Understanding Cabinet Pricing
If you’re thinking about adding custom cabinetry to your home, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is:
How much is this actually going to cost?
The honest answer is that custom cabinetry doesn’t have one simple price. A small built-in bookcase, a custom home office, and a full kitchen can all be considered “custom cabinetry,” but they involve very different amounts of design, materials, fabrication, finishing, and installation. Even within an individual project the price can range considerably based on materials, design or hardware.
At Waldo Furniture Co., I design and build custom cabinetry for clients throughout Austin and Central Texas. In this guide, I’ll explain what goes into the cost of a custom cabinetry project and what you should consider when planning your budget.
What Does Custom Cabinetry Cost?
For most custom cabinetry projects, the biggest factors are the overall size of the project, the materials and finish you choose, the complexity of the design, the hardware and storage features, and the installation requirements.
Rather than giving you one number that may or may not apply to your project, I think it’s more useful to understand where your money actually goes.
When customers ask for a price range before I have designed the cabinets the easiest way for me to give a number is a price per linear feet. For me, that range is typically $700-$1200 per linear foot. The lower end of the range is simple and straight forward cabinets but can move to the middle of the range if they are full height cabinets. Upper cabinets will be their own linear foot price. If cabinets have specialty hardware, lighting, or custom knobs/pulls they can move up to the top of the range.
For example, a relatively straightforward built-in may be significantly less expensive than a large wall of cabinetry with specialty hardware, integrated lighting, curved details, and a custom finish. The more useful question isn’t simply “What does a cabinet cost?”
It’s:
What are you asking the cabinetry to do, and how much customization does the project require?
1. The Size of the Project
The first major factor is simply how much cabinetry you’re building. A single built-in cabinet or vanity requires much less material and labor than a wall-to-wall entertainment center or a complete kitchen.
But size isn’t just about square footage. Tall cabinets, deep cabinets, unusual dimensions, and projects that require multiple individual cabinet boxes can all increase the amount of material and fabrication time involved. This is one reason I prefer to look at the entire project rather than quoting a generic price per cabinet.
2. Materials Make a Difference
The materials you choose have a significant effect on the final price. Cabinet boxes can be built from different grades and types of plywood or engineered panels, while doors, drawer fronts, and exposed components can incorporate hardwood, veneer, or other materials like MDF.
For example, a painted cabinet with simple slab doors has very different material requirements than a cabinet featuring rift-sawn white oak, bookmatched veneer, or a solid hardwood 5 panel door.
Material selection is also an opportunity to put your budget where it matters most. You don’t necessarily need every component of a cabinet to be made from expensive solid hardwood nor would I suggest that. A thoughtful combination of cabinet-grade plywood, veneer, and solid wood can provide excellent durability and a beautiful finished product without using premium material where it isn’t necessary.
3. The Construction and Design
Custom cabinetry gives you much more freedom than stock or semi-custom cabinets, but that freedom also requires more design, higher-quality materials and increased fabrication time.
A simple cabinet with straight sides and standard doors is relatively straightforward. A project with the following upgrades may require considerably more planning and fabrication:
- Curved or fluted panels
- Integrated lighting
- Pocket doors
- Lift-up doors
- Specialty storage
- Unusual dimensions
- Concealed hardware
- Integrated desks or workspaces
- Architectural details
One of the advantages of working with a custom cabinetmaker is that the cabinet can be designed around your home rather than forcing your home to accommodate a standard cabinet size.
4. Hardware and Storage Features
Hardware is another area where a project can change significantly in cost. Basic hinges and drawer slides are relatively simple but specialty hardware can be considerably more involved. At Waldo Furniture Co. I use all soft-close, concealed hinges and undermount drawer guides from Blum. Beyond that, I may incorporate other hardware brands when adding more complex hardware and storage solutions.
Depending on the project, custom cabinetry might include:
- Soft-close drawer slides
- Concealed hinges
- Pull-out storage
- Lift-up doors
- Pocket doors
- Lateral bi-pass doors
- Appliance storage
- Adjustable shelving
- Integrated lighting
- Specialized drawer organizers
These features aren’t necessary for every project, but they can make a significant difference in how the cabinetry works every day. I generally recommend thinking about hardware as part of the design rather than something to choose at the very end.
