A new kitchen is one of the biggest investments any homeowner makes. If you are planning a renovation in Metro Detroit, you already know there are dozens of questions to answer before the first cabinet ever gets hung. What does this really cost? Who can you trust to do the work? And how do you stay on budget without giving up the look and feel you actually want?
This guide is written from the perspective of installers who do this work every day across Royal Oak, Birmingham, Troy, and the rest of the Metro Detroit area. We will walk through every cost piece in plain numbers, show what the process really looks like behind the scenes, and explain how to choose the right team for your home.
Average Kitchen Cabinet Installation Cost in Metro Detroit
The kitchen cabinet installation cost Metro Detroit homeowners pay in 2026 falls between $5,800 and $26,000 for a typical full project. The average mid grade kitchen lands at around $9,400 to $14,000 once you factor in cabinets, labor, hardware, and finish work. Custom luxury work in Birmingham or Bloomfield Hills can climb past $40,000.
Pricing in Metro Detroit runs slightly above the national average. Labor rates in southeast Michigan have moved up roughly 7 percent over the past two years. Material costs also climbed because of supply chain shifts and tariff changes on imported wood products.
Here is the typical price spread you should expect this year:
- Budget remodel: $5,800 to $9,000
- Mid range remodel: $9,000 to $16,000
- Premium remodel: $16,000 to $26,000
- Luxury custom build: $26,000 to $42,000
Cabinets alone account for 50 to 65 percent of the total kitchen bill. Labor adds another 20 to 30 percent. The remainder covers hardware, trim, disposal, and small extras that add up faster than most homeowners expect.
Cost by Kitchen Size in Metro Detroit
Kitchen size drives most of the total bill. The how much cost to install kitchen cabinets question depends on linear footage more than any other factor. Linear footage measures the total length of cabinet run along the walls, including base cabinets, wall cabinets, and any island work.
Here is the typical Metro Detroit cost range by kitchen size:
| Kitchen Size | Linear Feet | Cost Range (Installed) |
|---|---|---|
| Small galley | 10 to 15 ft | $4,500 to $9,500 |
| Standard L shape | 15 to 22 ft | $7,500 to $16,000 |
| Standard U shape | 20 to 28 ft | $11,000 to $22,000 |
| Large open concept | 28 to 35 ft | $18,000 to $30,000 |
| Luxury custom | 35+ ft | $28,000 to $42,000+ |
A galley kitchen common in older Dearborn or Hamtramck bungalows costs less because there are fewer cabinets. A spacious open layout in a new build out in Macomb Township costs more simply due to scale. Layout shape also matters. An L shape needs one corner solution. A U shape needs two corner solutions. An island adds another full run of cabinets.
A Real Metro Detroit Project Example
To make these numbers real, here is a recent project we completed in Royal Oak. The homeowner had a 180 square foot kitchen with an L shaped layout and a small island. They chose semi custom cabinets in a soft white shaker style with soft close hinges, chrome pulls, and under cabinet LED lighting.
| Line Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Semi custom cabinets (22 linear feet) | $9,680 |
| Soft close hinges and drawer slides | $640 |
| Cabinet hardware (handles and pulls) | $385 |
| Under cabinet LED lighting | $520 |
| Old cabinet removal and disposal | $625 |
| Wall prep and leveling | $450 |
| Cabinet installation labor | $2,850 |
| Crown molding and trim work | $480 |
| Plumbing rerouting | $375 |
| Permit fees | $145 |
| Total project cost | $16,150 |
This project sits right in the middle of what most Metro Detroit families spend. The cabinets alone made up 60 percent of the budget. Labor and finishing work made up the other 40 percent. The numbers shift slightly project to project, but this kind of breakdown gives you a realistic baseline before talking to any installer.
What the Kitchen Cabinet Installation Process Actually Looks Like
Most homeowners think cabinet installation is the day the cabinets go on the wall. That is actually one small part of a much bigger process. A professional job in Metro Detroit moves through five careful stages.
