Understanding Custom Cabinetry Cost
Custom work is priced around your project, not pulled from a catalog. Two kitchens the same size can land at very different numbers depending on the finish, the construction, and how the space is built. This page explains what moves the price, what our work usually includes, and what to send us so we can give you a useful starting range.
We do not publish fixed prices, because a real number depends on the actual scope. What we can do here is show you what shapes it.
What Drives the Cost
- Size and quantity. More cabinetry means more material and more labor. A single vanity and a full kitchen with an island are different projects.
- Painted or stained. Finish is one of the larger cost drivers. Painted and stained work take different preparation, materials, and time in the finish room. The two finishes also show everyday wear differently.
- Wood species and veneer. White oak, walnut, maple, and paint-grade materials all price differently, and veneer selection matters on larger panels and built-ins.
- Inset or overlay. Inset doors and drawers sit flush inside the face frame and take more time to build and fit. Overlay sits over the frame. Inset costs more to execute.
- Doors, drawers, and finished interiors. The number of doors and drawers, open shelving, and finished interiors all add material and labor. A run with many drawers and finished open sections costs more per foot than a run of simple doors.
- Hardware and integrated features. Specialty hinges, pull-out systems, and integrated details add both parts and fitting time.
- Lighting preparation. Built-in lighting means routing, drilling, and preparing cabinets to accept it during the build.
- Appliances and panel-ready integration. Panels and surrounds built to hide appliances take precise work around the appliance specs, which is why we ask for model numbers early.
- Existing conditions and field fitting. Removal of old cabinetry, out-of-square walls, and tight or difficult access all affect the work. Older or irregular spaces often take more field fitting.
- Delivery, access, and installation. Stairs, elevators, tight entries, and the install itself all factor in.
- Coordination with other trades. Most projects touch stone, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. We coordinate those points, which is part of the scope on most jobs.
What Our Work Usually Includes
On a typical project, our scope covers field measurement, shop drawings, material and finish coordination, fabrication, and finishing. Delivery and installation are included when they are carried in the proposal, and they are priced as their own line, separate from fabrication and finishing.
Our Process page walks through how a project moves from measurement to installed cabinetry, and the Finish Sample Guide covers how we handle finish and color.
What Other Trades Usually Handle
Custom cabinetry sits alongside other trades. On most projects, the following are handled by others, and we coordinate the connection points and provide the openings and dimensions they need:
- Countertops and stone
- Plumbing
- Final electrical connections
- Appliances, which you supply
- Tile and backsplash
- Drywall and room painting outside the cabinetry
We coordinate cabinet openings, clearances, dimensions, and connection points with the relevant trades so the cabinetry and their work meet correctly.
Rough Range Versus Actual Quote
A rough range is an early planning number. It is based on the information available at the start, before a site measure, and it helps you see whether the project fits your budget.
An actual quote comes later. It follows a site visit and field measurements, with the scope, materials, finish direction, and installation requirements defined clearly enough to price. That is the number we stand behind. Shop drawings come after the project is approved, and lead time begins after final shop drawing approval, not at deposit.
What to Send Us for a Starting Range
To give you a useful early range, the following helps:
- Photos of the space
- Rough measurements
- Any inspiration images or drawings
- A general finish direction, painted or stained
- Appliance information, if the project involves them
- A clear description of what you want built
The more of this we have, the more useful the starting range.
The Next Step
If the range works for your budget, the next step is a site visit and measurements so we can put together an actual quote. You can start a project here.