Cabinet pricing can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s much easier to make informed decisions for your kitchen. Essentially, cabinets are typically priced in two ways—by box count or by linear feet.

I always recommend going with box count when you’re trying to get an accurate estimate. Why? It’s simple. Box count tells you exactly how many cabinets you’ll need and their specific configurations, so you can get a precise number. Linear feet, on the other hand, is more of a ballpark figure—it’s based on the length of cabinet space, but it doesn’t factor in the details of your layout, like corner cabinets, drawers, or specialty pieces, which can really sway the cost.

Working with box count gives you more control and clarity from the start, which helps you avoid surprises down the road. Whether you’re looking at a budget remodel or splurging on high-end finishes, knowing exactly what you’re working with makes the entire process smoother. Plus, it’s nice to know how choices you make about upgrades and addons will impact your overall cost. A little planning on the front end goes a long way when you’re creating your dream kitchen.

Let’s start with one of the most important factors that affect cost—materials.

When it comes to cabinets, the material you select can have a major impact on the final price tag. Each material brings its own blend of durability, appearance, and maintenance requirements, so it’s worth considering how these factors align with what you care about most.

Natural wood cabinets

When it comes to cabinets, the material you select can have a major impact on the final price tag. Each material brings its own blend of durability, appearance, and maintenance requirements. Natural wood kitchen cabinets like maple, mahogany or cherry options, offer amazing finishes but they come with premium price points.

The look of natural wood is amazing if you’ve ever seen cabinets and kitchens with incredible wood grains. But unlike most homes, natural wood has certain disadvantages for all sorts of reasons. The main issue is that it often can warp depending on the location where you live. Higher humidity seeps into the wood, making precise inset cabinet doors swell and get stuck. It doesn’t happen to all types of wood but is a concern for those who paid a lot for kitchen cabinets.

Because solid natural wood is nearly a lost art, these days, expect custom solid wood cabinet pricing to be be expensive.

Note: Certain stains can’t replicate the look of more expensive woods. If you’re aiming for a high-end appearance, consider options like Oak, Red Oak, Maple, Mahogany, or Cherry. Hickory and Birch are also excellent and desirable choices.

Veneer

Just as it was in the golden age of cabinetry, one of the cost-effective methods for rich people wanting fine cabinets was using a Wood veneer. These are the most affordable wood kitchen cabinets, even if they’re not true solid wood. They feature expensive woods without using complete solid pieces. The trick was to slice very thin slats of wood which were then glued onto cheaper wood underneath. If done with care, the resulting look is incredible. This is a practice that is still done to this day by master cabinetry craftsmen.

Though not as often as you might imagine, it is slowly getting phased out in favor of faster-laminating methods. If you decide that a real wood veneer is a good choice for your kitchen, the outgoing cost is very pricy.

Tip: These types of wood cabinets may not be the best choice for areas with high humidity, as the moisture can cause the wood to expand and lead to cracks in the veneer.

Laminate

When it comes to laminate cabinets, they strike a balance between aesthetics and affordability, making them a popular choice. People like the fact that they look nice and how durable they can be for either kitchens or bathrooms. Their surfaces are designed to withstand wear and tear because they are not easily scratched or stained. You’ll find laminate cabinets last longer than most solid wood cabinets.

While they aren’t the most premium option available, their cost-effectiveness is hard to overlook, especially if you’re looking to replace your cabinets on a budget.

The downside is their durability doesn’t always extend to the adhesive that binds the laminate to the cabinet. If low-quality glue is used in the construction, you can face some premature breakdown; one common issue is edges starting to lift or pop up, which can make the cabinets look worn and poorly maintained. While the laminate itself holds up well, a failing adhesive can lead to the frustrating problem of delamination. Addressing this issue often requires re-gluing any loose areas to restore the cabinet’s appearance and functionality.

It’s a reminder that even with durable surfaces, the underlying construction quality is just as important.

Melamine (MDL)

This is the most common of all the laminates that involve a process where a printed plastic is bonded to plywood, pressed fiberboard, or MDF (medium-density fiberboard). Although some brands have been bonded with adhesives, thermally-fused melamine uses a sheet of melamine and formaldehyde to bond a sandwich layer between the printed section and the plastic laminate.

The downside to melamine is that it can chip rather than crack leaving the undersurface exposed. Once again, the adhesive used to attach the melamine to wood is subject to lifting if the glue is not of great quality.

