What Influences the Total Cost of Custom Kitchen Cabinetry?
Custom kitchen cabinets are an important part of a modern kitchen design. But many are unsure if the costs are worth it. So, what influences the cost of custom kitchen cabinets?
It’s true. If you’ve been dreaming of functional and elegant upgrades for your kitchen, you’re not alone.
In fact, handmade kitchen cabinets—those handcrafted to your personal space and aesthetics—are one of the most coveted items of a well-designed kitchen. But here’s the catch: many homeowners are unsure if the costs are worth the final product.
With that in mind, this article outlines the factors that affect your final price tag. With this breakdown, it’s our hope that you’ll leave with a better understanding of whether custom work is right for you, and where you should focus your budget if so.
Let’s go.
Spoiler Alert: Custom Cabinets are More Expensive Than Stock Options
Working with custom cabinet builders may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As such, it’s important to go into this process with a bit of background understanding. That way, you can look back on the experience—and your personalized cabinets—fondly for decades to come.
So here’s the bottom line: custom cabinets are more expensive. That’s because they’re crafted for the unique flow of your kitchen, your personal design choices, and how cabinets function in your day to day—and the final price tag reflects the labor, skill, and precision that goes into building custom solutions from the ground up.
How Does Wood Choice Affect Cabinet Cost?
Wood choice is one of the largest determining factors for the overall price of your cabinets.
Here are a few common choices we regularly work with at Twin Valley Woodcrafts:
- Maple, Alder, and Poplar: Versatile and readily available options representing more budget-friendly designs
- Cherry, Oak, and Hickory: Mid-cost hardwoods offering greater durability and richer grain patterns
- Walnut and Exotic Hardwoods: Both rare and labor-intensive, these are premium wood choices—and are priced as such
Ultimately, your choice of wood is a personal one. Be sure to ask your custom cabinet maker about the pros and cons of each, as well as their recommendations based on your budget and priorities.
How Do Cabinet Finishes Play into the Final Price?
Your choice of wood finish affects both the look and longevity of your cabinetry.
Generally speaking, a standard paint job or clear coat is the least expensive option, whereas hand-rubbed glazes, distressed finishes, or multi-step staining processes are more labor-intensive and therefore, expensive.
Custom Features That Add Up (But May Be Worth It)
Simply put, the more bells and whistles, the higher the cost of your custom cabinetry. While each of the following make fantastic additions to custom-built cabinetry, they do add up into the final cost.
- Pull-out spice racks
- Appliance garages
- Hidden pantries and lazy Susans
- Custom crown molding
- Glass-front displays
- Soft-close hinges
Each of these features, while amazing to have in your kitchen, add to the complexity and labor requirements of building your cabinets. That said, these touches are where custom cabinet builders really shine—and depending on your needs, may be well worth the extra investment.
How Do I Get the Most Out of My Custom Cabinet Budget?
The fact is, handmade kitchen cabinets can be significantly more expensive than the prefabricated units you sold at the hardware store—and rightfully so. Handcrafted cabinetry is elegant, personalized to your space and style, and built to last far longer than cheap, particle-board solutions.
Should you decide custom cabinetry is the right path for you, here are a few tips to making the most of your investment:
- Think Long-Term: While more expensive up front, handcrafted wood cabinetry lasts decades—often making them the less expensive option over time.
- Get Design Guidance: Ask your builder for advice on the best materials and designs for your needs—or, where to best invest and where to save on material and labor costs.
- Request a Detailed Quote: An experienced craftsman will be able to provide you with an itemized quote, ensuring you’re not caught off guard at the end of your project with unexpected charges.
What is the Most Important Consideration When Investing in Custom Cabinetry?
When building custom cabinets, the details matter. However, there is one consideration that rises above the rest when it comes to getting the most from your money (not to mention an end result you love):
Choosing the right builder.
And the fact is, you have a lot of choices here in southeastern PA. But by working with Twin Valley Woodcrafts, you’re choosing a family-owned and operated custom cabinet manufacturer based in the heart of Amish Country—Lancaster, Pennsylvania. And as a small, local business, you get a personal touch and one-on-one relationship with a custom woodworker who cares about you and your home.
So don’t wait any longer on your dream kitchen. Because after 30 years, we’re still excited to serve southeastern PA and NJ homeowners with the perfect storage solutions.
