How to Order Kitchen Cabinets for Your Renovation
This is it—you're about to spend thousands of dollars on cabinets that will define your kitchen for the next 20+ years. Take your time with this step. A thorough review now prevents expensive mistakes and ensures you get exactly what you need when you need it.
Quick Summary
Time needed
2-3 hours
Cost
$8,000-$25,000
Lead time
2-16 weeks
Why Getting Your Order Right Matters
Cabinet mistakes are uniquely painful. Unlike paint or hardware, you can't easily fix a cabinet that's the wrong size. A missed filler strip means visible gaps. Wrong door swing direction? Your refrigerator door won't open. Forgot toe kick? Your base cabinets look unfinished.
Real Cost of Mistakes: A client once forgot to order end panels for their island. The $400 panels had to be custom matched and took 8 weeks to arrive. Their entire kitchen install sat at 95% complete for two months because of one missing piece they could have caught during order review.
Most cabinet orders are final once manufacturing begins. Changes after that point are expensive if even possible. Your goal is to catch every issue before you sign and pay.
Step-by-Step Order Process
1. Review Complete Cabinet Design
Schedule time with your designer or sales representative to walk through every single cabinet in your layout. This isn't a quick glance—plan for at least an hour.
What to Verify:
- •Cabinet dimensions match your kitchen measurements
- •Door style and finish are exactly what you selected
- •Hardware (hinges, drawer slides, soft-close) is specified
- •Interior options (rollouts, lazy susans, drawer dividers)
- •All specialty items (glass doors, open shelving, wine rack)
Pro Tip: Bring your appliance spec sheets to this meeting. You need exact dimensions including required clearances. Don't rely on memory—a 1-inch mistake means your dishwasher won't fit.
2. Triple-Check Appliance Integration
This is where most DIYers make costly mistakes. Every appliance needs specific cabinet dimensions and clearances.
Refrigerator
- • Verify width, depth, and height with doors/handles
- • Confirm clearance for door swing (usually 2 inches)
- • Check if panel-ready model needs exact panel size
- • Verify electrical outlet location won't interfere
Dishwasher
- • Standard opening is 24" wide, verify your model
- • Confirm height allows for counter overhang
- • Check for proper spacing from adjacent cabinets
- • Verify custom panel dimensions if applicable
Range/Cooktop
- • Confirm cutout width (30", 36", 48")
- • Verify depth requirements for slide-in models
- • Check clearance from adjacent cabinets for knobs
- • Confirm hood or vent specifications match
3. Review the Complete Item List
Your quote should include more than just boxes. Here are easy-to-forget items that complete the installation.
Don't Forget These:
Trim & Molding
- • Crown molding
- • Light rail molding
- • Scribe molding
- • Toe kick material
Fillers
- • Wall fillers (3" or 6")
- • End panels
- • Finished sides
- • Refrigerator panels
Hardware
- • Knobs/pulls (count each door/drawer)
- • Soft-close hinges
- • Drawer slides
- • Touch latches for handleless
Accessories
- • Rollout shelves
- • Lazy susans
- • Drawer organizers
- • Pull-out trash bins
4. Confirm Lead Time and Delivery
Cabinet lead times can make or break your renovation timeline. Get specific dates in writing.
Typical Lead Times:
• Stock cabinets: 2-4 weeks
• Semi-custom: 6-10 weeks
• Full custom: 8-16 weeks
Add 2-4 weeks during peak season (April-August)
Questions to Ask:
- •What is the guaranteed delivery date?
- •Will everything arrive at once or in phases?
- •Is delivery inside or curbside?
- •What happens if there are delays?
- •Can I track production status?
5. Place Your Order
Once you've verified everything, it's time to commit. Most cabinet companies require a 50% deposit.
You Should Receive:
- •Written order confirmation with order number
- •Complete itemized list of all cabinets and parts
- •Confirmed delivery date (not just estimate)
- •Payment schedule and total cost
- •Cancellation/change policy in writing
- •Warranty information
Smart Move: Pay with a credit card if possible, even if there's a small fee. Credit cards offer purchase protection and dispute resolution if something goes wrong. Checks and cash transfers don't.
5 Expensive Cabinet Ordering Mistakes
1. Not Accounting for Wall Irregularities
Walls are rarely perfectly straight. Without filler strips, you get gaps. Order 3-6 inch fillers for any cabinet that meets a wall or another cabinet. They can be cut down but not made bigger.
2. Forgetting End Panels
If your cabinet run ends without a wall (like an island or peninsula), you need finished end panels. The unfinished side of a cabinet looks terrible. This is an easy $200-500 miss.
3. Wrong Door Swing Direction
Corner cabinets, appliance garages, and cabinets near walls need specific door hinge locations. Mark your drawings with arrows showing which way each door should swing. A right-opening door that should be left-opening blocks access.
4. Undercounting Hardware
Count every drawer pull and door knob. A 4-drawer bank needs 8 pulls if you're using two per drawer. Factor in a few extras for breakage or future repairs. Nothing worse than being 3 pulls short of finishing.
5. Not Planning for Electrical Outlets
Mark where existing outlets are. If an upper cabinet will cover an outlet, you need to either move the outlet or create a cutout in the cabinet back. This decision affects cabinet ordering and electrical work timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get custom kitchen cabinets?
Lead times vary by cabinet type: stock cabinets take 2-4 weeks, semi-custom 6-10 weeks, and fully custom 8-16 weeks. Add 2-4 weeks during peak season (spring/summer). Order early in your renovation timeline to avoid delays.
What should I check before finalizing my cabinet order?
Verify all measurements against your kitchen layout, confirm appliance cutout dimensions match your specific models, check that quantities include all needed pieces (fillers, toe kicks, crown molding), review door style and finish samples one more time, and confirm hardware selections. Don't rush this step—changes after ordering can be expensive or impossible.
How much deposit do I need for kitchen cabinets?
Most cabinet companies require 50% deposit when ordering, with the balance due before or upon delivery. Some may accept less for stock cabinets. Custom and semi-custom orders typically require the full 50% since they're built specifically for you. Confirm payment terms before ordering.
Can I cancel or change my cabinet order after placing it?
Stock cabinets can usually be changed within 24-48 hours if they haven't been pulled. Semi-custom orders may allow changes within a few days for an additional fee. Custom cabinets are typically non-refundable once manufacturing begins (usually within a week). This is why careful verification before ordering is critical.
What if my cabinets arrive damaged or with missing pieces?
Inspect everything immediately upon delivery before signing. Take photos of any damage while the delivery driver is present. Report issues to your supplier within 24 hours. Most companies will replace damaged pieces, but you need documentation. Missing pieces are easier to resolve if caught right away—keep your packing slip and check every box.
Ready for the Next Step?
Your cabinets are ordered and on their way. When they arrive, you'll need to inspect every piece carefully before the delivery driver leaves.