Functional, stylish cabinetry doesn’t have to break the bank
Flipping through design magazines and drooling over pricey kitchen remodels won’t get you your dream kitchen—but knowing where to look for discounted—or even free—stunning kitchen cabinets will. Here’s our guide to updating your kitchen cabinetry, no matter your budget.
6 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Cabinetry Ideas
1. Use IKEA as a Base
IKEA offers budget-friendly homewares, including home decor and storage like cabinets. The designs are easily recognizable, but there are many companies out there, such as Superfront, that will build stylish, custom cabinetry fronts to make your cabinets unique while still keeping your costs down.
2. Look for Giveaways and Donations
You’re not the only person renovating their kitchen. When people pull out their old cabinets, there are not a lot of places for them to go: the dump, recycling center, or donated to an organization. It’s also an unpleasant task to haul away pounds and pounds of unwanted materials—and that’s where you come in.
Spend some time on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, your local Buy Nothing group looking for people trying to give away their old cabinetry in exchange for you hauling it. You might get lucky and find a beautiful hardwood set that just needs to be refinished and painted.
3. Check a Resale Shop
Habitat for Humanity runs shops throughout the country, called ReStores, that sell super discounted home building materials, including kitchen cabinetry. Bonus: the money you spend at a ReStore goes back to the charity.
4. Choose a Less Expensive Material
Solid wood is luxurious and timeless, but many less expensive materials have come a long way to look just as good while saving you money.
Wood Veneer
Wood veneer looks like wood—because it is; it’s a thin piece of wood on top of a manufactured interior. The result is a cost-effective solution for cabinetry resistant to warping, and it comes in many different styles and finishes.
Plywood
Cabinet-grade plywood is durable and costs less than solid wood while retaining the look of hardwood. Some manufacturers use “wood kitchen cabinets” to refer to cabinet boxes made of plywood.
High-Density Fiberboard
Also known as HDF, high-density fiberboard is a manufactured material used for painted cabinets.
Laminate
Laminate is another good option—it holds up against dents and scratches and is relatively affordable. It’s similar to wood veneer, but the top layer consists of artificial plastic or a similar material instead of wood.
Particleboard
Wood chips held together with resin or glue and topped with laminated material make up particleboard. This cabinet material is not very moisture-resistant, but it is cost-effective.
5. Wait for a Seasonal Sale
Before Cyber Monday, Black Friday, President’s Day, and other big holidays, many retailers will lower their prices for a seasonal blow-out sale. Start your project in winter, when there’s less competition for labor and materials, and you’ll find lower costs.
6. Reface or Refinish Instead
Instead of a whole cabinet do-over, consider simply makeover your cabinets by replacing the doors, drawer fronts, boxes, slides, and hardware. Or keep it simple by refinishing the front of your cabinets and then repainting your cabinets a different color for a fresh look.
Affordable Kitchen Cabinetry on Any Budget
Whatever budget you’re working with, there’s a cabinet solution out there for you.
Under $1,000
With less than $1,000 to spend, expect to DIY these remodeling tasks.
Refinish and repaint your cabinets
Add new hardware
Install under-cabinet LED strip lighting
Under $5,000
Wood veneer, HDF, and plywood cabinets should be within your price range if you have an average-sized kitchen.
Under $10,000
Depending on the size of your kitchen, you should be able to budget for wood veneer, HDF, plywood, or laminate cabinets in this range. You might be able to replace your countertops and install LED strip lighting.
Under $15,000
Depending on the size of your kitchen, you might be able to work solid wood cabinets into your kitchen upgrade budget. Solid wood cabinets cost between $100 and $1,200 per linear foot.
Get quotes from a few different manufacturers and cabinet installers near you. You might also be able to replace your countertops and install LED strip lighting. If there is any room in the budget, consider adding a decorative backsplash or open shelving.
FAQs About Affordable Kitchen Cabinetry
What’s the difference between assembled and ready-to-assemble?
Assembled and ready-to-assemble are two types of kitchen cabinets. Ready-to-assemble (RTA) cabinets are less expensive but require more labor to put together. Assembled cabinets are ready to go, right out of the box.
What are some popular companies making inexpensive ready-to-assemble cabinets?
IKEA is the gold standard, offering a range of options at a very budget-friendly price point. Other sellers include Home Depot, Kitchen Cabinet Kings, and Costco.
