Can You Order A Custom Profile For Your Cabinet Doors?

Can you order a custom cabinet door profile? Learn what it costs, how long it takes, and what to consider before you order.

A close-up image of two white painted cabinet doors with a custom profile. Ordering a custom profile for cabinet doors increases the cost and extends the lead time.

You need to order a few more cabinet doors for a job. But there’s a problem – your client wants them to match the original kitchen, and you can’t find that cabinet door profile anywhere. Now you’re stuck. You’re wondering, Can I order a custom cabinet door profile? How long will it take? And how much will it cost?

At Cutting Edge, we’ve developed hundreds of custom cabinet door profiles over the years. While we create most of our products to keep up with trends, others were designed specifically for contractors in your position. Whether you’re matching an older kitchen or designing something new, we know how to guide you through the process.

In this article, you’ll learn:

Let’s get started!

Not All Cabinet Door Suppliers Will Match A Custom Profile

Most cabinet door suppliers have a fixed catalogue of profiles. They’ve spent years perfecting them, and that’s what they stick to.

Why? Because making a custom profile takes extra time, tools, and labour. Some suppliers lack the capacity or are unwilling to undertake the additional work. So if you’re looking for a match and can’t find it in their library, you might be told no.

But here’s the good news: Some suppliers do offer custom profiles. And yes, we’re one of those suppliers. Over the years, we’ve developed many profiles from scratch for customers in your shoes.

Now, let’s explore the two main problems with developing a custom profile: time and money.

Developing A Custom Profile Takes Time

Creating a custom profile isn’t a quick fix. It usually takes a minimum of four weeks, but more often longer.

Here’s how the process goes:

  1. You provide a sample door or a detailed drawing with dimensions.
  2. Your supplier sends the door or information to a knife supplier to create a digital line drawing.
  3. That drawing takes a few weeks to develop.
  4. Once you approve the drawing, your supplier orders the new cutters (knives). These usually take a few weeks to arrive.
  5. Your supplier tests the knives by making a sample door.
  6. Then, your supplier ships that sample to you for final approval.

Speed isn’t the focus – accuracy is. This process can take anywhere from 4 weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of the profile match.

A close-up image of a man holding a pencil over a technical drawing. Ordering a custom profile requires patience - it can take 4 or more weeks to develop a profile.

Developing A Custom Profile Can Be Expensive

In addition to the time, custom profiles aren’t cheap. The cost varies depending on:

  • The profile you want to match (outside profile, inside profile, MDF profile, mitred profile)
  • The type of cabinet door (MDF, mitred, cope and stick)
  • Whether your supplier already owns a similar cutter or has to order new knives
  • What type of knives your supplier has to order (high-speed steel, carbide, diamond-tipped)

Your cost is relatively low if your supplier already has similar cutters that they can modify in-house to achieve a match. In this case, they will charge you a set-up or labour fee, between $50–$75 per hour. 

But that price increases fast if your request requires new cutters. Let’s break it down by door type:

A Custom Outside Profile Costs At Least $100

This is the simplest option. A custom outside edge profile starts at around $100. You may also pay for set-up or labour, which is $50–$75 per hour.

This is often a good choice if you only need to tweak the outer edge of a cabinet door.

Custom Profiles For MDF Doors Cost At Least $200

Usually, a custom profile for 1-piece or 2-piece MDF doors requires only one custom cutter. These knives cost about $200 each. However, your supplier may need multiple cutters to achieve a more complex profile.

Custom Profiles For Mitred Doors Cost At Least $500

Mitred cabinet doors use angled cuts, which is beneficial when matching a custom profile. Why? Because your supplier only needs one knife. 

If your supplier can use high-speed steel knives, expect to pay about $500 per knife. However, high-speed steel knives don’t always work. 

Your supplier will need carbide or diamond-tipped knives if you’re ordering MDF or rustic/knotty woods. These can cost up to $1,000 per knife.

And don’t forget: if the drawer fronts differ from the doors, your supplier will need two sets of knives.

