Attached link explains the basics. Custom, semi-custom and stock cabinetry denote how the cabinetry is manufactured not its' quality. A broad range of folks here many with diverging opinions on what a quality cabinet is. I think the attached guide gives you enough info to make an informed decision. Lots of good RTA out there (Ikea or Conestoga Woods for example) if you can DIY they might be good options that can save you money.

Here is a link that might be useful: good cabinetry guide

I can tell you what I've learned and what I'm now doing. This is the result of three years worth of research here and from other sources online.

One option would be pre-made cabs from an on-line (USA) source (I looked seriously at Highland Designs). Up to you to get the design and order correct, and you will be finishing yourself if you have the space and ability.

I was pleased with the big box quote (our local Lowes for KM all ply with a raft of upgrades.) The staff needed coaching and missed several details (off an inch here and there), but in the end we had a proper design and fit. Once this is all done, you'll press for rebates and deals from a level 2 staff member, and then go to the manager and ask that the quote go up to corporate to the QSP (quote support program) desk - for the best deal possible.

Once you're done with the big box, you'll have learned a lot; you'll also have a boatload of drawings.

Take these drawings to the local cabinet guy(s), along with your newfound knowledge - you may be very happy with their quote - and installation will be a breeze because the guys who make the cabs will be installing them.

Turns out that our local guy beat a very (very) good Lowes quote by $250, including some custom work on an end wall, great valance, large fridge panel and some custom sized boxes KM couldn't provide. I provided the finish schedule to him after working with his throwaway stock (using his finish materials).

Or build a shop, buy a panel saw and some great tools - and build your own (you need that excuse anyway!)

I just posted this reply in another thread so excuse the C&P (copy and paste).

For us, custom cabinets came out cheaper including install then lowes and a local "cabinet showroom" where would DIY the install (stock sizes with room to customize the door styles and finishes). They place we're working with is having a 30% off sale right now so that certainly helps :)
I picked a beaded inset door/drawer syle, stained maple cabinets, 36" high x 15" deep uppers and standard 24" bases. I'm getting a deep sink base for a farmhouse sink and 1 upper cabinet will be 12" deep with glass front doors. TMost of these were all upgrades and not included in any other quote and the custom place still came in cheaper including install then the other places just to supply the cabinets (the only thing that's the same between them is the 24" bases and the 36" high upper cabinets with stained maple).

The delivery and install added about $1,700 to the price but they can get it done in a day whereas DH and I would probably take a week or so to get them all installed. I figured, they built them, they can put them in and save us the time and headache :) We're DIY-ing everything else in the kitchen.

It definitely pays to check out some custom cabinet places, they aren't always more expensive, especially if you can find a sale! Plus I think it's totally worth it to pay a little more to keep the local businesses going. They used to have 26 fabricators and they're down to 6. So sad.

In addition to shopping around based on the tips you've already gotten, here's one more avenue to look into: your local Amish cabinetmaker. Their cabinets are generally absolutely amazing in quality and much less than Lowe's, Home Depot etc. in price, because Amish have almost no overhead. And even your non-Amish local cabinetmakers are very competitive with the big-box stores.

There's an Amish cabinetmaking place in Ohio that might be able to point you to local Amish makers, assuming you're too far from them to go with them. See link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amish in Ohio - Mullet Cabinet

In my opinion, the best, cost effective route to take is to buy Ikea RTA cabinets, and assemble and install them yourself.

With that said, that's not the route I choose. I was not enamored with any of the door styles offered by Ikea, and also needed a few of the cabinets to be non-standard sizes, so as to best use the space I had without requiring filler strips.

I ended up buying custom-made RTA cabinets from Scherr's (www.scherrs.com) and assembled and installed them myself.

They were more expensive than Ikea, where the price for the closest approximation of my layout would have been about $8900. The price from Scherr's was $17300 plus $850 for shipping. (For comparison the price for the closest approximation of my layout using Kraftmaid was about $24000)

Bob, how big is your kitchen? I ask because ours is not tiny (10.5x17') and the quote we got from the Amish for a LOT of custom maple cabinets, including a peninsula and a refrigerator surround, was just over $11,000, plus another $2400 or so if we want them to bring them over and install them instead of installing them ourselves. And judging from the furniture we've gotten from local Amish, the quality is phenomenal. This is why I'm constantly plugging the Amish...

Ideagirl,

My kitchen is 10' wide by 24' long, with quite a few cabinets.

{{gwi:1596168}}{{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}

Bob- The cabinets pictured are the ones from Scherrs for ~$17,000?

Idea Girl- Thanks for the link to Amish. Turns out they have representation here in Nashville. Always been a fan of their work.

Yes all of the cabinets in the pictures are from Scherr's and cost (with shipping) just under $18000. Including the upgrades to plywood sides, dovetailed hardwood drawers, many roll-out shelves, and quartersawn red oak stained in a custom color. They are well-designed and well-engineered, and very easy for a DIY'er to assemble and install.

It was difficult at first to figure out what went where in the assembly, but by the end it would take about 15 minutes to assemble an upper cabinet. Additionally using the adjustable leg-levellers on the cabinets, I was able to get the lower cabinets installed dead-flat and level, so much so that the granite installers commented that it was better than most professionally installed kitchens.

Lastly, Leon, the person I worked with at Scherr's was great to work with: responding quickly, redrawing the plans several times as I tweaked and finalized the exact layout, and months after the cabinets were delivered, when I finally was installing them and discovered a minor problem, he responded the same day, devised a fix for the problem and shipped it a day later.

Bob, your cabinets are beautiful!

Bob,

Did you use Scherr's Style 400/540 cabinets?

Did you use 1/4" insets or upgrade to the solid wood panel? Either way, any regrets on choice?

What will you do for toe kick? Heat?

Thanks,
Nicole

A friend just finished a kitchen where he purchased nice quality knock down cabinetry. He said by the time he paid himself a dollar an hour, he was about the same price as factory built cabinetry. I have no other experience in the matter but thought i would pass that on.

We had Amish craftsmen (Cabinets by Graber)do our cabinets and I cannot recommend them highly enough. The cabinets look as if they were built with the house. The wood grain matching was the best that I have ever seen. We had beaded inset cabinets with panels in Cherry custom done and they made the entire process a pure delight.
They will travel anywhere to measure your job and they personally deliver and install.
You can get an overview at www.cabinetsbygraber.com

Graber is at the home show I attend. Awesome quality no doubt but do not kid yourself to recomend them based on the text of the original question. They were trying to get a better price then Kraftmaid at Lowes. Graber will not touch that! They are a cabinet company for the people that obama wants to increase taxes on!