How to find cheap or free kitchen cabinets (2023)

FAQs

What is the cheapest way to do kitchen cabinets? ›

If your goal is to update the look of your existing cabinets, the cheapest route is to simply reface them. This process involves either stripping the stain or paint from the existing cabinets and adding new stain, varnish or paint; in some cases, you might even want to refinish the cabinets with a stick-on veneer.

Cabinets made of MDF, particle board, or other mixed synthetic materials are going to be much less expensive than lacquered cabinets or those made of solid wood or glass.

Pricing wise, they're listed in order—stock cabinets are cheapest, at around $60 to $200 per linear foot, semi-custom cabinets will run you around $100 to $650 per linear foot, and custom cabinets usually cost between $500 and $1,200 per linear foot.

Buying kitchen cabinets online is just a cheaper option for homeowners. Prices online tend to be better as you have more places to buy from and more affordable options. Unlike in a store where you only get what you see, the online world has many more options to offer.

Building your own kitchen cabinets is only a feasible plan if you have plenty of time, a shop full of tools, and intermediate woodworking skills. While building your own cabinets saves about 66%, the cost of tools and time eats into this significantly for someone who is not an experienced woodworker.

They're mass-produced, not custom.

Ikea products are mass-produced in a fixed range of styles, colors, and sizes, which makes them an affordable alternative to small-batch or made-to-order options.

The least expensive type of wood used in kitchen cabinets tends to be pine. Cherry is a slightly more expensive option, while oak is usually about as affordable as its counterparts. Maple is the most expensive type of wood available for kitchen cabinets.

Base cabinets are significantly more expensive than wall cabinets due to the extra size and extra costs for drawer boxes and hardware. Replacing the doors and drawer fronts save money, and labor for removal and installation. Also, new base cabinets may not have the same dimensions as the old ones.

In-stock cabinets average about $60 to $100 per linear foot. Custom-built will run, on average, from $110 to $160 per linear foot on up. Financing is available through the Home Depot credit card or through their Project Loan.

Overall, it's impossible to say with certainty whether cabinet prices will go down in 2023, but it's worth keeping an eye on economic conditions, material costs and competition in the market as these factors may affect the price of kitchen cabinets.

Why are cabinets so expensive right now? ›

Most expensive cabinetry products are made by experienced artisans with great craftsmanship in cabinet making. Even with the available manufacturing equipment and technology, most cabinet designs are made with hours of hands-on work so expect that you're also paying for their labor and expertise.

If you don't like your existing kitchen or bathroom layout, replacing cabinets lets you customize the layout, though you are limited by the room's shape and size. You can also replace cabinet components like shelves or drawers that may be worn or damaged with a total cabinet replacement.

Use lighter colors. A light color on the walls and cabinets instantly brightens a space making it look larger and in turn, more expensive. Light colors reflect light and hide a multitude of sins, including those scratches, dings and dents in your old cabinets.

You can get a full remodeled feel to your kitchen by just replacing or redesigning a couple of cabinets, rather than tearing them all out. In fact, replacing just the upper cabinets with taller cabinets will give the feel of a complete redesign without having to remove your countertop and lower cabinets.

Average labor cost

Including preparation and cleanup, the typical labor cost to install kitchen cabinets can range between $80 and $190 per cabinet, or $50 to $450 per linear foot. The installation price mostly varies depending on the type of cabinets involved and the professional you hire to do the job.

Some cabinets are available to pick up in-store today. Others can be shipped quickly the next day or in as little as three days. Our Contractor Express cabinets ship the next business day to your home or job site.

Cheaper cabinets will often use thin panels which then require metal hanging rails with brackets, rails, and a picture frame construction. Sometimes they leave the panel out completely, so the wall shows through.

The Benefits of Online RTA Cabinets

Because the flat-packed cabinets take up less volume than assembled cabinets, you also save money on the shipping. Provided you are up to the task of assembly—and it isn't a hard job—you can easily save 30 percent or more on the cost of cabinets.

What is the downside of IKEA cabinets? ›

Without a doubt, the biggest con to Ikea Sektion cabinets is the work it takes just to get the product to your house. Although their handy kitchen planner tool will put all the products you need on a list, you'll likely spend 3-8 hours at Ikea getting help and finalizing the order.

Eighty percent of kitchen cabinets I do on the show are from Lowe's, Home Depot or Ikea.

Kitchen drawers are typically more expensive than cabinets. Whether your kitchen design is bespoke or not, the inclusion of drawers is likely to increase the overall cost of remodeling the room.

Solid natural wood cabinets are the gold standard when it comes to strength and longevity. Woods like maple, oak, birch, walnut and cherry will last you decades.

Cabinet Materials

Less expensive cabinets are often made from MDF (medium density fiberboard) or particleboard that's covered with melamine, thermofoil, or wood veneer. Over time, cabinets made from particleboard generally don't hold up well to wear and tear.

White quartz countertops like Cambria pair well with nearly any shade or species of wood. The depth and movement of the quartz complement the tone and texture of wood cabinets, while a range of white hues contrast the cabinets to brighten and visually expand the space.

Plywood is preferred for its strength

This is engineered wood made from sheets of veneer pressed together using resins. Though on the slightly expensive side, this is the most preferred cabinet material in the kitchen for its strength.

