Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost Calculator

In 2026, kitchen cabinet installation typically costs $150-$650 per linear foot installed, including the cabinets and labor. A typical 25-foot kitchen runs about $4,000-$16,000 depending on cabinet grade, and high-end custom kitchens can exceed $20,000. Stock or ready-to-assemble cabinets are the most affordable, semi-custom is the popular mid-range, and custom cabinetry is the most expensive. Labor alone for installation usually runs $100-$300 per linear foot, with the rest being the cabinets themselves. Removing old cabinets, adding tall/pantry units, crown molding, and an island all increase the total.

Cabinets are priced by the linear foot — the horizontal length of the cabinet run measured along the wall. For example, a wall with 10 feet of base cabinets is '10 linear feet.' Importantly, the standard linear-foot price usually accounts for both the base cabinets and the wall (upper) cabinets above them as a set, since they run the same length. So a kitchen with 25 linear feet of base cabinets and matching uppers is quoted as 25 linear feet. Tall pantry units, islands, and unusual configurations are typically priced separately or with a multiplier. Measuring your wall runs and adding them up gives the linear footage this calculator uses.

These are the three main cabinet tiers. Stock cabinets are pre-manufactured in standard sizes and finishes (including ready-to-assemble / RTA), are the most affordable, and are available immediately — but offer limited size and style options. Semi-custom cabinets are also factory-made but offer many more sizes, door styles, finishes, and modifications, striking a balance of choice and cost; they're the most popular choice. Custom cabinets are built to your exact specifications by a cabinetmaker, in any size, material, and finish, allowing full design freedom and the highest quality — at the highest price and longest lead time. The grade you choose is the single biggest factor in the cost.

Not always — it depends on the quote. Many installers price the new cabinet installation separately from demolition, charging extra to tear out and dispose of your existing cabinets and countertops. Removal typically runs about $50-$100 per linear foot, depending on how the old cabinets are attached and how much disposal is involved. If you're doing a straight replacement, factor this in (this calculator includes a 'remove old cabinets' option at ~$60/lf). For a brand-new kitchen or new construction with no existing cabinets, removal isn't needed. Always confirm whether demolition and haul-away are included in an installer's quote.

Countertops are usually a separate line item and a separate trade. Cabinet installation covers setting and securing the base and wall cabinets, leveling them, and attaching them to the wall studs — but the countertop is templated and installed afterward (often by a different fabricator) once the base cabinets are in place. This calculator estimates cabinet installation only, not countertops. If you're planning a full kitchen, budget separately for countertops (for example, quartz or granite), as well as a backsplash, sink, appliances, and any plumbing or electrical work. Sequencing matters: cabinets go in first, then the countertop is measured and installed.

Installing cabinets in a typical kitchen takes about 2-4 days for a professional crew, though the overall kitchen project spans longer. Setting and leveling base and wall cabinets, securing them to studs, and adding fillers, trim, and hardware is the core work. Removing old cabinets first adds time, as does crown molding, complex layouts, and islands. Keep in mind the bigger timeline: the cabinets must be ordered and delivered (semi-custom and custom have lead times of several weeks to a few months), installed, and only then can the countertop be templated and installed — so the full kitchen sequence often takes several weeks even though the cabinet install itself is quick.

It's possible for a confident DIYer, especially with stock or RTA cabinets, and doing so saves the labor cost. However, cabinet installation is precision work: cabinets must be perfectly level and plumb (an out-of-level run causes gaps, doors that won't align, and countertop problems), securely anchored to wall studs to bear weight, and carefully scribed to walls that are rarely perfectly straight. Heavy wall cabinets are awkward and risky to hang solo. Mistakes are costly given the price of cabinets. Simple, small installs are reasonable DIY; full kitchens, custom cabinetry, or anything with tricky layouts, islands, and crown molding are usually best left to a pro for a level, durable, professional-looking result.

Several upgrades add to the base price. Crown molding along the tops of wall cabinets adds a finished look and labor (around $15/linear foot). Soft-close hinges and drawer slides (about $25/linear foot) are a popular comfort upgrade. Decorative knobs and pulls add hardware cost. A kitchen island brings its own cabinetry and installation cost, and tall pantry cabinets are priced as added units. Under-cabinet lighting, glass-front doors, pull-out organizers, lazy Susans, and specialty inserts also raise the total. Removing old cabinets and any required wall repair or electrical/plumbing adjustments add further. Choosing a higher cabinet grade multiplies all of this, so grade plus add-ons together drive the final number.