5. The Finish
The finish is one of the parts of a cabinet project that is easy to overlook when you’re looking at a photograph of the finished product. A painted cabinet, for example, requires considerably more preparation than simply applying a coat of paint. The process can include surface preparation, sanding, primer, additional sanding, finish coats, and curing.
Stained and clear-coating cabinetry has its own requirements, particularly when working with figured or highly visible wood. The finish you choose affects both the appearance and the amount of labor required to produce it.
Finishing is one of the few parts of the build process that I hire out. I use a professional finishing contractor to do my painting and clear-coating. Although more expensive, this provides a superior finish in a faster time than what I would be able to provide.
6. Installation
A custom cabinet isn’t finished when it leaves the shop. Installation is a critical part of the project and takes almost as long as the build process. Homes are rarely perfectly square and level. Walls can move, floors can warp, and existing trim, electrical outlets, windows, doors, and other architectural elements all have to be considered.
A well-designed cabinet needs to account for those conditions before it ever reaches the installation site. I like to use applied panels and scribed fillers to leave a custom cut, minimal gap between the cabinets and the wall.
7. Design Complexity
Two cabinets can be roughly the same size but have very different prices. Consider a simple built-in with painted doors and adjustable shelves compared with a built-in that includes curved sides, fluted details, integrated lighting, specialty hardware, and a combination of painted and natural wood components.
They’re both “built-ins,” but they aren’t remotely the same project to design and build. Custom work allows you to make those kinds of decisions intentionally. The goal isn’t to make every project complicated. It’s to spend the time and money on the details that actually matter to you.
What Should You Budget for Custom Cabinetry?
The best place to start is with the space you’re trying to improve and what you need the cabinetry to accomplish.
Before requesting a quote, it helps to have:
- Approximate dimensions of the space
- Photos of the existing room
- An idea of how you want to use the storage
- Any specialty features or hardware desired
- Examples of styles or projects you like
- Your preferred materials or finishes, if you have them
- A realistic project budget – I will help with this
- Your desired timeline – Depends on my schedule
You don’t need to have everything figured out before contacting me but it will speed up the time it takes to get a firm quote. Part of my job is helping you turn a general idea into a design that makes sense for your home, your budget, and the way you actually live.
Is Custom Cabinetry Worth the Investment?
Custom cabinetry isn’t the right solution for every person and every project. Stock and semi-custom cabinets can make a lot of sense when budget and speed are the primary considerations.
Custom cabinetry becomes particularly valuable when your space has unusual dimensions, when you want to maximize storage, when the design needs to coordinate with the architecture of your home, or when you want specific materials, finishes, and details that aren’t available from standard cabinet systems.
For me, the goal of custom cabinetry isn’t simply to make something more expensive. It’s to make something that fits better, works better, and feels like it belongs in your home. When I feel that custom cabinets are not the best solution, or I may not be the best maker for your situation, I will let you know.
What Happens After You Contact Waldo Furniture Co.?
- My cabinetry projects typically begin with a conversation about your space, what you need, and what you’re hoping to accomplish.
- From there, I’ll visit the project site, take measurements, discuss materials and design options, and develop a proposal for the work.
- If the project is of a significant size, I will ask for a $150 design deposit to start on a 3D model of the project.
- Once the project moves forward, we’ll develop the design in more detail before fabrication begins. Based on other projects in the queue, we will discuss a timeline that works for both of us. Your cabinetry is then built in my shop, finished, delivered, and installed in your home.
Planning a Custom Cabinetry Project in Austin?
If you’re considering custom cabinetry for your kitchen, living room, home office, bathroom, bedroom, or another space, I’d be happy to talk through the possibilities.
You don’t need a finished design to get started, just fill out the contact form and send me some photos of the space, approximate dimensions, and a description of what you’re hoping to build. I’ll help you determine what makes sense for the project and provide a realistic budget for the work. Im very excited to hear from you and hope to work together in the future.
