How to use it
- Measure the base and wall cabinet runs in feet and type them in. Add your tall cabinets and inside corners.
- If counter runs over a dishwasher or a knee space, add that length so the countertop comes out right.
- Pick a grade and turn on the island if you have one.
- Check the assumptions. A 24 in average box and two pulls per box are starting points, not rules.
- Type the prices from your quotes in the cost section. The typical range above them is a gut check, not a price.
Measuring a kitchen
Run a tape along the wall at counter height and write down each wall where cabinets go. At an inside corner, measure each wall all the way into the corner. That counts the corner on both walls, which is the usual way to measure for a per-foot price. The calculator takes that overlap back out of the countertop. Ask your supplier how they count corners.
Leave out the openings for the range, refrigerator and dishwasher, and leave out the tall cabinets, since they're priced each. Wall cabinets usually skip the window and the space over the range, unless you're putting a cabinet above the hood.
Cabinet boxes come in set widths, usually 3 in steps, so a wall rarely comes out even. The gap is closed with a filler strip, a plain piece cut to fit. Fillers also go next to walls and in corners so doors and drawers can open past the handles beside them. That's why the box counts here are rough: the real count comes from a layout.
Stock, semi-custom and custom
Stock cabinets are built ahead of time in standard sizes and a short list of colors. They cost the least and often ship fastest. Semi-custom cabinets are built to order from a standard line, with more sizes, finishes and options, like deeper boxes or roll-out shelves. Custom cabinets are built for your room, in nearly any size, wood or finish.
Cost guides such as HomeAdvisor and Fixr, both updated in 2026, report installed costs of about $100 to $300 per linear foot for stock, $150 to $650 for semi-custom and $500 to $1,200 for custom. Those are rough national ranges. Your area and your choices can land you outside them.
What drives the price
- Box material. Particleboard boxes cost less than plywood. Both are used in good kitchens, but plywood holds screws and handles water better.
- Door style. A flat slab or simple shaker door costs less than a raised panel, glass or detailed door.
- Finish. Painted and glazed finishes usually cost more than plain stain.
- Drawers. A drawer base costs more than a door base. Soft-close slides, dovetail joints and pull-outs all add up.
The formula
Boxes = Run in feet × 12 ÷ Average width, rounded up
Pulls = Total boxes × Pulls per box, rounded up
Countertop = (Base run + Open counter) × Depth ÷ 12
− Corners × (Depth ÷ 12)² + Island length × Island depth ÷ 12
Typical range = Feet × Low or high price per foot for the grade
Worked example: an L-shaped kitchen with an island
The base run is 12 ft plus 8 ft, measured into the corner, for 20 ft. There's 14 ft of wall cabinets, one pantry, one inside corner, 2 ft of counter over the dishwasher and a 6 ft island with a 36 in top.
- Boxes at 24 in: 20 × 12 ÷ 24 = 10 base, 14 × 12 ÷ 24 = 7 wall, 6 × 12 ÷ 24 = 3 island, plus 1 tall = 21. At 2 each, that's 42 pulls
- Wall counters: (20 + 2) × 2.125 = 46.75 sq ft, minus the corner, 2.125 × 2.125 = 4.52, leaves 42.23 sq ft
- Island top: 6 × 3 = 18 sq ft, for 60.2 sq ft of countertop
- Semi-custom range on 40 ft: $6,000 to $26,000
With prices for this example only, $250 per foot for base and island, $200 for wall, $900 for the pantry, $60 per sq ft for counters ($3,612.00), $6 per pull ($252.00) and 7% tax, materials come to $14,064.00, tax is $984.48, and with $3,000 for installation the total is $18,048.48.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting fillers and trim. Fillers, end panels, crown and toe kick are often separate line items. Ask what's included.
- Comparing quotes that count feet differently. One shop may price base and wall together per foot of wall and another may price each run. Line them up before you compare.
- Skipping the appliance specs. Get the real width and depth of every appliance before the layout is final.
Questions people ask
Are cabinets priced per linear foot or per box?
Sellers quote both ways. Linear feet is the quick way to budget. A real quote prices each box, door, filler and panel from a layout.
Why get a design consult?
A designer turns your measurements into a layout that fits the appliances, sets the fillers and catches problems like a door hitting a handle. Many cabinet dealers and home centers offer one. It's the step that turns a rough count into a real quote.
Does the countertop price include the sink cutout?
Not always. Fabricators often charge for cutouts, edges and backsplash separately. Ask what their square foot price covers.
How many pulls do I need?
Count one for every door and drawer front. Two per box is a rough average: a drawer and a door on a base, a pair of doors on a wider wall cabinet. Drawer stacks and pantries need more.