Cost Guide
What custom cabinets cost in Sarasota
A breakdown of what drives custom cabinet pricing by service, material, and project size, using real regional cost data rather than a single number that hides what you're actually paying for.
The short answer
Custom cabinets in the Sarasota area typically run $2,807 to $12,965 per project, or $500 to $1,200 per linear foot, depending on the service, materials, and size. Kitchens and larger walk-in closets tend toward the higher end; a single vanity, reach-in closet, or refacing project usually costs less.
What “$500 to $1,200 per linear foot” actually means
Custom cabinet pricing is usually quoted per linear foot rather than as a flat price, because a small vanity and a 30-foot kitchen run obviously aren’t the same project. For custom cabinetry specifically, that rate runs $500 to $1,200 per linear foot installed, covering materials, hardware, and labor together. Applied across a typical space, that works out roughly like this: a small run of a couple of linear feet lands around $600 to $1,400, a moderate 20-foot kitchen run lands around $6,000 to $14,000, and a larger 40-foot layout can reach $12,000 to $28,000 or more. Most individual projects we build, a vanity, a closet, a single run of kitchen cabinetry, fall within the site’s overall $2,807 to $12,965 typical range, with full kitchens and larger walk-in closets tending toward the higher end and smaller vanity or closet projects toward the lower end.
Custom vs. semi-custom vs. stock
Where a project lands on that per-linear-foot scale depends partly on which category it’s actually in. Stock cabinets, pulled from a manufacturer’s standard sizing, run roughly $100 to $400 per linear foot installed. Semi-custom, stock cabinetry modified to fit better, runs $150 to $900. Fully custom cabinetry, built to your exact space from the start, is the $500 to $1,200 range everything on this site is quoted against. The jump in price isn’t really about the materials changing that much between categories, it’s mostly labor: custom cabinetry requires real design work and on-site fitting that stock and semi-custom skip by working from standard dimensions. For site-built custom cabinetry specifically, labor commonly makes up the majority of the total cost, sometimes as much as three-quarters of it, which is worth knowing if you’re comparing a custom quote to a big-box stock estimate and wondering why the gap is so large.
What actually moves the price within the custom range
A few factors do most of the work in determining where a specific custom project lands:
Material grade. MDF is the budget end, roughly $300 to $400 per linear foot on its own. Furniture-grade plywood costs more but resists warping and holds up for decades rather than years, which matters more in Sarasota’s humidity than in a drier climate. This is covered in more depth in our materials guide.
Project size and layout complexity. More linear feet means more material and labor, straightforwardly. Less straightforwardly, an awkward layout, angled walls, soffits, non-standard ceiling height, adds design and fitting time beyond what the linear footage alone would suggest, which is common in older Sarasota homes with irregular framing.
Hardware and features. Soft-close hinges and slides, pull-out organizers, built-in lighting, and similar upgrades add real cost, generally a smaller share of the total than material or labor, but they add up on a full kitchen.
Service type. As the breakdown below shows, a vanity or a reach-in closet is a fundamentally smaller project than a full kitchen, independent of material or finish choices.
When refacing makes more sense than full custom
Not every project needs to be a full custom build. Cabinet refacing, new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware over your existing cabinet boxes, typically costs 30 to 50% less than full replacement and is worth considering when the existing boxes are still structurally sound. See our cabinet refacing page for when that’s the right call versus when the boxes actually need replacing.
At a glance
Cost by service
Where each service we offer typically falls within the site's overall project range.
- Kitchen Cabinets
- Full kitchen projects tend toward the higher end of the $2,807-$12,965 range, especially with an island or a floor-to-ceiling pantry wall included.
- Bathroom Vanities
- Typically a smaller-scope project than a full kitchen, priced within the site's general range depending on size and configuration, single, double, or floating.
- Custom Closets
- The smaller-ticket end of custom cabinetry. A basic reach-in system starts well below the site's typical range; an elaborate walk-in with an island and premium finishes can reach into it.
- Built-Ins
- The most variable service we offer. Cost depends heavily on scope, size, and trim complexity, and can land anywhere in or beyond the typical project range.
- Garage Cabinets
- Depends on material. Powder-coated steel and PVC systems cost more upfront than wood but last longer in an unconditioned space; most projects fall within the site's typical range.
- Cabinet Refacing
- Typically 30-50% less than a full cabinet replacement, well below the site's typical range for a full custom project.
- Commercial Cabinetry
- Depends heavily on scope, a break room, a reception desk, and a full file storage system are different budgets entirely. Reach out to discuss your specific space.
Common questions
- What's the average cost of custom cabinets?
- Most custom cabinet projects in the Sarasota area run $2,807 to $12,965, or $500 to $1,200 per linear foot. Where a specific project falls in that range depends mainly on the service, the materials chosen, and the size of the space.
- Why do custom cabinets cost more than stock or semi-custom cabinets?
- Stock cabinets typically run $100-$400 per linear foot installed and semi-custom $150-$900, against $500-$1,200 for custom. Most of that difference is labor, not materials, custom cabinetry is built to fit your exact space rather than pulled from standard sizing, which takes more design and on-site fitting time.
- What drives the price up or down within that range?
- Material grade is the biggest factor, MDF runs cheaper per linear foot than furniture-grade plywood, which costs more upfront but resists humidity and warping far longer. Beyond material, project size, layout complexity, hardware quality, and features like soft-close mechanisms or built-in lighting all move the total.
- Is labor or materials the bigger part of the cost?
- For custom, site-built cabinetry, labor is often the larger share of the total, sometimes as much as three-quarters of the cost, since every piece is measured, built, and fitted to your specific space rather than assembled from stock components.
- Is there a cheaper option than full custom cabinetry?
- Cabinet refacing is typically 30-50% less than a full replacement and keeps your existing cabinet boxes in place, a good option when the boxes are structurally sound but the finish or hardware is dated. See our refacing page for when that makes sense versus when it doesn't.
- Does Sarasota's humidity affect cabinet cost specifically?
- Indirectly, yes. Materials that hold up to Gulf Coast humidity, plywood over particleboard, properly sealed finishes, corrosion-resistant hardware, cost more upfront than budget alternatives that aren't built for the climate. See our materials guide for the specifics of what holds up and what doesn't.