| Kitchen A | Kitchen B | |
|---|---|---|
| Length of cabinets | The same | The same |
| Base cabinets | Mostly doors with shelves | Mostly drawer banks |
| Wall cabinets | Standard height | Taller, up to the ceiling |
| Tall cabinets | None | A pantry wall and an oven tower |
| Island | None | Island with finished panels |
| Inserts | A trash pull-out | Trash, spice, tray dividers and corner hardware |
| Finish | Painted | Stained white oak |
| Relative cost | Lower | Much higher |
What does “linear foot” actually measure?
Length along the wall. A run of base cabinets with wall cabinets above might be counted once, or twice if base and wall are counted separately. Sellers do it both ways, so two per-foot numbers often are not even measuring the same thing.
Why does the per-foot shortcut break down?
Drawers against doors
A 36-inch three-drawer base needs three drawer boxes, three pairs of slides and three fronts. A 36-inch door base needs two doors, their hinges and a shelf. Same footage, very different cost.
Tall cabinets
A pantry cabinet that runs most of the way to the ceiling uses far more material, finishing and hardware than a base cabinet of the same width, yet it takes up the same length of wall.
Wall cabinet height
A 30-inch wall cabinet and a 42-inch one have the same footprint. The taller one costs more. Running cabinets to the ceiling or stacking uppers adds cost without adding a single linear foot.
Islands
An island with finished panels on every side, support for a seating overhang and drawers on both faces costs more than a wall run of the same length.
Panels, fillers and trim
Finished end panels, appliance panels, fridge surrounds, crown and light rail add no footage at all, but they add material and time.
What goes inside
Pull-out trash, spice pull-outs, corner hardware and tray dividers all add cost inside the same box.
Both kitchens in the table above are the same length. Priced per foot, they would look identical. Priced from drawings, they are not close.
How are custom cabinets really priced?
Cabinet by cabinet. This is how we build a quote:
- Measure the room, or start from the plan or measurements you send.
- Draw the layout, wall by wall.
- List every cabinet with its width, height, depth, drawers, doors and interior.
- Add panels, fillers, toe kicks and trim from the drawings.
- Apply the door style, species and finish you chose.
- Add hardware and inserts.
Freight anywhere in the continental US is included, and the cabinets arrive fully assembled. The result is an itemised price tied to the actual cabinets, which becomes fixed before production starts.
Is a per-foot number ever useful?
For a very first budget, it can tell you whether you are in the right territory. Treat it as a starting point and nothing more. If a seller gives you one, ask:
- Is that base only, wall only, or base plus wall?
- Are tall cabinets included, or extra?
- How many drawers does it assume?
- Are panels, fillers, crown and toe kicks included?
- Which door style, species and finish is it based on?
- Are delivery and assembly included?
The answers usually show the per-foot price describes a simpler kitchen than the one you want.
What does a per-foot price leave out entirely?
Usually installation, countertops, plumbing and electrical, demolition, drywall and backsplash, and any permit. In the Bay Area we install; elsewhere, your installer or contractor fits the cabinets.
How do I get a useful number quickly?
Send wall lengths and ceiling height, a rough sketch of where the sink, range and fridge go, appliance model numbers if you have them, the finish direction, and your must-haves. That is enough for an itemised quote in about 48 hours. For the likely range first, see what custom kitchen cabinets cost, and if you already have a plan, send it for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some websites list per-foot prices?
It is a simple way to give a ballpark. It just cannot account for what is in the cabinets.
Is a bigger kitchen cheaper per foot?
Not necessarily. Bigger kitchens often add tall cabinets and islands, which push the average up.
Do you price per foot?
No. We price from the drawings, cabinet by cabinet, and the quote lists each one.
Does the quote include installation?
In the Bay Area we install. Elsewhere the cabinets arrive fully assembled, freight included, for your installer or contractor to fit.
Related reading
- How much do custom kitchen cabinets cost in the Bay Area?
- Have a kitchen plan? Get a fully custom quote in 48 hours
- Should kitchen cabinets go to the ceiling? The pros, the cons and the options
We build every kitchen in our Concord shop and ship it fully assembled, including to Provo, UT, Albuquerque, NM, Fort Worth, TX and Eugene, OR. See every city we deliver to.
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