Quick answer: In Auckland, custom kitchen cabinetry usually runs $20,000–$50,000+ supplied and installed, while replacing the doors only sits around $2,000–$10,000. Use our kitchen cabinetry cost calculator below for a fast ballpark before you start booking quotes.
You’ve got a number in your head for the new kitchen. Then the quotes land, and they’re nowhere near it — and worse, they’re nowhere near each other. One company says $18,000. The next says $34,000. Same kitchen, same floor plan. So what’s going on?
Here’s the honest version. “Cabinetry” isn’t one thing , it’s the boxes, the doors, the drawer fronts, the hardware and the install, and every one of those moves the price. A straight run of base cabinets with plain melamine doors is a completely different animal to an L-shaped layout with full-height uppers, deep pot drawers and a pull-out pantry. Both get called “kitchen cabinetry.” They’re thousands of dollars apart.
Below you’ll find real 2026 Auckland figures , the kind we quote out of our own factory, not vague “prices vary” hand-waving , and a calculator that turns those figures into a ballpark for your size kitchen. For the full breakdown of a whole kitchen (benchtops, appliances, the lot), we’ve put that in our dedicated guide on how much kitchen cabinets cost in NZ. Here, we’re staying focused on the cabinetry itself , new, or just the doors.
We’re Little Giant Interiors. We design, manufacture and install custom kitchens out of our own 700m² factory in Rosedale, on Auckland’s North Shore, using German laser edge-banding for the finish. That means the numbers below come from the bench, not a brochure.
→ Try the Kitchen Cabinetry Cost Calculator
What Kitchen Cabinetry Actually Costs in Auckland (2026)
Let’s start with the figure most people want: the cost of a full set of new cabinetry, supplied and installed, leaving benchtops and appliances out of it for now. For most Auckland family kitchens, custom cabinetry lands somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000 , and the spread inside that range is almost entirely about materials, layout and hardware.
Here’s how the broad bands break down in 2026.
| Cabinetry type | Typical Auckland range (supply + install, ex benchtop/appliances) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Modular / flat-pack (off-the-shelf boxes) | $5,000 – $15,000 | Rentals, quick refreshes, small layouts |
| Custom cabinetry, mid-range finish | $20,000 – $35,000 | Most Auckland family homes |
| Custom cabinetry, premium finish & hardware | $35,000 – $50,000+ | Full-height runs, islands, butler’s pantries, character homes |
| Whole kitchen (cabinetry + benchtop + appliances) | See our full cost guide | Planning a complete renovation |
A quick word on why the gap between custom bands is so wide. The single biggest swing inside a custom quote is drawers versus doors. A drawer-heavy base run , which nearly every designer will push you towards because it’s far more usable , can add several thousand dollars over a door-and-shelf layout of the same length. You’re paying for the runners and the box work, not just the front. Once you’ve lived with deep pot drawers, though, you won’t go back to crouching into a dark cupboard.
Why two honest quotes can be $15,000 apart
This trips up a lot of people, so it’s worth being blunt about it. Two quotes for the same floor plan can differ by the price of a small car and both be completely legitimate. One might be 16mm melamine carcasses with basic hinges. The other, 18mm moisture-resistant board, soft-close BLUM drawer systems and a couple of clever corner mechanisms. Same look on paper. Different kitchen in real life, and a different lifespan.
That’s exactly the problem a calculator solves at the research stage , it gives you a defensible starting number so you can tell whether a quote is in the right postcode before you commit to anything.
💡 Design tip: Before you compare quotes, ask each company for their carcass board thickness and hinge brand. It’s the fastest way to see whether you’re comparing like with like , or being shown a cheaper build dressed up to look the same.
If your kitchen’s layout already works and the boxes are sound, a full rebuild is overkill. You might just need new fronts. That’s where most of the real savings live , so let’s talk about it.
Replacing Kitchen Cabinet Doors Only , the Budget Route
Here’s the bit most kitchen companies won’t lead with: you often don’t need a whole new kitchen. If your carcasses are square and solid, replacing the doors only is the cheapest, fastest way to make a tired kitchen look new. Replacing kitchen cabinet doors in NZ typically costs between $2,000 and $10,000, depending on the size of the kitchen and the materials you choose.
Most kitchen cabinet carcasses are built to standard sizes, so new doors, drawer fronts and kickboards will usually fit the existing boxes. You keep the structure, swap the visible parts, and skip the demolition. The job’s also done in a fraction of the time , days rather than weeks , which matters if you’re trying to be sorted before Christmas or a house sale.
