Shaker style kitchen cabinets are one of the most popular cabinet styles for contemporary kitchen designs. Known for their simple and minimalist aesthetic, Shaker cabinets feature a clean, flat recessed panel front and straight lines. If you’re considering a kitchen remodel or new construction with Shaker cabinets, one of the biggest factors to consider is cost. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything that impacts the cost of Shaker kitchen cabinets so you can budget and plan your dream kitchen appropriately.
What are Shaker Kitchen Cabinets?
Shaker cabinets are characterized by their simplistic design and utilitarian style. The hallmarks of Shaker kitchen cabinets include:
- Flat, recessed panel fronts, usually with a wooden frame around the recess panel.
- Straight lines and minimal ornamentation – no intricate carvings or fluting.
- Simple, integrated handles rather than elaborate hardware. Recessed handles, bar pulls, and knobs are common.
- Made of wood, with maple, oak, and cherry being popular choices. Can also be crafted from thermally fused laminate and other materials.
- Variety of door styles, including slab, recessed panel, and cathedral. Drawers may feature slab, recessed, or overlay fronts.
- Usually painted or stained for an understated, sophisticated look. White, gray, and black are popular paint colors.
- Either frame or frameless construction.
The simplicity of Shaker cabinets allows them to work well in both rustic farmhouse kitchens as well as sleek, contemporary spaces. Their clean lines make them highly versatile for many decor styles.
Factors That Impact the Cost of Shaker Kitchen Cabinets
Many variables affect the total cost of Shaker kitchen cabinets for your project. Prices can range dramatically based on the factors below:
Cabinet Quality and Construction
Like most home products, kitchen cabinets come in different quality levels. Higher quality cabinets will have more layers and sturdier construction, using thicker wood or higher-grade materials. Common quality levels include:
- Stock cabinets: The most affordable option. Pre-configured with set sizes and configurations. Usually made of engineered wood or thermally fused laminate. Limited customization. $50 – $250 per cabinet.
- Semi-custom: Some customization of sizes, finishes, and layouts. Sturdier construction with options like plywood boxes and concealed hinges. $200 – $700 per cabinet.
- Custom cabinets: Fully customized sizing, layout, features, and style details. Built from higher-end solid woods with quality hardware. Highest quality construction and materials. $500 – $2000+ per cabinet.
In general, expect to pay more for cabinets with all-wood construction, dovetail joinery, soft-close hinges and drawers, and other high-end features. Upgrades like glass cabinet fronts will also increase costs.
Cabinet Door Style
Shaker cabinets come in a variety of door styles that affect price:
- Slab: Simple, flat panel. Most affordable. $50 – $100 per door.
- Recessed panel: Classic Shaker style with wood frame around a recessed center panel. $75 – $200 per door.
- Cathedral: Arched panel with embedded raised center. $100 – $250 per door
- Other specialty styles: Prices vary widely. Inserts with glass, metal, or other materials will raise costs significantly. Expect to pay $150+ per specialty door.
In general, expect slab doors to be the most affordable and specialty/custom doors to be the most expensive. Door style can significantly impact total cabinet costs.
Cabinet Door Material
Typical Shaker cabinet door materials include:
- Plywood: Affordable option constructed from layers of wood veneer. $50 – $150 per door.
- Engineered wood: Made from wood byproducts fused together. Durable and budget-friendly. $75 – $200 per door.
- Solid wood: Highest quality material usually available in oak, maple, and cherry. $150 – $300+ per door.
- Thermally fused laminate (TFL): Melamine panels fused to MDF cores. Resistant to scratching and moisture. $100 – $250 per door.
- Glass: Adds unique style but is more fragile. Expect costs starting around $250+ per glass door.
Opting for solid wood doors or exotic materials like glass will increase the price over standard engineered wood or TFL. But solid wood offers outstanding quality and natural beauty.
Cabinet Finish and Color
How you finish and color your Shaker cabinets also affects budget. At minimum, expect to pay:
- Stained: $100 – $250 per cabinet
- Painted: $125 – $325 per cabinet
- Glazed: $150 – $400 per cabinet
- Specialty finishes: $200+ per cabinet
Designer paint colors, multiple paint tones, and unique glazes will cost more than basic staining. White Shaker cabinets are popular but prone to showing dirt and wear. Consider a grey wash or light yellow for a cleaner look.
