The average cost to install cabinet hardware ranges from $100 to $10,000, with a national average of $300. The hardware material and size of your kitchen impact cost, along with labor expenses.
Installing new cabinet hardware might seem like a simple project, but it can have a huge impact. The cost to install new cabinet hardware can range widely, from $100 to $10,000, with an average price of $300. Changing up the handles and knobs on your cabinets adds new energy and style to your kitchen and can even add value to your home. However, new cabinet hardware installation is a project that can get pricey quickly if you opt for ornate or novelty hardware. In this guide, you’ll learn how to keep your cabinetry project within your budget when upgrading your kitchen.
Your overall costs will depend on the types of cabinet hardware you choose—with more precious, ornate, and higher-priced hardware taking considerably more time and effort to install than simple, cost-effective cabinet hardware. Before embarking on your cabinet hardware installation project, consider labor costs, kitchen size, materials, hardware styles, shipping, and hidden costs. Here are the cost breakdowns to install cabinet hardware:
The average kitchen cabinet hardware project costs around $300 for installation. And you can expect a kitchen remodeling pro near you to charge between $5 and $30 per piece to install cabinet hardware. If you hire a handyperson near you, you can expect to pay between $50 and $100 per hour. That said, you may incur higher costs if you hire a cabinetmaker to create and install custom hardware. The average installation takes about three hours to complete, so you may use that number to factor an hourly rate when using a handyperson.
Cabinet hardware averages between $2 and $50 each. So, if the average-sized kitchen is 100 to 200 square feet, you should aim for 20 to 40 pieces of cabinet hardware. Accounting for labor, you can expect to pay between $120 and $2,400 to install cabinet hardware in an average-sized kitchen.
Hardware materials largely determine the final cost of your cabinet hardware project. You’ll need one piece for every cabinet you’re upgrading or outfitting, so counting the number of replacement knobs or handles you’ll need can help you establish a budget. Reviewing all of the kitchen cabinet terms can help you decide how many pieces you need for your cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Here are some price ranges to give you an idea of how much you could pay:
Material | Price Range per Piece |
---|---|
Glass | $3–$25 |
Crystal | $3–$75 |
Ceramic | $1–$15 |
Resin | $3–$10 |
Stone | $3–$50 |
Wood | $1–$10 |
Plastic | $1–$5 |
Brass | $5–$200 |
Bronze | $10–$200 |
Copper | $5–$200 |
Stainless Steel | $4–$32 |
Zinc Alloy | $5–$100 |
Iron | $1–$200 |
At lower budgets, style doesn’t necessarily change the price of your new cabinet hardware. But novelty and ornate pulls will almost certainly up the price. Weigh the pros and cons of matching home hardware or mix-and-match styles.
Round/oval: $1–$200
Square: $1–$200
Novelty: $10–$200+
Ornate: $20–$500+
Big home improvement store chains typically offer free shipping or delivery when you order online or in-store. Boutique custom designers, on the other hand, may charge shipping.
Depending on the condition of your cabinets, you may need to include additional costs for cabinet and hardware repairs, removal, re-sanding, and painting. The cost to refinish kitchen cabinets averages $3,000.
Especially on old cabinets, sometimes additional work (refitting or refacing) is needed to complete the job, resulting in more material and labor costs. And cabinet refacing will run you between $4,500 and $10,500.
If you go the DIY route, you’ll need access to several tools. A power drill with drill bits, a level, a tape measure, and a Phillips head screwdriver will all come in handy during installation. A utility knife and crowbar may also be necessary for removing cabinets.
You’ll save between $130 and $275 on labor when installing new cabinet hardware. If you’re remodeling your kitchen at the same time, anything you can DIY (hardware removal, sanding, painting) can also reduce costs.
If you have the tools, supplies, and time, you can tackle this project yourself in a few hours. You’ll only need to pay for the cost of the cabinet hardware itself. Yet, we recommend hiring a cabinet installer near you. While this job may sound simple, it’s anything but. Ensuring that all of your hardware is properly aligned requires making a template—this way, you don’t misalign and mis-drill your cabinets and hardware. Making frequent mistakes will be costly, as you’ll need to replace or repair each door front. Hiring a cabinet pro will save you time and hassle.
While you can’t change the price of labor for a pro to install cabinet hardware, you can save costs in other ways, including:
Match hardware hole sizes: If you’re replacing old cabinet hardware with new knobs and pulls, it will cost less to match the hole sizes already in your cabinets than to create entirely new hole templates.
Measure properly: measure your cabinetry and purchase handles, knobs, and pulls that will fit correctly. Otherwise, you may have to fix and repaint your cabinet doors to install the right size.
Shop around: Get at least three quotes from kitchen cabinet pros to ensure you get the best price possible.
Pick affordable finishes: Choose hardware finishes that will age well, last long, and don’t break your budget.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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You can expect this project to take a few hours for an average-sized kitchen. Although, it could take up to a full day if you need to fit specialty hinges and use custom screws. Also, if your kitchen needs major prep work, such as sanding, refinishing, or repainting your cabinets, you can expect the job to take much longer.
Yes, you can replace old kitchen cabinet hinges with soft close, and it’s a great DIY project you can likely tackle in a weekend. Installing soft close hinges first involves removing the cabinet doors and old hinges with either a screwdriver or power drill. The next step involves drilling a new hole for the new hinges, following the manufacturer’s instructions. It’s a fantastic way of upgrading standard cabinet hinges and giving a more custom feel without the expense of replacing your cabinets.
The ⅓ rule for cabinet hardware refers to selecting the best-sized pulls for your cabinets. Look for hardware with a length of about ⅓ the height of the door and ⅓ the width of the drawer.