Kitchen Cabinet Cost in 2025 — Free Estimator & Guide

A 30‑Year Veteran Designer’s Honest Guide for Homeowners

When you’re planning a kitchen remodel, it’s common to overlook just how big a chunk of the budget goes into cabinets — but I promise, as someone who has helped dozens of families (many of them busy moms) transform their kitchens, the cabinet line item often ends up being the largest single expense. I still remember one client, a full-time mom of two, who started with the thought, “Let’s just refresh the doors,” only to learn that many of her existing cabinet boxes were worn or warped, and replacing them made more sense long-term.

In my 30 years in this business, I’ve worked with every kind of cabinet: ready-to-assemble (RTA), semi-custom, and full custom. I’ve seen pricing estimates that range widely — and I understand how confusing and stressful it feels when quotes come in, and you’re trying to stick to a realistic budget and build something beautiful. While Highland Cabinetry’s blog gives a solid starting point (they mention $1,500 up to $30,000+ for different cabinet types), I want to dive deeper — breaking down where the money really goes, and how you as a homeowner (especially if you’re planning this around family life) can make smart, cost-effective decisions.

That’s why I built a free kitchen cabinet cost estimator tool — you’ll find it below, and it’s designed to help you plug in your own numbers (like layout size, materials, labor) to get a realistic budget tailored to your project. No more guesswork.

In the rest of this guide, I’ll walk you through a detailed cost breakdown, regional and provider variability, budget ranges you can expect, and practical advice to save money without sacrificing quality.

Kitchen Cabinet Cost Estimator

Use this interactive calculator to estimate the cost of your kitchen cabinets based on type, size, and location. Results are for planning purposes only.

What Makes Up the Cost: A Detailed Breakdown

Here’s how I like to explain to my clients what “new cabinets” really cost, with a breakdown by material, labor, hardware, and the little extras that sneak up on you.

1. Cabinet Types & Material Costs

First, let’s talk about the three main tiers of cabinets, because that’s usually where the biggest budget decisions start:

These ranges reflect installed cost. According to HomeGuide, materials + hardware for semi-custom range from $75 to $550 per linear foot, and installation labor adds another $75–$150 for that tier.

2. Construction & Finishes

Beyond just “type,” the materials and construction methods play a huge role:

Core materials

• Solid wood: Strong and beautiful, but more expensive.
• Plywood: Common in higher-quality boxes — stable, holds screws well.
• MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard): Often used for painted doors; more affordable than solid wood, but denser and less forgiving.
• Particleboard / Honeycomb / Low-cost substrate: Found in budget lines; cheaper but less durable in the long run.

Finish

• Painted: Very flexible (lots of colors), but costs more, especially for custom colors.
• Stain / Stained wood: Highlights natural wood grain.
• Veneer / Laminate: A very cost-effective way to mimic wood or achieve a modern look; easier to clean, but finish quality varies.

How you choose here affects not only the look, but also how long the cabinets will last and how much maintenance you’ll need to do.

3. Hardware & Accessories

The little things add up more than most people expect. Here’s what I always walk clients through:

• Hinges: Soft-close hinges are now very common and add to cost, but they dramatically improve the experience.
• Drawer Slides: Quality slides (like under-mount or Blum-style) feel smooth, but they are more expensive.
• Organizational Inserts: Pull-out trays, drawer dividers, spice racks, trash pull-outs — these are functionally life-changing, but each “bonus” adds to the cost.
• Handles / Pulls: Material and design choices (brass vs stainless, modern vs traditional) can swing your hardware budget quite a bit.

4. Labor & Installation

This is where as a designer, I really stress planning: labor isn’t cheap, but cutting corners here can mean misaligned doors, sloppy gaps, or worse.

• According to recent data, cabinet installation nationwide (for an entire kitchen) typically ranges from $4,000 to $13,000, with an average around $7,500.
• HomeAdvisor reports installation costs for smaller to moderate jobs in that same ballpark: $1,977 to $11,043 depending on scope.
• Labor rates vary: depending on the region and complexity, you might pay $40–$250/hour, or more if the installation involves lot of customization or fine carpentry.
• Also consider the cost of measuring, demolition of old cabinets, and delivery / haul-away. Some installers charge for measuring ($50–$150), and removing the old cabinets can easily run $300–$600 or more.

