What To Expect: Ordering Wood Cabinet Doors From Cutting Edge
Ordering wood cabinet doors? Learn what to expect, what’s included, and how to avoid project delays with this complete guide.
Whether you’re a cabinet maker, contractor, or homeowner, you’re here because you need to order wood cabinet doors. But what can you expect? Will the doors come finished? Are they ready to install?
If you’re unsure, you’re not alone. Many cabinet door suppliers have limited information online. You can’t risk it – ordering cabinet doors without knowing the full details can delay your build, create confusion, and hurt your reputation.
At Cutting Edge, we’ve spent over 20 years making custom cabinet doors for customers across Canada. We’ve manufactured thousands of doors in many wood species and styles. And while every supplier operates a little differently, we want to clarify the process for you.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Wood Cabinet Doors Are A Common Choice For Kitchens
Wood cabinet doors are one of the most popular choices for kitchen cabinets, and for good reason. They are durable, beautiful, and easy to customize. You can paint them, stain them, or leave them natural for a classic look.
Wood doors come in many styles, including shaker, raised panel, mitred, and arched. You can choose from wood types such as Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Birch, Cherry, or others, to match your design. Wood doors also pair well with custom moulding and trims, providing a high-end feel.
You might still wonder why wood cabinet doors are so popular. There are a lot of reasons, but here are the most common:
- They’re long-lasting. Unlike MDF or thermofoil, solid wood can handle wear and tear. A good set of solid wood cabinet doors will last at least 15 years.
- You can repair them. Scratched, dented or chipped a door? Add a bit of touch-up stain or paint.
- They add value. Homebuyers often look for real wood features. Wood doors usually indicate a high-quality home.
- They’re versatile. Paint, stain, or clear coat – wood handles it all.
Cabinet makers and contractors love wood doors because they offer flexibility, quality, and customization. However, you need to know the details up-front, especially when ordering in bulk.
What To Expect When Ordering Wood Cabinet Doors
Before placing an order for wood cabinet doors, it’s vital to understand what you’ll receive. Knowing the details upfront can help you avoid delays, reduce mistakes on-site, and set clear expectations for your clients or team. Whether you’re ordering one door or hundreds, clarity now means fewer surprises later.
Here’s what you can expect when ordering wood cabinet doors from Cutting Edge:
| Category | Cutting Edge Standard | What That Means For You |
|---|---|---|
| Sanding & Edges | Sanded to 180 grit, edges left square | Doors arrive raw, ready for you to paint, stain, or customize. |
| Thickness | ¾” thick | Works with most hinges, cabinet boxes, and overlays. Custom thicknesses available on request. |
| Oversized Doors | Centre rail or stile added if over 30” wide or 43” tall | Reinforces the structure to prevent warping and maintain stability. |
| Top Rails | Square by default | Arched or cathedral tops available upon request. |
| Stiles & Rails | 2 ¼” wide (default) | Adjusted for narrow doors and drawers to maintain compatibility with hardware. Custom widths available upon request. |
| Wood Grade | Standard grade (default) | Best balance of quality and cost. |
| Lead Times | 10-15 working days after approval and payment | Custom or finished doors may require more time. |
| Order Approval | Signed approval and payment required before production | Ensures you’ve reviewed all details, including sizes, profiles and wood type and are completely ready to proceed with your order. |
Your Wood Cabinet Doors Arrive Sanded and Ready to Finish
Each door arrives pre-sanded to 180 grit, and we leave the sharp edges square. This sanding method gives you control over how you prep the doors for finishing. You can apply your standard bevel or roundover profile, or select one of our outside profiles.
As standard, we leave your wood cabinet doors raw so you can apply the final coat. This keeps your options wide open for colour and texture.
Wood Cabinet Doors Are Built At ¾” Thick
Unless you request otherwise, standard wood cabinet doors are made ¾” thick. This thickness is an industry standard because it works well with most hinges, box configurations, and overlay styles.
If you need something custom, you can request thinner or thicker doors.
Note that some door styles, such as mitred cabinet doors or slim shaker cabinet doors, can have different default thicknesses. If you’re ever in doubt, ask your supplier.
Large Wood Cabinet Doors Include Centre Rails or Stiles for Stability
Oversized cabinet doors can warp or twist over time without proper support. That’s why any door measuring over 30 inches wide or 43 inches tall is automatically built with a centre rail or centre stile, if possible. This structural reinforcement helps the door stay square and strong for years to come.
You can request no center rails or stiles – but that will void the warranty for those items.
Mitred doors are an exception to this rule; most mitred profiles are not compatible with centre rails and stiles.
