The cabinets that you choose for your kitchen remodel can easily amount to 60% of the total amount spent on the project. In home renovation projects, a kitchen remodel is the most expensive home improvement project that can be undertaken and the cabinetry is the single most expensive item in a kitchen remodel. There are many options, quality levels, styles, joinery, hardware, trims, and finishes. Considering that the vast majority of kitchen cabinet installations have a minimum 35-year life, it is important to understand and consider your requirements before you purchase.
Kitchen cabinets have an enormous spread in pricing – from $80 a lineal foot for laminate faced, self-assembly to $300 a lineal foot for hardwood doors, glass insets, and ceiling trims. Because of this spread in price, it is important to set a top amount that you can afford. Then you consider the cabinet designs available up to that price point. There are a few additional items to consider. The price per lineal foot does not include the countertop or cabinet installation.
To estimate the costs of your kitchen cabinets measure the length of the area that will have base cabinets, the ones that sit on the floor, and the length of the wall cabinets. Add these two numbers together and you have the number of lineal feet of required cabinets. If it is your intent to install a pantry or other cabinet that is floor to ceiling, include the length dimension in both the base and wall cabinet number.
Most home centers and kitchen cabinet specialty retailers will post an average lineal price for each design and quality. The lineal foot price indicated is usually based on a 10-foot long, straight wall configuration, (no corner cabinets required or glass doors). It will not include any trim or cabinet options and in most cases will not include doorknobs, or drawer pulls. Unless specifically indicated the price will not include installation.
As a rule of thumb, you can double the lineal foot price of the cabinets to arrive at the total cost of the project, installed.
