Top Budget-Friendly Brands for Quality Kitchen Cabinets

Updating your kitchen with a new set of cabinets can completely transform the look and feel of the space. However, most homeowners have to balance their desire for a beautiful, high-quality kitchen with the constraints of their budget.

The good news is that it's possible to get great kitchen cabinets without breaking the bank.

Assessing Your Budget

Determine how much you can spend

Experts often recommend budgeting 10-15% of your total kitchen remodel cost for new cabinets. But if you're on a tight budget, even 5-8% can go a long way if you shop smart.

Take an honest look at what you can afford before you start shopping. This will help narrow your focus to cabinet solutions realistically within your price range.

Factor in all costs

When determining your cabinet budget, be sure to account for:

• Cabinets themselves
• Hardware
• Accessories like pull-out shelves
• Delivery fees
• Installation (if not doing it yourself)

Getting quotes from multiple cabinet suppliers can give you a better sense of total project costs. Just be sure to get detailed breakdowns so you understand exactly what's included.

Cabinet Construction

Frameless vs face frame cabinets

Nearly all affordable cabinets use a frameless construction style, which costs 20-30% less than traditional face frame. The tradeoff is potentially less durability and rigidity over time.

But for most homeowners, frameless delivers an excellent balance of quality and value. Just be sure to inspect cabinets closely before purchase to confirm solid construction.

Materials: wood, MDF, plywood

Cabinet boxes made of plywood rather than solid wood can trim costs without sacrificing quality. Pure MDF (medium density fiberboard) boxes should be avoided, but many budgets brands use a composite wood-MDF mix for affordability.

Doors are often a mix of materials as well. Wood veneers, thermofoils, and laminates allow for real-wood looks at lower prices. Durability does vary between these finishes, so check warranties closely.

Hardware

While it's tempting to cut costs on hardware, low-quality hinges, drawer glides and pulls can really diminish functionality over time. Spend a bit more here for soft-closing mechanisms and sturdy attachments.

Top Affordable Cabinet Brand Options

Stock brands

For budget buyers, stock cabinet brands like Hampton Bay, Fabuwood and CNC Cabinets offer quality construction at reasonable price points. Their stock sizing and limited customization capabilities keep costs down.

While style choices are more limited, you can often find a design aesthetic you like across their range of door styles and finishes. Be sure to closely inspect samples first to confirm acceptable quality.

RTA vs assembled

Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets provide major savings, since you put them together yourself. This avoids added labor costs. While assembly can be tricky, RTA instruction manuals have improved greatly.

Many budget brands like Fabuwood offer both RTA and pre-assembled cabinet options, giving you flexibility to choose based on your DIY confidence level.

Checking ratings

Reviews from cabinet buyers can provide helpful insights into quality and value. While ratings aren't perfect, consistent praise or complaints should catch your attention. Focus on brands with ratings above 4 stars.

Also check accreditations from organizations like the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA). This signals that production meets certain quality control standards.

Getting the Best Deal

Comparing retailers

Home improvement stores like Lowe's and Home Depot are convenient places to browse stock cabinet options. But also check specialty retailers like Kitchen Cabinets To Go and Cabinet Direct for expanded selections and lower prices.

When comparing retailers, look carefully at:

• Overall cabinet prices
• Available brands, styles and colors
• Cost of accessories like drawers and rollout trays
• Delivery fees
• Kitchen design services
• Installation services
• Return policies and warranties

Finding sales and promos

Watch for seasonal sales around holidays and special financing promotions, especially if completing a full kitchen remodel. Retailers may offer 10-20% off or reduced interest financing on cabinet packages.

You can also save money buying displays or scratch-and-dent models. Carefully inspect such units in person before purchase to ensure damaged areas are acceptable or easily repairable.

Maximizing layout

Strategic kitchen layouts using more standardized cabinet sizing requires fewer special order pieces. Work collaboratively with kitchen designers to balance ideal workflows with cost savings from stock components.

Also, consider frameless cabinets, which utilize interior space more efficiently due to thinner cabinet walls and shelving.

Installation and Customization

DIY installation tips

Handy homeowners can trim thousands of dollars in labor by installing cabinets themselves. While challenging, the cost motivates many a DIYer!

Helpful installation tips:

• Start on a wall without windows or appliances
• Employ careful measuring and leveling techniques
• Allow ample time to adjust and make corrections

Customization options

Even affordable cabinet brands offer some customization levers to make your kitchen unique. These include:

• Mixing and matching door styles
• Choosing different finishes like paint or stain
• Adding decor details with crown molding
• Selecting fun cabinet hardware like knobs or pulls

Work with kitchen designers to customize without blowing your budget. They can help identify high-impact details that stretch your dollar furthest.

Quality kitchen cabinets don't have to devastate your wallet. With smart shopping techniques, it's possible to balance beauty, functionality and affordability.

Focus your search on value-driven stock brands that offer usable quality for a reasonable price. And leverage the collective buying power of big box stores and specialty retailers to maximize savings across your entire cabinetry purchase.

Set yourself up for satisfaction by realistically determining what you can spend upfront. And collaboratively work with kitchen designers to select cabinets strategically to make the most of your available budget.

Our guide shows you how to achieve gorgeous new cabinets and stay on budget.