, from least expensive to most expensive:
| Material Tier | Example Material | Average Relative Cost Index (Base 100) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low End | Thermofoil, Laminate, Particleboard Box | 60–80 | Durable surfaces, but sensitive to heat/moisture. |
| Mid Range | Plywood Box with MDF/Painted Maple Door | 100 | Good balance of durability and looks. |
| High End | Solid Plywood Box with Cherry or Walnut Door | 140–180+ | Premium look and longevity. |
Note: These indices are relative; actual dollar amounts depend on the supplier.
Finish Pricing Nuances
A factory-applied finish is generally cheaper than a site-applied, custom finish by a cabinetmaker.
- Stain vs. Paint: Stained finishes often show off the wood grain and can be slightly less expensive than opaque paint, which requires perfect surface prep.
- Glazes and Rub-Throughs: These decorative techniques add significant time to the finishing process, increasing the final price.
Budgeting for an Average Kitchen Size
To make this concrete, let’s look at a typical small-to-medium kitchen (about 10 feet by 10 feet, needing roughly 25 linear feet of cabinetry).
Scenario 1: Budget Kitchen Using Stock Cabinets
This scenario relies on readily available, standard sizes, possibly RTA cabinet costs for base units and stock uppers.
- Cabinet Materials: \$4,000 – \$6,000
- Installation (Labor): \$1,500 – \$2,500
- Total Estimated Cabinet Cost: \$5,500 – \$8,500
Scenario 2: Mid-Range Kitchen Using Semi-Custom Cabinets
This uses better materials (plywood boxes) and offers some size flexibility.
- Cabinet Materials: \$9,000 – \$13,000
- Installation (Labor): \$2,500 – \$3,500
- Total Estimated Cabinet Cost: \$11,500 – \$16,500
Scenario 3: High-End Kitchen Using Custom Cabinetry
This involves precise fitting, premium wood, and specialized hardware throughout.
- Cabinet Materials: \$18,000 – \$25,000+
- Installation (Labor): \$4,000 – \$6,000+ (Higher labor due to complexity)
- Total Estimated Cabinet Cost: \$22,000 – \$31,000+
Remember, these estimates cover only the cabinets and their installation, not countertops, appliances, or flooring.
Maximizing Value in Your Kitchen Remodel Cabinet Budget
To get the best cabinets for your money, employ smart shopping tactics.
Focus Spending Where It Counts
If you must cut costs, cut them on areas that are easy to upgrade later.
- Spend on the Box: Invest in high-quality construction (plywood boxes are better than particleboard). You can change hardware later, but you cannot easily change the box structure.
- Choose Simple Doors: Opt for Shaker style doors, which are timeless and less expensive than highly detailed options.
- Delay High-End Hardware: Buy basic pulls now and upgrade to soft-close drawer slides or custom inserts after the initial installation is complete.
Shop Around for Installation Quotes
Do not automatically hire the cabinet supplier to install them. Get quotes from independent, licensed carpenters specializing in kitchen installation. Compare their rates to see if you can lower the labor cost for cabinet installation.
Consider Layout Efficiency
Fewer cabinets might mean lower costs. Design your layout to use standard sizes wherever possible to reduce the need for expensive filler pieces or custom modifications. Good planning minimizes waste and labor time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabinet Expenses
What is the cheapest way to get new kitchen cabinets?
The cheapest way is usually by choosing RTA cabinet costs made from lower-grade materials like particleboard, and assembling them yourself. Stock cabinets from big-box stores are the next cheapest option if you prefer pre-built boxes.
How much more do custom cabinets cost than semi-custom?
Custom cabinets typically cost 50% to 100% more than semi-custom cabinet prices. This difference accounts for the design time, specialized engineering for each unit, and the higher cost of fitting them perfectly on site.
Does the cabinet material affect the long-term cost?
Yes. While initial material pricing varies, higher quality materials like solid hardwood and plywood boxes increase durability, meaning you pay less for repairs or replacement down the road, offering better long-term value.
Is installation included in the kitchen cabinet pricing I see online?
Rarely. Online quotes for stock cabinet pricing or semi-custom cabinet prices usually only cover the materials. Always confirm if the quote includes delivery and if installation labor is separate. You must budget for the labor cost for cabinet installation.
How can I reduce my kitchen remodel cabinet budget without sacrificing quality too much?
Focus on getting good quality boxes (plywood) but choose a less expensive wood veneer or a simple painted finish. Avoid excessive custom sizing and limit expensive pull-out features to just a few key drawers. This balances quality and cost control within your overall kitchen remodel cabinet budget.