How Much Does the Wood Type Affect the Cost of Cabinet Doors?
Updated December 3, 2024
Learn how the wood type influences cabinet door costs, increasing the price by up to 50%. Discover how to provide accurate quotes every time.
If you’ve ever worked with a customer who wanted to explore multiple wood types for their cabinet doors, you know how tricky pricing can get. Each wood type comes with different pricing, and a small change in material can lead to a big shift in cost. This variation can make it hard to deliver accurate quotes and even harder to stick to a budget.
At Cutting Edge Doors & Woodworking, we’ve spent over 20 years working with cabinet makers and contractors like you. We know the ins and outs of different wood types and understand how pricing can fluctuate based on availability, demand, and durability. Because we work with a wide range of wood species, we can help you navigate these challenges and provide your customers with accurate pricing.
After reading this article, you’ll know:
The Wood Type Has a Large Impact on the Cost of Cabinet Doors
When pricing cabinet doors, the wood type has the biggest impact on cost. You may have noticed that even when you stick to the same style, the price can vary significantly based on the wood you select.
For example, look at how pricing compares for shaker style cabinet doors, one of the most popular styles.
- Maple shaker style doors cost about $24 per square foot
- MDF is a more budget-friendly option, typically costing around $20 per square foot
- Select grade Rift Cut White Oak is a premium wood, costing over $56 per square foot.
Switching from MDF to Rift Cut White Oak more than doubles the cost while the door style stays the same. This example demonstrates how the wood species often drive the largest cost differences, while door styles typically have a smaller effect. If you’re only changing the door style, it’s unlikely to double the price, but changing from a low-cost wood like Maple or MDF to a high-end one like Walnut or Rift Cut White Oak can have a huge impact on your final quote.
Some Wood Types Have Similar Pricing
When preparing quotes for your clients, you should know which wood species have similar costs. The two biggest factors that affect the price of a wood type are supply and demand and hardness.
- Supply and Demand: Some wood species are in high demand but low supply, like Rift Cut White Oak, making them more expensive. Others, like Maple, are more readily available and therefore more affordable.
- Hardness: Hardwood species, like Oak or Maple, are more durable but tend to be pricier than softwoods like Pine. However, not all hardwoods are costly – Maple is a popular and affordable hardwood.
Here’s how common wood species compare in price for shaker-style cabinet doors. Although this chart only compares one door style, the approximate difference between wood types stays the same from one door style to another.
| Wood Type | Average Square Foot Price for Shaker Style Cabinet Doors | Supply (Availability) | Demand (Popularity) | Hardness (Janka Rating) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDF | $20 | High | High | N/A (not a wood) |
| Knotty Pine | $21 | High | Low | Low (380) |
| Maple | $24 | High | High | High (1450) |
| Red Oak | $24 | High | Medium | High (1290) |
| Alder | $25 | High | Medium | Low (590) |
| Cherry | $26 | Medium | Medium | Medium (950) |
| Hickory | $27 | Medium | Medium | Very High (1820) |
| Walnut | $34 | Medium | Medium | Medium (1010) |
| Select Grade Rift Cut White Oak | $56 | Low | Medium | High (1360) |
As you can see, wood types (like Maple and Red Oak) with similar supply, demand and hardness have comparable prices. However, wood species with high demand or low supply cost more.
If your client wants rarer wood types, like Walnut or Rift Cut White Oak, you must account for the higher cost. Getting separate quotes for these wood types ensures your customer knows what to expect and helps you avoid undercharging.
Always Quote Cabinet Doors In Each Wood Type Separately
You’ve probably experienced a situation where a customer wants to explore several wood types for cabinet doors. How do you know when those requests deserve separate quotes? A good rule of thumb is to get individual quotes for each wood species. Here’s why:
- Prices fluctuate. Even if you knew how much Walnut cost last year, a change in supply could make it much more expensive today. Separate quotes keep you and your customer on the same page.
- Different woods require different handling. Premium woods like Rift Cut White Oak cost more and may cause more work. By quoting them separately, you can factor in additional labour or material costs that could affect the final price. For example, you may have to special-order rarer materials like Rift Cut White Oak or Walnut, increasing your cost.
- Prevents surprises. Providing separate quotes ensures your customer won’t be caught off guard by unexpected costs. It also helps protect your margins, ensuring you don’t lose money if wood prices suddenly rise.
Separate quotes give you flexibility and transparency, making it easier for your customers to make informed decisions.
The Impact of Cabinet Door Style vs. Wood Type on Cost
While the door style you choose does affect the cost, wood type is the bigger factor. For example, if your client selects a custom, solid wood door style, this will certainly add to the price. But unless you move from a basic design (like veneer slabs) to a fully custom one, the change in wood type will cause a more significant price increase.
The biggest jumps in cost come from switching from an inexpensive wood like MDF or Pine to a higher-end option like Rift Cut White Oak or Walnut. Changing the wood type can significantly raise the overall price, even if you stick with a simple design. By keeping this in mind, you can guide your customers toward making choices that fit their budgets and avoid unnecessary surprises.
Learn How To Get Your Quotes Online
At the end of the day, wood type plays the largest role in determining the cost of your cabinet doors. Getting separate quotes is always the safest option if you’re working with customers who don’t know which wood type to choose. This clarity will help you give your clients a clear picture of how much their choices will impact the final cost.
Now that you know how wood type affects the cost of cabinet doors, it’s time to take the next step. Let Cutting Edge empower you to access accurate and immediate pricing online by learning how to submit a quote online today.
