Cost of Kitchen Cabinets - Price Tag on Custom Designs?

Whether classic, modern, or farmhouse-inspired, your kitchen is still one of the most important parts of your home, and remodelling is a project on its own. 

Since this area is loaded with small appliances and cooking utensils of all kinds, storage is paramount for overall functionality. And, considering that your kitchen is unique, and your needs specific, building custom cabinets is the best way to ensure maximum comfort and optimal use of the space available.

On Average, How Much Will Custom-Built Cabinets Cost?

As you might have guessed, custom-made cabinets are, plain and simple, customized. There's no such thing as a compromise: you're free to pick your cabinet design, material, hardware, and colour. However, this little luxury comes at a price! A team of designers, cabinetmakers, and installers will work together to make your project a reality. Labour costs vary from one kitchen designer to the next, and said price typically figures in the final project cost. However, material and hardware costs are almost always a reflection of their quality.

Melamine

Melamine is a material characterized by its smooth finish, capable of replicating wood like white oak, bamboo, or walnut. It's ideal for modern-style kitchens; it’s also inexpensive and suits most budgets.  

$10–$20/linear foot

Polymer (or Thermoplastic)

This material is retailed in a wide array of colours, patterns, and finishes. It can be easily shaped around the surfaces on which it's applied, making seamless, wood grain-like patterns on doors a possibility.

$30–$40/linear foot

Polyester 

Polyester cabinet doors have a natural-looking colour and texture, one that’s similar to wood. Moreover, this material is perfectly suited for cabinet doors with trimmings. It's scratch- and heat-resistant, making for low-maintenance cabinetry.

$30–$40/linear foot

Acrylic

Source: les Réalisations P.O.P. Design Inc.

The upside of acrylic cabinetry is that it’s UV- and wear-resistant, preserving its sheen over the years. This material is ideal for modern kitchens, is impact-resistant, and shines as bright as fine glass.

$70–$80/linear foot

Lacquer

The lacquered look adds a certain luxury and glamour to your—small or big—kitchen, making for upscale, sleek-looking cabinetry. Starting at $80 per linear foot, you can choose between several finishes like satin, opaque, or glossy (which is a tad more expensive).

$80–$100/linear foot

Wood

Utterly timeless, solid wood suits all kitchen styles. This traditional material gives your space undeniable character; it can be painted or stained to match the rest of the furniture. Wood is unique, with a warm visual appeal, and can be maintained for decades forward.

$100–$120/linear foot

Cabinet Handles and Pulls

After tackling cabinet panels and doors, now's the time to focus on hardware. Stainless steel, oil-rubbed bronze, aged copper, or brushed nickel—materials available are nearly endless. As for price points, costs are heavily based on the chosen material but also vary on the sizing and design of each unit.  

$5–$50/unit

What Factors Affect the Cost of Custom-Made Kitchen Cabinets?

Source: les Réalisations P.O.P. Design Inc.

Choice of Material

Material selection will significantly affect the overall cost of custom cabinetry. Options made with natural wood, such as oak, birch, pine, and cherry tend to be more expensive given the species’ durability and aesthetic appeal. Albeit, alternative options like plywood cabinets and particle board are cheaper yet may not be as durable nor as visually appealing as the former. 

Note that most wood species are priced differently. For example, cherry lumber is more expensive than birch. During the planning stages of your kitchen remodel, note that the materials you choose will have a significant impact on your overall expenses, reflecting the pricing difference between the aforementioned options.

Accessories and Hardware

Corner kitchen cabinets provide a decent amount of storage space, enough to integrate innovative accessories on account of their unique and spacious design. For example, corner cupboards are perfectly suited to kitchen accessories like a LeMans Corner, Lazy Susan (and kidney-cut Lazy Susans), or Magic Corner, which maximize storage efficiency, improving the kitchen’s user-friendly factor. Adding built-in cabinet accessories not only improves functionality but also the aesthetic of the kitchen remodel.

Beyond the look of your cabinets, accessory and hardware choices will significantly affect your overall budget. While kitchen cabinet hardware is but a decorative feature, it spans the widest price range. Choosing bigger and more complex hardware designs can increase the cost of your kitchen renovation project.

Design

Choosing a kitchen cabinet style means finding the right balance between the desired aesthetic and your budget. Simple door panel designs are typically more cost-effective, whereas complex designs, such as raised panels, can incur additional costs. Modern-looking panels, such as a shaker-style or slab-like, are currently sought-after, making for a modern appeal that can enhance your kitchen's overall aesthetic without bleeding you dry.

Style is a crucial component when it comes to custom kitchen cabinet prices. While more elaborate designs will typically incur more costs, they can also revamp the whole room’s aesthetic, ensuring long-term satisfaction.

What Could Incur Additional Costs?

Source: les Réalisations P.O.P. Design Inc.

Shape and Size of Cabinets

Although custom kitchen cabinets are tailored to individual preferences, they typically still boast an array of standard sizing. While standard sizes may not meet your needs, you can always choose non-standard dimensions. Furthermore, if standard cabinet shapes don’t suit your preferences, feel free to customize your panels, albeit doing so will incur additional costs due to the specialized craftsmanship and materials needed to create customized designs.

Slide-Out Shelves

Kitchen cabinets fitted with slide-out organizers and shelves are typically more expensive than door panels for a couple of reasons. First, slide-out shelves require more wood and additional accessories, such as rails and handles, and include a more labour-intensive manufacturing process. In general, slide-out shelves are 60–70% more expensive than standard kitchen cabinets and are equipped with doors and shelves of similar widths.

Second, their manufacturing process is a lot more complex, necessitating detailed assembly and meticulous adjustments, which, in turn, contributes to their steeper price points. As a result, while slide-out shelves improve accessibility and make for convenient storage solutions, their retail prices are higher due to their complex fabrication and additional materials needed. 

Cabinet Finishes

Your choice of cabinet finish will also significantly affect the overall cost of your custom cabinetry, often rivalling material selection in terms of expenses. Painted cabinets, no matter their colour, typically cost 10–15% more than stained kitchen cabinets, due to the more complex process used to achieve said finish along with labour requirements. Stained cabinets prove to be more durable and make touch-ups easier in case of scratches or marks, with repairs blending perfectly with the wood’s natural grain compared to a single paint colour. 

FAQ

How to estimate the cost of custom-made kitchen cabinets?

Within this article, you'll find all the factors affecting the price of your new, custom-built kitchen cabinets. Given your budget, you can pick the material which best fits within it, ensuring you get the perfect balance of quality and cost. Whether you prioritize durability, aesthetic appeal, or sustainability, our guide will help you make an informed decision for your dream kitchen.

Where to find professional installers within your budget?

Having new, custom kitchen cabinets made to your exact specifications is a significant investment for any homeowner. Therefore, it's essential to ensure they are installed correctly during your kitchen remodelling project. That's why you should hire professional installers or contractors to do the job for you.

With plenty of certified contractors to choose from, RenoQuotes can easily help you find the professionals you need for your kitchen remodel.