Cabinets can enhance your kitchen’s appearance, add value toyour home, but most importantly, improve how your kitchen functions.
While cabinets can account for more than a third of the total cost of a kitchen, this investment can transform your kitchen into a highly efficient and organized space. Selecting your cabinets may seem confusing at first, given the large number of styles, types and materials to choose from.
Our buying guide will help you understand the many factors to consider, so you can feel confident you’re selecting the kitchen cabinets that best meet your needs. You may also find this information helpful in selecting cabinets for other areas of your home, such as bathrooms cabinets and laundry cabinets.
First Steps
Since kitchen cabinets can be a sizeable investment, understanding few things before making your selection can make the process easier and help guarantee you’ll get the results you want.
- Become familiar with the different cabinet styles and designs available.
- Measure your kitchen and draw a floor plan of the space so you’ll know how many cabinets are needed and their approximate dimensions.
- Set a budget.
- Review your floor plan and budget with a Kitchen Designer who can help you find the perfect cabinets to fit your lifestyle and budget.
Stock, Semi-Custom or Custom Cabinets
A good starting point in selecting your cabinets is to determine the options, availability, time frame and budget, then decide which type of cabinets best suit your needs.
Stock Cabinets – These cabinets offer economical pricing, a wide range of standard sizes, styles and finishes and are often available the same day or within a few days of purchase. Stock cabinets typically offer some options for specialty functions, and can be an ideal solution for projects with limited budgets. They are often built in widths of 3” increments ranging from 12” to 60” wide. Standard heights range from 30”-36” with above-stove cabinets in heights of 12”-18”.
Semi-Custom Cabinets– These cabinets offer more flexible options for storage, design and style as well as a wider selection of wood and finish choices. Semi-custom cabinets offer more functionality, with enhancements such as pull-out shelves, Lazy Susans and vertical dividers. They usually require a longer lead time for delivery and are priced in the mid-range. Available sizes are typically the same as those for stock cabinets.
Custom Cabinets– These cabinets are constructed by hand to fit your kitchen to your specifications. Custom cabinets make use of all available space and are an ideal solution when non-standard sizes are needed to fit irregular-shaped spaces. Delivery time can take up to nine or more weeks, depending on the cabinet maker’s schedule. The most expensive of the three options, they typically feature high-quality materials and construction features. Custom cabinets can be built in increments up to 1/32”. Price varies based on size, materials and options.