Short answer: custom cabinets for a kitchen in Metro Vancouver typically cost $15,000 to $30,000 and up in 2026. Semi-custom cabinets run $8,000 to $18,000, and stock cabinets run $3,000 to $8,000. All prices are Canadian dollars and cover the cabinets for a typical kitchen. The final number depends on the size of the kitchen and the choices below.
We have been building cabinets in our Burnaby shop since 2006, and our own crew installs them. These ranges are the same ones we use in our kitchen cabinet design and cost guide. This page goes deeper on one question: what you are really paying for when you choose custom.
2026 cabinet costs in Vancouver by type
| Cabinet type | Typical range (CAD, 2026) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | $3,000 – $8,000 | Pre-made sizes, limited door and finish choices. Filler strips fill the gaps where the sizes do not match the wall. |
| Semi-custom | $8,000 – $18,000 | Standard boxes with more choice of doors, finishes and some size changes. |
| Custom | $15,000 – $30,000+ | Built to your measurements in our Burnaby shop. Any size, any door style, any finish, with storage planned around how you cook. |
The ranges overlap on purpose. A simple custom kitchen can cost less than a loaded semi-custom one. The tier matters less than what goes into it.
What moves the price of custom cabinets
Box material. Laminate-faced and plywood boxes are common, and solid wood sits at the top. Plywood boxes with good doors give a fair price-to-quality ratio for most homes.
Door style and finish. This is the biggest swing. Flat thermofoil and laminate doors are the least expensive. Painted MDF shaker doors sit in the middle. Solid hardwood, rift-cut oak, walnut veneer and inset doors are at the top. You can see the options on our cabinet doors page.
Drawers versus doors. A drawer costs more than a door, because it needs a box, slides and a front. A kitchen with deep drawer stacks for pots and pans costs more than one with the same number of door cabinets. Most people find it is worth it.
Hardware. Soft-close hinges and slides add to the price across a whole kitchen. Handles and knobs range from plain to very expensive. Our hardware carries a lifetime warranty.
Height to the ceiling. Cabinets that run all the way up use more material and add upper doors, but they remove the dead space and the dust shelf above standard uppers. In many Vancouver kitchens this is where custom pays off, because stock sizes rarely fit the ceiling height.
Panel-ready appliances. Integrated fridges and dishwashers need cabinet fronts built to match and a frame built to fit the appliance. We need the appliance model before we finish the design.
Installation. Cabinets need to be levelled, scribed to the walls and fastened properly. Our own crew does this. If you are replacing cabinets in the same layout, there is no permit. Moving walls, plumbing or gas changes that.
How Aero quotes custom cabinets
We start with a free in-home estimate. We come to your home anywhere in Metro Vancouver and measure. Then we give you a quotation first, before any design work.
Once you want to go ahead, we move into the design phase. You get drawings and 3D renderings so you can see the kitchen before it is built. We adjust the quotation until you are satisfied with both the design and the price.
A quotation is based on your real kitchen, not a per-square-foot number from a website. That includes this one.
Cabinet lead time is 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the material.
Where custom is worth it, and where it is not
Custom is worth it if your kitchen has odd walls, a tall ceiling, an older home with out-of-square corners, an island with seating, or integrated appliances. It is also worth it if you want a specific finish that stock lines do not offer.
It may not be worth it for a small galley kitchen with standard walls and a tight budget. A semi-custom kitchen can look just as good there. We will tell you which one makes sense when we see the room.
Cabinets are also usually 30 to 50 percent of a full kitchen renovation bill. Countertops, appliances, electrical and the trades are on top of that. For the full picture, read our kitchen renovation cost guide for Vancouver.
Choosing who builds them
Price matters, but so does who stands behind the work. Our cabinetry carries a 5-year warranty and our hardware carries a lifetime warranty. If you are comparing makers, our guide on how to choose the right custom cabinet maker in Vancouver lists what to ask.
Related guides
- Kitchen cabinet design and cost guide
- Kitchen renovation cost in Vancouver (2026)
- How to choose the right custom cabinet maker in Vancouver
- Custom kitchens by Aero Kitchen & Bath
Get a real number for your cabinets
Call 604-559-8080 or send us your details. We will book a free in-home estimate and quote your kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
How much do custom cabinets cost in Vancouver in 2026?
Custom cabinets for a kitchen typically run $15,000 to $30,000 and up. Semi-custom is $8,000 to $18,000 and stock is $3,000 to $8,000. These are Canadian dollars based on Aero Kitchen & Bath’s 2026 pricing.
Are custom cabinets worth the extra cost over semi-custom?
They are if your kitchen has odd walls, a tall ceiling, panel-ready appliances or a layout that stock sizes do not fit. Custom cabinets are built to your measurements, so there are no filler strips or wasted corners.
What makes custom cabinets cost more?
The biggest drivers are the door style and finish, the box material, how many drawers you have, the hardware, cabinets that run to the ceiling, panel-ready appliances and the installation.
Does the cabinet price include installation?
Our crew installs the cabinets we build, and installation is part of the quotation.
How long does it take to get custom cabinets?
A full kitchen with Aero typically takes four to eight weeks, from the start of work to the finished kitchen.
Do I pay for the design?
We start with a free in-home estimate and a quotation. Once you want to go ahead, we move into the design phase with drawings and 3D renderings, and we adjust the quotation until you are satisfied.
Do you price cabinets by the linear foot?
No. The price comes from the design, a combination of door style and finish, materials, box construction, drawers and accessories, height, and installation. We quote each kitchen after the free in-home measure and adjust the quotation through the design phase.