It is cheaper to paint kitchen cabinets than it is to replace them. On average, you'll spend $775 to paint your kitchen cabinets, but replacing them can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $25,000.

Your average cabinet, no matter where it is in the house, should last 20 years or so. Kitchen cabinets last about 20 years too. This is because their construction and materials have gotten better. Painted cabinets, even outside of kitchens, last about a year before the paint starts peeling.

The national average is $11,100, but a typical range is $4,000 to $13,000. This largely depends on the size of the kitchen, the type of cabinets, the materials and design, and any other considerations for your specific kitchen.

What does Lowes charge to install cabinets? ›

The cost of Lowes cabinet installation depends on personal requirements. However, it typically costs $50 to $260 per linear square foot. That translates to about $80 to $200 per cabinet.

Cabinets are such a fixture of any kitchen that it's hard to imagine installing them yourself. While it's true that it does take a bit of skill, some time, and a couple pairs of helpful hands, it's totally possible for even first-time homeowners to DIY a kitchen cabinet installation.

White is still the most popular kitchen cabinet color in 2023 and beyond. However, we are seeing a shift towards warmer and more natural tones. We cover the best colors for cabinets from Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams like Simply White, Dove White, and Chantilly Lace.

You'll find the best deals on kitchen cabinets during the late fall or winter seasons when many cabinet manufacturers have less foot traffic in their showrooms. Homeowners often prefer to start and complete home remodeling projects during the spring and summer.

White kitchens aren't going anywhere in 2023! A white kitchen continues to be a timeless classic design that never truly goes 'out of style'. It may not always be the current trend, but white kitchen cabinets are always beautiful. We'll also continue to see the two-tone cabinet color trend in 2023.

It varies depending on the retailer, but kitchen cabinets typically go on sale during major sales events like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday. You can also usually find sales around the end of each season. If you're patient and willing to wait for a good deal, you can usually snag cabinets at a discount.

Custom cabinets are the most expensive and the price varies according to the style and design you choose. As the name indicates, custom cabinets are built to your specifications and you can add as many embellishments and accents as you want, assuming you want to pay for it.

"Replacing your cabinets is a huge cost that is not completely necessary if the cabinets are less than ten years old and made from a high-quality wood like cherry, maple, ash, hickory, or oak," Ballard says. Refinishing these hardy cabinets, instead of replacing them, can both conserve wood and money.

Keep in mind your cabinets should complement each other and flow well with the rest of the decor throughout your home. However, they do not need to match exactly in color or style.

Having white cabinets in your kitchen will make your home more appealing to potential buyers and could increase its resale value by thousands of dollars. If you're thinking about selling your home and want to make it more attractive, white kitchen cabinets are a great choice.

What color cabinets make kitchen bigger? ›

Light colors are more reflective than dark colors and they will make your kitchen appear bigger as well as more open and airy. Light blues, greens, or pale yellows are other great colors to make your space look larger than life.

Yes, you can, but it's better to get a professional to remove it. That way, they ensure your cabinetry sustains minimal to no damage throughout the process. Finally, your installers should remove the old countertops. If you don't want to discard them, there are other things you can do to recycle them.

Lucky for you, cabinet refinishing can offer a great way to replace kitchen cabinets without sacrificing your counters.

It is cheaper to paint kitchen cabinets than it is to replace them. On average, you'll spend $775 to paint your kitchen cabinets, but replacing them can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $25,000.

COST OF REPLACING CABINETS

New cabinets cost more than just swapping out the door fronts. On average, you could spend anywhere between $3,000 to $18,000 on your full cabinet replacement. Your project may cost more or less than that average, depending on your specific needs.

Painting costs a lot less than buying new cabinets and having them installed. If you need to make an economical choice, painting is the way to go. Even if you are not forced into making the most economical decision, painting is still an attractive option because it gives you more money to spend elsewhere.

Cost. Refinishing cabinets is generally more affordable than refacing, however, refacing is about 30% to 50% of the cost to replace the cabinets entirely. Refinishing cabinets costs about $1,500 to $5,000.

If budget is your main consideration, refinishing is often the cheaper option. Estimates have shown that refinishing cabinets costs about 2/3 the cost of refacing, and refacing costs about 70 to 80 percent the cost of installing replacement cabinets.

You don't have to remove the cabinet doors to repaint them, so leave them on their hinges if you're not going to replace them. However, it is easier to paint the cabinet's façade with the doors off. You can paint the hinges to match the cabinets or mask them with painter's tape to keep them as they are.

CABINETS. The cabinets are one of the most attention-grabbing points of the kitchen, and that is why they usually cost the most of any part of a kitchen remodeling project. The average price for new cabinets to be installed is around $15,000 but can go much higher depending on the materials used.

How can I save money on cabinets? ›

A 10×10 kitchen with inexpensive furniture, appliances, and mid-range furnishing cost around $10,000 to $15,000. On the other hand, a kitchen with designer furnishings and high-end appliances could easily cost around $30,000. For more premium options, the cost can also shoot an upward of $45,000.

Most expensive cabinetry products are made by experienced artisans with great craftsmanship in cabinet making. Even with the available manufacturing equipment and technology, most cabinet designs are made with hours of hands-on work so expect that you're also paying for their labor and expertise.