The average cost of custom cabinets is more than $4,400, but it’s possible to spend as low as $1,100 for smaller installations.
Homeowners in Utah can pay at least $500 per linear foot inclusive of labor fees and materials. Your location will determine the actual price, particularly if you plan to install custom kitchen cabinets. In Salt Lake City, it’s possible to spend around $300 for the materials if you only want semi-custom installations. Remember that labor usually accounts for the majority of your budget, so you should only consider hiring licensed and insured contractors to guarantee quality artistry.
Custom Cabinets Are Expensive
You should expect to spend up to 75% on the cost of labor for a custom-built cabinet. The type of materials and your location will affect the total price. Labor fees could range between $7,000 and $20,000 for 30 linear feet of installation, while including the cost of materials increases the rate up to $36,000.
Since customized cabinets mean unique fixtures, it’s unlikely that you could achieve the same results when you plan on building the cabinets by yourself. Most custom-built cabinets require the use of specialized tools. Even if you can find rental equipment, it takes a lot of skills and experience to do the job correctly.
How to Save Money
A custom cabinet for a 10×10 kitchen with 20 linear feet will cost at least twice the amount of a standard cabinet. If you can’t afford full-scale customization, the next best thing involves semi-custom cabinets that can cost as low as $2,000 for the same kitchen space. If you need to replace an existing cabinet, you could take it down on your own to save $300 on the cost of removing it.
Since labor accounts for a large chunk of the cost, you should inquire about flat rates for installing custom cabinets. Shop around for the price of materials in different stores, preferably with a showroom. It might be cheaper to buy the materials and only pay for labor, but don’t forget to compare the rates when you source the materials from a professional. Some suppliers offer discounted prices to affiliated contractors, which means that you could get a better deal.
Finishing Expenses
You could reduce the price of installation by skipping accessories and additional features, except for finishing expenses such as paint. The choice of color for custom cabinets can be an enjoyable and confusing task at the same time.
Whether or not you leave this job to a contractor, you should be aware of the right paint selection based on the type of material. Choose latex paint over oil-based products since the former dries faster and has a lower rate of volatile organic compounds, which affect the quality of air in your house.
Overall, custom cabinets are expensive simply because you want non-standard fixtures. Some kitchen remodeling projects require customizations to follow the design. When choosing among different contractors, ask for their rates on a per-linear-foot charge and their system for measuring it.
