Selecting new kitchen cabinets can be an exciting project! With so many options to choose from, it can also feel overwhelming when starting to compare kitchen cabinet prices. In this guide, we’ll walk through what impacts the cost of new kitchen cabinets and provide tips to get the best value based on your budget.
Factors That Impact the Cost of Kitchen Cabinets
Several key factors contribute to the total price you’ll pay for new kitchen cabinets. Keep these in mind as you evaluate options and quotes from kitchen cabinet suppliers.
Type of Cabinet Material
The material your cabinets are constructed from is one of the largest contributors to price.
- Wood species: Within wood cabinets, options like maple, oak, hickory, and cherry vary in cost. Exotic woods can also command a much higher price tag.
- Thermofoil: One of the most budget-friendly cabinet materials, thermofoil is a synthetic material applied over a wood substrate. Durability is not as high as wood, but the cost is significantly less.
- Laminate: Another lower-priced material made by fusing plastic laminate to particleboard or MDF. Laminate resists scratches well but can swell if exposed to a lot of moisture.
- Metal: Usually made from steel with a powder coated paint finish, metal kitchen cabinets are very durable and moisture-resistant. The material costs more than thermofoil or laminate.
- Glass: Glass front cabinets create a delicate, open aesthetic. The glass itself is not expensive, but the surrounding cabinet box or frame does cost more to produce.
Cabinet Quality
Higher quality cabinet construction will also add cost, but result in a longer-lasting product. Look at aspects like:
- Frameless vs. face frame: Frameless (aka full access) cabinets have recessed doors and drawers that maximize storage space. Face frame cabinets have a frame around the front edges, resulting in a more traditional style. Frameless cabinets tend to cost a bit more.
- Dovetail joinery: Dovetail joints (finger-jointed corners) are a mark of quality in cabinet boxes, adding strength and stability.
- Drawer glides: Look for full extension soft-close glides that allow access to 100% of the drawer interior. Upgrades like these improve functionality.
- Adjustable shelves: For maximum storage flexibility, opt for adjustable shelves in wall cabinets and base cabinets.
Door Styles and Finishes
The cabinet door style and finish options selected will also impact price significantly.
- More ornate door designs require more handwork and more expensive materials, increasing costs. Simple Shaker and Slab style doors are generally the most budget-friendly.
- Hand-applied finishes like multi-step glazes, specialty painting techniques, and distressing add labor costs.
- Stains, wood veneers, thermofoil colors, laminate patterns, and painted finishes have a wide range of price points. Exotic veneers and custom paint mixing raise costs.
Organizational Features and Accessories
Specialized storage solutions within your cabinets along with decorative hardware choices will bump up the price as well. But they also enhance functionality and visual appeal.
Some popular options to consider include:
- Roll-out trays for blind corner cabinets and base lazy susans for improved access.
- Pull-out spice racks, tray dividers, and other inserts for organized storage.
- Soft-close hinges and self-closing drawer slides.
- Glass cabinet doors, glass shelves, and interior lighting.
- Crown molding, light rail molding, and other trimwork.
- Knobs, pulls, and other hardware in premium materials like wrought iron, crystal, or satin nickel.
Cost Ranges for New Kitchen Cabinets
Now that you know what impacts the price, what should you budget for new kitchen cabinets? Here are some typical price ranges:
Stock Kitchen Cabinets
Stock kitchen cabinets are mass-produced in standard cabinet sizes and sold ready to assemble. This is generally the most budget-friendly route, with more limited options.
- Thermofoil: $50 – $250 per cabinet
- Laminate: $100 – $350 per cabinet
- Wood: $200 – $600 per cabinet
Expect to pay around $6,000 – $12,000 for a full set of new stock cabinets in a 10×10 kitchen.
Semi-Custom Kitchen Cabinets
Semi-custom cabinets are built to order in a specified size from a range of materials, finishes, and storage accessories. Prices overlap with both stock and fully custom.
- Thermofoil & Laminate: $250 – $400 per cabinet
- Wood: $400 – $1000 per cabinet
For a full semi-custom kitchen, expect to invest $15,000 – $25,000+ for a 10×10 kitchen.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets
Fully customized cabinets are built completely from scratch to your specifications. This offers the widest selection of materials, colors, and designs.