Thermofoil

Thermofoil is actually a vinyl that is heated and then attached to an MDF core. The advantage of Thermofoil is having both the texture of wood added to the surface. Then again, there is no shortage of foils that have smooth or textured surfaces. The vinyl is easy to clean and lasts for years but also has disadvantages involved.

It also chips and will be an eyesore if it does. The MDF core can also be prone to swelling from moisture. But from a budget point of view of cabinet costs, it’s very affordable and can significantly lower kitchen cabinet costs – it’s more often sold commercially.

Plastic laminate (HDPL)

Similar to melamine this is also called high-density plastic laminate and is much thinner than melamine. It’s a cost-saving solution that comes in a variety of more colors than melamine. It also is used more often for exterior cabinet surfaces rather than how melamine is used. It can be formed over any kind of cheap board including MDF, particleboard, and plywood using adhesives.

It will also chip just like melamine and Thermofoil, and after a while, it will need to be replaced. Because it’s cheaper in this category, it won’t cost much for a cabinet door replacement.

Polyurethane

Perhaps the easiest to care for, Polyurethane cabinets are sprayed rather than covered with a plastic coating. There are no visible layers so each piece will not chip like other laminates. It goes through a series of three layers so each layer encloses a single piece of formed pressboard, MDF, plywood, or particleboard. The only downside is that it cannot reproduce wood grain textures, so only colors are offered.

Depending on the surface spray technique used, it can be glossy smooth to somewhat textured. Since each piece is completely sealed, it will not have warping issues if you live in high humidity issues.

Sandwich materials under the surface

Secondary materials like MDF, particle board, plywood, medium-density fireboard, etc. are relatively inexpensive depending on which you choose to have as a sub-surface wood. Since these woods are sandwiched inside coverings, the end cost of your kitchen cabinets will depend on the material that is attached to the surface. All of these wood composites are pretty common so it depends on where your kitchen cabinets are made that determines the final composite.

Solid wood is one of the few natural materials that have a variety of construction techniques. These techniques can also be applied to any kind of cabinet construction and have a direct effect on the end price. Keep in mind, you’ll need to earmark a budget for cabinet installation as well.

Dowel

One of the cheapest methods of attached pieces of wood together and has holes drilled into each adjoining section that is glued into place. The dowel is the only strong point of drawers or corner sections on cabinet frames and doors.

Rabbet

This is an edge that has a channel that is cut into a piece of wood that has a lip where adjoining wood ends sit squarely. This is a bit more effective but it does need gluing or nails that attach pieces at each end. The downside is that attached ends will have wood grain issues.

Dovetail

The most effective method for attaching and gluing wood pieces together. Each section will have a channel that has a dovetail shape that is made from a router machine bit. There is a male and female connection that attach together. This is the most expensive of cabinet costs since it requires more work while creating each dovetail form and channel.

Let’s take a look at the average cost for various types of cabinet construction, from stock cabinets to fully custom kitchen cabinets. These cost estimates do not include cabinet installation.

The average cost of new kitchen cabinets for a 10’ x 10’ room ranges from $5,000 to $25,000. This typically breaks down to $500 per linear foot with significant variations depending on materials, finishes, and cabinet styles. Higher-end woods like Cherry, Oak, Red Oak, Maple, Mahogany, Hickory, and premium Birch will naturally push the cost toward the higher end of that range. Stock cabinets, often the most affordable option, can range from $8,000 to $15,000, while custom kitchen cabinets with premium wood and finishes can easily exceed $60,000.

Let’s start out by looking at what you can expect when it comes to custom cabinets and all the bells-and-whistles.

Custom Kitchen Cabinets – Starting at $60,000

THE TOP TIER OF CABINETRY

Custom Cabinetry by Hunt’s Kitchen Design

Quality Solid Wood

The average Arizona home is 2500 square feet, the average kitchen box count in that space is 20 boxes.

Solid wood cabinets exist at both the semi-custom and full custom price points.

“The factor that influences price increase more than any other is access to options, even if you don’t use them.”

At the semi-custom level you are only going to be able to pick between Maple and Cherry wood with a limited amount of stains and paints. A solid wood, semi-custom kitchen will run between $16,000 – $35,000 for an average 20 box kitchen. Custom, solid wood cabinets will start around $40,000 and go up from there.

Wood Veneer

Wood veneers are used in custom Modern Kitchen designs more than any other. In fact, most semi-custom manufacturers don’t offer wood veneer, and if they do it’s typically of a poorer quality in both material and construction. Where wood veneer really shines is more high end, custom, modern kitchen design. Rather than a flat surface using a textured laminate, the surfaces is real wood and the effect is stunning. It’s a little more pricey, but worth it. The average 20 box, modern kitchen using wood veneer will run between $30,000 – $90,000 and higher if you are importing outside the U.S.