Custom Profiles For Cope And Stick Cabinet Doors Cost At Least $3,000

Cope and stick cabinet doors are the most complex. Matching the inside profile of a cope and stick door requires multiple knives – one for the inside profile, one for cutting the panel groove, one for cutting the back of the profile, and one for cutting the cope and stick joint. You should expect to pay at least $3,000 for a full cutter set.

Requesting A Custom Profile Can Be Complicated

It’s not just a matter of clicking a button. Ordering a custom profile takes careful planning.

But here’s what you’ll generally need to get started:

  • A physical sample door (best option)
  • OR a line drawing with exact dimensions
  • Profile depth and width
  • Door style and wood species
  • Quantity of doors needed
  • Timeline required

Having this information helps your supplier match the look and choose the best cutters, materials, and production.

But honestly, before requesting a custom profile, you need to ensure it’s the best option for you and your customer.

A row of three white painted cabinet doors with custom arches. Ordering a custom profile for cabinet doors isn't always the right choice, especially for one or two pieces.

What To Consider Before Requesting A Custom Profile

Ordering a custom cabinet door profile might sound like the perfect solution, especially when a customer wants an exact match. But before you go down that road, it’s worth asking:

1. Does the Customer Really Need an Exact Match?

It’s easy to default to perfection, but in reality, most people won’t notice a slight profile variation unless they’re comparing doors side by side.

Ask yourself:

  • Are the new doors going in a different room? A close match will probably blend just fine, especially once everything is painted or stained.
  • Is the door in a low-traffic or hidden area? Think fridge panels, laundry rooms, or pantry backs. In those cases, an exact profile match might not be necessary.

Will a modified standard profile be “close enough”? Many suppliers can adjust existing cutters to achieve a similar look. This can cut your cost by hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Show your client a few near-match options. Most customers care more about timing and budget than a perfect match - especially once they understand the cost and wait time.

2. What’s Their Budget?

This is a big one.

A custom cutter isn’t cheap. And that cost is hard to justify if you’re only ordering one or two doors. 

You can probably justify the cost if your client is replacing a full kitchen or doing a heritage home restoration. However, a stock profile is less expensive and time-consuming when replacing a broken drawer front under the sink.

3. What’s the Timeline?

Timing can make or break a project.

The custom profile process takes weeks, even if everything stays on schedule.

  • Are you okay waiting 4–6 weeks or longer?
  • Will this delay affect the overall job timeline or payment schedule?
  • Are there permits or inspections waiting on job completion?

A custom profile could cost more than just money if you’re up against a tight deadline – it could cost your reputation or lead to project penalties.

A board with the words Cost and Benefit on opposite ends, belancing on a fulcrum. Before ordering a custom profile, you need to consider the costs and benefits to ensure it's the best choice.

When Does a Custom Profile Make Sense?

There are times when going custom is the right move. Consider it when:

  • The customer is doing a full kitchen or home renovation and wants a consistent door style throughout
  • You’re restoring a heritage or custom-built kitchen where the profile is central to the design
  • The budget and timeline are flexible
  • Your client has a high-end or luxury expectation and values exact detailing
  • You’re replacing multiple doors across a large space, and a mismatch would be noticeable
  • You plan to re-order this profile regularly for other jobs, turning a one-time cost into a long-term investment

The bottom line is that ordering a custom profile is a big commitment, and it’s not always the wisest choice.

You’ve got other options: near-match profiles, minor adjustments to stock cutters, and smart design choices that help you deliver quality without the added cost, stress, or delay.

Before you say yes to a custom cutter, weigh the cost, the timeline, and the real need. And if you’re not sure what’s best, our team is here to help you figure that out.

Learn How The Profile Codes Work At Cutting Edge

Matching a cabinet door profile sounds easy until timelines, tooling, and budget get in the way. Now that you understand what it takes to create a custom profile, you can decide what makes sense for your project.

At Cutting Edge, we’ve helped contractors like you weigh the options – from near matches to full custom. If you’re ready to move forward, your next step is to learn how our profile codes work. It’s the key to ordering the right match, custom or not. 

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