How Much Do Custom Cabinet Builders Cost?
Everyone wants their home to look good, and most often this entails adding their own personal interior design touches. This has many homeowners considering custom cabinet builders when looking to remodel or refit the cabinets in the kitchen or any other part of the house.
Knowledgeable builders convert wood and hardware into cabinetry. They will take all your imagination into account, and then come up with unique and space efficient cabinets like you’ve always imagined.
Even though the cost to build custom cabinets might be higher than that of buying off the counter builds, custom cabinets give you greater décor flexibility.
Knowing the price in advance will help you budget and plan your kitchen fitting better. You will also be in a better position to make an appropriate tradeoff and strike a balance between aesthetics and cost.
Why Are Custom Cabinets Better?
One of the main advantages to designing and purchasing cabinets is that they really are one of a kind. Pre-made cabinets from stores go through carpenters, middlemen, delivery, and dealers before the customer pays for it. All these hands add a markup and take a profit, which the customer ends up paying for.
Custom cabinets are bought straight from the carpenters building them for you - there are no middlemen or handling fees.
When you choose to work with a custom cabinet builder, you get to build a relationship with the installers. This is invaluable when going through the design and installation process. In certain cases, the cost to build a custom cabinet may even work out cheaper than purchasing a pre-built cabinet.
When u choose custom cabinet builders, you don't have to worry about unavailable or out of stock finishes. Custom cabinets also tend to have a better build quality than premade units since they are handmade.
Whether you are looking for a masterpiece or just some basic personal touches, speaking to multiple professional custom cabinet builders will give you a better idea of you should be budgeting for. It also provides the opportunity to choose a contractor you feel comfortable with and best suit your remodeling project.
How Much Will It Cost To Build My Custom Cabinets?
With so many variables at stake, the price range of custom cabinets is diverse. It all depends on the design, the material and the finish you put on your cabinets. Based on national averages, many custom cabinet builders could charge as low as $8,000 for basic designs in a medium sized kitchen. Complex design finishes, multiple cabinets, and drawer add-ons in a large kitchen can quite easily cost up to as much as $40,000 for professionally handcrafted custom cabinets.
Needless to say, the overall cost will also depend on the cabinet’s overall surface area. Naturally, cabinets for a larger kitchen or room will take more material, and most importantly, time to build. For American homeowners, the typical cost to build custom cabinets is around $21,000 for a set of bespoke units. Working on a linear average, you could pay $500 - $1,200 per linear ft for custom cabinets.
What Determines The Cost To Build Custom Cabinets?
Custom cabinet builders will take a couple of factors into consideration before giving you a quote. Some of the most common factors include:
- Type of wood: Most softwoods and locally available lumber will be cheaper. Exotic woods like Cherry, Mahogany and Walnut will fetch higher prices. Generally, the materials for the project will cover about 75% of the total cost.
- Design: The actual cabinet design matters as it determines the material and labor costs. Simple two door cabinets would be cheaper to produce than a cabinet with multiple doors and drawers.
- Use: What goes into the cabinet? A shelf? Knife block? A dovetail drawer? Your choices will once again determine the design complexity.
- Finish: How do you want your cabinets finished? Simple paint or natural finishes could be cheaper. Intricate finishes like distressing or glazing will hike the cost.
- Labor: Generally, custom cabinet builders will charge $40 - $50 per hour when installing the cabinets. This could take between 3 days and a week to complete. The design work can take 2 - 3 months to plan before installing. This is in order to get a flawless fitment for your new custom cabinets.
Cabinet Add-Ons
Adding features to your custom cabinets will cost extra but can create a considerable difference in the look of your kitchen or room where you are installing them.
Cabinet handles and pulls can cost around $2 - $30 each. Adding more cabinets with pull out shelves, generally, costs $150 each. A garbage cabinet pull-out costs $180. Finishes around appliances like ovens or microwaves will average $100 each. Custom cabinet doors with glass inlays or even hand painted detail can increase the costs by as much as 50%.
Additional furnishing that goes into your custom cabinets increases the overall costs and can range from any of the following add-ons:
- pullout racks
- molding
- light rail
- end panels
- pantry cabinets
- rollout shelves
- dovetail drawers
- glass front doors
- matching countertops
- drawer dividers
- peg and board drawer organizers
- lazy susans
- corbels and onlays
- appliance panels
- custom wood vent hoods
While estimations are a perfect way to get an idea of how much your custom cabinet builders will charge, the only way to establishing an actual cost is by talking to a professional carpenter. We highly recommend that you compare several quotes before you do business with anyone.
How To Get In Touch With Custom Cabinet Builders In Your Area
Good custom cabinet builders will give you comprehensive quotes that cover the material and labor charges. Shopping around for multiple quotes before taking a final deal will help you find a contractor that will suit your style and unique requirements.
If you are interested in a more specific quote from a local custom cabinet builder, simply enter your home zip code in the space provided on this page. You will be put in touch with a professional for a FREE quote to help you figure out the cost to build your custom cabinets. There's no obligation to purchase, hire, or sign any contracts. Simply enter your details and you will be able to get in touch with a registered professional for some FREE assistance.
