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When considering renovations to your home, the kitchen may not be high on your list as due for an upgrade, but renovating your kitchen cabinetry can be a worthwhile investment, says Larry Chun, a top-selling agent in Honolulu, Hawaii, who sells properties 36% faster than the average area agent.
“If you have money to do new kitchen cabinets, it definitely boosts the value of the home because people spend a lot of time in the kitchen,” Chun said.
“That’s where people entertain, that’s where families come together,” he says.
For an idea of what you’re getting into, an average kitchen cabinet installation costs between $100 and $650 per linear foot for stock or semi-custom styles.
This translates to a total of between $2,000 and $13,000 for a 10×10 kitchen. For custom cabinets, homeowners can expect to pay between $500 and $1,200 per linear foot, costing between $10,000 and $24,000.
Kitchen cabinet installation 2026 cost overview
| Source | Average cost to install new cabinets | Low and high-end cost range | Average price per linear foot | Methodology |
| HomeAdvisor | $6,308 | $200 – $30,000 | $100 – $1,200 | Based on a survey of thousands of real customers about their project costs, paired with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts. |
| HomeGuide | $4,500-$15,000 | $100 – $40,000+ | $150 – $700 | Based on millions of estimates from local companies |
| Fixr | $7,000 | $1,600 – $48,000 | $100 – $1,200 | Based on Fixr’s cost data and supporting sources, including a network of 90,000+ local contractors |
Kitchen cabinet installation: A real-life example
Add More Custom Cabinets in Prescott, Arizona, installed new semi-custom kitchen cabinets for a homeowner. The project was for a U-shaped kitchen with a pantry, Lazy Susan, and fridge cabinet. The homeowner made the following design selections:
- Door Style: Arcadia
- Wood: 3-D laminate
- Finish: Nordic
- Crown molding: Square-edge
- Drawer boxes: Standard PBC
- Interiors: 1⁄2” thick, natural birch woodgrain laminate.
- Finished Ends: sides are 1⁄2” thick veneer core, with matching wood grain to match the face frame & doors.
- Door hinges & Drawer Guides: Soft Close
- Sheen: Semi-gloss
The project was quoted as follows:
| Semi-Custom Kitchen Project | Labor | Materials | Cost |
| 13 cabinets (9 standard upper/base, 1 pantry, 1 Lazy Susan and 1 fridge) | $950 | $10,150 ($600 trim package included) | $11,100 |
| Hardware (handles) | $250 | $150 | $400 |
| Trip charge (delivery) | $300 | – | $300 |
| Total | $11,800 |
Inflation premium: 2026 kitchen cabinet installation
Like most businesses, cabinetmakers have experienced increased labor and material costs due to inflation.
According to Statista, lumber prices in the U.S. have fluctuated in the last five years, ending 2024 at $550.5 per thousand board feet.
Costs by size of kitchen
One way to price cabinets is by linear foot, the length of space they occupy along a wall. Cabinet depth isn’t usually a factor, for the industry standards for both base and wall cabinets are almost always the same: 24 inches for a base and 12 inches for a wall.
So if cabinets stretch along 10 feet of wall without interruption, that’s 10 linear feet. But if there are gaps in the cabinetry to make room for a window or appliance, you deduct that length. To get an overall linear footage for your layout, measure the base and wall cabinets separately and add them together.
Here are examples of how much it costs to install cabinets in two standard-sized kitchens:
- 10×10: This is considered the quintessential kitchen size, with a total of 20 feet of wall space for cabinets. Kitchen cabinet retailers commonly use 10×10 pricing to help customers compare cabinet costs. On average, replacing cabinets in a kitchen of this size costs $2,000–$24,000.
- 12×12: This is another widespread kitchen measurement in the U.S., sporting 25 linear feet of cabinetry. On average, replacing cabinets in a kitchen of this size costs $2,400 to $28,800.
Differences between stock and custom
Many variables go into the overall cost of kitchen cabinetry installation.
One factor that will impact the price is the difference between a stock or custom design — or somewhere in the middle. Before delving into the pros and cons of each, here is a quick look at the average costs:
Stock
Stock cabinets are the least expensive option, but the days when the word “stock” means cheap and poorly made are over. The craftsmanship is up to par in most cases, but you might run into frustration when it comes to flexibility and variety.
Stock cabinets come in limited sizes, colors, and styles. Like playing a game of Tetris, you must use the few shapes available to fit your space. If you choose this path, it’s best to go into it knowing you may need to make some compromises.
To ensure you’re at least getting higher-quality stock cabinets, look for ones that carry the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) Quality Certification Seal. This means the KCMA has rigorously tested and approved the durability and functionality of the cabinets. If the cabinets also carry the KCMA’s Environmental Stewardship Program Seal, they were constructed using sustainable and responsible practices.
Semi-custom
As it sounds, semi-custom cabinets are an excellent middle ground in price and versatility.
They’re essentially stock cabinets with more options and add-ons available regarding style, size, color, and design. This includes rollout shelves, cabinet lighting, and decorative molding.
Aside from the higher price tag, the primary downside of semi-custom cabinets is the time it takes between ordering and delivery. Stock cabinets can be ready for installation the same day or soon after, but semi-custom cabinets usually take four to eight weeks.
Custom
For those who are less concerned about the price of their kitchen cabinets and more concerned about the design, a completely custom job may be the way to go.
Starting with a blank slate, you work with a cabinetry specialist to create your dream kitchen. Where pricing tends to vary substantially is the type of material you choose. Domestic oak is one of the most popular wood species due to its low cost, durability, and availability. On the pricier side would be something exotic like mahogany.