The first stage is the on site consultation. We walk the kitchen, measure the room, check the walls for plumb and level, and look at where the plumbing and electrical lines run. Older homes in Metro Detroit often have walls that lean half an inch or more across a single run. That kind of thing matters when you are setting cabinets that need to line up perfectly.
The second stage is design and selection. This is where you choose your boxes, doors, finishes, hardware, and accessories. We finalize drawings, confirm sizing, and lock the order with the manufacturer. Lead times vary from one week for stock product to four months for fully custom work.
Third comes preparation and demolition. The old cabinets come out, the walls get patched and painted if needed, and any plumbing or electrical changes happen before the new cabinets arrive. Water damage, old wiring, and uneven framing all surface during this stage.
The fourth stage is the actual install. Base cabinets go in first, leveled and shimmed against the floor. Wall cabinets follow, anchored into the studs. Once everything is plumb and tight, we install doors, drawers, and hardware. The full install for an average Metro Detroit kitchen runs three to five working days.
The final stage is finish work. We add crown molding, light rails, toe kicks, and any decorative trim. A walk through closes out the job.
Cabinet Types and How They Affect Cost
The cost to install kitchen cabinets changes dramatically based on the type of cabinet you choose. Four main options dominate the Metro Detroit market.
Stock Cabinets
Stock cabinets are mass produced boxes in fixed sizes. They sit at the bottom of the price range.
- Price: $80 to $250 per linear foot installed
- Lead time: 1 to 2 weeks
- Best for: rental properties, starter homes, quick refresh projects in Warren or Eastpointe
The trade off is limited styles, basic finishes, and standard sizes that may not fit older Detroit homes well.
Ready to Assemble Cabinets
RTA cabinets arrive flat packed. Your installer builds them on site, which saves on factory labor.
- Price: $100 to $280 per linear foot installed
- Lead time: 1 to 3 weeks
- Best for: budget conscious homeowners in Hamtramck and Ferndale
Build quality varies widely across brands. Always check joinery and box construction before ordering.
Semi Custom Cabinets
Semi custom cabinets offer real flexibility without the full custom price tag. You start with standard boxes and add features like soft close hinges, deeper drawers, or pull out trays.
- Price: $200 to $650 per linear foot installed
- Lead time: 4 to 8 weeks
- Best for: most middle class Metro Detroit kitchens in Livonia, Farmington Hills, and Rochester
This is the sweet spot for most Metro Detroit families who want style choices without waiting four months for delivery.
Custom Cabinets
Custom cabinets are built from scratch to fit your exact space. Local Detroit cabinet makers craft each piece by hand.
- Price: $500 to $1,400 per linear foot installed
- Lead time: 10 to 16 weeks
- Best for: high end homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe, and Northville
Custom builds handle tricky angles, tall ceilings, and unusual wall lengths that older Detroit homes often have.
Materials and How They Shape the Final Price
The wood and finish you pick can swing your final cost by thousands of dollars. Cabinet boxes can be made from different materials than the doors, which is something most homeowners do not realize. Strong shops use solid plywood for the boxes and solid wood or MDF for the doors.
Here is what each material runs in the Metro Detroit market:
| Material | Price per Linear Foot | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Particle board with laminate | $60 to $200 | Tight budgets, rentals |
| MDF with painted finish | $100 to $300 | Shaker style kitchens |
| Plywood box construction | $200 to $500 | Long term durability |
| Solid maple or oak | $300 to $700 | Classic Metro Detroit homes |
| Solid cherry or walnut | $500 to $1,200 | Birmingham luxury homes |
| Acrylic high gloss | $400 to $1,500 | Modern European style |
| Stainless steel | $500 to $1,800 | Industrial style kitchens |
Wood choice also affects how cabinets handle Michigan humidity. Detroit winters bring dry indoor air. Summers swing humid. Plywood and solid wood handle that swing better than particle board, which can swell or warp over the years.
Labor and Installation Costs in Metro Detroit
Labor takes about 20 to 30 percent of the total cabinet bill. Skilled installers in Metro Detroit charge between $50 and $120 per hour. Some shops bill by linear foot instead, which makes comparing quotes easier.
