Kitchen Cabinets in Portland: Custom, Semi-Custom and Stock Compared
What each cabinet tier costs installed, how long it takes to arrive, and which styles suit Portland bungalows and modern homes.
Quick Answer
Installed kitchen cabinets in Portland typically cost $150-$300 per linear foot for stock, $300-$600 for semi-custom and $600-$1,200 or more for custom. Semi-custom lines usually arrive in 6-10 weeks and custom in 10-16 weeks. Plywood boxes, full-extension soft-close drawers and a layout that fits the house matter more than the label.
Masters Construction (also listed as Masters Construction Group) is a design-build general contractor serving Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn, and Vancouver, WA.
Cabinets are usually the largest single line in a kitchen budget. They also set the schedule, because nothing else can be finished until they arrive and are installed.
This guide compares the three cabinet tiers, what they cost installed in the Portland metro, how long each takes, and what to look for in the box and hardware. For the full kitchen budget, see our kitchen remodel cost guide or try the remodel cost estimator.
What are stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets?
The three tiers differ in how much you can change, not only in price.
Stock cabinets come in fixed sizes, usually in 3-inch steps, with a short list of door styles and finishes. Fillers close the gaps at walls and appliances.
Semi-custom cabinets start from standard boxes but allow changes to depth, height and width, plus a much wider range of doors, finishes and interior fittings.
Custom cabinets are built to the exact room. Every box, panel and trim piece is sized to the wall, which matters in older Portland houses where nothing is square.
How much do kitchen cabinets cost per linear foot in Portland?
These are typical 2026 installed ranges in the Portland metro, per linear foot of cabinet run. They include delivery and installation but not countertops.
| Typical range | What that buys |
|---|---|
| $150–$300 | Stock: fixed sizes, limited door styles, fillers at the ends, and a mix of particleboard and plywood boxes. |
| $300–$600 | Semi-custom: modified sizes, a wide range of doors and finishes, plywood box options and better drawer hardware. |
| $600–$1,200+ | Custom: built to the room, any door profile or species, full plywood construction, integrated panels and furniture-grade details. |
How do stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets compare?
Here is how the three tiers line up on the points homeowners ask about most:
- Stock — Cost: $150-$300 per linear foot. Lead time: in stock to about 4 weeks. Sizing: fixed, with fillers. Best for: rentals, laundry rooms and tight budgets.
- Semi-custom — Cost: $300-$600 per linear foot. Lead time: 6-10 weeks. Sizing: modified widths, depths and heights. Best for: most family kitchens.
- Custom — Cost: $600-$1,200+ per linear foot. Lead time: 10-16 weeks. Sizing: built to the room. Best for: older homes with odd walls and high-end kitchens.
Which door styles suit Portland bungalows and modern homes?
Portland's older houses tend to look best with cabinets that respect their age. Modern homes can take cleaner lines.
For Craftsman bungalows and Old Portland foursquares, shaker and inset doors work well. Painted finishes in soft whites, greens and blues fit the period, as does quarter-sawn white oak.
For mid-century ranches, flat slab doors in walnut or rift white oak suit the architecture. Simple pulls or finger grooves keep the look calm.
For newer and modern homes, slab doors in matte lacquer or textured laminate pair well with quartz. Handle-free drawers and tall pantry walls are common.
How long do cabinets take, and how do we schedule around them?
Lead times are usually the longest wait in a kitchen remodel. Typical ranges are 6-10 weeks for semi-custom and 10-16 weeks for custom, and they can change with the season.
We order cabinets as soon as design is signed off and measurements are verified. Demolition does not start until the cabinets have a confirmed ship date.
That way the kitchen is not torn out and waiting. Rough plumbing, electrical, drywall and flooring are timed to finish as the cabinets arrive. Our process page explains how the full schedule is built.
Plywood vs particleboard boxes: does it matter?
The box is the part you never see and the part that fails first.
Plywood holds screws better, resists sagging and handles a small leak better. It is the standard choice for sink bases and for most semi-custom and custom lines.
Particleboard and MDF are flat and stable, and they take paint well. Quality varies a lot, and they swell if water gets in and sits.
For a kitchen you plan to keep 20 years or more, we recommend plywood boxes at least for sink and dishwasher areas.
What should you look for in drawers and hardware?
Hardware is where you feel quality every day. It is worth spending here even on a mid-range line.
- Full-extension drawer slides, so you can reach the back of every drawer
- Soft-close slides and hinges rated for heavy use
- Dovetailed or solid drawer boxes rather than stapled sides
- Deep drawers instead of base cabinets with doors for pots and dishes
- Pull-outs for trash, spices and sheet pans planned into the layout
Local shop or national line: which is better?
Both can produce a good kitchen. The difference is in flexibility and service.
Local cabinet shops can build to the exact room, match an existing finish, and adjust on site. Lead times depend on how busy the shop is.
National semi-custom lines offer consistent quality, set sizes and predictable pricing. Changes after ordering are harder.
We help clients choose based on the house, budget and schedule. The right answer for a 1912 bungalow is often different from a 2005 build.
Should you reface or replace your kitchen cabinets?
Refacing keeps your existing boxes and replaces doors, drawer fronts and exposed panels. It often costs about half of new cabinets and takes days instead of weeks.
It makes sense when the boxes are solid plywood, the layout works and you are keeping the countertops. It does not fix a poor layout or water-damaged boxes.
If you are changing the layout, moving appliances or replacing counters, new cabinets are usually the better value. Pair them with the right surface using our quartz vs granite countertops guide.
How do cabinets fit into the full kitchen budget?
Cabinets usually make up about a third of a full kitchen remodel. Counters, appliances, electrical and finishes make up the rest.
Our kitchen remodeling service page shows how we plan kitchens from start to finish, and our pricing page lists typical ranges by project type.
Frequently Asked
Frequently Asked Questions
What homeowners ask us most about this work.
Custom cabinets typically run $600 to $1,200 or more per linear foot installed in the Portland metro. A mid-size kitchen with 25 to 30 linear feet of cabinets often lands between $18,000 and $36,000 or more, depending on species, finish and details.
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