Just a few thoughts...

-I have found that typically the "$ per linear foot" price does include uppers and lowers but I would definitely clarify that with each and every vendor you contact.

-Cabinet construction can have a huge impact on the price--particle board, plywood and MDF frames are available. Door fronts can be MDF, maple, cherry, birch, oak, etc.

-Finishes can also affect the price--stain vs paint, glazed vs not, distressed vs smooth, raised panel vs recessed panel vs slab panel.

-Cabinet options will affect the price--roll out shelves, spice pullout, tray dividers, appliance garages, lazy susans, etc.

-Trim can add up fast too--crown, accent trim, light rail, furniture base, etc.

I would also recommend asking lots of questions and when it comes time to finalize, make sure you have a firm price for the materials and labor and a very specific kitchen layout plan detailing not only sizes of cabinets, but all the customizations you have specced. The kitchen places generally don't like to give you the detailed plan until they're paid in full, but without your own copy should something come in wrong, they can get sneaky & make changes to the plan and you have no proof of the original specs. I also advise against paying 100% upfront--it leaves you with no leverage should things not go as planned with the cabinet company.

Hope this helps!

Price per linear foot in showrooms is the base economy car version of pricing. It's the one without air conditioning that no one buys. "Real world pricing" starts at about triple that and goes up. Fancy design real world pricing can be 10X that easily. "Linear foot" pricing is also one of the worst ways to estimate cabinet costs. You can buy a Ford Fiesta or a Lincoln Navigator and pay by the pound and that doesn't tell you a thing about what you really bought other than they are vehicles and one is heavier than the other. I've done Kraftmaid kitchens that were 3K, and I've done Kraftmaid kitchens that were 80K. The difference was all in the vast amount of choices that you will face. If you don't have a Kitchen Designer, I suggest you get one to guide you through this. You need to develop an actual concrete design with a distinct cabinet list rather than a "builder's concept" if you want to usefully compare pricing between manufacturers.

Go over to the Kitchen Forum here and read the hundreds of past threads for a couple of days to get an idea of what you think you may need to learn and the questions you need to ask. Right now, you don't know what you don't know, and there's a whole Encyclopedia Britannica at your disposal. The search function at the bottom of the page is the only one that halfway works, or you can use Google to find threads on the topics that you want to brush up on. If you post your space, you'll get great layout suggestions.

BTW, don't leave the cabinets to the last thing in the build. That happens way too often, and then all of a sudden you have a 700K build trying to make do with 10K worth of cabinets because the budget is shot paying for all of upgrades. You want to make sure that you are putting something in your home that is of similar quality as the home itself. (No Chanel suit with Payless pumps.) In a remodel situation, the guideline is 5-10% of the home's value for cabinets should be in line with the quality of the home and the neighborhood it is located in. In new construction, you'll have bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any other built ins to add to that, so your guideline just about doubles depending on how many baths you will have.Sticker shock, I know. Go ahead and drink the whole bottle of wine.

I spent 6% (and 2% for current project) and that definitely matched the house. I don't think 10-20% is realistic. Price per linear foot is a baseline but you will usually spend more. But it does tell you that thermofoil is cheaper than Cherry.

You can see actual cabinet prices on Ikea. That gives some point of comparison - note that the install prices are higher with Ikea's RTA design but it still gives you an idea. If you are looking for contemporary and aren't looking highend, Ikea is a pretty good choice.

Thanks for your words of wisdom :)

You can get much better quality and lower prices by going to the local actual cabinet maker.

"You can get much better quality and lower prices by going to the local actual cabinet maker."

Try and find an actual cabinet maker in some areas with a high cost of living.