How To Reduce Shipping Costs For Cabinet Doors
Learn practical ways to reduce shipping costs for cabinet doors so you can save money and keep your projects on schedule.
You’ve just received a quote from a new supplier, but the shipping costs are unexpectedly high. Why is shipping so expensive? Are there ways to lower these costs or make shipping more predictable?
At Cutting Edge, we work with hundreds of contractors and cabinet makers every year. We know shipping costs can be frustrating and unpredictable. That’s why we’ve built detailed shipping policies to help keep costs as low as possible, no matter where you’re located. Our 20 years of experience help us spot cost traps before they happen.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What makes shipping costs for cabinet doors increase
- How combining multiple orders can save you money
- Why shipping to a nearby city can help reduce costs
- How piece size affects your shipping bill
- The benefits of larger orders for cost coverage
- How to avoid costly accessorial charges
- Key questions to ask your supplier to keep shipping costs low
What Causes Shipping Costs For Cabinet Doors To Increase?
If freight feels random, you’re not alone. But there is logic to it. Several factors drive the pricing.
- The distance from your supplier’s shop to your shop. Usually, the shipping costs increase with the distance of the route. In addition to the distance, unusual or unpopular routes often cost more than popular lanes between major hubs.
- Quantity and shipment density. Freight companies have minimum charges, meaning a small order can cost the same as a larger order.
- Weight and packaging. Heavier shipments cost more because shipping companies charge by weight.
- Piece size (especially over 40″). This is the silent budget killer. One piece that is longer than 40″ can kick you out of courier service and into truck freight. This means you might pay the same amount for one or two pieces as you’d pay to ship a whole 40‑piece order.
- Delivery location type. Residential streets, job sites, schools, farms, storage yards, and other similar sites are costly destinations. It can be difficult to drive a truck into those locations, and the shipping company will charge you additional fees (accessorial charges) for the extra hassle.
However, it’s not all bad news. There are ways to reduce the shipping costs.
There Are Many Ways To Reduce Shipping Costs For Your Cabinet Doors
Every supplier handles shipping a little differently. The routes they use, the coverage they offer, and the cost thresholds for free or reduced freight can vary a lot from one company to another. That’s why it’s important to understand what’s possible with your supplier and work with them to find the smartest, most cost-effective way to get your cabinet doors to your shop or job site.
The strategies we’re sharing here are based on what we’ve seen work across the industry and in our own 20+ years of experience at Cutting Edge. Whether you work with us or someone else, these approaches can help you have more informed conversations with your supplier, avoid unnecessary charges, and keep your projects profitable.
Combine Multiple Orders To Reduce Shipping Costs
Combining orders is one of the easiest ways to lower your per-piece shipping cost, but the details depend on your supplier’s policy. Some will provide price breaks or partial coverage once your order total reaches a certain value. Others may charge less per crate when the shipment is larger.
The key is to ask:
- What’s your threshold for reduced or covered shipping?
- Can I combine multiple orders into one shipment?
When you know the answer, you can plan purchases strategically. At Cutting Edge, for example, we begin to cover at least part of the shipping once your combined subtotal passes $1,000. Even if your supplier’s number is different, the principle is the same: fewer shipments equals lower total freight costs.
Shipping Cabinet Doors To A Nearby City Can Reduce Shipping Costs
If you’re outside a major shipping hub, delivering to a nearby larger city can unlock significant savings. Carriers often run regular lanes between major destinations. Shipments on those lanes tend to get better pricing, and in some cases, more cost coverage from the supplier.
Ask your supplier:
- Which cities are on your standard routes?
- Can I have my order shipped to a depot or terminal there?
Sometimes you can pick up from a freight depot in a larger city, or have it sent to a trusted commercial address. At Cutting Edge, many larger hubs are part of our standard destinations list, which means more of the shipping cost is already covered. Even if your supplier doesn’t offer that, staying on standard lanes almost always helps avoid extra fees.
Ordering Smaller Pieces Can Reduce Shipping Costs
This one catches people by surprise: one or two doors over 40″ long can push your shipment from courier service into full truck freight territory, often at the same total cost you’d pay for an entire large order.
Ask your supplier:
- What’s the maximum length you can ship by courier?
- Would splitting this oversized piece into smaller sections save money?
If it works for your design, breaking large items into shorter lengths and joining them on-site can make a major difference. For example, a tall pantry door might be built in two sections, shipped more cheaply, then installed seamlessly together. Keeping pieces courier-friendly often cuts both time and cost.
Ordering Larger Projects Can Reduce Shipping Costs
Sometimes ordering more can save you money per piece. This is because suppliers and carriers spread base freight charges across the whole shipment.
Ask your supplier:
- Is there better shipping coverage for larger orders?
- Would adding a few extra items lower my total shipping cost?
If you’re close to a cost-coverage threshold, adding a couple of extra panels or drawers could mean your supplier covers more of the freight costs. At Cutting Edge, that can mean the difference between partial coverage and nearly free shipping. Even if you’re working with someone else, this is worth exploring.
Avoiding Accessorial Charges Can Reduce Shipping Costs
Accessorial charges are the fees that you receive after delivery. These include things like liftgate service, residential delivery surcharges, or re-delivery costs. These charges can vary from supplier to supplier, and not all carriers charge the same way.
Ask your supplier:
- What accessorial charges might apply to my delivery location?
- How can I avoid these charges?
Common ways to sidestep these fees include delivering to a commercial address with a dock or forklift, picking up from a depot, or ensuring someone is available during the delivery window. At Cutting Edge, we walk customers through these options before booking freight. However, even if you’re working with another supplier, flagging these potential fees early can save you a lot of headache (and cost).
How To Ensure Your Shipping Costs Are As Low As Possible
Use these questions with any supplier (including us) before you place the order:
- Can this order ship by courier? If not, which piece forces truck freight, and can we redesign it under 40″?
- What are your standard destination cities and depots? Would shipping to one of those points increase supplier coverage?
- If I combine orders, how does that change my price? Where are the coverage tiers (e.g., $1,000 subtotal), and what portion of freight is covered in each tier?
- What accessorial charges might apply to my location? How do we avoid them (dock/forklift, depot pickup, delivery window)?
- What happens if there’s a delay or damage? Know the process and timelines for claims so a surprise doesn’t become your cost.
By asking these questions before you order, you take control of your freight costs instead of leaving them to chance. The answers will help you design orders that move efficiently, avoid hidden fees, and arrive when you need them.
We’ve spent decades helping contractors and cabinet makers work through these exact conversations; mapping out routes, flagging cost triggers, and finding the most practical delivery options for each job. When you have a partner who knows the freight landscape, shipping becomes another tool you can manage, not a variable that manages you.
With the right plan in place, you’re ready to keep your costs predictable and your projects on track.
Learn How Shipping Works At Cutting Edge
You now know the biggest drivers of shipping costs for cabinet doors and the steps that can make those costs more manageable. By combining orders, using standard delivery lanes, avoiding oversized pieces, and planning for potential fees, you can keep freight predictable and your projects profitable.
The next step is to put these strategies into practice with a partner who understands how freight works. At Cutting Edge, we help contractors and cabinet makers plan orders, avoid cost traps, and keep projects on track. Learn how much shipping costs at Cutting Edge so you can take control of your freight costs and deliver every job on time.
