Getting Sticker Shock from Kitchen Cabinet Prices? Here's What Impacts Costs and How to Save

Dreaming up your perfect kitchen remodel only to feel the wind knocked out of you when the cabinet estimate arrives? You're not alone. Many homeowners experience sticker shock when first pricing out new cabinetry, with quotes ranging from a few thousand dollars up to the cost of a new car. Before you abandon hopes of your dream kitchen, read on to learn what key factors impact the price of kitchen cabinets and clever ways to get the look you love without blowing your budget.

What Impacts the Cost of Kitchen Cabinets?

From construction to finish, many details influence the bottom-line price of new kitchen cabinets. Being aware of these cost factors is the first step to making informed decisions for your remodel.

Materials

The type of material used for cabinet boxes and doors significantly affects price. Solid hardwoods like oak, maple, and hickory cost more than engineered woods or thermally fused laminates. Exotic woods can increase cost even further. Door material also impacts price, with solid wood, glass, or metal doors priced higher than laminate or thermofoil. Even small details like knobs and pulls come in a wide range of price points.

Manufacturing Type

Stock, semi-custom, and fully custom cabinets range greatly in price due to differences in construction, customization, and quality. Stock cabinets with set sizes and limited options start around $100 per linear foot. Semi-custom cabinets with more sizes, finishes, and modifications average $200-$500 per linear foot. Fully bespoke cabinets hand-crafted to your exact specifications cost $500-$1,500+ per linear foot.

Specifications

The nitty-gritty specs of your cabinets including size, configuration, and features impact price. Larger drawer boxes, specialty pull-outs, glass door inserts, self-closing hinges, soft-close drawer glides all upgrade costs. Unique door profiles, inset cabinets, and custom molding details add up quickly.

Labor and Installation

Whether you DIY or hire a professional affects bottom line price as well. Local market rates for skilled cabinet installers range $50-$100 per hour. Complex cabinetry or tricky kitchen layouts take more time and expertise, increasing labor fees. DIY installation saves on labor but may take longer.

Location and Convenience

Purchasing cabinets from a big box store, local cabinet showroom, or online retailer results in different price tags. Online ordering with warehouse storage cuts overhead costs compared to kitchen design showrooms. Local shops may have lower material costs but charge more for labor. Delivery fees also add up, especially for bulky cabinets.

Strategies to Save on Your Kitchen Cabinet Costs

While many factors are out of your control, you can take steps to reduce your overall investment in new kitchen cabinets without sacrificing design or quality.

Adjust Expectations

Getting quotes from 2-3 suppliers helps give realistic context before committing. Be honest about must-haves versus nice-to-haves. You can likely forgo that champagne fridge or spice drawer without sacrificing utility.

Seek Out Sales and Deals

Watch for seasonal sales, especially winter and summer when demand lulls. Shop retailers' clearance sections for discounted floor models. Ask about any promotions or ability to negotiate on price for multiple items or when combining with countertop purchases.

Scale Back Size and Simplicity

Opting for standard 18" and 24" cabinet widths avoids premiums for custom sizes. Limit specialty cabinets like angled corner lazy susans or specialty pull-outs. Focus accessory spend on visible focal points.

Choose Affordable Materials

While solid wood cabinets are gorgeous, laminte and thermofoil options offer immense savings. Mixing laminate and solid wood allows using premium materials only where it will be noticed most. Composite stone counters mimic luxury natural materials.

DIY Installation

Leave complicated cabinetry layouts to the professionals but install more straightforward perimeter and wall cabinetry yourself. DIY is also an option if you focus professional labor on the trickiest areas.

The price tag that comes with a kitchen overhaul can be shocking, especially when it comes to cabinets. But arming yourself with information on what impacts costs, from materials to labor and customization, takes away some of the surprise. More importantly, applying creative solutions like adjusting expectations, seeking deals, simplifying layouts, and embracing more affordable finishes allows you to work within your budget to achieve beautiful, functional cabinets that don't break the bank.