How to Calculate The Cost of Kitchen Cabinets

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape

  • Cabinet price chart

New cabinets can change the look of the whole kitchen.
Image Credit: David Sacks/Lifesize/Getty Images

Cabinetry is one of the defining features of a kitchen, so choosing units that suit your style is an important part of the remodeling process. However, installing new cabinets can quickly become expensive, and the price of cabinets varies significantly by material, design and manufacturer. Your entire kitchen remodel shouldn't cost more than 15 percent of your home's current value, and cabinets should be approximately 48 percent of your kitchen budget, so take that into consideration when you plan how much to spend.

Advertisement

Step 1

Measure the width and height of each section of wall you plan to cover with cabinets. If you plan to install an island, measure the width and height of the planned island cabinets as well. Take your measurements in inches.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Add all the widths together, then add all the heights together. Multiply the two sums to find the total cabinet area in square inches. Divide this amount by 144 to convert the measurement to square feet.

Advertisement

Step 3

Ask the cabinet manufacturer or retailer you are dealing with for a copy of their price chart. Look at the options available for cabinet materials, facing styles, finishes and brands. Select several products you like across a range of prices.

Step 4

Multiply the total square feet of cabinets you plan to install by the price per square foot of each of the products you selected. This gives you an approximate cost for each type of cabinet. Select the product that fits best within your budget and gives you money left over for installation.

Advertisement

Step 5

Talk to the cabinet retailer or an independent contractor about how much it will cost to have the cabinets installed. The retailer or contractor should be able to give you an estimate based on the square footage and type of cabinet. Add that estimate to the cost of the cabinets themselves.

Tip

Things often go wrong during remodeling projects, so leave some wiggle-room in your budget to cope with emergencies. To shave down the cost of new cabinets, consider buying the units wholesale, choosing prefab units instead of custom units, selecting basic facing options or, if you are an accomplished DIYer, installing them yourself.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references & resources

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...