Custom cabinet making: what drives the cost of a kitchen or wardrobe
Custom cabinet making is one of those services where two quotes for what sounds like a similar job can look wildly different, and the reason usually comes down to a handful of factors that are not always obvious from the outside — scale, materials, hardware and how much of the job is genuinely custom-built versus assembled from standard components. Understanding how cabinet makers typically structure their pricing makes it much easier to compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.
For kitchen cabinetry specifically, pricing is commonly quoted per linear metre of cabinetry, somewhere in the range of $800 to $2,500 per linear metre depending on materials, finish and hardware. As a rough overall guide, a basic custom kitchen commonly starts at around $15,000 for a small kitchen, while larger or more complex designs commonly range from $25,000 to $45,000, and a full kitchen project including benchtops, splashback and appliances can push the total cost well beyond the cabinetry figure alone, commonly landing anywhere between $3,000 and $40,000 or more depending on scope. It is worth clarifying with any quote exactly what is included — cabinetry alone, or the wider kitchen renovation — since the two numbers are easy to conflate.
Built-in wardrobes follow a similar per-linear-metre structure but at a generally lower price point, commonly $600 to $1,800 per linear metre, and tend to break down into recognisable tiers. A basic wardrobe, with adjustable shelving and a single hanging rail, commonly runs around $800 to $1,200 per linear metre and suits spare bedrooms or rental properties where cost is the main priority. A standard fitout, adding soft-close drawers and double hanging rails, commonly runs $1,200 to $1,600 per linear metre and is the most common choice for master bedrooms. A full fitout, with features like pull-out shoe racks, tie or belt racks and LED sensor lighting, commonly runs $1,600 to $2,200 per linear metre. Beyond kitchens and wardrobes, general custom joinery — anything from a study nook to a bathroom vanity — commonly costs somewhere between $500 and $3,000 per linear metre depending on materials and design complexity.
Materials and hardware are consistently the biggest swing factors within any of these ranges. Laminate or melamine finishes sit at the more affordable end, timber veneer finishes sit in the middle, and solid timber or exotic veneer finishes sit at the top, often by a significant margin. Hardware choices — soft-close hinges and drawer runners versus standard fittings — add up quickly across a whole kitchen or wardrobe. Labour is consistently the largest single component of the total cost, commonly making up somewhere around 50 to 70 percent of the overall price, which is part of why a fully custom, made-to-measure job costs meaningfully more than cabinetry assembled from standard modular sizes.
When comparing quotes, it is worth asking specifically for the linear metre rate being used, exactly what is included in that rate — carcass construction, doors, hardware, installation — and whether the measurements are based on a site visit or standard sizing, since a site-measured, fully custom job will generally cost more than one built to stock dimensions. Our separate article on choosing a carpenter covers what else is worth checking, including licensing and insurance, before signing off on a job of this size.
The figures above are general planning ranges reported across the Australian cabinet-making industry in 2026, not a quote for your own project, and actual pricing depends on your specific design, materials and location. Our directory lists Australian carpenters and cabinet makers by area if you are ready to start comparing quotes.
Frequently asked questions
Kitchen cabinetry is commonly quoted at $800 to $2,500 per linear metre. As a rough guide, a basic custom small kitchen commonly starts around $15,000, while larger or more complex kitchens commonly range from $25,000 to $45,000, before benchtops or appliances.
Built-in wardrobes commonly cost $600 to $1,800 per linear metre, roughly tiered as basic (~$800-1,200/lm) with a single rail and shelving, standard (~$1,200-1,600/lm) with soft-close drawers and double hanging, and full fitout (~$1,600-2,200/lm) with extras like LED lighting.
Materials (laminate versus veneer versus solid timber), hardware quality, and whether the job is fully custom and site-measured or built to standard sizes all move the price. Labour commonly makes up around 50 to 70 percent of the total cost, which amplifies these differences.
Ask for the linear metre rate being used and exactly what it includes — carcass, doors, hardware and installation — and whether measurements are based on a site visit or standard sizing, since custom, site-measured work generally costs more than stock-sized cabinetry.