2023 labour cost for cabinets installation

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I can not find anywhere recent prices. Our invoice came $6600 for 7 upper (high, mid century -no molding) 5 base, 6 base for the island , island table ( hollow box as pedestal), on the side ( no corner cabinets) cabinet with space for refrigerator, hidden entry to the pantry with a cabinet above, 2 high 12"deep cabinets, in the basement: 4 base cabinets, 1 upper regular, 1 over the 24" fridge.

What raised my eyebrows was $2000 charge for pantry: only upper shelves on brackets: 4 shelves 6'x12' each, 3 upper shelves 4'x14" ( I bought and brought shelves, brackets, wood, all but screws).

Basically the price is for 24 hours of work of an experienced carpenter ($85/hour). Drawing on my life experience of DIY projects the work is very much overpriced, and I started wondering how is the other charge compare to other people's projects.

Cabinet s and pantry install was budgeted $2500 (two years ago, when we got our construction loan. Yeas, our construction started 2 years ago and we hope to move in this month) I did not get any bids from the contractor, nor did I signed any bid for installation. The cabinets were custom made, without installation ( got just one bid, take it or leave it).

Featured Answer

darbuka

3 years ago

$85/hour…in 2023? I was making that tutoring middle schoolers, 7 years ago.

Get real. If you want quality work, you need to be prepared to pay for it.

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Comments (8)

PRO
beesneeds
3 years ago
If you were charged 6600 for the labor on the whole kitchen except the pantry, and a seperate charge of 2000 for labor on just the pantry, you might need to ask your contractor why they billed it like that.
Bozena Waclawik thanked beesneeds
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
3 years ago
The time to worry about charges is when you sign the contract. The amount per hour a contractor makes is none of your business.
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chispa
3 years ago
My cabinet maker did not break down cabinet/material and installation costs, you just got quoted one number. Their main installer is definitely worth way more than $85/hour.
Bozena Waclawik thanked chispa
sushipup2
3 years ago
$85 an hour is the price here for a 70+ yr old retired contractor now acting as a handyman.
Bozena Waclawik thanked sushipup2
M Miller
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
“Modern frameless cabinets are 5x harder to install than traditional framed cabinets.”

That has not been my experience. I’ve had frameless kitchen cabinets in 3 different homes over the last 20 years. The frameless cabinets were installed easily each time. They held up great too.

To the OP - the pricing you quoted sounds quite low to me. Perhaps it’s regional. Are you in a LCOL area? Can you ask the contractor about the pantry pricing since it is bothering you?

The best way to see if the labor pricing is out of line is to get other bids. Since this forum is made up of people across North America, with prices across the board based on region and town, the kind of home it is, the ease or difficulty of finding skilled labor, and so many other variables, your best bet is to get other bids.
Bozena Waclawik thanked M Miller
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
Sorry what was the $6600.00 for ? How much were the cabinets . I agree this should all have been in the contract but really you want a 2 yr old contract honored now . The time yto get this figured ourt was when you ordered the cabinets . As for what it should have cost that all depends on where you live and what the avergae cost there is.
PRO
User
3 years ago
$85 is not a cabinet installer rates. That is handyman rates, 5 years ago.

Most cabinet installers are not hourly. They are lump sum, based on difficulty of the job. They will be among the most expensive guys on your job. Their rates will be on a par with your stair builder and your high end electrician who only does lighting and CAT/media installs.

Usually $1200 a day minimum is where they start. No end to where that can go, when you factor in modern millwork panels and “no molding” cabinets. Those only look like they are simple. They are very difficult to get right and tight.