Building your own kitchen cabinets is only a feasible plan if you have plenty of time, a shop full of tools, and intermediate woodworking skills. While building your own cabinets saves about 66%, the cost of tools and time eats into this significantly for someone who is not an experienced woodworker.
The least expensive material you can use to make kitchen cabinets is particleboard. This material is made from compressed wood chips, though it doesn't have the same strength and density as MDF or HDF.
They're made of engineered wood.
Solid wood cabinets, esteemed for their strength and good looks, can quickly run up a five-figure price tag. Ikea cabinet units, on the other hand, are made from a cheaper melamine-clad, medium-density fiberboard (or MDF), a type of engineered wood.
Custom versus stock
As to average prices: Stock cabinets: $100 to $300 per linear foot installed. Semi-custom cabinets: $150 to $650 per linear foot installed. Custom cabinets: $500 to $1,200 per linear foot installed.
Most expensive cabinetry products are made by experienced artisans with great craftsmanship in cabinet making. Even with the available manufacturing equipment and technology, most cabinet designs are made with hours of hands-on work so expect that you're also paying for their labor and expertise.
Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets arrive flat-packed in cardboard boxes with the hardware needed for assembly. Because homeowners handle building them, and they cost the manufacturer less to transport and store, RTA cabinets can be half the price of factory-assembled versions.
"Replacing your cabinets is a huge cost that is not completely necessary if the cabinets are less than ten years old and made from a high-quality wood like cherry, maple, ash, hickory, or oak," Ballard says. Refinishing these hardy cabinets, instead of replacing them, can both conserve wood and money.
While cabinets are the clear winner, some elements are next in line, too. Other expensive aspects of a kitchen remodel include appliances like the refrigerator, microwave, oven, and dishwasher that cost $7000 – $12,000 on average. Next are kitchen countertops for $6000 (including installation).
COST OF REPLACING CABINETS
New cabinets cost more than just swapping out the door fronts. On average, you could spend anywhere between $3,000 to $18,000 on your full cabinet replacement. Your project may cost more or less than that average, depending on your specific needs.
Laminate is the cheapest option for resurfacing cabinets at roughly $90 to $110 per linear foot, installed. Laminate is also the easiest to install, making it the go-to for DIY projects.
She says light neutrals are generally the best colors for resale because they appeal to most people, but she advises against painting cabinets taupe or beige. “There's the tendency for people to accidentally go too warm—with golden or tan overtones—and then that would be a mistake that's hard to correct.”
Your cost of repainting a kitchen is typically half the cost of replacing it. The paints that are being used are very durable and will have every bit the longevity of new cabinets in most cases.
Kitchen cabinets can range from $3,750 to $10,200 on average, with most homeowners spending $7,200 per project. On average, it costs between $3,750 and $10,200 to install new kitchen cabinets, with most homeowners spending around $7,200.
Plywood: The highest quality kitchen cabinets are made of cabinet-grade multi-layer plywood. Plywood cabinets are strong, easier to install and considerably lighter in weight than MDF or particleboard cabinets. While more expensive, plywood cabinets are a good choice if you expect to own the house for a long period.
It has been found that on average, painting your kitchen cabinets and then pairing them with new hardware can significantly increase the value of your home by as much as an additional $2,000. What Color Cabinets Have The Best Resale Value?
Also, Ikea only comes in specific sizes, so you have to make the cabinetry fit your space and not the other way around. Planning an Ikea kitchen for your area requires a lot of configuring to make it work, but they have an easy-to-use 3D planning tool online to simplify the process.
Thermofoil cabinets are some of the most affordable cabinets on the market.
IKEA kitchens are remarkably cost-effective. Their cabinets (the costliest item in most kitchen renovations) are affordable without waiving aesthetics or durability. For cost and quality, IKEA cabinets usually beat out big-box store alternatives, with or without installation fees.