This will be an average cost that ranges from $2,000 – $15,000 for cabinets inside a 10′ x 10′ kitchen. This is once again averaging $500 or higher regarding the type of wood used.

Construction Considerations

You can figure that any of the high-end cabinets will use dovetail joints inside the drawers. There can also be combined with other techniques used such as rabbet and dado joints. Expect that any kind of joints that are used will be intended to stay together for several years. This can add to the cost, but not more than $15,000-$25,000 in all.

Semi-custom Cabinets –$16,000 to $35,000

MID-RANGE PRICE POINT

Custom Cabinetry by Hunt’s Kitchen Design

Solid wood

The 20 boxes inside 2500sqft. is still the best approach to estimating cabinet costs.

For this mid-range level, the cost will be somewhere on average between $2,000 to $12,000 when putting cabinets into a 10′ x 10′ kitchen. This puts the average at $300 to $400 per linear foot if you are using quality low-end solid wood. These woods can include Pine, Poplar, Bamboo, and cheap Birch that is fine for mid-range solid woods.

Wood veneer

Using the same woods as a veneer on top of a base wood like MDF or plywood can run $2,000 to $10,000 inside the same size kitchen. This is roughly $300 per linear foot and will also include the method of construction when it’s put together.

Type of construction used

Mid-range semi-custom cabinet costs are still very good in quality because they have a solid wood. Considering the style of cabinetry and level of the profession, you will see higher estimated costs for construction and staining. This is due to wanting a fancier wood look similar to the pricier wood types. Add at least $2,000 to $3,000 to the total estimate price for these services.

Stock Cabinets – $8,000 to $15,000

BUDGET BUYS

This market is not what it used to be in a post-tariff and covid world. When they say stock cabinets what they mean are imported cabinets. These all used to come from China and in their hay day you could buy a kitchen that was lacking in quality, but the price and delivery time frame made up for its short comings. The one, two punch of Covid followed by tariffs directly killed the Chinese import market completely. This product still exists but it’s coming from further away and from an underdeveloped nation, which means it’s no longer faster, nor cheaper. I don’t know about you, but I’m not trying to spend more and wait longer for a crappy cabinet. Currently, the semi-custom manufacturers I use are more cost effective than the imports.

Thermofoil

When it comes to thermofoil cabinets, I’ve got mixed feelings. On one hand, they’re undeniably budget-friendly, which makes them an appealing option for anyone looking to save on a remodel. With prices ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 for a standard 10′ x 10′ kitchen or around $60 to $200 per linear foot, they keep initial costs low and accessible.

But here’s the catch—while they may look nice out of the box, thermofoil cabinets tend to be a bit high-maintenance in the long run. They’re prone to chipping, and the MDF core can swell if exposed to moisture. That being said, if you’re working within a tight budget and need a quick, clean solution, they can be a decent choice for non-high-traffic areas. Just weigh the pros and cons carefully before settling on this option.

Melamine

As an average, the estimate you can expect for Melamine based cabinets average cost is between $1,000 to $4,000 with a $60 to $150 per linear foot. Because the melamine is thicker, special adhesives that are used may increase the cost so it stays attached for longer periods.

Plastic laminate

This is going to cost no more than $1,000 to $4,000 and is very similar to Melamine. This all comes down to the price difference of $60 to $150 per linear foot. Plastic laminate has many color selections but no choice of wood grains.

Polyurethane coated

This is an emerging technology that is not as popular in the US just yet. In Australia, this is incredibly popular because of the wide range of colors and durability. You can estimate that stock kitchen cabinets costs will run $2,000 to $3,500 for a polyurethane sprayed surface. This comes down to $60 to $120 per linear foot on average. If you can find a cabinet supplier that carries polyurethane-coated cabinets, you might find a very good deal on these average kitchen cabinets.

Tip: Looking for the ultimate in bargain buy? We put together an article on shopping for used cabinets. It can be a bit of a mixed bag, but with some patience and a keen eye, you might just find affordable replacement cabinets.

Aside from the materials that go into kitchen cabinets, the style of cabinets can also be influenced by their cost. This can be due to the construction and the added materials fitted into cabinet doors or their frames. Here is a closer in-depth look at the various types of cabinets and their expected costs.

