How to Choose Stock Cabinets for Your Kitchen
By: Deborah R. Huso
Buying stock cabinets for your kitchen remodel can definitely save you money. Here are some tips to help you make the right buying decision.
Buying stock cabinets instead of custom is a good way to save substantial time and money on a kitchen remodel.
Stock cabinets save you time because you don’t have to wait for them to be built. And they save you money because you aren’t paying for customizations.
But that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality. You just need to know what to look for.
What to Look For
Cost and Installation
The cost of quality stock cabinets for an average-sized kitchen generally runs $8,000 to $10,000. Semi-custom cabinets would cost about twice that. And full custom cabinets would cost even more.
There are some lower-cost stock alternatives, such as IKEA (as low as $2,500), but you’ll offset your savings with the hassle of difficult assembly — fine if you have the patience and skill.
But unless you’ve got professional building experience, actually installing kitchen cabinets isn’t a typical DIY job.
So carve out $100-$300 per cabinet (depending on labor rates in your area) to have them professionally installed.
The Drawbacks of Stock Cabinets
Note: You’ll also need to choose hardware. But that can be a fun project to really personalize your kitchen.