How Much Do Custom Kitchen Cabinets Cost?
Understand the factors that affect pricing and learn how to plan your renovation budget — including the line items most quotes leave out.
What actually drives the price
Cabinet pricing comes down to four things, roughly in order of impact:
- Linear footage — how many cabinets, and how wide.
- Box construction — plywood boxes cost more than particleboard and last considerably longer.
- Door material and finish — a painted MDF door and a pre-finished panel sit at very different points on the scale.
- Accessories — soft-close hardware, pull-outs, and organizers add up fast once you specify them across a whole kitchen.
Height and depth matter less than people expect. Going from a 30" wall cabinet to a 42" one costs far less than adding another cabinet.
Budgeting a full kitchen
A useful planning split for a mid-range renovation is roughly half the budget on cabinetry, a quarter on countertops and appliances, and the remainder on plumbing, electrical, flooring, and finishing. Cabinets are the largest single line, which is why it's worth pricing them before anything else is committed.
The costs quotes often omit
- Delivery and access. A third-floor walk-up is not the same job as a garage drop.
- Installation. Cabinet supply and cabinet installation are usually separate.
- Filler and finishing panels. Every run that meets a wall or an appliance needs them.
- Disposal of the old kitchen.
How to keep the number down without regretting it
Spend on the boxes and the hardware — those are what fail. Save on the finish, which is the easiest thing to change later, and on the accessories you're not certain you'll use. A drawer you can add in year three is cheaper than a box you have to replace in year eight.