5. Additional / Hidden Costs

Finally, some of the most common “sneaky” costs I warn my clients about early on:

• Old Cabinet Removal & Disposal: As mentioned, demo isn’t free and disposal adds up.
• Electrical / Plumbing Adjustments: If you’re reconfiguring your layout, or putting in lighting under cabinets, adding outlets, etc., that’s more cost.
• Wall Repair & Paint: Once old cabinets are removed, walls often need patching or repainting.
• Design Fees: If you’re working with a designer (me!), there may be a fee for the plan, drawings, and 3D layout.
• Permits: Depending on your local building code, a permit may be required, which is another cost to budget.

Regional & Provider Variability

Where you live matters — and who you hire matters, too.

Geographic Differences

Labor, materials, and delivery costs vary dramatically across the U.S. A kitchen in a high-cost urban area (say, the Bay Area or New York) will likely cost more than a similar kitchen in a more rural or suburban region.

Type of Cabinet Provider

• Big‑box / Chain Retailers (e.g., IKEA, Home Depot) may offer lower up-front prices, especially for stock cabinets.
• Local / Regional Cabinet Shops or Woodworkers let you customize more, but labor could be more expensive and lead times longer.
• Factory‑Direct / Direct-to-Consumer Cabinet Makers can be a sweet spot: better pricing than full custom, and more quality than many stock options — but you often take on more of the coordination (measuring, scheduling, etc.).

Budget Ranges & What You Can Expect

Here’s a practical breakdown of common budget “tiers” and what they typically buy you. This is based on my years of working with real families.

Practical Tips & Advice

Here are some of the best lessons I’ve learned (and shared with my clients) over three decades working in kitchens — especially for busy homeowners who want smart value:

Start with accurate measurements

Before you even call contractors, measure your space meticulously (linear feet of cabinet run, ceiling height, etc.). It’s the foundation of a realistic quote.

Get multiple detailed quotes

Ask for itemized quotes from a big-box supplier, a local custom cabinet shop, and a factory-direct builder. Make sure each quote breaks out material, hardware, labor, disposal, and any design fees.

Negotiate smartly

• Ask for a hardware “upgrade” (better hinges or sliders) as part of the deal.
• Sometimes measuring fees or design fees can be waived if you commit to a full project.
• Consider paying in phases (demo first, then install) to help with cash flow.

Know where to cut (and where not to)

• You can save on door finishes (laminate or simple paint), but don’t skimp too much on the box structure (cheap substrate = problems down the road).
• Investing a little more in quality drawer slides or organizers can dramatically improve daily usability.

Maintain your cabinets

• Wipe gently with a soft cloth and mild cleaner — avoid harsh chemicals.
• Fix minor issues early (loose hinges, misaligned drawers) before they become costly repairs.
• For wooden or painted cabinets, occasional touch-up will go a long way.

A Personal Story

Let me share a little story from my design work, because I know how personal a kitchen remodel really is. One client I worked with was a mother of two young children — her days were full, and she admitted she dreaded the renovation process because she thought it would be chaotic and expensive. We worked together to design a semi-custom kitchen using plywood boxes (for durability) with soft-close drawers and built-in pull-outs. She got pretty involved: she came with me to the cabinet showroom, weighed in on pull-out organizer options, and even helped choose the drawer hardware.

Her final installed cost landed right around $18,000. Yes, it was more than a budget “quick refresh,” but she got cabinets that would last, felt solid under daily use, and actually made her kitchen feel more joyful and efficient. I still remember her wide smile when she opened a drawer full of neatly arranged dividers — she said it was like she finally had control over all the clutter.

Conclusion & Next Steps

To sum up: new kitchen cabinets are usually one of the biggest investments in a remodel, but with smart planning, you can choose options that balance beauty, function, and cost. Here’s what you can do next:

1. Measure your kitchen thoroughly (linear feet, heights, wall conditions).
2. Set a realistic budget — think about how “good” you want the cabinets to be, and where you’re okay compromising.
3. Get 3–4 itemized quotes (big box, custom shop, direct builder).
4. Work with a designer (or if you’re DIY-savvy, ask for design help) to optimize layout and hardware.
5. Negotiate wisely — with hardware, installation phases, or design fees.

If you’d like, I can send you a free cabinet-quote worksheet (in Excel or Google Sheets) I use with my clients — it breaks down every cost component so you can compare quotes side by side. Do you want me to send that?