What door replacement costs, broken down
On a per-front basis, cabinet doors generally run from about $60 to $200 each, depending on material and style. Drawer fronts sit in a similar band. Labour to fit a regular-sized kitchen , removing the old fronts, fitting new doors, drawers, handles and kickboards, and taking the waste away , starts from around $600+GST through a local fitter, though it scales with how many fronts there are.
Here’s a rough supply-and-fit comparison for two common kitchen sizes. These are indicative starting figures, not a quote , your fronts may be larger or smaller than the standard sizes these assume.
| Scope | What’s included | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fit only , small kitchen | 10 doors, 4 drawer fronts, 14 handles & kickboards (you supply fronts) | from $1,000+GST |
| Supply & fit , small kitchen | 10 doors, 4 drawer fronts, 14 handles & kickboards | from $2,500+GST |
| Fit only , larger kitchen | 15 doors, 8 drawer fronts, 23 handles & kickboards (you supply fronts) | from $1,400+GST |
| Supply & fit , larger kitchen | 15 doors, 8 drawer fronts, 23 handles & kickboards | from $3,000+GST |
One honest caveat: door replacement only works if the carcasses underneath are in good shape. If the boxes have swollen at the base from a slow leak , something we see a lot in older Henderson and Glen Eden kitchens , or the layout itself is the problem, you’re better off putting that money towards a proper rebuild. We’ll always tell you which camp you’re in at the consultation rather than sell you fronts that’ll sit on failing boxes.
💡 Design tip: If you’re refreshing doors to sell, spend on the fronts people touch and see first , the run facing the living area and the island. A full-replacement look on a part-replacement budget comes down to where you put the money, not how much of it there is.
Whichever route you’re leaning towards, the style of door you pick changes both the look and the number. So here’s the run-through.
Cabinet Door Styles and What Each One Costs
Door style is where personal taste meets the budget. The style you choose affects the price as much as the material does , some are simple flat panels, others are built up from multiple pieces, and that labour shows up in the quote. Here are the styles we get asked for most in Auckland kitchens.
Shaker
Five flat pieces , a four-piece frame around a recessed centre panel. It’s comfortably the most popular door style in NZ, because it suits villas and new builds alike and comes in any colour. Mid-range on cost, timeless in look. If you can’t decide, this is the safe one.
Louvered
Horizontal timber slats, the same detailing you see on shutters. It adds real character but carries a hefty price tag , the slat work is labour-intensive. A statement choice rather than a budget one.
Flat-panel (slab)
A single clean panel, no frame, no detail. It’s the most budget-friendly style and the backbone of modern handleless kitchens. Hard lines, minimalist, and it lets a bold colour or woodgrain do the talking. Hugely popular in apartments and newer Hobsonville and Flat Bush builds.
Inset
The door sits flush inside the cabinet frame rather than over it. Beautiful and precise , and pricier, because every door has to be built and fitted to tight tolerances. This is one where German laser cutting earns its keep; the margins are unforgiving.
Distressed
Doors deliberately aged , softened corners, a worn finish , for a farmhouse or antique look. Available in most door profiles. A niche pick that suits character homes in Devonport or Titirangi more than a city apartment.
Beadboard
Vertical planks with ridges (the “beads”) running between them , more texture than a flat door. Cost depends heavily on material; smaller pieces sit at the lower end, larger built-up doors climb quickly.
Thermoform (thermofoil)
An MDF core wrapped in a sealed vinyl skin, heat-formed for a smooth, joint-free face. Affordable, durable and easy to wipe down, which is why it’s a regular in family kitchens. Comes in solid colours and woodgrain looks. In NZ, Dezignatek thermoform doors are a common pick here.
High-gloss acrylic
A bold, mirror-smooth, moisture-resistant finish that wipes clean in a second — great with young kids. It sits at the upper end on cost because of the material, and it shows fingerprints, so it’s not for everyone.
💡 Design tip: Two-tone kitchens , a different colour or finish on the island to the perimeter , let you spend on a premium door where it counts and a plainer one everywhere else. It’s one of the easiest ways to lift the look without lifting the whole budget.
What Actually Drives Your Cabinetry Price
Style aside, four things move a cabinetry quote more than anything else. Understanding them is the difference between knowing why your quote says what it says , and just hoping it’s fair.
Materials and finish
The board and finish you choose set the floor for everything. Melamine-faced board like Melteca is the workhorse , durable, cost-effective, and it handles Auckland’s humidity well when the edges are properly sealed. Laminex laminates broaden the colour and texture range. Step up to polyurethane-painted doors or solid timber and the price climbs, but so does the finish quality and the lifespan.