Here are the typical labor numbers we see locally:
- Cabinet installation: $50 to $200 per linear foot
- Old cabinet removal: $300 to $700
- Wall prep, patching, and leveling: $250 to $600
- Hardware installation: $4 to $12 per knob or pull
- Crown molding and trim: $5 to $20 per linear foot
- Drywall repair: $40 to $90 per hour
- Plumbing rerouting: $250 to $1,200
- Electrical adjustments: $200 to $900
- Gas line work: $300 to $1,500
A licensed installer brings insurance, warranty work, and local knowledge of Michigan building code. A handyman might charge less per hour but skip those protections. We always recommend asking for the license number and insurance certificate before signing anything.
Hardware, Trim, and Other Extra Costs
The small pieces add up faster than most people expect. Plan a separate hardware budget so the project does not blow past the original quote.
- Cabinet knobs and pulls: $3 to $40 each
- Soft close hinges: $5 to $25 per hinge
- Drawer slides: $20 to $75 per drawer
- Lazy Susan: $200 to $700 installed
- Pull out trash bin: $150 to $400
- Spice rack pullout: $100 to $350
- Under cabinet LED lighting: $200 to $900 per kitchen
- Glass front doors: $50 to $200 per door
- Crown molding: $4 to $20 per linear foot
- Light rail molding: $3 to $12 per linear foot
- Toe kick trim: $2 to $8 per linear foot
A mid range Metro Detroit kitchen typically needs 30 to 50 pieces of hardware. The total can land anywhere from $200 to $2,500 just for the small parts. Add another $400 to $1,200 for trim and molding work.
Beyond the kitchen itself, there are other costs that often surface during a remodel:
- Building permit fees: $75 to $400 depending on the city
- Dumpster rental for demolition: $350 to $600
- Countertop replacement: $50 to $130 per square foot
- Backsplash installation: $1,200 to $3,500
- Floor patch or replacement: $800 to $4,000
- Wall and ceiling paint: $500 to $1,500
- Sink and faucet replacement: $400 to $2,000
Most homeowners add another $3,500 to $8,000 in extras beyond the cabinet quote itself. Knowing this upfront keeps the budget honest.
What to Look for in a Metro Detroit Cabinet Maker
Cabinet work is one of those trades where the gap between a good installer and a poor one shows up months later. Anyone can hang a box on a wall. Hanging it so the doors still close perfectly five years later is a different skill entirely.
When you are shopping for a cabinet maker in Metro Detroit, a few things should be required.
A current Michigan residential builder license. This protects you legally and confirms the installer has met the state knowledge standards.
Real liability and workers compensation insurance. Ask to see proof of both. A serious shop carries them without hesitation and will email copies the same day you ask.
A real local presence. Installers who actually work in Metro Detroit understand our older housing stock, our humid summers, and our cold dry winters. That knowledge shapes how they hang cabinets, what materials they recommend, and how they handle small adjustments after the job is complete.
A portfolio of recent local work. We always tell homeowners to ask for three to five homes in your suburb that were completed in the past year. Drive past them. Talk to those homeowners. Online reviews are useful but a real reference call tells you more than any star rating.
Clear written quotes broken down into materials, labor, demolition, hardware, and trim. A single lump sum with no detail is a warning sign.
Why Quality Installation Matters in a High End Home
In a starter home, a passable cabinet job might fly under the radar for a while. In a high end Metro Detroit home, every detail shows. Buyers in places like Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe, and Northville notice when doors are not aligned, when the toe kick has a visible gap, or when crown molding wanders away from the ceiling line.
A quality install protects your investment in three ways.
The first is daily function. Soft close hinges that actually work. Drawers that open with one finger. Pull outs that glide smoothly even after years of use. These small things add up to a kitchen you enjoy every single day.
The second is resale value. A well installed kitchen is one of the top selling points in any Metro Detroit listing. Real estate agents in Birmingham and Royal Oak tell us regularly that a clean modern kitchen can shave weeks off a home sale and add real dollars to the final price.
