How Much Does Cabinet Installation Cost?
If you're staring at a quote and wondering if the number is sane, here's the straight answer: nationally, expect to pay $274 to $422 per cabinet installed. That's the total, including labor, supplies, and equipment. For a typical 12-cabinet kitchen, you're looking at roughly $3,300 to $5,000 just for installation.
But that range only tells part of the story. What you actually pay depends on where you live, how complex the job is, and who you hire.
What Drives the Price
The biggest chunk is labor. Basic cabinet installation labor runs $147 to $241 per cabinet. That's for hanging boxes, leveling, shimming, scribing to walls, and attaching doors and drawers. It's not just "putting up shelves" — good installers spend hours making everything plumb, square, and flush.
Job supplies (screws, shims, glue) are negligible at $2.14 to $2.55 per cabinet. Equipment allowance — usually a pro-rated cost for the installer's tools like laser levels, nail guns, and saws — adds $64 to $100 per cabinet.
If you're removing old cabinets first, budget $14 to $23 per cabinet for that. Debris disposal runs $47 to $56 per cabinet.
How Much It Varies by City
Location matters more than almost anything else. Here's the spread across 20 major metros:
| City | Cost Per Cabinet |
|---|---|
| New York, NY | $354–$551 |
| San Jose, CA | $336–$523 |
| San Francisco, CA | $336–$523 |
| Seattle, WA | $327–$508 |
| Chicago, IL | $319–$494 |
| Boston, MA | $319–$494 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $310–$479 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $301–$465 |
| San Diego, CA | $301–$465 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $301–$465 |
| Columbus, OH | $269–$413 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $265–$408 |
| Denver, CO | $265–$408 |
| Atlanta, GA | $256–$393 |
| Houston, TX | $253–$388 |
| Dallas, TX | $253–$388 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $251–$385 |
| Miami, FL | $251–$385 |
| San Antonio, TX | $249–$382 |
| Austin, TX | $247–$379 |
So a cabinet that costs $300 to install in Atlanta might run you $450 in New York. That's not gouging — it's the cost of doing business in a high-rent market.
What Homeowners Actually Pay (and What They Learn)
Real people on forums like Reddit report numbers that line up with these ranges, but they also reveal the gotchas.
One homeowner in a recent thread paid $4,800 to install 16 cabinets with crown molding — that's $300 per cabinet, right in the middle of the national range. They were shocked, but other commenters pointed out that carpentry isn't cheap and good work is worth paying for. Another installer from Colorado said they'd charge around $4,500 for a similar job, working two guys over three days.
But here's the catch: cheap cabinets can actually cost you more in labor. Multiple installers note that lower-quality boxes often arrive out of square or with racked face frames. A good installer has to fight with them to get everything aligned, which eats up time. One commenter put it bluntly: "A good installer can make lower quality cabinets look and work like they cost much more. And it takes me more time to install lower quality cabinets."
White cabinets are another pain point. They show every scuff, every dust speck, every imperfection from the factory. Installers say they're a nightmare — no matter how careful you are, there will be flaws. The pros usually send a touch-up guy on the final day to go over everything, but that's time and money.
One Redditor mentioned getting paid $20 per cabinet as a sub, which sounds absurdly low. That's because subs working for big companies often get a flat piece rate that doesn't reflect what you'll be charged. The customer-facing price includes the contractor's overhead, insurance, and profit margin.
How to Save Money and Get a Fair Quote
- Get at least three bids. If one quote is wildly lower than the others, ask why. Sometimes it's a new guy building his portfolio, but often it means corners will be cut.
- Understand what's included. A good quote breaks out labor, supplies, disposal, and any extras like crown molding installation or drawer front attachment. If it's a single lump sum, ask for details.
- Don't go cheap on the cabinets. As the installers say, cheap boxes fight you. Paying a little more for well-built cabinets can save you hundreds in labor.
- Consider the scope. Installation isn't just hanging boxes. It's layout, leveling, shimming, scribing to uneven walls, installing fillers and crown, adjusting doors and drawers, and attaching toe kicks and hardware. A four-day estimate for 16 cabinets isn't unreasonable if the work is done right.
- Ask about touch-up. Find out if the installer includes final touch-up on white or painted cabinets. Many pros do, but not all.
FAQ
How much is labor to install cabinets?
Labor alone runs $147 to $241 per cabinet nationally. That's the core cost before supplies, equipment, and disposal.
Why is cabinet installation so expensive?
Because it's skilled work that takes time. A good installer doesn't just screw boxes to the wall — they level, shim, scribe, and adjust everything so doors and drawers work perfectly. Remodels are especially tricky because walls and floors are rarely square or level. Plus, you're paying for the installer's tools, insurance, and overhead.
Is $4,800 to install 16 cabinets reasonable?
Yes, that's $300 per cabinet, right in the middle of the national range. For a remodel with crown molding, that's a fair price. Homeowners who've paid that report being satisfied with the results.
Can I save money by using a big-box store's installer?
Maybe, but be careful. Stores like Lowe's and Home Depot outsource to local contractors and add their own markup. One Lowe's installer confirmed there's a minimum labor charge of $600 for cabinet installation. You might get a better deal by hiring a local pro directly.
What about per-linear-foot pricing?
Some contractors charge by the linear foot instead of per cabinet. In South Carolina, one homeowner reported $300 per linear foot for material and labor. That can be useful for rough budgeting, but per-cabinet pricing is more common and more precise.
These are reference ranges, not a quote. Your actual cost depends on your specific kitchen, your location, and the installer you choose. Get three bids, ask the right questions, and you'll know if the number you're looking at is fair.