New cabinetry can significantly improve your kitchen’s functionality and aesthetic. However, you’ll want to calculate the cost of custom kitchen cabinets before launching your renovation project. That can be a complicated task, but we’ve made it easier by compiling several factors that will affect your total budget.
Cabinet Type
Different types of cabinets come with varying price tags. If you’re trying to calculate the cost of new cabinetry installation, think about the kind of cabinets you want. You can choose from three main cabinet categories:
- Prefabricated
- Semi-customized
- Fully customized
None of these options are better or worse than the others. But each has its pros and cons. Finding the balance between functionality, durability, and aesthetics will help you determine which cabinet type works best for your kitchen and budget.
Prefabricated Cabinets
Prefabricated (also called stock) cabinets are an excellent choice if saving money is your top priority. You don’t have to pay for custom manufacturing or a complex installation. Simply pick out the cabinets you think will look good with your kitchen design and get them delivered to your door.
When purchasing prefabricated/stock cabinets, you have a couple of options:
- Ready-to-Assemble (RTA) cabinets arrive in flat boxes with all the necessary material so that you can assemble them yourself.
- Pre-assembled cabinets come already put together and ready to install.
Semi-Customized Cabinets
You’ll typically pay a little more than prefabricated or stock cabinets with semi-customized cabinetry. However, you get access to a greater variety of sizes, designs, finishes, and layouts. Many homeowners find semi-custom cabinets the happy medium between customization and costs.
Fully Customized Cabinets
If you want total control over your cabinets’ appearance, functionality, and layout, we recommend getting 100% custom cabinetry. This is the most expensive cabinet type, but the added cost allows you to get cabinetry that matches your unique kitchen perfectly. You can fully customize things like door styles, wall cabinetry layouts, the shape of base cabinets, and more!
Cabinet Style
Style is another factor that affects the cost of custom kitchen cabinets. Usually, more detailed and elaborate styles cost more – not always, though. Determining which cabinet style works best in your kitchen will help you calculate costs accurately.
You can choose from a wide selection of available cabinet styles. These are some of the most common:
- Arch raised
- Beadboard
- Cathedral raised
- Louvered
- Mullion
- Open frame
- Shaker
- Slab
- Square raised
Different cabinet styles come with various customizable features. You can add accessories like toe kicks and roll-out trays, customize handles and knobs, and choose cabinet door designs that suit your unique tastes.
Cabinet Material
Material plays a key role in determining the cost of custom kitchen cabinets. Some materials cost less but don’t last as long or look as great. Others may be more durable and aesthetically pleasing, but you’ll have to pay more.
Typically, you’ll find cabinets in these materials:
- Hardwood
- Medium-density fiberboard
- Wood veneer
- Plywood
- Particleboard
- Stainless steel
Natural wood cabinets always cost more than wood-alternative materials. Oak, birch, pine, and cherry have a higher price tag than plywood and particleboard, so consider this factor during your kitchen renovation project. Your total costs will vary depending on the cabinet material you use.
Kitchen Size
If you have a massive kitchen, you can expect to pay more for kitchen cabinets. You probably won’t pay as much if you have a smaller kitchen. In other words, your kitchen size affects your overall cabinet replacement costs.
Here are the average cabinet prices for the three main cabinet types:
- Prefabricated: $80–$400 per linear foot
- Semi-customized: $150–$900 per linear foot
- Fully customized: $500–$1,400 per linear foot
As you’ll notice, you purchase cabinets per linear foot. The more space in your kitchen, the more linear feet you’ll have, and the more you’ll likely pay for cabinets.
Key Takeaways
You can calculate your kitchen cabinet costs accurately and save money by keeping in mind the following:
- Cabinet costs vary depending on the cabinetry type and customization level.
- The style affects the price. Simpler types (like slab and shaker) typically cost less than more complex ones (like cathedral raised and louvered).
- Some cabinet materials (like natural hardwood) cost more than others (particleboard and plywood, for example).
- Kitchen size affects the total cabinetry cost.
Get Kitchen Cabinets for Your Unique Style and Budget
You don’t have to worry about the cost of custom kitchen cabinets. At Royal Palm Closet Design and Fine Cabinetry, we offer professional kitchen services and top-quality cabinetry options to match your unique style and budget. Call us today at (239) 768-2391.
