How do you set a price for making kitchen cabinets?

[Splinter]

A neighbor asked me today about making the kitchen cabinets for his new house. He wants basic/simple kitchen cabinets (if there is such a thing)...slab birch plywood doors, etc. I have built kitchen and bathroom cabinets for two homes (ours) but haven't built any on commission.

I have not looked at the inside of the house but it is not a large house...probably 1200 sf and I don't think the kitchen is large, probbaly "L" shaped. My question is what is the normal rate to charge for a project like this?

I think I have read that 3 times the material cost is one way to figure it.

[walnutjerry]

Cabinet makers around here are gettin around 150.00 per lft. That does not include the counter tops.

Jerry

[McRabbet]

I've never estimated based on just material costs because of the variability in cabinets -- base cabinets versus wall cabinets; drawers versus doors or mix; glass doors; pull out trays; style of pulls and hinges; finishes, etc. I always meet with a client, get a full description of what they want including sketches and measurements and then I develop a SketchUp view of what I interpret they want. If that hits home, I prepare more detailed drawings, a material list and estimate the labor for design & layout, milling, shop assembly, finishing and installation. I do not charge for the estimates and usually get the work.

[junquecol]

For the doors, you will want to use MDF core birch rather than plywood. Flatter and more stable. You can surface apply trim to give them the "raised panel" look. There are so many variables, as McRabbet stated, so pricing is hard to do. I would look at using prefinished plywood. If don't have a copy, I strongly suggest that you get a copy of Danny Proulx's book, "Making Your Own Kitchen Cabinets." If you are going to bore for shelf pins, get a jig. I have ones that do both 1/4", and 5mm holes spaced either 32mm, or 1" O.C. These I designed and made. They work with a plunge router. Remember that butt joints, with screws and glue are plenty strong. Just put an end panel on to cover screws. (These cabinets won't ever be in the Smithsonian.) Boxes can be melamine, with wood face frames, and doors. By using 1/2 Plywood for the backs, you don't have to worry about a "nail rail." Just over layed and screwed on. The counter tops, unless you have some experience, are probably better off subbed out. For the basic boxes, allow about $55 per cubic foot, with any part of a foot being the next whole foot.