Cabinet Hardware
Cabinet pulls, knobs, and handles come in a vast range of styles and materials. Prioritize handles that align with your overall design and budget. Expect to pay:
- Basic hardware: $2 – $10 per handle. Includes simple wood knobs and metal pulls.
- Mid-range hardware: $10 – $30 per handle. Often includes robust solid metal pulls and knobs along with cup handles.
- Designer and custom hardware: $50+ per handle. Includes ornate glass and crystal knobs, carved wood, and custom metalwork.
For a full kitchen, plan to spend $200 – $1000+ on hardware depending on style. Coordinate with your overall design but avoid overspending on elaborate hardware that will visually compete with Shaker cabinets.
Kitchen Size and Layout
Your total cabinet count depends on your kitchen’s size and layout. More and larger cabinets equal higher overall spend. Consider:
- Cabinet count: Most kitchens have 15-30 cabinets total, with an average of 20-25.
- Cabinet sizes: Base cabinets are usually 24″ deep and 30-36″ wide. Wall cabinets are typically 12-16″ deep and 30-42″ wide. Island and peninsula cabinets vary greatly in size.
- Specialty cabinets: Features like pull-out pantries, appliance garages, and lazy susans add cost.
Measure your space carefully to determine your exact cabinet count and sizes. Accurately estimating total cabinets needed will help you budget appropriately.
Installation Factors
Don’t overlook the cost of professional installation, which can easily add thousands to your total budget. Labor, delivery, and installation fees typically range from 15% – 35% of total cabinet costs. Consider any electrical, plumbing, or other systems relocating needed. Complex installations or challenging kitchen layouts will result in higher installation fees as well.
Cost to Install Shaker Kitchen Cabinets
Putting all the factors together, a typical price range for Shaker kitchen cabinets is:
- Economy: $75 – $135 per linear foot
- Mid-Range: $135 – $325 per linear foot
- Premium: $325 – $500+ per linear foot
This equates to roughly:
- Small kitchen (10 linear ft): $750 – $5,000+
- Medium kitchen (15 linear ft): $1,000 – $7,500+
- Large kitchen (25+ linear ft): $1,875 – $12,500+
Be sure to calculate your exact linear footage based on drawings of your kitchen space. Remember that extra costs like demolition, new lighting, countertops, and backsplashes can add $5,000 – $15,000+ to your remodel as well.
Tips for Budgeting and Saving on Shaker Kitchen Cabinets
To keep your Shaker kitchen cabinet costs down, consider these tips:
- Choose stock or semi-custom cabinets rather than fully custom.
- Opt for common sizes to minimize specialty cabinet costs.
- Select engineered wood doors instead of solid wood.
- Skip decorative glass and opt for simple TFL or wood doors.
- Consider DIY installation if you have carpentry skills.
- Choose drawer cabinets over specialized storage options like pull outs.
- Buy cabinets and hardware from the same manufacturer for package discounts.
- Keep handle and knob choices simple and classic.
- Prioritize function over fancy features you may not need.
- Set a realistic budget before design so you don’t overspend on upgrades.
With some savvy choices, you can design a stunning Shaker kitchen without overspending. Focus on nailing the layout and overall aesthetic vision rather than expensive frills.
Should I Choose Stock, Semi-Custom, or Custom Shaker Cabinets?
Deciding between stock, semi-custom, and full custom cabinets depends on your budget, design needs, and DIY skills. Consider:
Stock Shaker Cabinets
Pros:
- Affordable and available quickly off-the-shelf
- Many size, finish, and door options
- Easier DIY installation
Cons:
- Limited cabinet sizes to choose from
- Minimal customization of layouts and details
- Lower quality construction
Best For: Budget kitchens, simple layouts, DIYers
Semi-Custom Shaker Cabinets
Pros:
- Moderate prices with good quality
- Mix of standard and customized sizing
- More layout flexibility
- Quality wood construction
Cons:
- Limited cabinet style options
- Still need professional installation
Best For: Typical kitchen layouts on a budget
Custom Shaker Cabinets
Pros:
- Fully customized sizes, storage, features, and style
- Premium woods and finishes
- Bespoke quality and design
Cons:
- Long lead times and higher costs
- Overkill for simpler kitchens
- Must be professionally installed
Best For: High-end kitchens with unique layouts
If your existing kitchen footprint works well, opt for affordable semi-custom cabinets. But for extensive remodels with complex storage needs, custom cabinets can maximize function and aesthetics.
