Buying modular kitchen cabinets doesn’t have to be complicated. This calculator quickly helps you break down the price based on your needs so you can get an estimate of your total kitchen cost. This way, you can know what it all will cost before you spend a single dollar.

How the Modular Kitchen Cabinet Calculator Works

With all of the numbers and choices, planning a kitchen renovation can be overwhelming. This calculator breaks down all of the steps into something more manageable. Here’s the basic idea, so you can get an accurate estimate right from the start.

Easily Create Your Own Room Makeover

Upload a photo and get instant before-and-after room designs.
No design experience needed — join 2.39 million+ happy users.
👉 Try the AI design tool now

Step 1: Pick your layout. You can choose from a straight, L-shaped, U-shaped, or galley floor plan design. This will help you determine how much wall space you’re working with. A galley kitchen, for example, automatically counts both walls so you can get accurate pricing results.

Step 2: Enter your dimensions. Type in your wall lengths in feet. The calculator then figures out your total linear footage and gives you a rough cabinet count. (It makes the assumption of one cabinet for every two feet. (This amount is pretty standard.)

Step 3: Choose your materials. This is where your costs can swing wildly. For instance, particle board carcasses are the base price. By upgrading to hardwood, you’re adding $600 per unit. It’s the same story with the doors. For example, flat laminate is included; solid wood adds $380 per door. Countertops can run from $25/sqft for laminate up to $110 for marble, to give you an idea.

Step 4: Add storage solutions. Extra add-ons like lazy susans, pull-out trash units, and wine racks can add to the final cost. Each one has a quantity control, so you can add multiples if desired. These are optional, but they can really add to the total.

Step 5: Set your installation level and location. Self-installing costs you nothing. While something like white glove service runs $140 per linear foot. And if you’re in NYC or San Francisco, there’s a metro markup for the added expense of operating in those areas.

Results: The summary panel on the right shows a full cost breakdown, gives a low/mid/high estimate range, and shows a proportional bar displaying where your money is actually going. Hit “Generate Quote” and you can get a printable summary of everything you selected.

What to Know Before Buying Modular Cabinets

Measure twice. It sounds obvious, but it’s essential to measure your walls, ceiling height, windows, and doorways. Then measure again to make sure your measurements are correct. One wrong number and your cabinets or island may not fit, causing you a big headache later on. In addition, check for square corners as most kitchens aren’t perfectly square.

The cabinet carcass matters more than the door. Everyone obsesses over door styles, such as Shaker vs flat, or wood vs laminate. However, the carcass is the skeleton, and it’s what holds everything together for 15+ years. You’ll find that having plywood carcasses is worth the upgrade, as particle board swells when it gets wet (and kitchens tend to get wet).

Soft-close hardware is a non-negotiable. You may not think about it until you’re living without them. Soft-close hardware helps eliminate the sound of cabinets slamming shut and drawers banging. Soft-close hinges are also not that expensive in the grand scheme of things.

Don’t underestimate your corner storage. Corners are where kitchen storage is often underoptimized. A basic corner cabinet wastes probably half its space. By installing a lazy susan or magic corner, you can regain much of that space. A unit costs more upfront, but you’ll actually use it all the time.

Assembly quality varies a lot. Modular doesn’t mean all the same across the board. Some flatpack brands are solid, while others are lacking. Look for dovetail drawer joints, full-extension drawer slides, and adjustable shelf pins for better quality construction. These details help your cabinets last longer and avoid disappointment.

Cabinet depth isn’t standard everywhere. Base cabinets are usually 24 inches deep, and uppers are 12. However, this is not always the case. If you’re mixing brands or ordering online, double-check. A 1-inch depth mismatch can really be noticeable once installed.

Budget for more than just the cabinets. The cabinets are maybe 40 to 50% of your total kitchen spend. You’ll need to consider the countertops, hardware, installation, removal of old cabinets, and plumbing adjustments. If someone quotes you “just the cabinets,” that number will roughly double by the time you’ve added all of the necessary elements.

Lead times are longer than you may think. Popular finishes can go out of stock, and getting custom sizes may take weeks for fabrication and delivery. Plan for 6 to 12 weeks minimum if you’re ordering anything non-standard. Kitchens that sit half-finished are a miserable experience for a busy household.

Get everything in writing before agreeing. You’ll want to find out what’s included, what isn’t, delivery dates, and warranty terms. Avoid relying on just verbal agreements for your renovation projects as they have a way of becoming very expensive misunderstandings.

To showcase highly specific designs, some images on this website use advanced AI-generation software to illustrate ideas and room inspiration. See our editorial policy to learn more.