Within the standard types of cabinet door construction includes Shaker, Slab and Flat panel, Raised panel, Recessed panel, and Inset panel doors. All of these types of doors that attach to their frames can be constructed from real wood, veneer, or from various laminates attached to MDF cores. The average cost for a 10 x 10 kitchen starts around $2000-12,000 for wood or veneer and increases whenever semi-custom and custom cabinets are produced.

These cabinets can also cost upwards of $100 for stock frames and up to $1200 per linear foot for custom work. It obviously becomes more expensive with custom frame designs and the type of wood that’s used. This will all depend on the type of material that’s used and the number of linear feet that are required. On average, it’s always cheaper to choose stock cabinets that will offer lower costs.

When it comes to specialized cabinet frames, these must also be addressed by the type which they are typically called. Here is what to expect with these selected frame styles. Once again, the choice of wood frame that is used is not limited to stock, semi-custom, or custom fabricated cabinetry. Because the chosen materials that are used for each of these frames will influence price, some items will be pricier than others.

Framed glass

Frames that allow glass within a cabinet panel include Open frame panels and Mullion frame panels. The difference between these two is simply the method of how glass is being displayed. Open frames have a single pane of glass while mullion frames have several sections of glass framed within a frame. Glass will increase the total cost when it starts to include frosted and etched surfaces. Textured glass is also another price consideration.

The base cost for anything glass is around $100 per cabinet with an average of $9-12 per square foot. This cost goes up when using leaded glass, frosted or etched glass, and special types of glass patterns and textures -when they are offered. Not to forget that glass thickness and/or tempered or un-tempered glass is used. Needless to say, the extra cost of creating mullion patterns will have a direct influence on framed cabinet doors.

Mullion frame

Mullion frames come in a variety of patterns that begin with simple straight frames or more elegant curved mullion frame patterns. The cost to produce mullion patterns will become increasingly more expensive to cut out glass patterns and install them within a mullion frame design. Another more cost-friendly option is fabricated mullion insert panels that sandwich glass within a frame giving the illusion of individually framed glass pieces.

The cost differences start at $50-200 per cabinet door depending on the level of stock and custom design needed.

Open frame

Open frame glass doors are dramatically cheaper than mullion doors due to their simplicity. The average cost per door will be half the cost starting with $50-100 per cabinet door using ordinary door glass. This cost goes up whenever the type of glass includes frosting, etching, or textured glass surfaces. Keep in mind that the glass thickness and type of glass have an impact on price likewise.

Open frame cabinets will also allow for nearly any kind of material to be inserted besides glass. They can include metal, stained glass, or mullion patterns that support a combination of any or all of these materials. The cheaper versions that are coming from stock selections are better for DIY projects where they can be finished at home using a variety of colors, paints, or stains.

Beadboard panel

With regular stock beadboard panel frames, the overall cost will be $15-18 for unpainted wood. Finished wood surfaces are more expensive with $20-30 per panel door, but once again can go up in price depending on the type of wood used. The price will be more competitive with stock frames or made from materials that are composite and laminated with veneer.

Louvered panel

The look of louvered panel doors is always attractive but also will have a cost difference depending on the complexity and design of louvered cabinet doors. The average cost per door ranges between $70-90 per cabinet panel. If they are constructed from MDF, the cost will be a bit cheaper, so obviously, the type of wood desired will raise the cost depending on the type of wood used.

Framed Vs Frameless cabinets

Special cabinets like frameless panels are slightly more expensive since they need frames that help hide the inside cabinet frame. Naturally, this style will be slightly more expensive and also directly related to the cabinet door construction and types of wood that are used. Framed cabinets can run $16,000- $35,000 for completed cabinets, while frameless are $18,000 – $60,000 depending on the materials used.

These types of frames do not exclude how a cabinet door frame is attached aside from the fact they are both created to face outwards with no visible hinges. Since the hinges are inside the frame and largely unseen, framed cabinets have borders while frameless cabinets are positioned directly next to adjoining cabinet doors.

Perforated metal frames

This is included since the option to purchase open frame panels can allow for perforated metal to be added within a frame, creating a DIY look for your kitchen. This type of metal comes in many patterns and is usually sold at home improvement centers or from boxing manufacturers. Some styles include adding chicken wire inside these frames that are good for farmhouse and rustic kitchen cabinets.

The cost of open-frame panels starts at $50- $100 just for the frames and materials used, so the extra cost of perforated metal all depends on the type of metal that is bought elsewhere and installed into these frames.