On longevity, here’s what we see across the kitchens we’ve built and serviced around Auckland: moisture-resistant melamine outlasts unsealed budget board by a wide margin, polyurethane-painted doors longer again, and solid timber the longest of all if you maintain it. Unsealed budget board is the one that lets you down early , especially anywhere near steam or a coastal salt-air section.
“The cabinets that come back to bite people aren’t the expensive ones , they’re the unsealed budget boards that swell the first humid winter. In Auckland’s climate, moisture-resistant board and properly sealed edges aren’t an upgrade. They’re the baseline.”
, the Little Giant Interiors design team
Hardware
Hinges, runners and clever mechanisms are invisible until you use them every day. We build with BLUM drawer systems as standard and Häfele across the broader hardware range , hinges, corner solutions, lift systems. Quality hardware is tested to hundreds of thousands of open-close cycles, so it’s a one-time investment in something you’ll touch thousands of times a year. It’s also where cheap kitchens quietly cut corners.
Run length and layout
More metres of cabinetry, more cost , straightforward enough. Full-height uppers, an island, a butler’s pantry or scullery all add boxes and fronts. Drawers cost more than doors. A galley in a Mt Eden bungalow and an open-plan island kitchen in an Albany new build are different projects with different totals, even at the same quality level.
What’s not in the cabinetry price
Cabinetry quotes don’t usually include benchtops, appliances, splashbacks or trade work for plumbing and electrical. The good news for most Auckland homeowners: a like-for-like kitchen update , new cabinetry, benchtop and appliances in the same positions , generally doesn’t need a building consent. Consent gets triggered when you move plumbing, relocate the sink or dishwasher, or make structural changes like removing a wall, under Schedule 1 of the Building Act. Auckland Council and MBIE’s free building.govt.nz “Can I build it?” tool will confirm your specific job. Worth a five-minute check before you assume either way.
Across the wider market, cabinetry costs have stayed relatively steady. Residential construction costs rose 1% in the March 2026 quarter, with annual growth at 3% , still below the long-term average of around 4%, according to the Cordell Construction Cost Index (Cotality). In plain terms: no post-Covid-style spike, but no real drop either. A good year to plan properly rather than wait for prices to fall.
💡 Design tip: If colour’s holding you up, that’s the easiest part to get right , our guide to choosing kitchen colours walks through what works in NZ light before you lock anything in.
What a Cabinet Maker Charges: How Made-to-Order Pricing Works
Two cabinet makers can quote the same kitchen and land thousands apart without either of them being dishonest. The gap usually comes down to how they price, not what they build. Once you know the three pricing models in use around Auckland, quotes stop looking random.
The three ways cabinetry gets priced
Per cabinet. Each box is a line item, priced by size and what goes inside it. Easy to read, easy to compare, and it makes the drawer-versus-shelf decision visible: a bank of pot drawers costs noticeably more than a cupboard with one shelf behind a door, because it is more hardware and more machining.
Per linear metre. A rate is applied to the total run of cabinetry along the wall. Quick to produce, and useful for a rough comparison, but it flattens detail. A metre of plain base units and a metre of full-height pantry with internal drawers are not the same metre, so a linear-metre rate on a complicated kitchen almost always moves once someone measures properly.
Fixed price for the job. One number covering design, manufacture, hardware and installation. It takes longer to produce because the design has to be resolved first, and it is the only model where the figure you sign is the figure you pay. That is the model we work to, after the on-site measure and the 3D design are done.
💡 Design tip: When you ask for a quote, ask which model it is built on. A per-linear-metre estimate and a fixed-price contract are different promises, and comparing one against the other is how people end up feeling misled later.
What kitchen cabinetry installation costs, and what it covers
Installation is its own line and it is worth reading closely. On a door-only swap it starts from around $600+GST for a regular-sized kitchen and scales with the number of fronts. On a full cabinetry install it is a bigger job than most people picture: removing the old kitchen, checking floors and walls for level and plumb, scribing cabinets to walls that are rarely straight in an Auckland villa, fixing into studs, hanging and adjusting every door and drawer, fitting kickboards and end panels, and taking the old kitchen away.
Ask what happens to the parts a cabinet maker does not do. Plumbing disconnection and reconnection, electrical work, tiling, gib repairs and flooring usually sit with separate trades. On our projects the electrical workmanship carries a 12-month warranty and the installation itself carries a 5-year warranty, so you can see exactly where one trade’s responsibility ends and the next begins.
