How Much Does Custom Furniture Cost in 2024?
Highlights
Prices for custom furniture vary widely, costing anywhere from $1,018 and $4,246, but the majority of projects cost around $2,598.
Cost factors for custom furniture might include the type of furniture you get, the materials used, the finishes applied, the overall quality of the construction, and the labor costs of hiring a carpenter.
Carpenters charge anywhere from $30 to $200 per hour, but you can expect custom furniture builders to charge on the higher end of that scale.
You can reduce the cost of custom furniture by using less expensive, luxurious materials, applying simpler finishes, reducing the complexity of the design, and using recycled materials.
Custom furniture is a great way to express yourself when furnishing your home. While prices vary, the average cost of custom furniture is $2,598, though prices can range anywhere between $1,018 and $4,246. Depending on the type of furniture you want, the materials you use, the finishing and quality you’re looking for, and the labor price, your cost may vary as well when budgeting for your custom furniture costs. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know.
Custom Furniture Cost Factors
Several cost factors will influence the final price of having custom furniture built. The main ones to consider are the type of furniture, the materials used, the finishes applied, the labor rate, and the overall quality of the piece.
Furniture Type
One major aspect of the price of custom furniture will be the type of furnishings you want. A desk will have a different cost than a bed frame, while a dresser will probably cost more than an end table. Here are a few common furniture items and the approximate cost to have one custom-made.
| Custom Furniture Type | Starting Cost |
|---|---|
| Dining Table | $1,200 |
| Set of 6 Dining Chairs | $1,300 |
| Bed frame | $1,000 |
| Dresser | $1,000 |
| Bedside Table | $500 |
| Desk | $400 |
| Sofa | $2,200 |
It’s important to note that these prices are approximate. A custom table could theoretically be a simple construction of inexpensive timber, costing as little as $200 in materials. On the other hand, an intricately crafted dining table made of luxurious hardwood with lots of details could cost $10,000 to $20,000—when it comes to custom furniture, there’s no upper limit on what you can spend.
Materials
Another important cost factor when budgeting for custom furniture is the materials you’ll use. Wood is one good example—different types of wood can have drastic differences in price according to their rarity, quality, and unique characteristics.
Pine, for instance, is one of the most inexpensive types of wood, but it is on the softer side and isn’t as durable as other types. On the other hand, walnut or mahogany are luxurious, sought-after, and highly durable materials, but the price tag is substantially higher. The same goes for metals—aluminum is a low-cost material that can work well for custom furniture, but it doesn’t offer the same durability and longevity as a more expensive steel material.
To a lesser extent, materials other than wood and metal can vary in cost. Furniture upholstery costs far more when building a leather sofa versus a simple rayon one, for instance. However, the leather sofa will likely last far longer and look great for years to come, whereas a less costly material might need to be replaced within a few years.
Quality and Finishes
The building methods and finishing touches on your custom furniture can transform a good piece into a great one, but you’ll have to pay for this extra quality. While some finishes are roughly equivalent in cost (wood stain and finishing, for instance, costs about $4 to $8 per linear foot regardless of what types you use), other, higher-quality finishing methods might cost you more.
If you’re having metal furniture built, you might opt for powder-coating or electrostatic painting in order to get the best possible durability. These methods use an electric charge to bond paint to the metal, enhancing the look for years to come. These finishing methods can cost $340 to $1,020 in total, depending on the size of the furniture and the specifics of the materials you’re using. Another thing to note is that you’ll eventually need to pay furniture refinishing costs, meaning you’ll be incurring more expenses for your custom furniture down the line.
| Finishing Method | Used For | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Staining | Wood furniture | $150–$400 |
| Painting | Wood furniture | $80–$800 |
| Powder-coating/Electrostatic painting | Metal furniture | $340–$1,020 |
Labor
The whole purpose of custom furniture is to show off the skilled craftsmanship of a particular furniture builder in your area. For this reason, labor makes up a large part of the total cost of building custom furniture. The exact amount depends once again on the choices you make as you select the perfect custom furniture. Most carpenters charge somewhere between $30 and $200 per hour, though their rates will probably be on a per-project basis. Because custom furniture is usually built by highly experienced carpenters, you can expect to pay higher labor rates for your new piece.
Budgeting for Custom Furniture
Although custom furniture can quickly become pricy, most of the cost comes down to your choices, meaning it’s possible to get one-of-a-kind home furnishings without breaking the bank. Here are a few budgeting tips for custom furniture:
Where possible, limit luxurious materials—consider whether your dresser must be made of solid oak versus a more inexpensive wood, such as pine.
Balance lower-cost materials with durability, ensuring you don’t have to pay furniture repair costs prematurely.
Reduce customizations to what is necessary—spend your money on getting a bed frame that’s the perfect size rather than including expensive ornamental trims or special wood inlays.
Look into recycled materials as a way to cut costs while providing a unique look to your furniture.
Reduce costs by using simpler finishes like oil or paint rather than expensive polishes or powder-coated metals.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Amish-made furniture is a tradition of carpentry that uses time-honored building methods without the use of power tools. It comes at a higher price, but it can definitely be worth the cost. Be sure to do your research to ensure the shop is actually Amish-owned and operated, as some builders claim to make Amish-built furniture without using the same techniques.
Custom furniture can be worth the price if it suits your needs. One example that makes sense is furnishing rooms with odd dimensions or unique shapes. You might not find a suitable piece of pre-built furniture for your specific space, meaning you’ll have to go for a custom piece. Also, quality custom furniture tends to be much more durable than less expensive, pre-built pieces.
The best finish depends on your desired look, budget, and the material you’re looking to finish. For instance, power-coating and electrostatic paint are great ways to add durable, long-lasting paint to metal, but they come at a high cost. On the other hand, you can stain wood to your desired color quite easily and at a low cost, which might make the most sense for your specific furniture.
The time it takes to design, build, and finish custom furniture depends on the skill and availability of your builder, the complexity of your design, the amount of finishing touches you want, and the amount you’re willing to pay for a quick turnaround. Experienced carpenters might be able to finish a dresser within a week, while other projects could potentially take weeks to finish.
