What's the Bottom Line? The True Price to Replace Kitchen Cabinets
If your kitchen is looking tired and dated, replacing the cabinets can make a world of difference. But before you dive into a kitchen remodel, it's important to set realistic expectations when it comes to cabinet pricing.
From stock to custom builds, there's an incredibly wide range of what new kitchen cabinets can cost. Read on as we break down the true price to replace kitchen cabinets per linear foot and per project, along with the many factors that impact your bottom line.
Average Costs for Common Cabinet Types
When budgeting for new kitchen cabinets, a good place to start is by looking at average prices for common cabinet configurations:
Stock Cabinets
Stock cabinets are pre-fabricated in standard box sizes and come ready to assemble. Because no customization is involved, stock cabinets typically offer an affordable cabinet option ranging from $100 to $300 per linear foot installed .
For example, for a 10x10 kitchen with a typical 25 linear feet of cabinets, stock cabinetry would cost approximately $2,500 to $7,500 . This makes stock cabinets a great budget-friendly choice.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
A step up from stock, semi-custom cabinets are built from a range of standard cabinet box sizes but offer more personalization when it comes to finishes, storage solutions and design details. Semi-custom cabinets range from $150 to $650 per linear foot installed .
For a medium-sized kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinetry you could spend $4,500 to $19,500+ on semi-custom cabinets. The wider range accounts for more affordable versus premium upgrades.
Custom Cabinets
Fully customized to your kitchen's layout, dimensions and preferences, custom cabinets offer the highest level of personalization. Made-to-order custom cabinetry typically ranges from $500 to $1,200+ per linear foot installed .
An expansive, luxury dream kitchen could have up to 50 linear feet of cabinets. At high-end custom pricing, that equates to approximately $25,000 to $60,000+ for cabinets alone. The sky's the limit when it comes to luxury kitchens!
What Impacts the Total Cost of Your Kitchen Cabinet Installation Project
While the per linear foot prices above provide a general baseline, many additional factors impact your total spend for replacing kitchen cabinets:
Cabinet Materials
The material your cabinets are constructed from makes a significant impact on overall cost:
- Thermofoil: $75 - $100 per linear foot
- Laminate: $100 - $350 per linear foot
- Wood/Plywood: $200 - $1,000+ per linear foot
- Solid Wood: $800+ per linear foot
Higher-end wood species like cherry, maple and walnut fall at the top end of the spectrum. Although more affordable, lower-end woods and laminates won't stand up to wear and tear as well over time.
Door Styles and Finishes
Door selection plays a major role in your total spend, with vast price differences between basic and high-end options:
- Flat panel: $75 - $200 per linear foot
- Shaker: $100 - $350 per linear foot
- Raised panel: $350+ per linear foot
- Premium finishes: Adds $100+ per linear foot
Hand-rubbed glazes, crackled painted finishes and full custom door designs are all premium options that increase costs exponentially.
Storage Solutions and Organizational Features
Roll-outs, pull-outs, custom drawers, appliance garages and other storage additions boost convenience, but also price:
- Drawers: $75 - $200 per drawer
- Roll outs: $200 - $300 per rollout
- Wine racks, spice pull outs, etc: $100 - $300 per addition
The more specialized storage you add, the higher your overall cabinet spend will be.
Additional Kitchen Remodeling Cost Considerations
There are also secondary costs to factor in for your kitchen renovation:
Cabinet Hardware
| Standard knobs/pulls | $2 - $10 per knob/pull |
| Premium hardware | $25+ per knob/pull |
While opting for affordable hardware can save costs upfront, upgrading to soft-close hinges is often wise to ensure smooth operation and prevent slamming.
Countertops
| Laminate | $20 - $30 per square foot |
| Quartz | $80 - $120 per square foot |
| Granite | $60 - $150 per square foot |
| Marble | $100 - $250 per square foot |
Choosing a countertop color and material that pairs nicely with your new cabinetry is key. Just know that premium materials like marble and quartz come at a premium price point.
Backsplashes
Like countertops, backsplash prices run the gamut based on material:
- Ceramic tile: $5 - $25 per square foot
- Glass tile: $15 - $30 per square foot
- Natural stone: $40+ per square foot
While simple ceramic tile is budget-friendly, upgraded materials can give your kitchen a high-end, designer look for $1,000+ extra.
Sinks and Faucets
Your sink and faucet selections also impact total cost:
- Stainless steel sink: $200 - $800
- Apron front sink: $500 - $1,500
- Commercial-style faucet: $200 - $600
- Touchless faucet: $500 - $1,000
You'll spend more on an attractive showpiece sink and high-tech faucets, but these elements can dramatically elevate your whole kitchen.
Flooring
| Luxury vinyl plank | $2 - $8 per square foot |
| Porcelain tile | $4 - $15 per square foot |
| Hardwood | $6 - $15 per square foot |
Ensure your new flooring ties everything together beautifully while staying within your budget.
Professional Installation vs DIY
Who you have install your new kitchen cabinets also impacts your bottom line:
- DIY: $2,000+ savings
- Professional Installation: $3,000+ additional cost
While DIY installation can save you money, professional installers have specialized tools, skills and experience designing and fitting cabinets properly.
Consider your skill level and whether flawless results are worth paying a premium for professional installation services.
When adding everything up, you should expect to spend a minimum of $5,000 for a small kitchen up to $15,000, $30,000 or more for a large, luxury kitchen remodel with new cabinets as the focus.
And if your existing kitchen layout needs significant modifications, that will also drive costs up through demolition, new floorplan creation, drywall, plumbing and electrical.
The wide range in pricing illustrates how many factors come into play. Carefully weigh cabinet materials, storage needs, appliance integration, hardware, counters, sinks and flooring options against your budget reality.
This will help you create a beautiful, functional kitchen within reasonable costs. With accurate pricing intel, you can set achievable expectations and better manage costs for your kitchen cabinet replacement project.