Cost of Finished Cabinet Doors From Cutting Edge
Updated December 2, 2024
At Cutting Edge, finished cabinet doors cost at least $17 per square foot more than raw doors. Clear lacquer is the least expensive option.
As you bring on more customers and your workload increases, you may have too much work for your team to handle. If you or your team continually work overtime and weekends, it might be time for you to consider outsourcing some of your work. One of the easiest products to outsource is the finishing – all you need to do is order finished cabinet doors instead of raw. However, you can’t afford to price yourself out of the market. Before you make a decision, you need to understand the extra costs.
At Cutting Edge, we’ve produced finished cabinet doors for over 20 years. Our finishing team has experience with the gamut of finishes, from the basic clear lacquer finish to complex custom finishes.
So, keep reading to find:
Finished Cabinet Doors Cost at Least $17 More Than Raw Doors
The difference between finished and raw (or unfinished) cabinet doors is the finish (or lack thereof). While finished cabinet doors cost at least $17 more than raw doors, that price difference will change depending on the finish type.
You’ll notice two prices for each section; a minimum price per piece and a square foot price. Learn how to use both prices to calculate your cost and why Cutting Edge has a minimum price per piece.
At Cutting Edge, we have seven finish options:
1. Primer - $17+ per Piece
A primed finish costs at least $17 per piece and $11.20 per square foot.
Sometimes, you only need your supplier to prime your cabinet doors, so your finishing team has one less step to worry about.
When you order primed MDF cabinet doors (1-piece, 2-piece, or 5-piece), Cutting Edge applies one coat of reduced sealer to help achieve a completely smooth finish. This sealer coat seals the machined MDF and provides a solid base for the primer. On top of that clear coat, we apply two layers of primer.
For other products (MDF slabs or paint-grade wood doors), we skip the reduced sealer and only apply two layers of primer. These products don’t require the sealer base to achieve a smooth finish.
When you receive your primed cabinet doors, you must complete a quick sanding to remove any scuffs that occurred during shipping. In addition, that sanding opens the primer up so your painted finish adheres correctly.
2. Clear Lacquer - $20+ per Piece
A clear lacquer finish is the basic option. As it sounds, the finish is clear, allowing you to see all the characteristics of the natural wood beneath.
Clear lacquer costs at least $20 per piece and $13.20 per square foot.
3. Stain and Lacquer - $29+ per Piece
A stain and lacquer finish costs at least $29 per piece and $19.20 per square foot.
Stain and lacquer is a popular option. The stain adds colour to the cabinet doors. Depending on the stain colour you or your customer select, you can either emphasize or hide the natural characteristics of the wood.
For example, a dark stain will hide the wood. On the other hand, a light stain (or a stain with contrasting highlighting dyes) will emphasize grain patterns and other wood characteristics.
4. Paint - $41+ per Piece
Painted cabinet doors are popular because of the number of paint colours available. There’s a colour for everyone and every kitchen style. From warm whites to cozy neutrals to bold, vibrant accents, painted cabinet doors allow you to offer your customers the kitchen design they need.
Painted finishes cost at least $41 per piece and $27.30 per square foot.
5. Stain, Glaze and Lacquer - $58+ per Piece
A stain, glaze and lacquer finish takes the traditional stain and lacquer finish and adds an extra layer of complexity.
You can choose from accent to clean to dirty glazes. Accent glazes emphasize the lines of the profiles. Clean glazes add a slight patina to specific areas of the door. Dirty glazes make the cabinet doors look distressed.
Stained cabinet doors already have a lot going on, so although your customer could add clean or dirty glazes, these options tend to muddy the appearance. However, accent glazes work well on stained doors.
A stain and lacquer finish with a glaze costs at least $58 per piece and $38.50 per square foot.
6. Paint, Glaze and Lacquer - $70+ per Piece
Like a stain, glaze and lacquer finish, adding a glaze to a painted cabinet door adds extra detail and complexity.
Because painted doors are solid colours, all three types of glazed finishes work well. There are no natural wood characteristics to distract the eye from the glaze.
Paint and glaze finishes cost at least $70 per piece and $47 per square foot.
7. Custom Finishes - $113+ per Piece
And finally, if your customer wants their kitchen to stand out, you can choose a custom finish. Custom finishes start at $75 per square foot and increase depending on the complexity.
Because custom finishes are eye-catching, they typically work best as a feature item in the kitchen.
Yes, there are hidden costs of buying finished cabinet doors. Buying finished doors from a supplier means you may experience:
1. Extended Lead Times
When you order finished cabinet doors, your lead time will stretch out. Typically, raw cabinet doors take around two weeks, depending on the door style. However, finished cabinet doors will take at least an additional two weeks.
The average lead time for finished cabinet doors is four to six weeks, provided you choose a standard finish.
What if your customer isn’t happy with the standard finishes?
2. Limited Finish Selection For Your Finished Cabinet Doors
At Cutting Edge, we have a selection of standard finishes – 11 wiping and seven spray stains. In addition, we offer the entire range of Benjamin Moore paint colours.
However, our selection doesn’t always have the colours your customer wants.
In this case, you have to request a custom match.
3. The Cost and Hassle of Finish Samples
What happens when you request a custom match? Our team creates a finished sample for you and your customer to approve.
An average finish sample takes around two to three weeks from the day our team receives the sample you provide and can cost over $100. This price is high because our team has to purchase the stain match without any guarantee of you placing the order or the stain matching. In addition, some stain samples take multiple attempts to achieve a close match.
Once you and your customer approve the sample, we can start on your order. However, sometimes the match isn’t perfect, or your customer changes their mind, and we must start over.
Is Ordering Finished Cabinet Doors the Solution to Your Problems?
Now that you understand the options and the extra costs, you might wonder if ordering finished cabinet doors is your best option.
At Cutting Edge, we’ve found that purchasing finished cabinet doors doesn’t always work. However, there are two scenarios when it might be a good option for you and your team.
1. Lack of Manpower
Sometimes, you might need to purchase finished cabinet doors temporarily if you are short-staffed or overworked.
Thanks to the extra costs, buying finished cabinet doors might not be a practical long-term option, but it can help to reduce some of the pressure in the short term.
If this is why you think ordering finished cabinet doors sounds like a good option, make sure you address the following questions with your potential supplier:
- Lead time for standard orders.
- Lead time for replacement or warranty pieces – you can’t afford to wait six weeks for a single warranty replacement.
- If they have stain samples. Stain samples help you understand their standard finish options and get a good idea of the finish quality. Usually, standard finish options cost less, ship sooner, and are generally less hassle.
2. Lack of Equipment or Space
However, lack of manpower isn’t always the issue. In fact, most customers order finished cabinet doors due to a lack of the proper equipment or the space for finishing.
In this case, purchasing finished doors isn’t just a temporary solution. So, before you bring on a new supplier, order a stain sample kit, if possible, and a few finished sample doors for your showroom.
This will help you learn their quality, lead time, and standard finish options.
Price Out Your Finished Cabinet Doors Online
The fact is, you can’t risk damaging your reputation and profits by pricing yourself out of the market. However, you also can’t continue producing finished products when you don’t have the time, space, or equipment. You need someone who can take some of the weight off your shoulders.
By explaining their finishing options and pricing, Cutting Edge has empowered you to choose to reduce your workload. But first, you need to see if the pricing is workable. So, your next step is to set up your contractor account with Cutting Edge and place some quotes and orders online to see how the pricing compares.
