The cheapest type of wood for cabinets is typically particleboard, which is a composite material made from wood fibers and resin. However, if you are looking for Premium options, solid wood like oak, or pine is often one of the more affordable choices.
Particle board is an economical choice, made from compressed wood fibres. It's often used in budget-friendly cabinetry and covered with veneers or laminates for a more polished look. While particle board is cost-effective, it is less durable and can be prone to damage from moisture and heavy use.
The most affordable cabinet material for your kitchen is often particleboard or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) with a laminate finish. These materials are cost-effective and commonly used in budget-friendly kitchens.
MAPLE WOOD CABINETS: Maple is a popular choice for wood cabinets and can be more affordable than oak. It has a simple, small grain and can be smoother and more uniform-looking than other wood species. While I'm a HUGE fan of oak, my second (and more affordable choice) is maple.
The cheapest type of wood for cabinets is typically particleboard, which is a composite material made from wood fibers and resin. However, if you are looking for Premium options, solid wood like oak, or pine is often one of the more affordable choices.
Sugar maple, 24 BTUs per cord. White oak, 24 BTUs per cord. White ash, 23.6 BTUs per cord. Yellow birch, 21.8 BTUs per cord.
Solid wood cabinets, particularly oak, are the most durable kitchen cabinet material due to their strength, resistance to wear and tear, and ability to withstand moisture without warping. Plywood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) are also durable, economical options.
The cost of birch and maple is where these two wood species can stand out from each other. Typically speaking, maple is usually more expensive than birch. Birchwood is, most of the time, a cabinet maker's entry-level product.
While many different options for wood species exist, the most common high-quality choices include solid oak, beech, cherry, maple, and walnut. Cheaper, less durable options include pine, poplar or even fake wood substitutes like MDF and particle board.
Thermofoil cabinets are made from MDF board covered with a vinyl film, while laminate cabinets are made from particleboard or MDF covered with melamine resin impregnated with paper. Melamine cabinets are also made from particleboard or MDF but are surfaced with a resin coating.
Building your cabinets is very cost-effective since you get to choose the kinds of materials you want firsthand and you won't have to pay for artistry. If you're not up for a full-blown construction or starting from scratch, you can buy low-priced pre-made cabinets and modify them to suit your style.
Cabinet Components per Sheet
Typically can cut: 4-5 wall cabinet side panels. Multiple shelves. Back panel.
Cheapest Species of Hardwood
Red Oak: The most affordable and widely available hardwood. White Oak: Slightly more expensive due to high demand and fewer white oak trees in the US.
Being one of the most luxurious woods for a kitchen, cherry is also one of the more expensive cabinet materials available. Its price tag is due to the fact that cherry is not as easy to source as a more common wood species such as maple.
Hard Maple
Hard maple is the most used type of maple in cabinetry. Usually a light blonde color, it's heavier and more durable than soft maple. Hard maple has much less tannin in it compared to woods like cherry and oak. Plus, its lighter color means you need fewer coats of paint to get good coverage.
Maple is one of the toughest woods to stain – its density, tight grain and closed pores cause the stain to absorb very unevenly. Birch offers similar problems for staining, especially for darker colors. When staining Birch and Maple, choosing lighter hues can help create a more consistent appearance.
Particle board is considered to be the cheapest material possible for kitchen cabinets. Made from waste wood and sawdust, the particle board is lightweight and not very sturdy. Since it can not hold more weight, you must avoid it for weighty cabinets. Use particle board for making the kitchen cabinet shutters.
Oak and hickory are some of the strongest, most reliable wood species available for custom cabinet doors. They generally cost more, but they mix beauty with long-lasting reliability. If you want doors that resist impacts and warping, these two would be good choices.
If you are splitting green wood by hand, the general consensus is that wood is easier to split when it is green. Live wood contains a lot of moisture, so it is softer and more yielding to your maul. This is especially true of deciduous trees, such as oak and maple.
Maple is also a hardwood but offers different aesthetics compared to oak. In general, maple has a lighter color with fine, smooth grain patterns – making it a great choice for modern or minimalist designs.
Oak. Oak is one of the best firewood options, offering high heat output and long burn times. Its dense structure resists ignition, but once lit, oak provides consistent heat for hours. This wood excels in overnight burns for wood stoves or in maintaining steady fireplace fires.