Custom kitchen cabinets ordered without installation typically cost 30–40% less than fully installed custom cabinetry.
When homeowners research the cost of custom kitchen cabinets, most pricing they encounter includes installation by default. This bundled pricing makes custom cabinetry appear far more expensive than it actually needs to be.
Installation is labor-intensive. It involves multiple site visits, leveling, scribing, adjustments, coordination with other trades, and often project management overhead. In many custom cabinet quotes, installation alone accounts for roughly one-third of the total cost, sometimes more in complex kitchens or high-cost labor markets.
When you order custom cabinets without installation, you’re paying for:
You are not paying for:
This separation is what allows homeowners to access high-end custom cabinetry at a significantly lower total cost.
At US Cabinetry Solutions, cabinets are designed and fabricated with installation in mind, meaning they’re built accurately, documented clearly, and delivered ready to install. That makes self-installation or third-party installation realistic, not risky.
Many homeowners choose to install cabinets themselves, while others hire a trusted handyman or contractor for far less than full-service cabinet installation would cost. The result is the same finished look, but with thousands of dollars kept in the budget.
For homeowners who want real numbers, a cabinet cost estimator is often the easiest way to compare cabinet-only pricing against traditional installed pricing and see how much of the budget is actually tied to labor.