Kitchen Cabinet Replacement Cost: New Cabinets, Installation and Labor

Kitchen cabinet replacement cost by cabinet type

Cabinet class sets most of the price. Stock cabinets come in fixed sizes and a limited set of finishes; semi-custom lines add sizes, finishes and interior options; custom cabinets are built to the room. The two guides we cite group them slightly differently, so both are shown.

Cost of cabinets for a 10x12 kitchen and other sizes

Room size is a rough proxy for cabinet length. A 10x12 kitchen usually has about 22 to 25 linear feet of base and wall cabinets, though an L-shape, a U-shape or an island changes that quickly. Measure your actual runs before relying on a size chart.

Labor cost to replace kitchen cabinets

Installation labor is usually priced per linear foot, per box or by the hour, and the right comparison depends on what each quote includes.

Labor cost to install cabinets per box

Some installers quote per box, especially for ready-to-assemble or big-box cabinets. Per-box pricing looks simple, but check whether it includes assembly, fillers, end panels, crown molding, light rail and hardware drilling. Those trim items take real time on site.

What labor quotes often leave out

• Removal of old cabinets, though many contractors include it.
• Leveling and shimming on uneven floors and walls, common in older homes and on long runs.
• Wall repairs, outlet moves and plumbing reconnection, usually separate lines.

Cost to replace kitchen cabinets and countertops together

In most kitchens, replacing the base cabinets means replacing the countertop too. Stone tops are templated to the old cabinets and rarely survive removal intact, and new cabinets are seldom the exact same footprint. HomeGuide puts countertop replacement at about $1,500 to $6,000 for an average kitchen (2025), and Angi lists about $1,800 to $4,400 for installation (2026), with premium materials higher.

Labor cost to install kitchen cabinets and countertops also depends on the sequence, because each trade visits more than once. The usual order:

1. Tear-outPlumbing and appliances are disconnected and old cabinets and tops come out.
2. Cabinet installationNew cabinets are set, leveled and fastened.
3. TemplatingThe countertop fabricator templates the installed cabinets.
4. Countertop installTops usually arrive one to a few weeks later.
5. ReconnectionThe plumber and electrician return to hook up the sink, faucet and appliances.

What drives replacing cabinets cost up or down

Two kitchens with the same footage can be thousands of dollars apart. The usual reasons:

• Cabinet construction: plywood boxes, dovetail drawers and full-extension soft-close slides cost more than particleboard with basic slides.
• Door style and finish: painted and glazed finishes and inset doors cost more than standard Shaker or slab doors in a stock color.
• Tall units: pantry, oven and refrigerator cabinets cost more per foot than base and wall units.
• Interior options: roll-outs, trash pull-outs, corner systems and drawer organizers add up fast.
• Layout changes: moving the sink, range or dishwasher brings in plumbing, gas and electrical work.
• Ceiling height and crown: stacked uppers or cabinets to a 9-foot ceiling add boxes and trim.

Replacing kitchen cabinets on a budget

Start with the boxes you actually need and spend where hands go every day. Stock lines from home centers or ready-to-assemble suppliers can work well when the room fits standard sizes; the trade-off is fewer sizes and more filler strips. The best place to buy kitchen cabinets on a budget is the one whose sizes fit your room with the fewest fillers and whose lead time and warranty you can live with.

• Keep the plumbing wall and the range location where they are.
• Use a stock or semi-custom line and spend on drawers and slides, not decorative trim.
• Mix in a few open shelves instead of a full row of uppers.
• If the boxes are sound, compare the cost of refacing or painting before you replace.

Using a kitchen cabinet replacement cost calculator

A new kitchen cabinets cost calculator usually multiplies linear feet by a rate for the cabinet class. You can do the same on paper and get a range to check bids against, not a quote.

1. Measure the runsMeasure wall lengths where base and wall cabinets will go, and count an island separately.
2. Apply three ratesRun the total with a stock, a semi-custom and a custom rate from the tables above.
3. Add the extrasAdd removal, trim, countertops and any plumbing, gas or electrical work.
4. Compare bidsUse the range to spot quotes that leave items out or price them far outside the market.