How Much Do Kitchen Cabinets Cost? (2026 Guide)
Cabinets are usually a third of a kitchen remodel budget -- the number to get right first. In Orange County in 2026, installed cabinet pricing runs roughly $100 to $300 per linear foot for stock, $200 to $600 for semi-custom, and $500 to $1,200+ for custom. A standard 10x10 kitchen lands $4,000 to $12,000 in stock, $8,000 to $24,000 semi-custom, and $20,000+ custom before countertops and appliances. Every figure here is a researched range, not a quote -- box construction, hardware, and installation access move the number more than the door style.
Orange County, CA · Updated 2026 · Costs shown as ranges — your quote will vary by contractor and scope
What cabinets cost per linear foot
The per-linear-foot number is how the industry quotes, and it includes the box, doors, and standard hardware -- installation is usually a separate line. Stock cabinets ($100-$300/linear ft installed) come in fixed sizes and finishes from big-box lines; they're the fastest (2-4 week lead) and the least flexible. Semi-custom ($200-$600) lets you adjust depths, heights, and finishes within a manufacturer's catalog; lead times run 6-10 weeks. Custom ($500-$1,200+) is built to your kitchen's exact dimensions by a shop; expect 10-16 weeks and the widest finish and wood-species menu.
The 10x10 kitchen is the industry's pricing benchmark -- a kitchen with 10 feet of cabinets on each of two walls -- and it's how catalogs advertise 'starting at' prices. A 10x10 in stock runs $4,000 to $12,000 installed; semi-custom $8,000 to $24,000; custom $20,000 to $45,000+. Your kitchen isn't 10x10, but the benchmark lets you compare tiers honestly: multiply your actual linear footage by the per-foot band and you have a sanity check before any designer quotes. Island cabinets and tall pantry units price above the per-foot average -- they're more box per foot.
Refacing vs. replacing: the math
Refacing -- new doors, drawer fronts, and veneer over your existing boxes -- typically costs 40-60% of full replacement. For a kitchen where replacement would run $15,000, refacing lands $6,000 to $9,000. The math only works when the boxes are worth keeping: solid, square, and in a layout you like. If the boxes are particleboard that's swelling at the sink base, or the layout needs moving, refacing is lipstick on a structural problem -- replace.
The refacing quote should itemize doors, drawer fronts, veneer/panels, hardware, and any box repairs separately. Red flags: a refacer who won't open a drawer to inspect the box interior, or who quotes without measuring the boxes for squareness. New hardware is the cheapest part of refacing ($3-$10 per pull installed in bulk) and the most visible upgrade -- budget it even when the quote lists it as optional. Soft-close hinges add $2-$5 per door and are the single most 'expensive-kitchen' feeling upgrade per dollar.
What moves the quote
Box construction is the hidden price driver: plywood boxes cost 15-30% more than particleboard and survive sink-base moisture far better. Full-extension soft-close drawer glides add $20-$40 per drawer over basic side-mounts -- on a 20-drawer kitchen that's $400-$800, and it's the difference between drawers you fight and drawers you forget about. Interior fittings (pull-out shelves, lazy Susans, trash pull-outs, spice racks) run $100-$400 each installed; two or three well-chosen ones beat a kitchen full of deep dark cabinets.
Access and demo: removing old cabinets runs $500-$1,500 in OC, more if there's tile backsplash to demo or plumbing to cap. Wall condition matters more than people budget for -- a 1960s kitchen with three layers of paint and out-of-plumb walls needs shimming and scribe work that a new-build kitchen doesn't. Ask the installer to quote demo, wall prep, and installation as separate lines so you can see where the money goes.
Reading cabinet quotes
A comparable cabinet quote has: linear footage, box construction (plywood vs. particleboard), door style and finish, hardware list (hinges, pulls, glides), installation labor, and demo/disposal. If any of those are missing, the quote isn't comparable to one that has them -- it's just cheaper on paper. The most common apples-to-oranges: one quote includes installation and another doesn't, a 20-25% swing hiding in plain sight.
Log everything in a first-year home binder when the job's done: the manufacturer's warranty terms, the exact paint or stain color code, and the installer's contact. Cabinet touch-up paint with the factory color code is the difference between an invisible repair and a visible one five years from now.
Kitchen cabinet pricing, Orange County (2026)
| Cabinet tier | Typical range, installed |
|---|---|
| Stock, per linear foot | $100 – $300 |
| Semi-custom, per linear foot | $200 – $600 |
| Custom, per linear foot | $500 – $1,200+ |
| 10x10 kitchen, stock | $4,000 – $12,000 |
| 10x10 kitchen, semi-custom | $8,000 – $24,000 |
| 10x10 kitchen, custom | $20,000 – $45,000+ |
| Refacing (vs. replace) | 40–60% of replacement cost |
| Professional cabinet painting | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Installation labor (share of job) | 15–25% of cabinet cost |
DIY vs. hiring a pro
Cabinet hardware swaps are the perfect DIY: a drill, a template jig, and an afternoon re-faces the whole kitchen for a few hundred dollars. Painting is DIY-able with real prep -- degrease with TSP substitute, sand to 150 grit, prime with bonding primer, spray two topcoats. What DIY can't do well: hanging wall cabinets level on out-of-plumb walls (pros shim and scribe; DIY cabinets drift), and refacing veneer (bubbles and seams show within months without the right adhesive and technique). Never DIY: moving a cabinet run that hides plumbing or electrical without knowing what's behind it -- open the wall first or hire it out.
What drives the price up or down
- Tier -- stock vs. semi-custom vs. custom is the biggest lever
- Box construction -- plywood costs 15-30% more than particleboard
- Hardware -- soft-close and full-extension add up per drawer
- Interior fittings -- pull-outs and organizers, $100-$400 each
- Finish -- painted and inset doors carry premiums
- Demo and wall prep -- old kitchens cost more to strip and shim
How to keep the cost down
- Keep the layout -- moving boxes doubles the labor and triggers plumbing/electrical
- Reface when boxes are solid; replace when they're swollen or the layout is wrong
- Quote installation as a separate line so supply-only bids stay comparable
- Spend on glides and hinges before door style -- function beats jewelry
- Save the paint code and warranty in a home binder for future touch-ups
Frequently asked questions
How much do kitchen cabinets cost per linear foot?
Stock $100-$300, semi-custom $200-$600, custom $500-$1,200+ per linear foot installed in OC. Installation is often quoted separately -- confirm before comparing.
Is refacing cheaper than replacing cabinets?
Usually 40-60% of replacement cost. It only makes sense when the boxes are solid, square, and in a layout you like -- swollen particleboard or a bad layout means replace.
How much is a 10x10 kitchen in cabinets?
$4,000-$12,000 stock, $8,000-$24,000 semi-custom, $20,000-$45,000+ custom, installed. The 10x10 is the industry benchmark for comparing tiers.
What is the cheapest way to update kitchen cabinets?
Professional painting ($3,000-$7,000) or a hardware swap (a few hundred dollars DIY). Both only work when the doors and boxes are in good structural shape.
Stock vs. semi-custom cabinets -- what's the real difference?
Stock comes in fixed sizes and finishes with 2-4 week lead times; semi-custom adjusts depths, heights, and finishes (6-10 weeks) at roughly double the per-foot price. The boxes are often similar quality -- you're buying flexibility.