How Much Do Kitchen Cabinets Cost?
Broad typical ranges for new cabinets, installation, and the alternatives, with the factors that matter most.
Cabinets are usually one of the largest single purchases in a kitchen remodel. The price you are quoted depends on four big things: how the cabinets are made (stock, semi-custom, or custom), how many you need (measured in linear feet), what they are made of and finished with, and what it takes to install them in your particular kitchen. This guide gives broad ranges so you can sanity-check quotes, then explains each factor.
Typical cost ranges for a whole kitchen
The table below assumes a medium kitchen with roughly 25 to 30 linear feet of base and wall cabinets combined. Smaller kitchens cost less; large kitchens with an island, a pantry wall, or tall cabinets cost more.
| Option | Cabinets only (typical range) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Stock cabinets | About $2,000 to $8,000 | Fixed sizes and finishes, short lead times, sold at home centers and suppliers |
| Semi-custom cabinets | About $5,000 to $20,000 | More sizes, door styles, finishes, and modifications |
| Custom cabinets | About $15,000 to $50,000 or more | Built to your exact dimensions and design |
| Refacing existing cabinets | About $4,000 to $12,000 or more | New doors, drawer fronts, and veneer over existing boxes |
| Professional painting or refinishing | About $2,500 to $8,000 | New finish on existing doors and boxes |
Estimates only. Broad typical ranges based on published contractor and industry cost guides; actual prices vary widely by location, materials, and scope. Get written quotes.
Installation is often priced separately from the cabinets themselves. Depending on the region and the complexity of the kitchen, professional installation commonly adds a few thousand dollars or more. See our installation cost guide for what goes into that number.
What drives the price
1. Construction grade
Stock cabinets are mass-produced in standard widths, usually in 3-inch increments. Semi-custom lines start from the same idea but let you change depths, add accessories, and choose from many more finishes. Custom cabinets are built for your space, which removes fillers and wasted space but adds design time and cost. Our stock vs. semi-custom vs. custom guide compares them in detail.
2. Size of the kitchen
Quotes are often discussed in cost per linear foot, which helps you compare kitchens of different sizes. Tall pantry and oven cabinets, corner units, and islands cost more per foot than a simple run of base cabinets. See cost per linear foot.
3. Box material and door style
Plywood boxes usually cost more than particleboard. Solid wood doors cost more than MDF or thermofoil, and painted finishes often cost more than stained ones on the same line because of the extra steps. See materials and door styles and finishes.
4. Features and accessories
Soft-close hinges and full-extension drawer slides are standard on many lines now, but pull-out trash cans, spice pull-outs, roll-out shelves, lighting, glass doors, and organizers each add to the price. Hardware (knobs and pulls) is often bought separately. See hardware cost.
5. Installation conditions
Out-of-level floors, walls that are not square, soffits that must come out, plumbing or electrical changes, and difficult delivery (stairs, elevators, long carries) all add labor. Removal and disposal of old cabinets may be a separate line.
6. Where you live
Labor rates differ a lot by region. In high-cost metros, installation and custom shop labor tend to run above national ranges. Our city guides explain local factors such as building rules, housing styles, and climate.
Do you need new cabinets at all?
If your cabinet boxes are solid, square, and laid out the way you like, refacing or refinishing can change the look for less money and less disruption. If the layout does not work, the boxes are water-damaged or sagging, or you are moving appliances, replacement usually makes more sense. Our reface vs. refinish vs. replace guide walks through the decision.
Next steps
- Measure your kitchen and count linear feet of base and wall cabinets.
- Decide whether you are keeping the layout.
- Set a budget range with a contingency (see how to budget).
- Get at least two or three written quotes that list the same scope (see how to compare quotes).
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical price for kitchen cabinets?
There is no single typical price. Published cost guides commonly put stock cabinets for a medium kitchen in the low thousands, semi-custom in the mid four figures to around twenty thousand dollars, and custom higher still. Installation is often extra. These are broad estimates; get written quotes.
Does the cabinet price include installation?
Often it does not. Home centers, suppliers, and cabinet shops may quote cabinets and installation separately. Ask whether delivery, removal of old cabinets, disposal, fillers, crown molding, and hardware installation are included.
Why are painted cabinets often more expensive than stained?
Painted finishes usually involve more preparation and coats, and some manufacturers charge an upcharge for paint. Policies differ by brand and line, so compare the same door style in both finishes.
Are cabinets the biggest cost in a kitchen remodel?
They are frequently one of the largest line items, along with labor and countertops. The exact share depends on your choices and how much other work is included.
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