How Much Do Brand New Kitchen Cabinets Cost?

Dreaming of a gorgeous new kitchen? Before demolition day, it's key to set realistic expectations around the cost of your kitchen cabinetry - one of the most expensive parts of a kitchen remodel. Kitchen cabinets come in a spectrum of prices, with factors like size, materials, custom designs and installation complexity impacting your total spend. Read on for a detailed overview of brand new kitchen cabinet pricing.

Whether you're aiming for a budget-friendly or luxury kitchen refresh, understanding typical costs per linear foot, along with extras like organizational accessories and specialty storage, helps you plan financially.

Cost of Kitchen Cabinet Materials

The materials makeup of your new kitchen cabinets significantly influences price. From wood species to thermofoil and composite, material costs range widely.

Wood Kitchen Cabinets

Wood ranks among the most popular kitchen cabinet materials. Within wood, you'll find a spectrum of wood species, grains, stains and finishes to suit style and budget needs. Typically priced $100 to $300 per linear foot, discounts may apply for stock wood cabinetry options.

• Cherry: Features reddish-brown color; costs $4,000+
• Maple: Offers light tan hue; costs $3,000+
• Oak: Known for brown grains; costs $2,000+
• Hickory or birch cost less but show wear faster

Thermofoil Kitchen Cabinets

For cost savings over wood, many opt for thermofoil (or laminate) kitchen cabinets. At $100 to $250 per linear foot, thermofoil cabinets fuse decorative papers and resins to a wood substrate via heat and pressure bonding. More scratch-resistant than real wood, popular thermofoil cabinet colors include white, gray and black.

Metal and Aluminum Kitchen Cabinets

While pricier than wood or thermofoil at $250 to $650 per linear foot, metal kitchen cabinets promise strength and durability to handle busy kitchens. Stainless steel and aluminum are commonly used metals within cabinet construction and come coated in baked-enamel paints or powders for added resilience.

Composite Kitchen Cabinets

For eco-friendly cabinets, composite materials like medium density fiberboard (MDF) offer consistent quality at $100 to $250 per linear foot. Composite components fuse wood fibers, resins and wax using high temperatures. Many stock cabinets contain composite woods dressed in thermofoil or wood veneers.

Impact of Cabinet Styles and Design Factors

Along with materials, kitchen layout and preferred cabinet styles guide pricing when investing in new boxes. Opting for custom over stock cabinetry also ups cost.

Basic vs. Custom Cabinetry

Custom cabinetry costs roughly 50 percent more than stock cabinets. If dreaming of personalized storage no standard sizes deliver, custom represents the way to go. With custom, each cabinet is built to order around your unique kitchen layout rather than mass-produced.

Door Styles

Simple Shaker-style cabinet doors fall cheaper than specialized carvings or architectural accents. Expect to pay:

• Shaker: $100+ per linear foot
• Slab: $250 per linear foot
• Glass insert: $550+ per linear foot
• Inset: $150 to $1,200+ per linear foot (20 percent more than basic cabinets)

Drawers and Interior Storage

Specialized cabinet drawer configurations and smart inner storage impact pricing. Expect costs to rise if you want:

• Roll-out trays: $250+ per drawer
• Deep drawer organizer systems: $300+ per drawer
• Pull-out cabinet shelving: $100+ per shelf
• Wastebasket cubby system: $800+ per unit

Add-ons

Going beyond basic boxes adds cost quickly. Some popular kitchen cabinet add-ons include:

• Glass doors: $100+ per door
• Under cabinet lighting: $400+ per kitchen
• Crown molding: $10+ per linear foot

Hiring Kitchen Cabinet Contractors

Unless tackling cabinet installation solo as a DIY project, hiring kitchen pros factors big in your total spend. From electricians handling under cabinet lighting to general contractors demolishing your old kitchen, multiple hands contribute to your finished kitchen.

Average Kitchen Installation Costs

General contractors change around $65 per hour, with rates doubling for kitchen installation experts focused on cabinetry. Common project expenses run:

• Demolition: $1,000 to $2,000
• New cabinet installation: $100 to $200 per cabinet
• Countertop installation: $40 per linear foot
• Backsplash tile install: $10 per square foot
• Under cabinet lighting: $200 to $500 per kitchen

Getting Quotes

Never decide on a kitchen contractor without shopping around. Be sure to get at least three quotes before moving forward. Confirm all project details match across estimates, including:

• Materials
• Cabinet specifications
• Countertop details
• Appliance coordination
• Removal services

Vet each prospective pro's reviews, licensing, insurance and years in business as well before deciding.

Additional Expenses Around New Kitchen Cabinets

Beyond the cabinetry itself, complementary kitchen upgrades help you maximize newly gained storage. Factor these frequent add-ons into your overall budget.

Countertop Replacements

Few homeowners opt to keep existing countertops when investing in fresh cabinetry. Popular counters like quartz, granite and solid surfaces run $40 to $100 per square foot including professional installation.

Modifications Around Appliances

Adjusting your cabinet design around appliances comes at a price. From customizing around a refrigerator bay to adding microwaves or second dishwashers, appliance-related cabinet tweaks add more in materials and labor. Adding electrical or plumbing to kitchen infrastructure also ups project costs.

Permits, Disposal Fees and More

Remember to account for all final details within your new kitchen cabinet budget, spanning from securing required building permits to renting a dumpster for demolition waste removal. Small line items quickly inflate total kitchen costs.

Save on Your New Kitchen Cabinet Project

For budget-conscious homeowners eyeing a kitchen refresh, you can curb costs on brand new boxes using savvy design decisions.

Opt for Affordable Cabinet Materials

Choosing thermofoil over solid hardwoods or going with stock oak over premium cherry wood helps lower your per linear foot spend. Consider your lifestyle and fashion longevity before overspending on luxury materials prone to scratches, stains and other signs of wear.

Stick With Standard Kitchen Sizes

Designing your kitchen layout around common appliance and cabinet measurements saves both hassle and upfront spend. The fewer custom cabinets needing one-off construction, the more you save.