Are you prepared for a kitchen update but not a complete remodel? An outdated kitchen can be revitalized by replacing the cabinets. So, how much do kitchen cabinets cost?
Your chosen method of updating the cabinets will determine the precise cost of your new kitchen cabinets. According to national averages, it can cost anywhere between $2,946 and $5,435 to $7,113, depending on whether you just refinish them (change their color), replace them entirely, or resurface/reface them (apply new material on top of the existing cabinet frames and replace the doors and drawer fronts).
Keep reading.
What Do New Kitchen Cabinets Cost?
The price of new cabinets for an average kitchen can range from $2,000 to $26,000, with the majority of projects costing between $4,000 and $13,000, according to HomeAdvisor’s most recent statistics. This cost is largely determined by the type of cabinetry—custom, semi-custom, or ready-made—and the material used. Of course, the scope of the project also matters; contractors frequently provide quotes based on the cost per linear foot, which can range from $100 to $1,200.
According to the home website Angi, hardware is an additional cost, and the price of handles and knobs for your cabinets varies greatly from under $100 to as much as $10,000 for more elaborate or unique models.
Average Cabinet Installation Cost
| Kitchen size | Square footage | Total cost |
| Small | Up to 70 sq. ft. | $1,700-$11,000+ |
| Medium | Up to 120 sq. ft. | $2,200-$14,000+ |
| Large | 200 sq. ft. and more | $4,000-$26,000+ |
Customizing Cabinets
How distinctive the units are is another important factor that affects the price of your kitchen cabinets. Kitchen cabinets fall into one of three categories: stock (completely prefabricated), semi-custom (like car models or made-to-measure clothing; they are available in standard styles and sizes, but you can customize some details), or custom (wholly built to your specifications). As to average prices:
- Stock cabinets:$100 to $300 per linear foot installed
- Semi-custom cabinets:$150 to $650 per linear foot installed
- Custom cabinets:$500 to $1,200 per linear foot installed
Custom models can cost up to 100% more than stock or semi-custom models, so plan on this cost explosion.
Factors in Calculating Cost of Kitchen Cabinets
As simple as it may seem to want to install new kitchen cabinets, there are several crucial considerations when selecting the right ones. Homeowners should inspect their current cabinets to see if any areas require more room or a different configuration. Using this will assist in deciding whether stock or custom cabinets are needed. Additionally, choices need to be made regarding the design, size, color, and finish, each of which has a cost. Finally, take into account the labor and installation costs based on the types of cabinets chosen for installation. As you plan your budget for kitchen cabinet costs, these factors will aid in guiding your decision-making.
Stock Vs. Custom Kitchen Cabinets
For homeowners looking for inexpensive cabinets that will still enhance their kitchen’s appearance overall, stock cabinets are a common option. For stock cabinets, the average installation price ranges from $100 to $300 per linear foot. Homeowners can, however, also choose custom kitchen cabinets. These cabinets can be fully customized in terms of size, material, and design, which is advantageous for kitchens with unusual or unusual shapes. Expect to spend up to $1,200 per linear foot, including installation, as custom cabinets are significantly more expensive than the majority of stock cabinet options.
Material
The type of material you select will have a big impact on the price of your kitchen cabinets. There are five different types of materials: wood veneer ($2,000–$15,000), laminate ($4,000–$15,000), wood ($5,000–$25,000), acrylic ($5,000–$20,000), and stainless steel ($25,000–$38,000). Due to plywood’s propensity to hold up better without warping in moist environments, the majority of wood cabinets on the market are not made entirely of solid wood; rather, they are frequently made of plywood and solid wood.
Design
The cost of a kitchen cabinet system is influenced by its design. Either framed or frameless cabinets are used in kitchens. Framed cabinets are a classic option that have a flat front frame to mount the door on and leave the rails and stiles visible. Usually costing between $5,000 and $20,000 or more, this kind of cabinet. European or modern cabinetry styles without visible rails include frameless cabinets. The doors without the front frame are typically heavier and more specifically tailored. Cabinets without frames typically cost $6,000 to $30,000 or more more than framed cabinets.
Size
How many cabinets need to be replaced depends on how big the kitchen is. For a kitchen that is roughly 10 feet by 10 feet, new cabinets could cost as little as $2,000 or as much as $24,000 if they are higher quality and customized. Depending on how many linear feet of cabinets need to be replaced, a 12-by-12-foot kitchen could cost as little as $2,500 or as much as $29,000. These are average kitchen sizes, but larger kitchens will cost more.