You’ll Receive Square Doors by Default (No Arched Tops)
Unless you specifically request an arched or cathedral top, your doors will have square top rails. This construction method gives you a clean, modern finish by default.
If you want an arched door, notify our team during the quoting or approval stage.
Default Stile and Rail Sizes Keep Your Wood Cabinet Doors Balanced
Your doors will come with 2 ¼-inch-wide stiles and rails, unless a different style requires otherwise (such as a mitred profile). Narrower doors and drawer fronts may have reduced stiles or rails:
- Doors less than 8” wide may have narrower stiles
- Drawers under 7” high will usually have 1.5” top and bottom rails
This ensures that even smaller pieces look proportionate while remaining compatible with hardware and hinges.
However, you can customize most stile and rail widths if required.
Standard Grade Material Is Used Unless You Request Otherwise
Your cabinet doors will use standard grade wood unless you ask for something different. This grade strikes the best balance between quality and cost. It looks good, performs well, and keeps pricing competitive.
Of course, you can:
- Upgrade to select grade for a cleaner, more uniform appearance
- Downgrade to builder grade for more cost-effective projects
Choose the grade that best aligns with your budget and expectations.
Raw Wood Cabinet Doors Ship Within 10-15 Working Days
Once you’ve reviewed your quote, confirmed your specs, and submitted payment, your order enters production. From that point, your doors typically ship within 10 to 15 working days.
This timeline doesn’t include weekends, holidays, or transit time. If you’re adding a finish or requesting custom elements, allow more time for production.
To stay on schedule, approve and pay promptly to keep your job moving forward.
Production Begins Only After You Approve and Pay
Your cabinet doors won’t enter production until you’ve signed off on all the specs and submitted payment. This is your chance to review every detail – sizes, profiles, wood species, and any upgrades.
You stay in control. Nothing moves forward until you say so.
Need help reviewing your order? Contact our team, and we’ll walk you through the process.
How To Learn What To Expect When Ordering Wood Cabinet Doors
Ordering wood cabinet doors might seem straightforward, but not all suppliers follow the same process or provide the same level of detail. Whether you’re buying from Cutting Edge or someone else, it’s worth taking time to ask the right questions before you place your order.
When you know what to expect, you can plan your installs with confidence, manage your client’s expectations, and protect your schedule from costly delays.
Ask These Questions Before You Order Wood Cabinet Doors
If you want to avoid surprises, use this list as your guide:
- What’s included in the base price? Does the quote cover sanding, edge prep, or just the raw wood?
- Are the doors finished or unfinished? If you’re expecting finished doors, be sure that’s what you’re getting. Most suppliers ship them raw as default.
- What wood grade is standard? Can I upgrade or downgrade? Some suppliers default to lower grades unless you ask. Make sure you know what you’re paying for.
- How thick are the doors? Standard is usually ¾”, but not always. You don’t want a surprise at install time.
- Are oversized doors reinforced? Larger doors need centre rails or stiles. If your supplier doesn’t mention it, ask.
- What are the stile and rail dimensions? Make sure smaller items stay compatible with hinges and hardware.
- When does the lead time start? Is it when you approve the quote? When you pay? Or both?
- What is the actual lead time? Ask if lead times include weekends, holidays, or shipping. Some suppliers quote production time only.
- Is the approval process clear? Do you get a detailed spec sheet to sign off on before the doors go into production?
These questions help ensure you’re not left guessing, or worse, dealing with a costly re-order.
Why This Matters
As a contractor or cabinet maker, your reputation depends on your supplier. If they drop the ball, your client sees it as your mistake. If they ship late, you’re the one who’s stuck rescheduling the job.
You deserve a supplier who’s upfront, responsive, and keeps their word.
At Cutting Edge, you can expect:
- Clear specs before production starts
- Doors that match your drawings and dimensions
- Realistic lead times you can build a schedule around
- A support team that picks up the phone when you call
Even if you decide to buy elsewhere, you now know the questions to ask and what standards to expect. And if those standards aren’t being met, it might be time to switch to a supplier that helps you finish jobs.
Learn How To Price Out Wood Cabinet Doors Online
Now that you know what to expect when ordering wood cabinet doors, you’re better prepared to avoid delays, reduce mistakes, and meet your project timelines. You understand what should be included, what to watch for, and how to ask the right questions before placing an order. You came here because you’ve likely faced delays, missing details, or inconsistent quality from past suppliers. Those problems slow you down, damage your reputation, and cost you money.
If you’re ready to take control of your next order, start by understanding the pricing. Learn how to use our online platform to price out your wood cabinet doors online, and get clear, transparent estimates based on your exact needs.
