How Much Does Installing Kitchen Cabinets Cost?

Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost by Size

How much is it to install kitchen cabinets? While local kitchen designers don’t calculate the cost to install kitchen cabinets by the square footage of your kitchen, it can be a good starting place if you’re looking for a rough estimate before getting quotes.

The table below assumes stock or semi-custom cabinets with average prices. Custom cabinets would increase these costs by 50% to 100%.

Average Cost to Install New Cabinets per Linear Foot

A more accurate way of estimating how much installing kitchen cabinets costs is by the linear foot, generally anywhere from $100 to $1,200 per linear foot. Costs will vary by the cabinet depth, material, and style, but knowing the general linear length can help your pro give you a ballpark estimate, especially once you settle on a design.

The average kitchen has anywhere from 15 to 25 linear feet of cabinets, which could yield a cabinet installation cost of around $1,500 to $30,000, depending on the level of customization, material, and style.

Stock vs. Custom Kitchen Cabinet Costs

Cabinet material costs make up 50% or more of project pricing; material and labor costs vary depending on the type of cabinets and installation complexity. To simplify cabinet cost estimates, we can break down cabinets into three types: stock, semi-custom, and custom.

• Stock materials: $50–$200 per lin. ft. or $100–$650 per unit

• Semi-custom materials: $75–$400 per lin. ft. with a single unit ranging from $150–$800+

• Custom materials: $300–$750 per lin. ft. for materials with single units starting at $600

The materials you choose can be an even bigger factor than your level of customization. Wood cabinets are the most common and have a huge range, from pine and red oak to white oak or cherry. If you want to go the less costly route, you might consider laminate or thermofoil. These non-wood alternatives often mimic wood, and they're usually durable. But they're difficult to repair when damaged (meaning higher cabinet repair costs) and usually lack the richness and authenticity of real wood.

But materials only make up one-half of the equation. The table below breaks down the full cost to install kitchen cabinets by each type, including materials and labor.

Stock Cabinets

Stock cabinets run around $50 to $200 per linear foot or $100 to $650 per unit for materials alone. Fully installed, they’ll cost approximately $100 to $300 per linear foot. 

You may have a few choices of different colors or trim styles within the stock category. Prices are low because the cabinets are manufactured in large quantities.

Semi-Custom Cabinets

Semi-custom cabinets run around $75 to $400 per linear foot or $150 to $800 per unit. With labor factored in, expect to spend between $150 and $650 per linear foot. 

Semi-custom cabinets can serve as an excellent compromise between stock and custom for price and flexibility, including the following:

• More flexibility than stock options

• Usually offered in a few popular traditional and contemporary styles with limited finishes

• Ability to choose from different sizes with semi-custom options within standard dimensions

Custom

Custom cabinets cost anywhere from $300 to $750 per linear foot or $600 and up per unit. Once you factor in labor, you might spend as much as $1,200 per linear foot for custom cabinets. As the name suggests, these take you far from cookie-cutter territory and let you truly customize your kitchen.

You can get cabinets that fit odd-shaped rooms and appeal to the most eccentric tastes, but such cabinets tend to be more expensive. With custom cabinets, you're buying a one-of-a-kind piece. Local cabinetmakers may regard their work more as art than furniture.

Kitchen Cabinet Cost Factors

The type of cabinets you choose may have the largest impact on the overall cabinet installation cost, but additional factors like labor rates, the number of cabinets, and special design details can also impact your final project estimate.

Labor

You’ll spend between $50 and $450 per linear foot on labor for hanging cabinets, depending on the type of cabinet you choose:

• Labor for stock cabinets: $50–$100

• Labor for semi-custom cabinets: $75–$250

• Labor for fully custom cabinets: $200–$450

Hardware

Cabinetry hardware, including pulls and handles, runs anywhere from $2 to $50 or more. Stock cabinets include hinges, which should appear as a line item in quotes. In fact, when you hire a remodeling contractor, they’ll usually include all hardware in their project costs. You can ask them to point these costs out to you in their estimate if you’re unsure.

Removal and Replacement

Removing old cabinets generally runs from $300 to $500 for demolition and disposal, on top of the other cabinet installation costs already discussed. This means the average cabinet replacement cost is around $300 to $500 more than the cost to install kitchen cabinets in a new kitchen.

Here’s how that breaks down:

Number of Cabinets

Larger kitchens may result in more cabinets, increasing the project's material and labor costs. But your total costs could be lower if you're going for a minimalist look with fewer cabinets and more open shelving. Make sure you have adequate pantry storage to make up for this approach. Building a pantry costs around $500 to $5,000.

Trim and Molding

Basic stock cabinets don't offer many diverse design elements, but if you consider semi-custom and fully custom cabinets, you can enhance their design with trim and molding. These finer details can add high labor costs to the project.

Under-cabinet lighting is another way to improve the aesthetic and functionality of your kitchen. If you’re interested, under-cabinet lighting costs between $230 and $300 per light.

Changing Kitchen Cabinet Placement

Moving kitchen cabinets around doesn’t increase installation or material costs. But you’ll have to consider costs associated with moving electrical outlets, plumbing, redoing drywall, and painting.

• Moving electrical costs around $550+, depending on the project complexity.

• Drywall patching costs about $580. Opening walls to move plumbing or electrical generally requires this type of wall repair.

• Plumbing pricing runs around $650–$800 to reroute a single line.

Painting a wall costs at least $100 but may go as high as $500 if your painter has a minimum charge.

IKEA, Home Depot, and Lowe’s Cabinet Installation Cost

IKEA, Home Depot, and Lowe’s offer a range of cabinets, from stock to semi-custom to custom. Thus, their cabinet prices can vary significantly, though their off-the-shelf prices will be the lowest. For instance, Home Depot’s off-the-shelf cabinets start as low as $69 per linear foot.

Depending on the store and type of cabinet, you can usually roll installation into the cost. For example, IKEA charges $99 per cabinet for assembly and installation. Because prices can vary by the local labor market and the cabinet type, the easiest way to estimate the project is to visit the stores in person.

Refacing vs. Replacing vs. Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

Refacing cabinets costs around $150 to $450 per linear foot. Refacing cabinets instead of installing new ones could significantly reduce project costs while still giving your kitchen an updated look. To reface cabinets, you'll remove the doors and drawers, install a wood veneer or laminate over the existing cabinet (sometimes called a "skin"), and install new doors and fronts to match. You might also add new fixtures and hinges to elevate the design.

Another option is to skip the reskinning and replace the doors and hardware. Whether replacing specific elements or refacing the entire cabinet, it's an environmentally friendly choice that reduces the waste involved with installing entirely new cabinets each time you update your kitchen.

Refinishing cabinets costs an average of $2,980 for an entire kitchen. Refinishing cabinets is a more economical way to update the look and feel of your kitchen without waste. However, refinishing doesn't last as long as refacing or replacing.

DIY vs. Hiring a Cabinet Installation Pro

DIY cabinet installations are possible with the right equipment and experience, but the work is incredibly detail-oriented. Local kitchen remodelers have experience with a wide range of cabinetry products and can make recommendations for your style and budget. For the proper fit and finish and a stress-free kitchen remodel, hire a cabinet installer for this job.