Are Shaker or Slab Cabinets Cheaper?
Shaker and slab cabinet styles refer to the door fronts rather than the underlying cabinet construction. Slab cabinet doors feature simple flat panels while Shaker cabinets have a more intricate recessed panel design.
Shaker cabinets cost more than slab cabinets for a few reasons:
- Extra labor involved in constructing the recessed Shaker door fronts
- More wood material needed for the Shaker door frame
- Slab doors made of lower-cost materials like thermally fused laminate (TFL)
However, materials make the biggest cost difference. For instance:
- Plywood slab doors: About $50 – $100 per door
- Plywood Shaker doors: Around $100 – $200 per door
The construction of Shaker style doors requires more woodworking precision and materials than simple slab door fronts. But the cost difference isn’t extreme, especially if you opt for affordable materials like TFL and engineered wood for both styles.
Do Shaker or Raised Panel Cabinets Cost More?
Raised or recessed panel fronts are hallmarks of Shaker cabinetry. But raised panel doors take the style even further with deeper indentations and more intricate woodworking. So which costs more?
Because of the extra carpentry skill involved, raised panel cabinets are more expensive than basic Shaker cabinets. Some cost considerations:
- More labor to construct deeper recessed panels
- Extra wood needed for deeper frame and panel
- Increased risk of wood movement and cracking over time
However, raised panel doors give a more ornate, high-end look. Costs ultimately come down to door material and size. For example:
- Medium oak Shaker cabinet doors: About $150 per door
- Medium oak raised panel doors: Around $200 per door
So while raised cabinet doors cost a bit more, they can provide more visual impact. The cost difference is less noticeable if you already budget for high-quality woods and custom designs.
Do Shaker or Cathedral Cabinets Cost More?
Cathedral cabinetry features arched paneled fronts with embedded raised centers. The extra carpentry makes cathedral cabinets more expensive than flat-fronted Shaker styles.
Cathedral cabinets are typically 15% – 30% more expensive than basic Shaker cabinets. Factors adding cost include:
- Extra woodworking expertise to create arched door shape
- Increased waste since arches require more raw material
- Specialized hinges and framing to account for curve
- Limited sizing flexibility; non-standard cabinets cost more
For example, while an oak Shaker cabinet may cost $150 per door, an oak cathedral door starts around $200. The pricing difference is similar across material types like maple, cherry, and TFL.
The extra elegance of cathedral designs comes at a price. But if your budget accommodates, cathedral cabinets can provide beautiful visual impact in a kitchen.
Do Frame or Frameless Cabinets Cost More?
The construction of Shaker style cabinets impacts cost as well. While visually similar, framed and frameless cabinet constructions differ on the inside:
Framed cabinets feature a front frame made of hardwood that fully encloses the cabinet box. The doors attach directly to the frame.
Frameless cabinets eliminate the front frame and have cabinet doors that attach directly to the box sides.
Factors affecting framed vs frameless costs include:
- Framed pros: More stable structure; iconic Shaker style
- Framed cons: Requires more wood; reduced storage space
- Frameless pros: Streamlined construction; more interior room
- Frameless cons: Require precision manufacturing; less sturdy
Generally, frameless cabinets cost 15% – 20% more than framed cabinets. The higher material demands and manufacturing precision of frameless cabinets command a slight premium. However, framed cabinets have a more classic Shaker aesthetic.
Bottom Line
While numerous factors impact the total expense, a new Shaker kitchen cabinet installation will typically cost between $75 – $500 per linear foot including materials, labor, and installation. For the average 20-foot kitchen, you can expect to budget $1500 – $10,000+ for quality Shaker cabinets installed.
With some smart design decisions and budget discipline, Shaker cabinets can fit many kitchen remodeling budgets. Focus on nailing your must-have features, materials, and layout while minimizing unnecessary extras. With careful planning and prioritization, you can enjoy a beautiful and functional Shaker kitchen without breaking the bank!