Cabinet Calculator
Cabinet pricing by the linear foot — base, wall, tall, island; stock / semi-custom / custom grade; finish multiplier; crown, hardware, install, and countertop add-on.
Sized-to-order with limited modifications. 8–12 weeks lead time.
1 per drawer + 1 per door
1.5–2.5 LF/hr for experienced installer
Laminate ~$30, quartz ~$85, granite ~$80, marble ~$120
Result
- Base cabinets
- $3,850
- Wall cabinets
- $2,640
- Tall cabinets
- $825
- Island
- $1,980
- Cabinet subtotal
- $9,295
- Crown molding
- $288
- Toe-kick
- $120
- Hardware
- $224
- Countertop
- $0
- Install
- 17.0 hr · $1,105
- Total (everything in)
- $11,032
- Effective $ / LFAcross 34 total LF
- $324
This estimate is based on national average costs and may vary by region, project specifics, and market conditions. Use as a starting point for your bids.
How cabinet pricing works
Cabinets sell by the linear foot. Base cabinets (24-in deep, counter-level) set the rate. Wall cabinets price at ~80% of base. Tall cabinets (pantry, oven cabinets) at ~150% of base. Islands at ~120% to cover the finished back. This calculator handles the mix automatically — enter your LF totals by cabinet type and the math layers correctly.
Pricing benchmarks by grade
| Grade | $/LF base | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Stock (RTA / IKEA / Hampton Bay) | $80–150 | In stock or 1–2 weeks |
| Semi-custom (KraftMaid, Diamond) | $200–350 | 8–12 weeks |
| Custom (local cabinetmaker) | $400–800+ | 10–16 weeks |
Custom isn't always the most expensive option. On an awkward layout (sloped ceilings, irregular walls), the lack of filler strips and the perfect fit can make custom competitive with semi-custom plus modifications.
Finish multipliers
- Thermofoil / laminate: -10% (commercial-grade option)
- Painted MDF: baseline (white shaker is the residential standard)
- Stained hardwood: +15% (maple, oak, cherry, walnut)
- High-gloss European: +35% (premium look)
Add-ons most takeoffs miss
- Crown molding at the top: ~$15–25 per LF installed
- Toe-kick base trim: ~$5–8 per LF
- Hardware (knobs + pulls): ~$3–25 per piece, 1 pull per drawer + 1 per door
- Lazy susan / pull-out: ~$150–400 per unit added
- Soft-close upgrade (older lines): ~$15 per door + $20 per drawer
- Crown + light-rail molding combo: ~$30 LF installed
Frequently asked questions
How is cabinet pricing structured?
Cabinets price by the linear foot. Base cabinets (counter level) set the rate. Wall cabinets typically run 80% of base, tall cabinets (pantry, oven) 150%, and islands 120% (the finished back adds cost). A 10×12 ft kitchen with 22 LF of cabinets at $275/LF semi-custom runs about $6,050 in cabinets before crown, hardware, and install.
Stock vs semi-custom vs custom — what's the real difference?
Stock (RTA/IKEA/big-box): $80–150/LF, fast (in stock), limited sizes. Semi-custom (KraftMaid, Diamond, Aristokraft): $200–350/LF, sized-to-order with limited mods, 8–12 weeks. Custom (local cabinetmaker): $400–800+/LF, fully built to fit, 10–16 weeks. For an awkward layout or tall ceilings, custom is often the cheapest of the three because it eliminates filler strips and waste.
Does the finish really change the price that much?
Yes. Painted MDF (white shaker, the residential standard) is the baseline. Thermofoil drops 10% off material. Stained hardwood adds 15% over painted. High-gloss European finishes add 35%. The finish multiplier compounds on every linear foot, so a 25 LF kitchen jumps $1,500–2,500 between thermofoil and stained hardwood at the same grade.
How long does installation take?
Experienced installer (or 2-person team): 1.5–2.5 LF per hour. A typical 22 LF residential kitchen takes 10–15 hours of install labor — usually a 1.5-day job for a 2-person team including delivery, leveling, scribing, hardware, and final adjustments. Custom and high-end installs go slower (1 LF/hr) because the fit-up requires more scribing and shimming.
Do I need to include the countertop in the cabinet bid?
Different line item, but bundle it in the same proposal — the customer is making one decision. Countertop pricing varies wildly: laminate $20–40/sf, butcher block $50–100/sf, quartz $60–110/sf, granite $50–120/sf, marble $80–150+/sf. Always quote countertops separately so the customer sees the cabinet number isolated.
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