Cabinets typically represent 30–40% of your kitchen renovation budget. That makes them the single most consequential decision in the entire project — not just because of cost, but because they determine how the space functions every day and how it holds up over time.
At Floor & Bath Design, we work with all three cabinet types — prefabricated, semi-custom, and fully custom — and we'll help you figure out which one actually makes sense for your home. Not every kitchen needs custom. And not every homeowner who thinks they want prefab realizes how far a good semi-custom line can stretch their dollar. See our cabinet upgrade guide for more on what drives the decision.
The Three Cabinet Tiers
| Prefabricated | Semi-Custom | Custom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical investment | $6,000–$10,000 | $18,000–$36,000 | $36,000–$72,000+ |
| Lead time | 1–2 weeks | 3–6 weeks | 8–12 weeks |
| Size flexibility | Fixed dimensions | Adjustable increments | Built to exact spec |
| Finish options | Limited | Extensive | Unlimited |
| Best for | Standard layouts, tighter budgets | Most renovations | Architectural kitchens, long-term homes |
Prefabricated Cabinets
Typical investment: $6,000–$10,000 (supply only, standard kitchen)
Prefab cabinets come pre-built in fixed sizes and a limited range of finishes. Because they're manufactured in bulk, they're the most cost-effective entry point. Most are available within 1–2 weeks — useful if you're on a tight timeline.
The honest trade-offs: fixed dimensions that may not fit your space without filler strips, fewer organizational options, and finishes that vary widely in quality at the lower end of the range. A well-chosen prefab line, properly installed, can look sharp. A poorly chosen one shows its limitations quickly.
Best for: Budget-conscious renovations with standard layouts, rental properties, or homeowners planning to sell within a few years.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
Typical investment: $18,000–$36,000 (standard kitchen)
This is where most of our clients land — and where we find the best value for the money. Semi-custom cabinets are manufactured to order, so they can be adjusted in size increments to fit your space properly. You get a significantly wider range of finishes, door styles, interior fittings, and organizational accessories compared to prefab.
The premium prefabricated options we carry — with soft-close drawers and doors, solid box construction, and professional installation — sit in this tier. Done well, the visual result is indistinguishable from full custom at 30–40% of the cost. Read more on how prefab kitchens have evolved.
Best for: The majority of kitchen renovations. Delivers high-end results without full custom pricing.
Custom Cabinets
Typical investment: $36,000–$72,000+ (standard kitchen)
Custom cabinets are built from scratch to your exact specifications. Every dimension, every configuration, every storage solution is designed for your specific kitchen. This matters when you're working with unusual ceiling heights, awkward corners, a kitchen that wraps around structural elements, or a design vision that off-the-shelf products simply can't execute.
Custom also means premium construction throughout — dovetail joints, solid wood boxes, proprietary finishes — and the lead time reflects that. Expect 8–12 weeks.
Best for: High-end renovations, architecturally interesting kitchens, and homeowners who plan to stay in the home long-term and want it done exactly right.
What Drives Cabinet Cost
Once you've picked a tier, these factors move the number up or down significantly:
Box construction — The box is the cabinet carcass, and it matters more than the door. Plywood boxes are stronger and hold screws better than particleboard, especially in humid kitchens. Mid-range and up typically use plywood. Always worth asking about explicitly.
Door style — Flat-panel (slab) doors cost less to manufacture than raised panel or shaker. The price gap narrows at the semi-custom level, where the labour cost is relatively fixed regardless of door style.
Interior fittings — Pull-out shelves, drawer organizers, lazy Susans, spice pull-outs, pot drawers. Each adds to the cost. Prioritize based on how you actually use your kitchen — these are the details that make a cabinet feel like it was designed for you.
Finish type — Painted finishes, particularly white and off-white (the most popular choice in Durham Region), require more labour and touch-up work over time compared to stained or thermofoil. Worth factoring into the long-term picture.
Hardware — Cabinets are always priced without hardware. Knobs and pulls range from $4 to $60+ per piece. On a kitchen with 40 doors and drawers, that's a $160–$2,400 swing just for kitchen hardware. Don't leave this to the last minute.
Countertops — Cabinets and countertops need to be decided together. The cabinet colour and door style will heavily influence which countertop material and finish reads best. We'll guide you through this combination in the showroom.
Backsplash — The third piece of the visual puzzle. A strong kitchen backsplash can tie cabinets and countertops together or serve as a focal point in its own right.
A Note on Refacing and Painting
If your cabinet boxes are structurally sound, full replacement isn't always the right answer. Cabinet refacing ($2,200–$4,200) replaces doors, drawer fronts, and hardware while keeping the existing boxes. Repainting ($1,500–$3,000) can transform a dated kitchen for a fraction of the cost of replacement.
We'll tell you honestly if one of these options fits your situation — not every kitchen needs new cabinets to look and function like it does.
Our Approach
We don't push a specific product line. We start with your space — layout, how you use your kitchen, how long you plan to stay in the home — and match the cabinet type and configuration accordingly. Our showroom in Ajax carries examples across all three tiers so you can see and feel the difference before committing.
Durham Region homeowners typically see a 70–85% return on kitchen renovations at resale. Cabinets that are appropriate for the home's value, properly installed, and well-designed are a significant driver of that number. See our guide to kitchen ROI in Durham Region for more context.
Come See the Options in Person
Our design team will walk you through the trade-offs for your specific project and budget — no pressure, no hard sell.
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