On average, built-in cabinets cost $5,500 but can range from $1,000 to $6,000, depending on the size, type, and material.
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The average built-in cabinet cost is $450 per linear foot.
| Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $150 per linear foot | $450 per linear foot | $1,200 per linear foot |
Your total cost for built-in cabinets depends on several factors, including the type, materials, labor, prep, and additional features.
| Type of Built-In Cabinetry | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Dining Room Cabinetry | $1,000 per linear ft. |
| Bookcase | $150–$1,200 per linear ft. |
| Entertainment Center | $1,500–$15,000 |
| Entryway/Mudroom | $1,000–$6,000 |
| Pantry | $3,000–$4,000 |
You can expect to pay an average of $1,000 per linear foot for custom dining room built-in cabinetry. Custom dining room built-ins typically include a hutch, buffet, shelving, wet bar, or a glass China cabinet. Custom dining room built-ins are a great way for homeowners to showcase their glassware, fine dishware, and barware.
You’ll pay between $150 and $1,200 per linear foot for a custom built-in bookcase. Your overall price will vary depending on the materials and the installation costs. Custom bookcases add a unique charm to your living room—not only do they provide a place to store all of your books and trinkets, but they also have an elegant aesthetic.
You can expect to pay $1,500 to $15,000 for a custom built-in entertainment center. An entertainment center is typically built around your television, with slots for media accessories. Your total cost will depend on the materials, the size of the entertainment center, and the types of add-ons you choose, from cabinets and drawers to lighting and electrical outlets.
You’ll pay an average of $1,000 to $6,000 for custom entryway and mudroom built-ins. Your total cost will depend on the size of the mudroom and whether you carve one out of an existing closet or build an addition. Entryway and mudroom built-ins include cabinetry, lockers, benches, and cubbies.
You can expect to pay between $3,000 and $4,000 for a custom built-in pantry. Your overall cost will depend on the size of the pantry, materials, and the aesthetic. Many custom pantries include cabinetry, shelving, and built-in wine fridges.
Depending on the type of wood, your overall built-in cabinet cost may increase. Here are the average costs associated with different types of wood:
| Type of Wood | Average Price per Board Foot or Sheet |
|---|---|
| White Pine | $2–$3 per board foot |
| Poplar | $4–$5 per board foot |
| Maple | $4–$12 per board foot |
| White Oak | $5–$7 per board foot |
| Cherry | $5–$9 per board foot |
| Birch | $7–$10 per board foot |
| Walnut | $12–$15 per board foot |
| MDF | $15–$60 per sheet |
| Plywood | $12–$120 per sheet |
You can expect to pay $2 to $3 per board foot for white pine. White pine is an affordable option for custom built-in cabinetry. It’s durable, versatile, and has a beautiful light wood coloring. Pine also has minimal shrinkage, ensuring that your built-ins will stay in perfect form for years to come.
You’ll pay $4 to $5 per board foot for poplar built-ins. Poplar is very workable and has a uniform color. It’s also very durable and lightweight, making it easy to sand and paint.
You can expect to pay $4 to $12 per board foot for maple built-ins. Maple is a high-quality and aesthetically pleasing wood, making it perfect for traditional and modern designs. Many cabinetry pros use maple because it’s durable and resistant to scratches, dents, and corrosion.
You’ll pay between $5 and $7 per board foot for white oak built-in cabinets. White oak cabinetry has a timeless look due to its natural grain pattern. White oak is also very durable, versatile, resistant to moisture, and looks elegant for many years.
Cherry wood costs $5 to $9 per board foot for custom built-ins. Cherry cabinetry has a distinct look—it’s naturally darker, with an elegant grain pattern. In addition, cherry cabinetry is extremely durable and easy to clean, ensuring that your cherry built-ins will continue to look fresh and new for many years.
You can expect to pay between $7 and $10 per board foot for birch built-ins. Birch built-ins are very durable and versatile. They are also very chic, with most coloration in light brown or golden honey tones.
You’ll pay $12 to $15 per board foot for walnut built-in cabinets. Walnut built-ins are versatile, durable, strong, and environmentally sustainable—walnut wood is made from renewable resources. In addition, walnut is elegant and long-lasting, so you won’t need to replace your cabinetry any time soon.
You can expect to pay $15 to $60 per sheet for MDF built-in cabinets. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is an engineered wood that is durable and affordable. It’s a popular choice for built-in cabinetry because it’s easy to work with, versatile, and fire-resistant.
You’ll pay between $12 and $120 per sheet for plywood built-in cabinetry. Plywood is a popular choice for built-in cabinetry due to its durability, stability, and resistance to dents and scratches. In addition, plywood is lightweight, easy to work with, and reliable for the long term.
If you hire a carpenter to build or install built-in cabinets, you can expect to pay between $50 to $100 per hour for the construction phase and $100 to $200 per cabinet during installation. Labor takes up about 70% to 80% of your total project cost—carpenters work on the initial plans, designs, building, and installation.
Your total cost will increase if a cabinetry pro needs to perform prep work on your floors or walls before installation. You can expect to pay between $2 and $60 per square foot for floor repairs. These may include repairs to the top layer, underlayment, subflooring, and joists. If you need your drywall repaired, you can expect to pay between $294 and $895.
You can add exciting features to your built-in cabinets. These additional features include:
Painting: $420–$1,420
Staining: $4–$10 per square foot.
Crown molding: $4–$23 per linear ft.
Pull-out drawers: $40–$100 per drawer
Lighting: $230–$300
Glass insert: $100–$300 per linear ft.
Knobs and pulls: $100–$10,000
Electrical outlets: $75–$485 per outlet
If you have carpentry skills and the required tools and supplies, you can tackle this project yourself. You’ll save $50 to $100 per hour in labor and associated installation costs.
However, built-in cabinetry can be a complex project, even for skilled DIYers. You may need to enlist the help of an interior designer—which will cost between $50 to $200 per hour. To ensure the job is done properly, you’ll want to hire a professional cabinet maker in your area. Professional cabinet makers have the skills, knowledge, experience, and tools to make your built-in cabinetry last.
Although custom built-in cabinets can be pricey, there are ways you can save on project costs. Here are a few examples of money-saving tips:
Finish the built-ins yourself instead of having a pro paint or stain them.
Get at least three estimates from carpentry pros in your area to ensure you get the best deal.
Choose a high-quality, long-lasting wood so you don’t have to make frequent repairs or replacements over the years.
Handle all the building cleanup yourself, which may include a few trips to the local dump.
Choose fewer customizations for your built-in cabinets.
It is much more cost-effective to purchase semi-custom and stock cabinets than to build custom cabinets. You’ll pay between $500 and $1,200 per linear foot for custom cabinets, $100 to $650 per linear foot for semi-custom, and $100 to $300 per linear foot for stock cabinets. However, stock cabinets don’t allow you to customize cabinetry for an odd-shaped room or one with high ceilings.
Yes, built-in cabinets can add value to your home if they are finely crafted with high-quality wood and accessories and maintained correctly. Custom built-in cabinets can also increase your return on investment when selling. Built-ins are a popular design feature in living and dining rooms—especially in homes with minimal storage options.
There are several ways to save money on a built-in cabinet. With multiple cost-cutting options, it’s possible to keep your ideal vision intact without any sacrifices. Low-budget ideas include:
Installing a built-in cabinet yourself instead of hiring a pro
Using cheaper types of wood like pine, poplar, or maple
Omitting pricey features like glass inserts and interior lighting
Constructing a partial built-in closet rather than one that takes up an entire wall
