Menu
Menu
Semi-Custom Kitchen Cabinets
The hunt for kitchen cabinets that have a certain drawer, frame, space-saving, feature, or full overlay may be difficult when you’re on a budget. However, semi-custom cabinets are a more budget-friendly alternative when you compare them to their fully custom counterpart.
Semi-custom cabinets give you a chance to add your personal touches to a space at a fraction of the price. If you’re looking for more ideas on how and why these cabinets should be in your kitchen, here’s our guide!
Custom Cabinets vs. Semi-Custom Cabinetry vs. Stock Cabinets
As you learn more about the home improvement, kitchen remodel, and renovation process, you inevitably learn more about the cabinetry selection process. While there are many options to choose from for your kitchen interior, homeowners will choose from custom cabinets, semi-custom cabinetry, and stock cabinetry for your upcoming remodel:
Custom Cabinets
Many homeowners opt to invest in custom kitchen cabinets in order to cater to their modern aesthetic that cannot be mass-produced and still uphold the quality that they are looking for. Custom cabinetry and more customization mean that cabinet doors, features, construction, hardware, and detail are subject to modification.
Custom cabinetry craftsmen can create cabinetry to save space, have matching shelves, have a specific door style, a specific type of drawer, frame, or suit unique accessories. However, due to the range and special installation that custom cabinets require, custom kitchen cabinets can take fourteen weeks to sixteen weeks to build and install.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
Semi-custom cabinets are a more affordable alternative to the custom cabinet and are a great option for homeowners looking for more variation compared to ready-to-assemble (RTA) product lines. Similar to stock cabinets, semi-custom cabinets are made out of plywood boxes which are manufactured in standard sizes and set styles.
However, what set semi-custom cabinets apart from stock kitchen cabinets are the various door styles that are offered.
Semi-custom cabinets can be customized with various features as well which include (but are not limited to) cabinet sizes that are usually 1” in difference to stock cabinetry, shelves that roll out, door styles that suit specific interiors, or drawers that offer extra organization. Due to their slight customization, construction of semi-custom cabinetry takes four to eight weeks.
Stock Cabinets
Ready-to-assemble or stock cabinets are the best way to save money if a bathroom or kitchen remodel is going to prioritize other features in the interior of a room such as an island or backsplash. Unlike custom or semi-custom cabinetry, the stock cabinets have lower quality but are easy to access and acquire.
Also, compared to a semi-custom cabinet, a stock cabinet is typically made out of only plywood and in a specific style.
For instance, the general public favors white cabinets with the shaker door style so a homeowner looking for cabinets with a full overlay and in the color blue may have a difficult time finding what they are looking for. While you cannot customize this type of cabinet, they are purchased and installed within three weeks to four weeks.
How Much Do Semi-Custom Cabinets Cost?
Semi-custom kitchen cabinets are the mid-range alternative to custom cabinetry and can definitely add value to a house due to their quality and custom style. While the cost of semi-kitchen cabinets will differ from cabinet maker to cabinet maker, semi-custom cabinets will cost anywhere from $150 to $900 per linear foot compared to stock and custom cabinets per linear foot:
- Custom Cabinets: $500 to $1250
- Semi-Custom Cabinetry: $150 to $900
- Stock Cabinets: $60 to $200
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Semi-Custom Kitchen Cabinets
Semi-Custom Cabinets: Pros
- A More Affordable Option: Comparing custom cabinets and semi-custom cabinets, semi-custom cabinetry is the more cost-efficient option for cabinets that can be created according to your interior preferences or ideas.
- Can Be Modified or Have Certain Features: Unlike stock cabinets, semi-custom cabinets can be created with doors that feature a full overlay or with certain storage solutions. Additionally, the frame or door can be a certain color that has been mixed to match a shelf or wall in a room.
- Will Last Quite Some Time: Semi-custom cabinets are good for at least 10 years and with proper maintenance, these cabinets will last up to 20 years.
Semi-Custom Cabinets: Cons
- Not Completely Solid Wood: Unlike their custom counterpart, semi-custom cabinetry is not created with solid wood and is a mix of wood and plywood.
- Longer Wait Time: Unlike stock cabinets, semi-custom cabinets can take up to twice as long to create and install.
- Limited Personalization: It is true that semi-custom cabinets offer personalization, however, the functionality, material, and quality that custom cabinetry offers are unparalleled which is why one may not choose semi-custom kitchen cabinets.
