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Custom cabinets are worth the investment to transform the look of your kitchen with a design, color scheme, and aesthetic that’s unique to your home. If you’re looking for cabinets that reflect your personality but are more cost-effective, semi-custom cabinets are a great alternative that allows you to showcase your style, but with pre-made cabinets instead of fully custom. Custom cabinets also provide a 70 to 80 percent return on investment, making them a worthwhile purchase. 

There are a few key differences between custom and semi-custom cabinets. While custom cabinets offer complete customization, semi-custom cabinets are less personalized, offering fewer paint color, finish, and hardware choices. In addition, custom cabinets typically take longer to install due to the build time, whereas semi-custom cabinets are prefabricated and therefore faster to install. 

If you're looking for ways to save money on custom cabinets, there are a few ways to cut costs without sacrificing beauty. For starters, comparing door styles to choose the most cost-effective option is a great way to save money on the overall project.

In addition, choosing a common wood species versus an exotic one will lower the price. Woods like oak and hickory are often more affordable wood choices, and the same goes for knobs, pulls, and other finishes where picking a commonly available style can reduce costs.

Custom cabinets cost between $500 and $1,200 per linear foot on average to install. Factors like materials, size, and type of cabinet doors you choose significantly affect the overall cost.

For example, a basic slab cabinet door can cost $60 to $70 for materials alone. As its name suggests, this material is a piece of wood with no unique features. However, a mullioned glass inset panel door, which features a designed glass panel, ranges from $100 to $200 for materials per cabinet door. 

Like most special-order items, custom cabinets have several pros and cons to consider when buying new cabinets. Custom cabinets are typically more expensive than prefabricated cabinet options, but the work often reflects the quality. Custom cabinets tend to last 20 or more years, but the time it takes to install them is typically longer than other cabinets—roughly 6 to 8 weeks on average from the time of ordering. However, a major benefit is the ability to personalize every aspect of your cabinetry, from cabinet hardware to custom paint colors.