The third is the longevity of the cabinets themselves. Good cabinets installed badly will warp, sag, or shift within a few years. Mid range cabinets installed correctly outlast the same boxes installed poorly by a decade or more.
Alternatives to Full Cabinet Replacement
Not every Metro Detroit kitchen needs a full replacement. If the existing cabinet boxes are still solid, three smart alternatives keep your budget tight.
Cabinet Refacing
Refacing replaces only the doors, drawer fronts, and visible surfaces. The existing boxes stay in place.
- Cost: $4,500 to $9,500 for an average Metro Detroit kitchen
- Time: 3 to 5 days
- Best for: cabinets less than 20 years old with no water damage
Refacing gives you a brand new look at roughly half the cost of full replacement. Older homes around Pontiac, Royal Oak, and Berkley often have solid wood boxes that take refacing well.
Cabinet Refinishing
Refinishing strips the existing finish and applies new stain or paint to your current cabinets. The doors stay on the boxes.
- Cost: $2,000 to $5,000 for an average kitchen, or $30 to $60 per linear foot
- Time: 5 to 10 days
- Best for: solid wood cabinets in good structural shape
This option works well when you love the layout but want to refresh the color or finish.
Cabinet Painting
A professional cabinet paint job can transform a kitchen for less than the cost of new doors.
- Cost: $1,200 to $3,500 with a professional
- Time: 4 to 7 days
- Best for: tight budgets and quick refresh projects
Pair fresh paint with new hardware and the kitchen looks brand new for a fraction of the replacement cost.
Smart Ways to Save on Cabinet Installation in Metro Detroit
Cabinet costs feel heavy, but you can trim the bill in smart ways without cutting corners on quality.
- Pick semi custom over full custom. The look is nearly identical at half the price.
- Keep the existing kitchen layout. Avoid plumbing and electrical changes wherever possible.
- Reface instead of replace if your cabinet boxes are still solid.
- Shop hardware online and supply your own. Most installers accept owner supplied hardware.
- Order during winter sales. Many Detroit shops offer 10 to 25 percent off labor in January and February.
- Choose paint grade wood instead of stained hardwood. Painted MDF looks crisp and costs less.
- Skip glass front doors and decorative trim work. They add up fast.
- Use open shelving for one wall instead of upper cabinets. Big visual impact, low cost.
- Get at least three written quotes from licensed local installers.
A homeowner in Sterling Heights recently cut their bill by $4,200 just by keeping the original layout and supplying their own hardware. Small choices add up fast.
What Questions to Ask Before You Hire
A short list of focused questions tells you almost everything you need to know about a potential installer. We encourage every homeowner in Metro Detroit to ask these directly during the first meeting.
How long have you been installing cabinets in this area? Local experience matters more than total years in the trade.
Can I see your Michigan builder license number? A real installer shares it without needing to check.
Who will actually be in my home? Some companies sell the job and then hand it off to subcontractors. Ask who shows up on day one and stays through the final walk through.
What is your written warranty on labor? Most reputable installers offer a one or two year warranty on workmanship. The promise needs to be on paper, not verbal.
What happens if you find problems behind the old cabinets? A clear answer here separates serious shops from sloppy ones. Surprises are normal in older homes around Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, and Hazel Park.
What is your payment schedule? Standard practice in Metro Detroit is 30 percent at signing, 30 percent at the midpoint, and 40 percent at completion. Walk away from anyone asking for more than half up front.
How long will my kitchen be out of commission? An honest answer helps you plan meals and family routines. Most jobs run between one and three weeks from demo to final walk through.
Return on Investment for Metro Detroit Homeowners
Kitchen cabinet upgrades pay back well at resale. National data shows mid range kitchen remodels return about 72 percent of the cost. In strong Metro Detroit neighborhoods like Birmingham, Northville, and Plymouth, that number can run even higher.
A clean, modern kitchen also shortens time on market. Real estate agents tell us a fresh kitchen can shave two to four weeks off a listing in suburbs like Royal Oak and Troy. Buyers often pay full asking price when they walk into a kitchen they do not need to touch.
