How to Budget for a Full Kitchen Cabinet Renovation

Cabinet costs vary enormously by brand and configuration. Here's a practical way to think about budgeting before your design appointment.

Cabinet pricing spans an enormous range — from in-stock wholesale lines to fully custom cabinetry — which makes budgeting confusing if you're starting from scratch. Here's a practical framework.

Start with the brand tier, not the door style

Door style (Shaker, raised-panel, slab) affects price less than brand tier does. Cab-Tec's in-stock line and NorthPoint's ready-to-assemble cabinets sit at the value end; KCD, J&K, and Holiday Kitchens occupy the semi-custom middle; Bertch and fully custom Holiday Kitchens configurations sit at the top. Deciding which tier fits your budget first narrows everything else.

Factor in hardware and accessories separately

Hardware, soft-close upgrades, and organizational accessories (pull-out trash, drawer dividers, lazy susans) are usually priced separately from the cabinet boxes themselves, and can add a meaningful percentage to the total — ask for these to be itemized so there are no surprises.

Don't forget delivery and installation coordination

Cabinet cost is only part of the project. Delivery scheduling, and installation labor if you're not doing it yourself, should be budgeted alongside the cabinetry itself, not treated as an afterthought.

Leave room for the unexpected

Older homes especially can reveal out-of-square walls or unexpected plumbing/electrical locations once demo starts. Our in-home measurement visit catches most of this in advance, but it's still wise to hold back 10-15% of your budget as a buffer.

Talk numbers early

Tell your designer your budget range at the start of your appointment, not after you've fallen in love with a line above it — it's far easier to match brands to a budget from the beginning than to scale back later.