New Kitchen Cabinet Options: Custom, Semicustom and Stock Cabinets

Going custom allows you to utilize your space to the fullest. Ideas such as a special blind corner base swing out or "magic corner" and pantry door storage for spices that include inside rollouts are unique and effective. Photo courtesy of PK Surroundings, Exeter, NH

When renovating a kitchen and considering new cabinets, consumers have various options. There are three types of new kitchen cabinets: custom, semicustom and stock. The choice may ultimately be determined by budget, as custom cabinets are often the most expensive and stock usually cost the least.

In opting to buy new kitchen cabinets, a homeowner is usually also investing in a whole new look that includes counters, wall treatments, flooring, appliances and electrical wiring and fixtures. Cabinets are typically the biggest part of the renovation budget, averaging about 65% of the total cost.

Generally, custom cabinets provide homeowners with the most choices, as buyers can decide on every element of each cabinet. Semicustom models allow for some choice but those who are renovating must buy these in specified dimensions. Stock cabinets are premade and although they will offer some variety, the manufacturer dictates any choices the buyer may have.

Buying Custom Kitchen Cabinets

One thing is certain, custom kitchen cabinets offer buyers variety. Gerry Snapke, who provides consumers with professionally drawn AutoCAD kitchen plans at CadKitchenPlans.com, notes, “In the kitchen cabinet business, custom is perhaps the most over-worked word there is.  It is about as cliché as the term sale is in the car business. Still, with kitchen cabinets it is legitimate term.  Custom is thought by many to be the pinnacle and costliest path for a new kitchen – remember, you do get what you pay for – when well designed custom kitchen cabinets are at the best of the best.”

The reason for this has to do with the fact that buyers can decide to be as specific as they want to be with dimensions, as high end as they’d like to with materials and as intricate as they desire with designs. Because cabinets are built according to specific dimensions kitchen space can be used to its fullest.

Craig Parker, whose website The Best Cabinet Site offers consumers a range of choices for custom, semicustom and stock cabinets and a lot of professional advice, says, “One of the most used features of custom cabinets is dimensional changes. Getting a 28 3/8” wide cabinet means a filler strip is not necessary, making better use of the space in the kitchen.”

Because each cabinet is made to order, custom items will usually take the longest to procure. You are, after all, working towards the effective use of every inch of cabinet space in your kitchen..

The Semicustom Route

Semicustom kitchen cabinets vary a lot. It’s hard to tell exactly how much choice a buyer will be afforded since it depends a lot on each individual manufacturer.

“Semicustom is a wishy-washy term,” Parker notes . “Some manufacturers say they’re semicustom, but don’t allow much in the way of modifications to their existing cabinets. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some semicustom manufacturers that allow so many mods, you’d think they were a custom line.” According to Parker, a strength in semicustom cabinets is that they “allow you to get the most out of a kitchen designed with run of the mill stuff and allow for some altered pieces that you can’t live without.”  As far as cost is concerned, he concludes, “Just like in custom though, generally the more semicustom a manufacturer’s line is, the more expensive it is.”

Overall, semicustom kitchen cabinets are created according to buyer specifications, but they come in predetermined sizes. There aren’t as many choices in finishes and hardware as with custom cabinets but there’s still a good range of options.

As far as layout and installation are concerned, there may be the need to use spacers to ensure a proper fit. Because of this, kitchens often end up with at least some wasted space. 

Purchasing Stock

Stock cabinets are generally the least expensive. They are made ahead of time and you purchase them with the finish and hardware intact. These offer the least number of options in style, finish, hardware and size.

“Don’t be deceived by the name,” says Snapke. “Stock cabinets are not on a shelf in a store waiting for you to take them home.  In my experience, I’ve seen that cabinet manufacturers build their product as the order comes in. They don’t fill warehouses with finished cabinets.  Imagine the huge warehouse it would take to fit every size cabinet in every style? With stock cabinets for the kitchen what you see in the catalog is what you’re going to end up with.”

Limitations include:

• Cabinet size
• Door styles
• Cabinet shapes
• Hardware
• Types of finishes

Although some people don’t think they need a plan when buying from stock, this is actually a time when a good layout that’s done to scale is extremely important. Working with a professional who can help utilize kitchen space in a resourceful manner is very important.

What Defines Quality?

Here’s a clever custom solution.  This dry-fit drawer serves as a footstool to ensure you can reach that high, hard-to-reach kitchen shelf. There’s no bending down, as it pulls out and goes back in easily with your toe. Photo courtesy of PK Surroundings, Exeter, NH

Does the term custom define quality and the word stock define a poor grade of product? According to Parker, the terms are not exclusive when it comes to identifying products of high or low quality.

He advises, “Some stock lines cost more than custom lines. This is because of the difference in quality. There are some good stock lines out there. The cabinets are built like tanks and hold together for many years. And then there are custom cabinets that are just complete junk.”

The question is how can you identify quality when it comes to kitchen cabinets? Here are a few guidelines. Look for:

• Finishes that are complete and even.
• A several step finishing process.
• Hand selected wood elements.
• All wood construction.
• Dovetail joints on drawers.
• Under mount soft closing glides.
• Quality hardware.

The consumer should be , generally speaking, concerned with all-around quality construction.

Some wonder if a framed or unframed cabinet is best? A framed cabinet, which has a framed facade against which the door rests when closed, are common in the U.S., while unframed cabinets, in which the door simply closes flush against the rim of the cabinet, are more popular in Europe.

The answer is neither is better. Framed cabinets have a certain finished look and may be a bit more stable, while those that are unframed actually offer more storage space and, if built properly, will still be firm and solid.

Your Process

It’s advised that no matter which of the three options you choose that you don’t go it alone. Consider utilizing a professional designer certified by the National Kitchen Bath Association (NKBA). In short, utilize someone who knows kitchens inside out.

In kitchen renovation, not only can the room’s present ground plan change, but also the entire look and feel of the kitchen may be transformed. The space needs to be laid out properly, be stylistically united and function efficiently. This is a major investment that will define how you cook and eat for the next 15 to 20 years.