Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost | A Comprehensive Guide

What’s a bigger concern than kitchen cabinet installation cost when it comes to your kitchen renovation? Since kitchen cabinet installation is a major project, you want to make sure that you have enough money to spend.

Table of Contents show

The cost of kitchen cabinet installation is a common concern among homeowners when they are planning to upgrade their kitchen.

It’s easy to assume that the more expensive the materials, the higher will be the price tag for installation.

However, this isn’t always true. There are many factors that affect the total cost of your project and one of these is your choice of cabinets.

To help you better prepare for your next kitchen renovation, we’ve created a comprehensive guide on how much does it cost to install new kitchen cabinets?

We’ll walk you through all aspects involved in installing new cabinetry so you can make an informed decision regarding which type of cabinets best suit your needs and budget.

Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost Breakdown: Stock, Semi-Custom, Custom

There are a lot of factors to consider when computing kitchen cabinets’ installation cost. Since we all have different preferences and budgets, the overall cost for the project would vary.

For instance, while some would prioritize quality and pay a high price, some just don’t have the luxury. Hence, knowing the different costs would help you prepare for what’s to come in the project.

The average kitchen cabinets installation cost, including the cabinet cost itself, is around $480 to $1,940.

Depending on the cabinet type, kitchen size, and material used, you may pay the lower or higher price range.

To give you a close idea, here is the kitchen cabinets installation cost breakdown for different cabinet customization:

Stock Cabinet

Stock kitchen cabinets are pre-made cabinets that are readily available in home furniture stores. Because of their nature, stock cabinets are the least expensive type of kitchen cabinets.

Each stock cabinet may cost around $55 to $600 for each unit.
Meanwhile, the total kitchen cabinets installation cost for stock cabinets ranges around $75 to $400 per linear foot installed.

Note, however, that since they are pre-fabricated, these cabinets don’t have a custom fitting to certain kitchen types.

Semi-Custom Cabinet

Semi-custom kitchen cabinets are best for those with mid-range budgets. These are cabinets with standard sizes but with superior quality and versatility than stock cabinets.

As such, you have better options for the style, design, and measurement fit.

Each unit of semi-custom kitchen cabinets ranges from around $140 to $800 and up.
Then, the overall kitchen cabinets installation cost plays around $150 to $900 per linear foot installed.

Custom Cabinet

Finally, it’s expected that you’ll pay more for custom kitchen cabinets installation cost. It’s because these cabinets are hand-built and made according to your specific preferences and instruction.

Hence, you can also guarantee the perfect fit of the cabinets in your kitchen space. Custom kitchen cabinets installation cost range from $500 to $1,400 per linear foot installed.

Because of the required attention to detail with this type of cabinet, they cost significantly higher than the first two.

Labor Cost

Now if you choose to hire a pro for the job, you’ll have to pay for the labor cost. What does hiring a professional installer imply?

They would be the ones responsible for planning and prepping the setup area for the installation. For this, you won’t have to worry about the necessary tools since they have it ready.

For a smooth-flowing installation, they would install the top cabinet first before the base cabinets.

Installers would charge separately for the job if they need to assemble the cabinets before the installation. Expect to pay an average of $40 to $80 for each cabinet for the assembling charge.

Most installers and handymen charge per hour of installing the kitchen cabinets, which typically takes around 1 and ½ hours.

Depending on who you are, the labor cost might also vary.

For instance, most cabinet installers charge an average of $35 to $65 an hour.
Meanwhile, the average cabinet installation charge of a handyman per hour is $60 to $90.
It’s another thing if you opt to hire a designer to fully customize your kitchen cabinet. For this, expect to pay around $100 to $125 per hour.

How Much to Install Kitchen Cabinets: Overall Cost

There are different area designations for different kitchen cabinets. For instance, you cannot find the wall, base, and corner cabinets all in the same area.

What’s surprising is that how much to install kitchen cabinets for different areas also varies. The reason for this is the complexity of the work area as well as the standard size of these cabinets.

Here are some crucial notes to remember on how much to install kitchen cabinets for different areas:

Wall Cabinets

These are the wall cabinets that are hanging on the wall, usually above the countertop. Since they have a strategic placement with a comfortable height, it also eases the task of reaching out for items.

It’s a staple for many kitchens since it provides additional storage without consuming a lot of floor space.

How much to install kitchen cabinets in this area including the cabinet itself ranges from $100 to $300 for each cabinet.

Base Cabinets

On the other hand, you can find the base cabinets beneath the countertop for lower storage. It’s generally easier to install base cabinets than wall cabinets because there is no lifting up involved.

You also won’t need to attach them to the wall above. Because of their construction, how much to install kitchen cabinets in this area ranges from $100 to $500 per cabinet.

Corner Cabinets

From its name, corner cabinets are the wall and base cabinets in the corners of the kitchen. Often, corner cabinets would contain pull-out storage and lazy Susans and with different designs and sizes.

The special shape of corner cabinets makes how much to install kitchen cabinets in this area a bit more expensive.

The kitchen cabinet installation cost for corner cabinets including the cabinet itself plays around $180 to $1,000 per cabinet.

Utility Cabinets

Finally, we have utility cabinets, which are those larger cabinets that contain various storage features. They are much larger than both wall and base cabinets and feature multiple doors and drawers.

Because of their size and special functions, how much to install kitchen cabinets like this is much more expensive.

Here, we’re talking about a price range starting at $500 up to more than $3,000.

Cost of Kitchen Cabinet Installation by Material

The kitchen cabinet installation cost also varies depending on the material used for constructing the cabinet. It’s because these factors determine how easy or how challenging the cabinet is to work with.

It plays the primary role in the weight of the cabinet as well as how difficult to screw through its surface. Furthermore, the material used also determines the overall style that the kitchen cabinet will give off.

As such, the material is a crucial pricing point for installing kitchen cabinets. Depending on the material quality, you may end up paying more or less for the kitchen cabinet installation cost.

For this, take a look below for the cost comparison for different kitchen cabinet materials:

Wood Veneer

Wood veneers are the most common material for kitchen cabinets along with plywood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

The surface of this material mimics that of real wood, which you can stain, sand, and refinish.

The kitchen cabinet installation cost with wood veneers generally costs around $4,000 to $9,000.

Laminate

Laminate kitchen cabinets consist of laminate material on top of high-density fiber (HDF) to ensure durability. The average kitchen cabinet installation cost for laminate is between $5,000 to $8,000.

However, it can go as high as $15,000 for high-end laminate grade and quality.

Acrylic

Acrylic cabinets are a common alternative to real wood and cost anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000. It includes both the materials and installation costs.

Generally, acrylic kitchen cabinets have a high-gloss surface that is scratch resistant and you can easily wipe.

The material also gives you a variety of color options so it’s best for homeowners who are going for colorful cabinets.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel kitchen cabinets are the most expensive but with a lot of upsides. Not only does it offer a sleek look, but it’s also highly durable and long-lasting.

If you opt for stock stainless cabinets, you may expect to pay around $400 to $600 for each cabinet’s installation.

Meanwhile, for custom stainless steel cabinets, the installation cost ranges anywhere from $800 to $1,200 per cabinet.