Cabinets are usually 40–50% of a kitchen remodel, so they are the number that decides your budget. In the Tampa Bay area in 2026, expect roughly $100–$300 per linear foot for stock and ready-to-assemble, $200–$500 for semi-custom, and $500–$1,200+ for true custom cabinetry, installed.
Here is what sits behind those numbers, what a real kitchen adds up to, and where the money actually goes.
In this guide
2026 price ranges by cabinet type
Cabinets are usually quoted per linear foot of cabinet run, installed. These are the brackets we see across the Tampa area — treat them as planning numbers, not a quote for your kitchen.
| Type | Installed, per linear foot | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Stock / RTA | $100 – $300 | Fixed sizes in 3-inch increments, limited door and finish choices, particleboard or thin plywood boxes on the low end. Gaps get covered with filler strips. |
| Semi-custom | $200 – $500 | Stock sizes plus modifications — depth, height, finish, some accessories. A good middle for a straightforward layout. |
| Custom | $500 – $1,200+ | Built to your walls and ceiling height, any door and finish, storage designed around how you cook, plywood boxes and dovetailed drawers as standard. |
What a whole kitchen adds up to
Most Tampa-area kitchens we work in run somewhere between 20 and 30 linear feet of cabinetry once you count the perimeter, the island and a pantry wall. Multiply through and you get:
- A 20-foot kitchen in stock/RTA: roughly $2,000–$6,000 in cabinets
- The same kitchen semi-custom: roughly $4,000–$10,000
- The same kitchen custom: roughly $10,000–$24,000+
Then add countertops, appliances, plumbing, electrical, flooring and finish work on top. Cabinets are the biggest single line, not the whole budget.
The trap to avoid: comparing a cabinet-only price against an installed price. Delivery, install, filler and trim work, hardware, and hauling away the old boxes are real costs. If one quote is dramatically lower, check what it excludes before you assume you found a deal.
Seven things that move the price
- Box material. Plywood boxes cost more than particleboard and hold up far better in a humid climate — more on that below.
- Drawer construction. Dovetailed hardwood drawer boxes on full-extension soft-close glides versus stapled boxes on side-mount slides is a real difference in both price and lifespan.
- Doors and finish. Painted costs more than stained, because it takes more prep, more coats and more care. Specialty finishes and glazes add more.
- Storage accessories. Trash pull-outs, spice racks, tray dividers, roll-out shelving, appliance garages — each adds cost and each earns it back daily if you actually use it.
- Layout complexity. Corners, angled runs, ceiling-height uppers, panels on the ends of islands and appliance panels all take material and labor.
- Fit. Older Tampa homes are rarely square. Scribing cabinets to an out-of-plumb wall is time; hiding the gap behind a filler strip is cheap. You can see which one you paid for.
- Who installs it. Cabinets are only as good as the install. A precise install of mid-range cabinets beats a sloppy install of expensive ones.
What Florida humidity adds to the decision
This is the part homeowners moving here from up north do not expect. Cabinet boxes live in a room that makes steam every day, in a climate that runs high humidity most of the year, and behind an air conditioner that cycles.
- Particleboard boxes swell. Once moisture gets past the edge banding — under a sink, at a dishwasher leak, along a toe kick — particleboard does not recover. Plywood does much better.
- Painted solid-wood door panels move. That movement can show up as thin lines at the joints. It is normal, it is not a defect, and there are ways to build around it — see our guide on shaker vs. raised panel in Florida humidity.
- Thermofoil can let go. Heat and steam are hard on thermofoil doors, particularly next to an oven or a dishwasher vent.
None of this means you need the most expensive option. It means the spec sheet matters more here than the sticker price.
Refacing and refinishing
If your layout works and your boxes are solid, you do not necessarily need new cabinets:
- Refacing — new doors, drawer fronts and veneer over the existing boxes. Commonly $5,000–$13,000, and usually 40–50% below the cost of replacement.
- Refinishing / repainting — keeping everything and changing the color. Commonly $2,500–$6,000 in this market.
Both are honest options and we will tell you when they make more sense than a new kitchen. What they cannot do is change your layout, fix a bad work triangle, or rescue boxes that have already taken on water.
How to compare two quotes
Ask both companies to put these in writing and the comparison gets easy:
- Box material and thickness — plywood or particleboard
- Drawer box construction and glide brand
- Door style, door material, and finish type
- What hardware is included, and whether it is soft-close
- Whether install, fillers, trim, hauling and disposal are in the number
- Lead time from approval to install
- Warranty — on the cabinets and on the workmanship
How we quote it
Trusted Choice Cabinets is owner-operated — Ryan measures, designs and installs, so nothing gets lost between a salesperson and a crew. You get a free 3D design before you commit, so you can see the kitchen and the number at the same time.
See finished work in the project gallery, read about kitchen cabinet remodeling, or ask for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much do kitchen cabinets cost in Tampa?
Installed, expect roughly $100 to $300 per linear foot for stock and ready-to-assemble cabinets, $200 to $500 for semi-custom, and $500 to $1,200 or more for custom cabinetry. A typical 20 to 30 linear foot kitchen therefore lands anywhere from about $2,000 in basic stock to $24,000 or more in custom.
Are cabinets really half the cost of a kitchen remodel?
Usually 40 to 50 percent of it, yes. Cabinets are the largest single line in most kitchen budgets, which is why the cabinet decision effectively sets the budget for everything else.
Is refacing cheaper than new cabinets?
Yes. Refacing keeps your existing boxes and replaces doors, drawer fronts and visible surfaces, commonly $5,000 to $13,000 and typically 40 to 50 percent below replacement. Refinishing or repainting runs about $2,500 to $6,000. Neither can change your layout or rescue boxes that have already taken on water.
Do plywood cabinet boxes matter in Florida?
They matter more here than in a dry climate. Once moisture gets past the edge banding, particleboard swells and does not recover, and kitchens produce moisture daily. Plywood boxes cost more up front and hold up far better over the life of the kitchen.
Planning a kitchen in the Tampa Bay area?
Trusted Choice Cabinets is owner-operated — Ryan measures, designs and installs, and every project starts with a free 3D design so you can see the kitchen before you commit to it.
Get a Free 3D Design Call +1 813-767-7535More cabinet guides
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