Bonita Springs Elite Cabinets designs, builds and installs custom cabinets for homeowners across Bonita Springs, FL. Two cabinet quotes for the same kitchen can differ by a factor of three. That is not because one company is dishonest. It is because the word cabinet covers everything from a flat pack box with a laminate door to a built to order run in furniture grade plywood with dovetailed drawers.
Here is how cabinet pricing is actually built up, so you can read a quote properly.
How cabinets are priced
Cabinetry is quoted by the linear foot, measured along the wall. Published 2026 industry figures put the ranges at roughly:
- Stock cabinets: $100 to $400 per linear foot
- Semi custom: $150 to $700 per linear foot
- Full custom: $500 to $1,200 per linear foot
Installation is generally separate, commonly $50 to $300 per linear foot depending on complexity. Across a whole kitchen, most homeowners land somewhere between $15,000 and $60,000 installed.
These are national reference ranges for budgeting. Your number depends on your kitchen.
What separates the three tiers
Stock
Pre made in fixed sizes, usually in three inch increments. Cheapest and fastest, but gaps get covered with filler strips and you work around the sizes that exist.
Semi custom
Stock construction with a wider choice of finishes, door styles and some modifications to depth or height. A good middle ground for a standard layout.
Full custom
Built to your measurements with no fillers, any material, any configuration. This is the tier that solves awkward rooms, non standard ceiling heights and unusual appliance sizes.
The factors that move your quote
Materials
A plywood box costs meaningfully more than particleboard and is the upgrade most worth making in this climate. Door material and finish add further on top.
Door construction
Inset doors, which sit flush inside the frame, require far more precision and commonly cost around double an overlay door of the same material.
Drawers versus doors
Deep drawers in base cabinets are the single best usability upgrade in a kitchen and they cost more than a door with a fixed shelf behind it. Most people who make this change say they would pay it again.
Internal fittings
Pull out organisers, spice racks, waste pull outs, tray dividers and interior lighting typically run a few hundred dollars each. They add up quickly when specified across a whole kitchen.
Layout changes
Moving plumbing or electrics to suit a new arrangement is trade work outside the cabinet quote and can add thousands.
Kitchen size and shape
More linear feet means more cost, but cost per foot tends to ease slightly on larger runs. Lots of corners, angles and returns push it the other way.
What a thin quote usually leaves out
- Removal and disposal of the existing cabinets
- Worktop templating, fabrication and fitting
- Scribing and trim to out of square walls
- New hardware, hinges and soft close mechanisms
- Toe kicks, end panels and crown detail
- Any plumbing or electrical alterations
A quote that is dramatically lower than the others is usually a narrower scope of work rather than a better deal. Ask each bidder what is included, item by item.
Where the money is best spent
If the budget is finite, our consistent advice is: plywood boxes before decorative extras, deep drawers before fancy door profiles, and a durable catalysed finish before an upgraded worktop. Those three choices determine how the kitchen works and how long it lasts.
We work through priorities at cabinet consultation and translate them into a layout during cabinet design.
Frequently asked questions
Is custom always more expensive than semi custom?
Usually, but not always. A kitchen with several awkward dimensions can need so many fillers and workarounds in semi custom that a built to measure run becomes competitive.
Does refacing save much?
Typically yes, often landing in the $5,000 to $13,000 range, but only where the existing boxes are sound and the layout already works.
How far ahead should I order?
Custom cabinetry is built to order and lead times are measured in weeks, not days. Start the conversation well before you want the kitchen finished.
Can I supply my own cabinets and just hire installation?
Yes. Kitchen cabinet installation is available as a standalone service, though we will inspect what has been delivered before starting.
Get a real number for your kitchen
Ranges are useful for budgeting and useless for deciding. Call (239) 366-4056 and we will measure your kitchen, go through the specification with you and quote the actual job.