Refacing returns roughly 80 percent of the cost because the spend is lower while the visual impact is similar. Full replacement returns 65 to 75 percent. Either choice helps the home sell faster and at a stronger number.
Well built cabinets installed properly last 40 to 50 years. The right investment now means you never have to think about cabinets again for the life you spend in that home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does kitchen cabinet installation take in Metro Detroit?
A standard install runs three to five working days for an average kitchen with a skilled two person crew. Full kitchen remodels including demolition, plumbing changes, and finish work usually take one to three weeks from start to final walk through. Custom kitchens in larger homes can stretch longer depending on the order lead time and complexity.
Do I need a permit for cabinet installation in Detroit?
A permit is required only if the work touches plumbing, gas, or electrical lines. A straight cabinet swap that keeps the same layout usually does not need one. Detroit and most surrounding suburbs charge between 75 dollars and 400 dollars for permits when they are needed. Your installer should pull the permit for you as part of the job.
Can I keep my existing countertops when replacing cabinets?
Sometimes yes, but it depends on the countertop material and the cabinet layout. Quartz and granite can crack during removal, which makes reuse risky. If the new cabinet boxes match the original height and depth exactly, reuse becomes possible. Most homeowners in Metro Detroit replace countertops at the same time for a clean uniform finish.
What is the typical lead time for custom cabinets in Metro Detroit?
Custom cabinets take ten to sixteen weeks to manufacture and deliver. Semi custom orders run four to eight weeks. Stock cabinets ship in one to two weeks. Plan the order before demolition starts so the kitchen is not torn apart while you wait for cabinets to arrive.
Are soft close hinges worth the extra cost?
For most homeowners, yes. Soft close hinges add five to twenty five dollars per hinge but they protect the cabinet doors and frames from years of slamming. They also feel much more refined day to day. In high end kitchens in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and Grosse Pointe, soft close is the standard expectation, not an upgrade.
Will my kitchen be unusable during installation?
The kitchen is out of service from the day demolition starts until the day the install is complete. That window runs anywhere from three days for a simple swap to three weeks for a full remodel. We always recommend setting up a temporary cooking station in another room with a microwave, kettle, and small fridge.
Do you handle the demolition and disposal of old cabinets?
Yes. A complete cabinet installation quote in Metro Detroit should always include removal of the old cabinets and disposal in a dumpster or with a hauling service. Expect this line item to run between 400 dollars and 900 dollars depending on the size of the kitchen and the condition of the old cabinets.
Is it cheaper to reface cabinets instead of replacing them?
Refacing costs roughly half of full replacement. Refacing runs 4,500 dollars to 9,500 dollars for an average Metro Detroit kitchen. Full replacement runs 9,000 dollars to 26,000 dollars. Refacing only works when the cabinet boxes are still solid and free of water damage.
How much does cabinet installation add to home value in Metro Detroit?
National data shows mid range kitchen remodels recover about 72 percent of the cost at resale. In strong Metro Detroit neighborhoods like Birmingham, Northville, and Plymouth, that number can run higher. A clean updated kitchen also shortens time on market, which has its own dollar value for sellers.
What is the cheapest way to install kitchen cabinets in Metro Detroit?
RTA cabinets paired with a basic professional install give the lowest total cost. Expect to spend 4,500 dollars to 7,500 dollars on materials and labor for a standard size kitchen. Keeping the existing layout and skipping decorative trim work also lowers the bill significantly.
Final Thoughts
A kitchen renovation is a major investment, and the installer you choose decides whether that investment lasts. Choosing a licensed local team with real Metro Detroit experience saves you headaches and protects the long term value of your home.
We have spent years in kitchens across Metro Detroit, from compact bungalows in Ferndale to large estates in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. Every kitchen is different. Every homeowner has a different vision. Our job is to bring that vision to life with craftsmanship that holds up for the next twenty years.
Ready to Talk?
If you are planning a kitchen renovation in Metro Detroit, we would love to talk. Get in touch for a free in home consultation. We will walk your space, listen to what you want, and give you a clear honest quote so you can move forward with confidence.