- Wood: $800 – $2000+ per cabinet
With intricate carpentry work involved, it’s not uncommon for custom kitchen cabinets to exceed $30,000 – $50,000 for a 10×10 kitchen.
Keep in mind, the per cabinet price can vary based on size – larger cabinets like a full-height pantry will be costlier than a 15” base cabinet.
Tips for Staying Within Your Kitchen Cabinet Budget
Now that you know typical price ranges, here are tips to get the best cabinets for your budget:
- Set your budget first: Determine what you can realistically spend on the full cabinetry before falling in love with options outside your range.
- Get quotes for different levels: Have your kitchen designer price out good, better, and best options so you understand the differences.
- Mix price levels: Choose a premium material like wood for visible areas and do thermofoil or laminate for utility cabinets.
- Size down: Opt for 18” deep base cabinets instead of 24” deep for a sleek, modern look at a lower cost.
- Watch corners: Look for standard stock corner cabinets rather than custom angled designs.
- Keep door styles simple: Simple slab, Shaker, or minimalist styles generally cost less than highly decorative doors.
- Limit finishes: Keep to 3 cabinet finishes or fewer – one for perimeter cabinets, another for island, and a 3rd for accents.
- Buy accessories later: Purchase roll-outs, inserts, and other addons separately down the road rather than all at once.
The Bottom Line
There is a very wide range of prices for new kitchen cabinets based on materials, construction quality, door styles and finishes, and accessories. Stock cabinets offer the best value, with prices starting around $100 per cabinet. Semi-custom handcrafted cabinets range from $400-$1000 per cabinet, while fully custom can exceed $2000 per cabinet easily. Focus on stretching your budget through simple designs and strategic material selections. With some savvy choices, you can achieve a beautiful, functional kitchen that fits your budget!
FAQs About Kitchen Cabinet Prices
How much do new kitchen cabinets cost for a 10×10 kitchen?
For a typical 10×10 kitchen, you can expect to pay around:
- $6,000 – $12,000 for new stock cabinets
- $15,000 – $25,000 for mid-range semi-custom cabinets
- $30,000+ for high-end fully custom cabinets
Of course, prices vary widely based on your choice of materials, features, and accessories. Defining your budget will help guide what is feasible.
What is the most affordable cabinet material?
If you’re looking for the most budget-friendly option, thermofoil cabinets are the most affordable material. They have an expected price range of $50-$250 per cabinet. Laminate cabinets are another lower-cost choice at approximately $100-$350 per cabinet.
How much do wood kitchen cabinets cost compared to other materials?
There is a wide spectrum when it comes to wood cabinet pricing, but you can generally expect to pay $200-$600 per cabinet for stock wood cabinets and $400-$1000+ for semi-custom. The exact cost depends on the wood species and quality of construction. This puts wood cabinets costing 2-5x more than basic thermofoil options.
What upgrades should I avoid to stay on budget?
To keep your kitchen renovation costs down, avoid extensive decorative trimwork like crown molding. Skip ornate carved detailing on doors and instead opt for simple Shaker or slab style cabinet fronts. Limit the number of finishes to 3 or fewer, use less expensive hardware, and hold off on cabinet organization accessories and inserts that can be purchased later.
Can I mix cabinet price levels to save money?
Absolutely! A smart budget strategy is to splurge on your main cabinet material for perimeter cabinets and island while saving on utility cabinetry. For example, you may opt for wood cabinets on the lower walls and island while using thermofoil or laminate for upper cabinets. Discuss options with your designer.
Should I choose semi-custom or custom cabinets?
The choice between semi-custom vs. fully custom cabinets depends on your budget and design priorities. If you need cabinets in unique shapes or sizes, built-in niches, or ornate detailing, custom is likely the way to go. For more flexibility than stock cabinets on finishes and sizing while staying budget-conscious, semi-custom is a great middle ground.
Conclusion
Determining a kitchen cabinet budget is an important first step in your cabinet selection process. Keep the many factors that impact pricing in mind from construction quality to door styles and organizational accessories. Stock cabinets offer the most bang for your buck starting around $100 per cabinet, while semi-custom handcrafted cabinets range from $400-$1000+ per cabinet depending on features. Luxury fully custom cabinets catered exactly to your needs can exceed $2000 per cabinet easily. Focus on maximizing value through simpler designs and mixing high-end and more affordable materials strategically. With the right combination of choices for your budget, you’ll wind up with a kitchen you’ll love for years to come.
