Kitchen Cabinets Cost: $4,000–$13,000 Average in 2026

Why do kitchen cabinets cost so much?

Kitchen cabinets cost $4,000 to $13,000 for a typical kitchen, averaging around $11,100 nationally (Bob Vila), because the price stacks two big-ticket items: the cabinet boxes and doors themselves, and the skilled labor to install them square, level, and flush against walls that are rarely perfectly straight. Materials alone span a wide range, laminate and wood veneer sit near the bottom while solid wood, acrylic, and stainless steel push costs several times higher (Bob Vila).

Cabinet tier drives most of the variation. Stock cabinets, mass-produced in standard sizes, run $4,000-$12,000 for a full kitchen. Semi-custom cabinets, which offer more size and finish options, run $8,000-$22,000. Fully custom cabinetry, built to exact specifications, runs $15,000-$40,000 or more (LastCloset). That’s why two kitchens of the same size can have wildly different price tags depending on the tier chosen.

Labor adds another layer. Installers typically bill $50-$150 per hour or $75-$250 per linear foot, which can add $1,500-$5,000 to an average kitchen (CabinetsASAP), on top of the cabinets themselves.

What affects the cost?

Cabinet type is the single biggest lever. RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets are cheapest at $75-$200 per linear foot, and fully assembled stock cabinets run $120-$300 per linear foot (CabinetsASAP). The gap widens further for semi-custom ($150-$700 per linear foot) and custom ($500-$1,200 or more per linear foot), per Bob Vila and LastCloset.

Kitchen size and total linear footage matter just as much. CabinetsASAP’s size breakdown shows a standard 10x10 kitchen in RTA cabinets running $1,500-$3,500, while the same footprint in custom cabinetry runs $10,000-$20,000; a large kitchen in custom cabinets can top $80,000. Construction style also plays a role: Bob Vila prices framed cabinets at $5,000-$20,000 or more and frameless cabinets at $6,000-$30,000 or more for a full kitchen.

Beyond the cabinets themselves, hidden line items add up: hardware (pulls and hinges) can run $90-$1,500 or more, filler pieces and trim $200-$800, shipping $300-$800 for online orders, and removing old cabinets $200-$600 (CabinetsASAP). Storage features like pull-out shelving or organizers can add $1,000-$6,000 (LastCloset).

How to lower your kitchen cabinets cost

• Choose RTA or stock cabinets over semi-custom or custom. This is the biggest single lever: RTA cabinets run $75-$200 per linear foot (CabinetsASAP) versus $500-$1,200+ for custom (Bob Vila, LastCloset), often cutting the total bill by half or more.
• Assemble and install RTA cabinets yourself if you’re comfortable with basic tools. Skipping professional installation avoids the $50-$150 per hour labor rate entirely (CabinetsASAP).
• Keep your existing kitchen layout. Sticking with the current footprint and cabinet run avoids extra framing, plumbing, or electrical work that drives up both materials and labor.
• Pick laminate or wood veneer finishes over solid wood, acrylic, or stainless steel. Bob Vila’s material pricing shows laminate and veneer options costing a fraction of premium finishes for a similar look.
• Watch the hidden add-ons. Hardware, filler pieces, trim, and shipping can add hundreds to a couple thousand dollars beyond the base cabinet price (CabinetsASAP); decide up front which of these you actually need.
• Get multiple installation quotes. Since labor alone can run $1,500-$5,000 on an average kitchen (CabinetsASAP), comparing bids is one of the more effective ways to trim the total without downgrading materials.
• Consider refacing instead of full replacement if your existing cabinet boxes are in good shape. Refacing keeps the boxes and swaps only doors and fronts, typically costing well under full replacement.