Hi Gang,
Any ideas on pricing kitchen cabinet jobs? I have recently been approached by a friend’s son who is a contractor about building his kitchen cabinets. The problem is, I’m not sure where to start in the pricing structure, I was wondering if any of you had ideas or “rules of thumb” that you go by in pricing your work. I know what he is paying for his cabinets presently, but they are junk (particle board) with solid wood face frames/ doors. This could turn out to be a serious sideline with all of the new construction in southern Louisiana, and this guy builds about 15-20 houses a year. As always, any and all suggestions are welcome.
Thanks,
Lee
Replies
Are you talking about installation pricing, or the price for cabinet construction (or both)?
A quick way to get a ballpark figure--call HD and see what they charge. They tend to sub their installs and add 10-15% on top of what they pay the sub.
There's a huge difference between custom-made kitchens, and contractor's cabinets. Even doing 3 of the same design is much different than one-of-a-kind. In general you can approach it 2 ways, and hopefully they will converge. 1) Figure your material costs and labor and mark up what you need to. My materials usually come to 30% of an average selling price. 2) See what the market will bear for similar production. Get a few estimates from competitors as was suggested, although I don't consider any factory-made Lego kitchens as a competitor.
DR
I've been approached by several people asking to do kitchen cabinets for them. The biggest problem is that these people have already received quotes from HD or Lowe's, then want a custom furniture builder to beat those quotes AND make the cabinets from solid wood! A neighbor was especially ticked at me for not agreeing to do a kitchen upgrade for them and argued with me about my pricing! Well, they finally saw the light and we're still friends.
Another thing I've considered in staying away from kitchen cabinets is liability. Yes, I know how to build and install cabinets -- done plenty of them in my house and garage. You can't be sure what you might run into in somebody else's house and I just don't want to be bothered with the consequences.
Back to the quotes from HD, etc. Interesting fact was that three different people who approached me about doing cabinets for them received the same figures: $13,500 for a complete kitchen cabinet job. The quotes were from three different stores. I estimated that doing the cabinets the way they thought they wanted them done would cost around $20,000 -- maybe a bit more.
Regards,
Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting
Mensa Member
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If any potential customer is price comparing custom-built cabinets to Lowes or HD, then my advice is to politely walk away from that job. I've done several kitchen cabinet jobs, and my prices have been approx. double that of big box cabinets. You can't compete (price-wise) with factory-made cabinets, and you really don't want to work for someone who doesn't appreciate the superior quality of solid wood, custom-made -- and be willing to pay a premium for it.
How I figure what something cost is figured after I have come to my hourly rate. Hourly rate is the cost of doing business. Include shop, tools, insurance, van, gas, overhead. Add what I want to make a year(month)divided by how many hours I'm willing to work. So, hour rate is $50, or $60 or $75 depending on your numbers. Then add in the cost of material plus mark up. Figure how long it will take you to build. Include drawing, picking up supplies, install. Add your time to materials. That is your job cost, then add 10-15% for profit.
I'm making a built-in now. The people said, that they had one estimate and that it was lower than mine. I smiled and explained how I come to my price--and that is what it cost to have me do the work. Why should I give myself to people for nothing--or long time, maybe a loss? I require 1/3 to 1/2 down. And then I deliver what I promise.
Hi Lee ,
Bidding should not be a guessing game , you need to know your hard costs and what your areas current market pricing will allow . Some of the more top of the line pre fab cabinets from the big box stores are very high priced , solid wood dovetailed drawers bla bla bla .
I as many do bid by the linear foot of cabinet plus so much per door depending on door style and so much per drawer also depending on whether it is a frame and panel drawer face or solid slab or whatever . Once you establish a base price per foot of cabinet , mine is based on Red Oak or Birch and Alder same cost factors here , then factor for up grades such as species Q sawn Cherry or Walnut .
In our area $ 150 - $ 200 per foot is a quick guide or basic idea of real selling prices . That's per foot for base and per foot for wall each .So in a 10' run of base and wall depending on details and particulars selling price may be $ 3000 to $ 4000 . Be consistent with bids not high on some and low on the others . For a job you really do not want avoid bidding it really high so you don't get it , instead imo you just need to pass on that job .
hope this helps dusty
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