How Much Does Cabinet Installation Cost in 2025?

Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost Factors

The size, material, and number of kitchen cabinets you install significantly impact your total cabinet costs.

Kitchen Size

How much is it to install kitchen cabinets? While local kitchen designers don’t calculate the cost to install kitchen cabinets by the square footage of your kitchen, it can be a good starting place if you’re looking for a rough estimate before getting quotes.

The table below assumes stock or semi-custom cabinets with average prices. Custom cabinets would increase these costs by 50% to 100%.

Another way of estimating how much installing kitchen cabinets costs is by the linear foot. Most kitchen cabinet installation costs between $100 to $1,200 per linear foot, depending on cabinet depth, material, and style. Knowing the general linear length can help your pro give you a ballpark estimate, especially once you settle on a design.

The average kitchen has anywhere from 15 to 25 linear feet of cabinets, which could yield a cabinet installation cost of around $1,500 to $30,000 in total, depending on the level of customization, material, and style.

Cabinet Material

The materials you choose also impact your final cabinet installation costs. The most popular material is solid wood, although wood veneer and laminate are common as a more affordable option. These non-wood alternatives often mimic wood, and they're usually durable. However, they're difficult to repair when damaged (meaning higher cabinet repair costs) and usually lack the richness and authenticity of real wood.

The following table outlines the average cost for stock cabinets of each material:

Hardware

Cabinetry hardware, including pulls and handles, typically costs between $10 to $12 per piece. Stock cabinets include hinges, which should appear as a line item in quotes. When you hire a remodeling contractor, they usually include all hardware in their project costs. If you're unsure, ask them to point out these costs to you in their estimate.

Number of Cabinets

Large kitchens may result in more cabinets, increasing the project's material and labor costs. Your total costs could be lower if you go for a minimalist look with fewer cabinets and more open shelving. Make sure you have adequate pantry storage to make up for this approach. Building a pantry costs around $500 to $5,000.

Other Cost Factors

In addition to size, materials, and other key factors, it’s also important to budget for details like trim and molding as well as the labor costs of your project.

Trim and Molding

Basic stock cabinets don't offer many diverse design elements, but if you consider semi-custom and fully custom cabinets, you can enhance their design with trim and molding. Crown molding typically costs between $4 to $23 per linear foot.

Under-cabinet lighting is another way to improve the aesthetic and functionality of your kitchen. Under-cabinet lighting costs between $230 and $300 per light.

Changing Kitchen Cabinet Placement

Moving kitchen cabinets around doesn’t increase installation or material costs. However, you’ll have to consider costs associated with moving electrical outlets, plumbing, redoing drywall, and painting.

• Moving electrical costs around $550 or more, depending on the project's complexity.

• Drywall patching costs about $580. Opening walls to move plumbing or electrical generally requires this type of wall repair.

• Plumbing pricing runs around $650–$800 to reroute a single line.

• Painting a wall costs at least $100 but may go as high as $500 if your painter has a minimum charge.

Labor

You’ll spend between $50 and $400 per linear foot on labor for hanging cabinets, depending on the type of cabinet you choose.

Removal and Replacement

Removing old cabinets generally runs from $300 to $500 for demolition and disposal, on top of the other cabinet installation costs already discussed. This means the average cabinet replacement cost is around $300 to $500 more than the cost to install kitchen cabinets in a new kitchen.

Stock vs. Custom Kitchen Cabinet Costs

To simplify cabinet cost estimates, we can break down cabinets into three types—stock, semi-custom, and custom.

Stock Cabinets

Stock cabinets run around $50 to $200 per linear foot or $100 to $650 per unit for materials alone. Fully installed, they’ll cost approximately $100 to $300 per linear foot. 

You may have a few choices of different colors or trim styles within the stock category. Prices are low because the cabinets are manufactured in large quantities.

Semi-Custom Cabinets

Semi-custom cabinets run around $75 to $400 per linear foot or $150 to $800 per unit. With labor factored in, expect to spend between $150 and $650 per linear foot. 

Semi-custom cabinets can serve as an excellent compromise between stock and custom for price and flexibility, including the following:

• More flexibility than stock options

• Usually offered in a few popular traditional and contemporary styles with limited finishes

• Ability to choose from different sizes with semi-custom options within standard dimensions

Custom

Custom cabinets cost anywhere from $300 to $750 per linear foot or $600 per unit. Once you factor in labor, you might spend as much as $1,200 per linear foot for custom cabinets. As the name suggests, these take you far from cookie-cutter territory and let you truly customize your kitchen.

You can get cabinets that fit odd-shaped rooms and appeal to the most eccentric tastes, but such cabinets tend to be more expensive. With custom cabinets, you're buying a one-of-a-kind piece. Local cabinetmakers may regard their work more as art than furniture.

Refacing vs. Replacing or Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

Refacing cabinets costs around $150 to $450 per linear foot. Refacing cabinets instead of installing new ones could significantly reduce project costs while giving your kitchen an updated look. To reface cabinets, a pro removes the doors and drawers, installs a wood veneer or laminate over the existing cabinet (sometimes called a "skin"), and installs new doors and fronts to match. New fixtures and hinges may be added to elevate the design.

Another option is to skip the reskinning and replace the doors and hardware. Whether replacing specific elements or refacing the entire cabinet, it's an environmentally friendly choice that reduces the waste of installing entirely new cabinets each time you update your kitchen.

Refinishing cabinets costs an average of $2,980 for an entire kitchen. Refinishing cabinets is a more economical way to update the look and feel of your kitchen without waste. However, refinishing doesn't last as long as refacing or replacing.

Budgeting for Kitchen Cabinet Installation

Kitchen cabinet installation is a labor-intensive process that requires professional skills and expertise, but there are plenty of steps you can take to keep your project budget-friendly:

• Opt for stock cabinets: Stock cabinets are significantly more affordable than custom models and come in many stylish designs. Talk to your contractor about the best places to shop for stock cabinets.

• Look for upcycled options: Materials costs are a major factor in kitchen cabinet installation, so anything that can save on materials will reduce your total cost. Contractors often donate gently used cabinets, including custom models and other high-quality materials. Browse places like Habitat for Humanity for upcycled cabinets that can save you money and reduce materials use.

• Consider refacing or refinishing: If your current cabinets show some wear and tear but are still structurally sound, it may be better to reface or refinish rather than fully replace your cabinets. A nice stain can completely transform the look of your cabinets at a more affordable price.

• Contact multiple pros: Reach out to several cabinet contractors in your area to compare quotes and find the best fit for your project.

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.