How Much Do Cabinets and Countertops Cost?

What Do Cabinets and Countertops Cost?

Cabinets typically cost between $100 and $1,200 or more per linear foot, with an average around $450 per linear foot, driven mostly by whether they’re stock, semi-custom, or custom. Stock cabinets start around $100 per linear foot, semi-custom run $250 to $850 per linear foot, and custom cabinets cost $500 to $1,200 or more per linear foot. Countertops are typically priced separately by square foot and vary by material. Here’s how cabinet costs break down by type so you know what to expect.

Stock Cabinets: From $100 per Linear Foot

Stock cabinets are the most affordable option, starting around $100 per linear foot installed. These are mass-produced in standard sizes and styles, available off the shelf or with short lead times. Because they’re pre-made in set dimensions, they’re the budget-friendly choice, though they offer limited sizes and customization, you work with the standard sizes available. Stock cabinets come in a range of styles and finishes and can look great in the right kitchen. For a budget-conscious cabinet project where standard sizes fit your space, stock cabinets deliver function and appearance at the lowest cost.

Semi-Custom Cabinets: $250 to $850 per Linear Foot

Semi-custom cabinets cost $250 to $850 per linear foot installed, offering more design flexibility than stock. They start from predefined cabinet designs but allow more options in sizes, finishes, styles, and modifications, striking a balance between the affordability of stock and the customization of fully custom. This flexibility lets you better fit your space and preferences without the full cost of custom. For homeowners who want more design options and a better fit than stock allows, but don’t need or can’t budget for full custom, semi-custom cabinets are a popular middle-ground choice offering good flexibility at a moderate cost. (For more on this, see Stock vs. Semi-Custom vs. Custom Cabinets: Which to Choose?.)

Custom Cabinets: $500 to $1,200+ per Linear Foot

Custom cabinets are the premium option at $500 to $1,200 or more per linear foot. These are built to your exact space, specifications, and preferences, offering unlimited design flexibility, precise fit, premium materials, and craftsmanship. Custom cabinets are made specifically for your kitchen, allowing any size, configuration, material, and detail you want. The higher cost reflects the bespoke design, quality materials, and skilled craftsmanship. For homeowners wanting cabinets tailored exactly to their space and vision, with premium quality and no compromise on fit or design, custom cabinets deliver the ultimate result at the top of the cost range.

Countertops and Other Factors

Countertops are priced separately, typically by square foot, and vary widely by material, laminate is economical, while quartz, granite, and other stone are premium. Beyond the cabinet type and countertop material, several factors shift the total: the size of your kitchen (more linear feet of cabinets and square feet of countertop cost more), the materials and finishes chosen, removal of old cabinets and counters, any modifications to plumbing or electrical, and installation complexity. These factors, along with the cabinet grade and countertop material, determine your project’s total cost. (For more on this, see What Makes Cabinets and Countertops Cost More (or Less)?.)

Estimating the Full Cost of Your Kitchen Project

Because cabinets are priced per linear foot and countertops per square foot, estimating your kitchen’s total cost requires understanding how these per-unit prices combine with the size of your kitchen, and how the two components add together. To estimate cabinets, you’d multiply the linear feet of cabinetry your kitchen needs by the per-linear-foot cost of your chosen grade, so a small kitchen with limited cabinetry in stock cabinets sits at the low end, while a large kitchen with extensive cabinetry in custom sits at the high end. Countertops are estimated separately, multiplying the square footage of counter surface by the per-square-foot cost of your chosen material, plus the fabrication and installation. Adding these two components together, along with the associated costs like removal, plumbing, and hardware, gives you the full kitchen project estimate.

This combined estimation explains why kitchen costs vary so enormously and why two seemingly similar kitchens can have very different prices. A kitchen’s total is driven by both how much cabinetry and counter it needs (its size) and the grade and materials chosen, and these multiply. Understanding this helps you shape your project to your budget: if the total for your desired grade and material exceeds your budget, you can adjust either component, choosing a less expensive cabinet grade, a more economical countertop material, or both, to bring the total down, or reduce the scope. It also helps you interpret quotes, since a quote reflects your specific kitchen’s size multiplied by your chosen grade and material, plus the associated work. For a genuinely accurate figure, having a contractor assess your specific kitchen, measure the linear feet and square footage, and quote your chosen grade and materials is essential, since the combination of your kitchen’s size and your material choices determines the real cost. Approaching the estimate by understanding how the per-unit cabinet and countertop prices combine with your kitchen’s size gives you both a realistic expectation and the ability to adjust the components to fit your budget.

Getting an Accurate Price

Because cabinet and countertop costs depend on the cabinet grade, the countertop material, the kitchen size, and the installation, an accurate price depends on your specific project. Stock cabinets with laminate counters in a small kitchen sit at the low end; custom cabinets with premium stone in a large kitchen run toward the top. When you’re ready for a real quote, connect with a local pro below. (For more on this, see How Long Does a Cabinet and Countertop Installation Take?.)