If you’re an art and design lover like me and craving for a beautifully designed kitchen cabinet you searched to buy one and then you probably surprised why these cabinets were by far more expensive than you thought.
And that brings you here. Not just you and me, more people asking the same question- why in the world kitchen cabinets are so expensive?
And I’m going to answer this question. Look, this is not an expert answer. I’m just a Kitchen Enthusiast like you. From my research, I’m going to break it down for you in simple terms.
Why kitchen cabinets are so expensive?
The answer is in short, Kitchen cabinets are expensive for 3 main reasons: the material and design which we choose for our kitchen cabinets, the amount of work and effort that goes to them and the time it takes to get the type of kitchen cabinets that meets our requirement.
More precisely, Kitchen Cabinets are so expensive because-
1. Materials are expensive
2. Labour is expensive (Also a single mistake can be expensive)
3. It takes time to get it right
Let’s break it down into short details, so you can get a clear concept.
1. Kitchen Cabinet Materials are expensive
The materials used in making kitchen cabinets are generally expensive, even though they vary in characteristics and prices.
The materials utilized in making kitchen cabinets are for the most part costly, even though they vary in characteristics and prices.
Solid wood is quite expensive, yet, it is still a typical kitchen cabinet material; most particularly for hand-crafted cabinets. Solid wood is very durable that is the reason it’s the primary choice of the majority of clients. Materials like granite and marble also come at a bigger cost.
Popularly known as MDF is made of wood fibers and resin. In contrast to strong wood, it can’t be demolished by termites and it is one of the economical kitchen cabinet materials nowadays. For the most part, clients with a low budget settle on MDF kitchen cupboards.
2. Labor Cost to Install Kitchen Cabinets is Expensive
When it comes to building kitchen cabinets, labor is one of the top costs. simply because kitchen cabinets are not like other furniture that can simply be purchased, moved into the house, and positioned in the exact place.
It requires to be installed safely and securely. The work is very labor-intensive and requires skill and time to make the cabinets as good as they can be.
Most of the time, the expense of installing new kitchen cabinets is 40% – 50% of the cost of the cabinets. Also, it’s quite hard to install cabinets by yourself.
When it comes to a custom-made cabinet the price is even higher. Because to meet the design requirement of customers some of these custom-made cabinets are manually constructed.
3. It takes time to get it right
Making one solid piece of the cabinet can take more than 6-8 hours to get it perfect. The more time it takes the costly it would be as skilled professionals are involved. If I break it down to an average timeframe it would be:
1–8 weeks for planning and design — This is the timeframe it takes to get proper measurements, create a plan, decide on your cabinet style and finish alternatives, and afterward conclude the spending plan for your task. Once more, this shifts enormously relying upon the extent of your task and the speed you set for your decision-making.
1–8 weeks to cabinetry completion — Depending on your cabinets of decision: stock, semi-custom, or custom the lead time will differ. For the most part, on normal from the day your request is submitted, it takes 3 – 8 weeks for the cabinets to totally be made to specification.
2–5 weeks installation — This amount of time can change broadly relying upon different things that are going on in your space during your redesign. However, when your space is fully ready to receive the cabinets, the project can be completed easily within 2 – 5 weeks.
These timeframes are not typical. I’ve just estimated from my research. It can take more or less time than that depending on your demand.
How much does it cost to put new cabinets in a kitchen?
In most cases, the normal expense of putting in new kitchen cabinets is between $2,000 to 10,000 with most homeowners spending between $1,842 and $8,597. The top of the line ones going as high as $12000. Prices for semi-custom and fully custom install for an average-sized kitchen ranges from $13,000 to $30,000 or more.
Now you must be wondering is there any way to spending less than that or save more money on new kitchen cabinets. Let me show you how you can Save Money on new kitchen cabinets
.
How To Save Money On New Kitchen Cabinets
Although kitchen cupboards are normally costly, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get your cabinets on a budget.
Picking pre-assembled over custom is a decent beginning stage, yet your savings don’t need to stop there.
Consider the followings:
Consider Different Door Styles
Door styles can make a dramatic difference in the price of your cabinets. Raised board and inset door styles will quite often cost more.
Regularly Shaker-style doors cost less, however, that isn’t generally the situation. It can shift depending on the cabinet producer.
Slab door fronts are typically more affordable in all cases, which can be an ideal fit for you if you’re planning a cutting-edge or contemporary kitchen.
Open shelving would be a great option
Whether it will take more space on your kitchen, replacing wall cabinets with open shelving can save you a large amount of money.
If you’re willing to do with some more maintenance you can save several thousand dollars.
More doors and fewer drawers
Cabinets with fewer drawers cost less than those that have more drawers.
Drawer bases can cost you a lot and the more drawer you want to have the more costly it becomes.
In the spot of more drawers, you can decide to have more doors. Likewise, you should get rid of soft-close drawers and full extension slides.
Pick a reasonable wood species
If you can choose the right wood species it can shave a few hundred dollars from your final cost.
Oak, would be always an affordable option. Hickory is typically an update from oak. Species, for example, maple can climb up the sticker price by up to $1,000.
Eventually, wood species cost will be controlled by the cabinet manufacturer. Get some information about the most moderate species.
No Pullouts
You must choose whether the additional accommodation is worth the expense or not. Any kind of pullout can hike up the bill, whether it’s a trash bin, sliding shelves or miracle corner.
You got to figure out how you can place your trash bin elsewhere, for example, in a pantry or at the end of your island. Stick to standard visually impaired corners and base cupboards without the bells and whistles.
Fewer Customization
It’s a fact. The fewer details you choose, the less you’ll pay. Corbels, embellishing legs, coordinating end boards, glass entryway fronts, crown trim and more are shockingly costly. These customized options will surely increase your price.
I recommend, reduce customization. But if you are going for custom-made kitchen cabinets, keep your customization requirements to the minimum and make sure they are realistic.
Avoid adding a glaze to your paints
A glaze is tempting but it’s not a necessary thing to do on your painted or stained kitchen cabinets. Although it adds to the beauty of kitchen cabinets yet it isn’t totally essential.
Glazing costs an impressive sum and it will hugely affect your financial plan on the off chance that you don’t do it.
As glaze adds significant cost if you want to reduce the total cost to kitchen cabinets don’t spare a moment to take it off the table. Actually, glazing is more of a want than a need. If you can clean your kitchen cabinet with specific techniques then it’ll never look clumsy.
Final Words
Hope you found the answer to why are kitchen cabinets so expensive. I just tried to explain all the things from my understanding. Don’t overthink. Look at your new kitchen cabinets as a form of investment for the long term.
In the event that reasonableness is the significant thing you are searching for in a kitchen cupboard, you should go for stock cupboards; They are the least expensive kitchen cabinets you can get available.
Read Next: Can you put things on top of the Microwave?