Cabinet Installation Cost
Cabinet installation cost depends heavily on scope — installing a single replacement cabinet is a modest job, while a full run of new cabinets (especially with countertop coordination) is a much bigger project that benefits from careful planning.
Based on typical labor and material ranges for this job nationwide. Your actual price depends on your location, the specific scope, and materials chosen — get an exact estimate below.
Labor
Labor covers leveling and securing each cabinet to wall studs, ensuring everything is plumb and aligned, and connecting adjacent units. Upper cabinets require careful measurement and mounting since they're load-bearing for dishes and appliances.
Materials
Cabinets themselves are the dominant material cost and vary enormously by material and construction quality. Mounting hardware, shims, and fillers to handle wall irregularities are smaller additional materials.
What Affects the Price
- Number of cabinets being installed
- Upper vs. lower cabinets — uppers require precise, secure wall mounting
- Wall condition and whether studs line up conveniently with cabinet placement
- Whether old cabinets need to be removed first
- Coordination needed with countertop installation timing
Difficulty
A single cabinet swap is straightforward. A full kitchen run is a bigger, more coordinated job requiring precise measurement and leveling across multiple connected units — moderate to difficult depending on wall condition.
Things to Consider
- Old cabinet removal is often a separate cost from new installation — confirm what's included
- For a full kitchen, sequencing with countertop and backsplash work matters
- Uneven walls or floors are common in older homes and may need shimming during install
Actual pricing varies by location, job complexity, materials chosen, and the individual contractor. The range above is a general guide, not a quote — for a number based on your specific job and ZIP code, use the free estimator below.
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Get Your Free EstimateFrequently Asked Questions
Does cabinet installation include removing the old cabinets?
Not always — it's worth confirming, since demo and disposal of old cabinets is sometimes quoted separately.
How long does a full kitchen cabinet installation take?
A full run typically takes multiple days depending on the kitchen size and whether walls/floors need extra leveling work.
Do I need to buy cabinets before getting a quote?
Having cabinets selected (or at least their dimensions) helps get an accurate quote, since cabinet weight and size affect installation time.
Is it cheaper to install cabinets myself and just hire for the tricky parts?
Some homeowners do handle simpler lower cabinets themselves and hire out upper cabinet mounting, which requires more precision — worth discussing with a contractor.