Color and Finish
Given that they must be made to order, custom colors and finishes usually cost more. Painting new cabinets will also cost more due to the materials and labor involved. The majority of stock and semi-custom cabinets, however, come in the popular hues and finishes that homeowners desire. You can opt for a wood or a veneer finish that mimics the type and color of wood you prefer. Other common wood options include cherry, ash, walnut, maple, oak, beech, hickory, pine, mahogany, bamboo, and birch. All of these woods can be stained or painted.
Suggested reading: One of the best ways to quickly improve the appearance and ambiance of a space where you probably spend a lot of time is by updating your kitchen cabinets. So, how much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets?
Labor and Installation
Nearly half of the cost of kitchen cabinets is made up of labor and installation fees. To ensure that the cabinets are precisely measured and installed to avoid leveling issues, it takes a lot of time and attention to detail. Between $130 and $200 per cabinet is the typical cost of labor and installation.
Other Costs for New Kitchen Cabinets
There are other items to plan for when you are buying new cabinets. There are other costs that will appear on your invoice in addition to installation, which adds significantly to the overall cost. For example, you might have to pay an extra $300 to $500 to remove and dispose of the old cabinets and any debris.
Before your new kitchen cabinets can be installed, it’s also possible that you will need to move your current ones around. This is not an easy process because it might necessitate moving plumbing and outlets, as well as possible drywall and paint repairs.
How to Save Money on the Cost of Kitchen Cabinets?
The majority of cost-cutting suggestions appear during the cabinet selection process as you pick the components, style, and design that best suit your requirements and financial constraints. However, there are some additional strategies for saving money and making the most of your financial resources.
- RTA Cabinets
RTA, meaning ready to assemble, is an online cabinet industry that sends you flat-packed kitchen cabinets at generally reasonable prices.
Assembling the cabinets is your responsibility, so this reduces costs because factory labor is not necessary. If you’d like, many RTA companies provide assembly as an option, for a fee. However, because of the smaller boxes used for flat-packing the cabinets, shipping costs are lower.
Cabinet assembly is simpler than most homeowners anticipate thanks to a cam-lock system and pre-drilled holes. Usually, when your order price exceeds a certain threshold, shipping fees are not charged.
Going by the old adage that “time is money,” If you choose to assemble RTA cabinets yourself, you might find that they are not more affordable due to the time involved. Additionally, it’s possible that the assembly process could harm them.
- Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets
Painting wood cabinets is no different than painting any other wood surface. But when it comes to melamine or laminate kitchen cabinets, things get trickier.
Melamine is a thin plastic material usually applied to particleboard that does a great job of resisting dirt and easing wipe-downs.
As long as the melamine does not delaminate from its base material, you can leave the cabinets as they are. But if you want to paint your laminate or melamine, you need to prepare these non-porous surfaces so that paint will stick to it well.
- Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations
On the face of it, Cabinet Transformations appears to be no different than painting the cabinets by yourself. But Cabinet Transformations does advance painting and spares you from having to put together paint supplies.
Work surfaces for Cabinet Transformations include laminate, melamine, and wood. Along with various stirring sticks, roller pads, and other tools, it comes with bonding topcoat, decorative glaze, bonding coat, and glossier.
- Professional Cabinet Refacing
Cabinet refacing falls between a total replacement of cabinets and a high-end paint job. Cabinet refacing is usually done by professionals and involves replacing old cabinet doors and drawer fronts and veneering the cabinet box fronts and sides.
Typically, the box interiors are not refaced. Expect refacing to cut your cabinet replacement costs by about 50-percent.
Because veneering the cabinets can be challenging, refacing cabinets is typically not a DIY project.
- IKEA
It is renowned for its high style and affordable prices. And the home store in the big blue box–IKEA–does offer authentically low prices on kitchen cabinets. Not only that, IKEA kitchen cabinets are stylish, sleek, and contemporary.
Like their RTA counterparts, IKEA cabinets require assembly. The flat boxes of cabinets must be picked up and delivered by you alone. Particleboard is mainly used to construct the cabinet boxes.
You can hire outside companies to deliver and assemble the cabinets for an additional cost. How to Paint IKEA Furniture in the Right Way?
- Costco
Members of Costco have another source for inexpensive kitchen cabinets at the retail behemoth.
Costco cabinets differ from IKEA’s in two important ways. The first is that a lot of Costco’s cabinets are made of real wood. In fact, that is the name of one long-standing company that contracts out to Costco: All Wood Cabinetry.
Compared to IKEA, Costco kitchen cabinet styles are typically more varied and include traditional, Euro-modern, and contemporary looks.
- Used Cabinets
Because newer, better cabinets are coming in, homeowners frequently get rid of their old cabinets. The homeowner won’t want to throw cabinets in the trash if they are worried about landfilling them. In addition, it costs money to dispose of cabinets.
