Custom kitchen cabinets by WilgusIQ in Springfield, MO, featuring integrated appliances.
ACCORDING TO recent reports by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, custom kitchen cabinets continue to grow in popularity while sales of mass-produced lines decline. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA | KBIS) 2025 Kitchen Trends Report points to a key reason why: “85% of respondents agree that the kitchen has the strongest impact on the ‘personality’ of the home as a whole … and 75% of designers agree that homeowners want a kitchen that is unique to them.”
While everyone would like a beautiful kitchen built for their convenience, some wonder if custom cabinets are really worth it. They want to know:
Stained wood custom cabinets and quartz countertops by WilgusIQ.
How much do custom cabinets cost?
Since the cost of custom cabinets will be determined by the size of the job, choice of materials, features, which cabinet shop you use and more, the only sure way to know the final price is to get quotes.
That being said, a 2024 estimate given by thisoldhouse.com places the cost of custom cabinets that “typically use 3/4-inch furniture-grade plywood for carcasses [boxes] and solid wood for the door and drawer fronts” at $150–$1,200 per linear foot.
Whether you are looking at the low or high end of that price spread, it’s fair to ask, are custom cabinets worth it?
Are custom cabinets worth the price?
Only you can decide where to save and where to splurge on a remodel or new build budget. But when deciding if custom cabinets should be part of that budget, the answers to the following two questions can help:
Will I be using these cabinets for years to come?
How much do I value ease of use, ample space, and aesthetics that custom offers?
If you plan to use your cabinets for 10 years or more, they need to be well-built with materials that will last. Custom allows you a choice of high-grade materials, including what has long been considered the gold standard for durability and beauty, high-grade plywood boxes with solid wood fronts.
Courtesy of Builder Depot
Both can “hold a significant amount of weight without bending or breaking,” notes bobvila.com, while plywood’s “layered design is better able to react to changes in the temperature, reducing the risk of expansion and contraction.” And “when it comes to moisture resistance, plywood cabinets are the best kitchen cabinet option.”
“We use high-quality Birch plywood with a Magnolia hardwood core for our boxes because it won’t bow,” says Billy Van Helden, Cabinet Division Manager for WilgusIQ and 47-year-veteran of the business. “[Low-grade] plywoods … will bow just laying on the pile. Plywood with a hardwood core stays straight. And we use hardwood on the doors, face frames and drawer fronts.”
High-end Blum brand soft-close hinge.
Lower-end cabinets are held together with hot glue and staples which can loosen with time. High-end custom cabinets enjoy additional support with interlocking joint designs. They also use superior hardware that ensures drawers will open smoothly year after year and hinges, soft-close and touchless mechanisms operate flawlessly.
In addition to durability, if customized design, better use of space, and a gorgeous appearance are important to you, consider how custom cabinets can meet your needs.
For instance, do you enjoy cooking and entertaining? The opportunity to design your own kitchen space may well justify the cost of custom cabinets. If you’re contemplating a vintage or compact home remodel, they can help you maximize every precious inch of space. Is there a special design that you have in mind, one that integrates appliances, for example? Custom cabinetry can serve as the cornerstone of a stunning kitchen.
After shopping around, many consumers have found custom cabinet shops that compete with the big box stores on price and surpass them in quality. If you live in Missouri or northern Arkansas, WilgusIQ would be happy to provide you with a customized consultation and quote so that you can decide for yourself if the benefits of custom cabinets are worth it.