Custom cabinets: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What custom cabinets is

Custom cabinets are designed and built to fit a specific space, with chosen materials, joinery, finishes and hardware. They are delivered and installed to match the room layout, and they suit awkward spaces, unusual heights and a specific storage plan that stock cabinets do not fit.

Signs you need it

  • The room has an odd width, a sloped ceiling or a niche that stock cabinets cannot fill well
  • You want a particular storage plan, such as pull-outs, drawer banks or a built-in pantry
  • You want a specific wood species, finish or joinery that the stock lines do not offer
  • The existing cabinets were custom and you want the new ones to match the original look
  • The room is part of a larger built-in design, such as a home office, a media wall or a mudroom

What the pro does

  • Measure the room and the walls, check the level and plumb, and record the locations of the outlets, plumbing and vents
  • Draw the layout and elevation drawings, and agree on the door style, the wood species, the finish and the hardware
  • Build the cabinet boxes and doors in the shop, using the joinery and the materials named in the design
  • Finish the doors and boxes with the stain, paint or clear coat, and let the finish cure before it is handled
  • Deliver the cabinets, set and level the boxes, and anchor them to the studs and the floor
  • Install the doors, drawers, hardware and any filler or scribe, then adjust and check the fit with the customer

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Cabinet linear footage and the number of drawers, doors and specialty pieces
  • Wood species or material, and the grade chosen for the doors and the boxes
  • Joinery type, such as dovetails or dowels, and how the boxes are built
  • Finish system, including stain, paint, clear coat and any glaze or distressing
  • Hardware and specialty items, such as pull-out organizers, soft-close systems and lighting
  • Shop time and delivery, which depend on the size of the job and the distance to install

What a written quote should spell out

  • Design drawings with the layout, the elevations and the door styles listed
  • Wood species, grade, joinery and box construction named for each cabinet type
  • Finish system named, with the number of coats and the sheen
  • Hardware list with every hinge, pull and slide, and any specialty pieces
  • Delivery, install, scribe and final adjustment steps, plus the warranty on the build

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you build the cabinets in your shop or send them out, and where is the shop?
  • What wood species and joinery do you use for the boxes and the doors?
  • How do you check the measurements before the cabinets are built?
  • What happens if a wall or a floor is not as measured when the install begins?
  • What finish do you use, and how do you protect it during the install?
  • Can you show me a custom cabinet project you built in a room of similar layout?

Red flags

  • The pro starts building before the room is measured and the drawings are approved
  • The pro cannot name the wood species, the joinery or the finish in the quote
  • The pro asks for full payment before the design and the drawings are approved
  • The pro says the cabinets will fit any wall without a site survey

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can take the room measurements, plan the layout and choose the finish and hardware. Building custom cabinets is a shop trade, and the installation needs leveling, anchoring and scribing, so the build and install should go to a professional cabinetmaker or an experienced installer.

Licenses and permits

Custom cabinetmaking commonly does not need a license, but electrical and plumbing hookups often need licensed trades, and a permit may be needed for a remodel. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department.

Custom cabinets questions

How long does a custom cabinet order take?

The time depends on the design, the shop schedule and the finish. Ask for a schedule with the drawing approval, the build and the finish steps marked, plus the install window.

Can I change the design after the build starts?

Changes after the build starts usually affect the schedule and the materials. Ask the pro to state the change process in the quote, and to note what happens to the work already done.

Are custom cabinets better than stock cabinets?

Custom cabinets fit a specific space and storage plan more closely, and the quality depends on the joinery, the materials and the build. Ask the pro to show the boxes and the doors and explain how they are built.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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