These homeowners avoid paying for hauling or roll-off fees by giving away the cabinets. Look for cheaply priced cabinets on Craigslist or find free removal of private party cabinets. Another great place to look for kitchen cabinets is Facebook Marketplace, which is often free or extremely affordable.
- Architectural Salvage Yards
Prosaic items like sinks, toilets, flooring, and yes, cabinets, are frequently found in architectural salvage yards, which are typically found in large metro areas with older housing stocks. Check out your local Habitat For Humanity Re-Store, as well.
If you’re considering doing it yourself,-painting part of your home, you want to make sure that you get it right the first time. There is very little margin for error when it comes to your time and money. Even though painting your cabinets seems simple enough, you might find yourself second-guessing your decision. What is the best paint brush for cabinets?
Do I Need New Kitchen Cabinets?
It’s simple for homeowners to wonder if they even need new kitchen cabinets when confronted with the difficult task of budgeting for and choosing them. Aside from the obvious circumstance of damaged cabinets, there are several other reasons for which replacing kitchen cabinets is a good idea.
Increased Storage Needs
It’s common for a family to outgrow their existing space—and those rolling pantries are only helpful up to a point before they start to get in the way. If you are unable to increase the actual kitchen size, have a cabinet installer assess how to update the existing space to be more effective in terms of storage. The total storage capacity may be increased by using a better cabinet option or a different configuration that a cabinet installer is aware of. The amount of usable counter space increases with increased cabinet space.
Kitchen Layout Remodel
Adding more space to a kitchen is a primary reason for a kitchen remodel. Sometimes that only means the floor plan is reconfigured, but sometimes it’s also expanded. You’ll need new kitchen cabinets that will fit in their new spaces in either scenario. An excellent way to increase storage, create more useful space, replace outdated cabinets, and give your kitchen a new look all at once is to remodel the layout.
Refacing Isn’t An Option
Some cabinet components either can’t be refaced or are so severely damaged that they must be replaced. As helpful as it is to have the option of refacing, sometimes it simply isn’t feasible. Have a cabinet installer examine your cabinets if you’re not sure whether the material can be refaced.
Water Damage, Smells, and Other Issues
Obvious signs of damage to cabinets are easy to spot. When thinking about replacing your kitchen cabinets, there are other indications that are less obvious but just as significant. Sometimes the cabinet box is so worn out that it won’t support new screw holes for updated hardware. It’s also possible that the cabinets are physically flimsy; they might even move when you push them. Additionally, this may cause the countertop to slant to one side, increasing the likelihood that pencils will ever roll off. Sticking cabinet doors and drawers that are difficult to open or close are another indication that they need to be replaced. Additionally, seriously foul odors that persist despite cleaning mean that cabinets must be removed and replaced.
Mold and Pest Damage
Visible mold damage is another serious issue. If caught early, mold is relatively simple to clean up, but if not, it quickly turns into a dangerous and persistent issue. Finding the leak and fixing it are essential because mold is a sign that water is entering the area unchecked. If the damage to the cabinets is moderate to severe and cannot be cleaned quickly, you’ll need to replace the cabinets. Mold can pose a serious health risk to people, particularly those who already have respiratory or asthmatic conditions.
Another justification for kitchen cabinet replacement is evidence of pest damage. Any insect damage starts to compromise the cabinets’ structural integrity. The wood might then become softer or begin to rot as a result of airborne moisture.
FAQs
What is the Average Cost to Replace Kitchen Cabinets?
The national average is $11,100, but a typical range is $4,000 to $13,000. This largely depends on the size of the kitchen, the type of cabinets, the materials and design, and any other considerations for your specific kitchen.
Does a Kitchen Remodel Up the Resale Value of Your Home?
Yes, buyers love the appearance of a modern, updated kitchen and are willing to pay for it. Do your best to keep it in check with your budget and the housing market.
How Much Does a 10-foot X 10-foot Kitchen Remodel Cost?
Between $15,000 and $40,000 is needed to remodel a medium-sized, 10 feet by 10 foot kitchen.
What Finish is the Best for Kitchen Cabinets?
There really isn’t a “best” in terms of kitchen cabinet finishes. To accommodate most budgets, a variety of options are offered at various price points. If you live in an area with more humidity, speak with a pro about the most durable materials that will last the longest. Laminates and veneers can be finished to look like solid wood, but metal is another popular option for those who prefer a more industrial look. Otherwise, the best finish for your needs is determined by your budget and style.
Summary: How Much Do Kitchen Cabinets Cost?
Depending on how precisely you plan to update them, the price of your new kitchen cabinets will vary. Depending on whether you just refinish them (change their color), replace them completely, or resurface/reface them (place new material on top of the existing cabinet frames and replace the doors and drawer fronts), it can cost anywhere between $2,946 and $5,435 to $7,113, according to national averages.
Please post a question in the comments if you have any.
