Home Garden

The Average Cost to Assemble Cabinets

Kitchens are typically the most expensive room in the house to upgrade or remodel. Ready-to-assemble cabinets have been around for decades, and their quality and workmanship has improved greatly as of 2011. Multiple manufacturers offer various styles and brands to accommodate any taste and budget for homeowners looking to renovate their kitchens.
  1. Cost

    • The average cost of a home kitchen is around $25,000. Cabinets alone will cost at least $10,000 of that total amount. Ideally, everyone wants custom-made kitchen cabinets, but this is typically out of range for a modest budget. Therefore, manufactured, ready-to-assemble cabinets are an ideal solution. Decent quality ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets cost as little as $2,500 on average, which is reasonable for most kitchen renovation budgets. Saving money without compromising quality keeps homeowners within budget, or simply frees up some money for other kitchen needs or decor.

    Cost Considerations

    • One thing to consider when estimating the cost of ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinet package is the size and shape of the kitchen and the linear feet of the cabinets. Cabinets for a basic kitchen measuring 10 by 12 feet can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $5,000 or more, without installation or countertops. Semi-custom made cabinets can cost between $8,000 and $10,000, and custom-made cabinets cost $16,000 to $20,000 or more.

    Quality of Construction

    • The key to a good quality ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinet set is how the manufacturer puts them together. Lower-end ready-to-assemble cabinets are constructed using wood glue and inexpensive screws. These types will not be very durable. Higher-quality ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets are constructed using cam-locks, which is a locking mechanism fastened between two pieces of wood, assuring they are screwed on securely. These types of cabinets last longer and are easier to maintain; when a cabinet becomes loose, just tighten it with a screwdriver.

    Benefits

    • The primary benefit of ready-to-assemble cabinets is that they are easy and fast to assemble, whether you are assembling them yourself or having someone do it for you. They also save time and money. Another huge benefit is that they can easily be removed in case a mistake is made in the installation or measuring. Ready-to-assemble cabinets are especially ideal for property developers, as they allow a decent finish with minimal outlay, allowing them to meet deadlines and budgets.