Made-to-order versus off-the-shelf: where the money goes
Made-to-order cabinetry is not simply a more expensive version of a modular box. You are paying for cabinets cut to your actual dimensions rather than to a 150mm size increment, which is why made-to-measure work wins in the awkward spaces: the 640mm gap beside a fridge, the sloping ceiling in a villa lean-to, the corner that a standard unit turns into dead space.
The trade-off is time. Modular runs on stock, so it can be on site in days. Made-to-order runs on a manufacturing slot, so it runs to a programme. If you are weighing the two properly, our comparison of modular versus custom kitchens in NZ lays out where each one genuinely wins, and if you want to see what actually happens between order and delivery, we have documented how custom kitchen cabinets are made in our Rosedale factory.
How to compare two cabinet-maker quotes properly
Print both and check these seven lines before you look at the totals:
- Carcass material and thickness — 18mm moisture-resistant board is the sane baseline for a kitchen; thinner board in a wet room is a false economy.
- Edge treatment , laser-applied edging has no glue line to lift; standard hot-melt edging is cheaper and eventually shows.
- Drawer system by name , a quote that says “soft close” without naming the runner is not comparable to one that specifies BLUM. The hardware is a large share of the cost.
- Drawer count versus door count , the single biggest swing in a cabinetry quote, and the easiest one to miss.
- Who installs , the manufacturer’s own team, or a subcontractor priced separately.
- What is excluded , benchtop, sink, tapware, appliances, splashback, plumbing, electrical, flooring.
- Warranty, in writing , see the next line for what that should look like.
The warranty line most people skip
Warranty is where a cheap quote gets expensive later, and it is the easiest thing in the world to check before you sign. Ours is published rather than promised: 10 years on Laminex, 7 years on Melteca and PrimePanels laminates, 5 years on Bestwood, 10 years on Caesarstone, lifetime cover on BLUM and Hettich hardware and Blanco sinks, 5 years on the installation itself and 12 months on electrical workmanship.
One detail worth knowing if you are renovating with a sale in mind: our guarantee transfers to the new owners if you sell the house. Most cabinetry warranties stop at the person who paid the invoice. You can read the full schedule on our guarantee page and check any quote you are holding against it.
How to Use Our Kitchen Cabinetry Cost Calculator
Numbers on a page only get you so far. Our kitchen cabinetry cost calculator turns these ranges into a ballpark for your actual kitchen size — in about a minute, with no consultation required. It’s built for the research stage: a quick, honest figure you can use to sanity-check quotes and set a realistic budget before you talk to anyone.
Be clear on what it is and isn’t. The calculator works off averages and assumes a fairly standard kitchen, so it’s a starting point for planning, not a fixed quote. The moment your project has anything specific about it — an awkward corner, a scullery, premium hardware, a layout change , the only way to get an accurate, fixed-price number is an on-site measure and design.
→ Open the Kitchen Cabinetry Cost Calculator
From a ballpark to a real number
When you’re ready to firm it up, that’s where we come in. Every Little Giant Interiors project starts with a free in-home consultation and a complimentary 3D design render, so you can see the kitchen before you commit a cent to building it. From there it’s our six-step process — consultation, estimate, custom design, manufacturing in our Rosedale factory, installation, handover , on a fixed-price contract, so the figure we agree is the figure you pay.
That’s the part a calculator can’t do: look at your actual space, your boxes, your light, and tell you honestly whether you need a full a new kitchen made to measure in our own factory or just a smart door swap. Either way, you’ll know where you stand. You can read more about us at littlegiants.co.nz.
Ready to Get a Real Number on Your Kitchen?
Start with the calculator for a ballpark, then let’s turn it into something you can build to. No pressure, no hard sell — just an honest look at your space and a fixed-price estimate.
➡ Book your free in-home design consultation with Little Giant Interiors
➡ Use the kitchen cabinetry cost calculator
➡ Learn more about our custom kitchen renovations in Auckland
How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinet doors only in NZ?
Replacing kitchen cabinet doors only in NZ typically costs $2,000 to $10,000, depending on kitchen size and materials. On a per-front basis, doors generally run $60 to $200 each. Labour to fit a regular-sized kitchen — removing old fronts, fitting new doors, drawers, handles and kickboards, and removing waste , starts from around $600+GST and scales with the number of fronts. It only works if your existing carcasses are square and sound.
How much is a basic kitchen cabinet replacement?
A basic kitchen cabinet replacement usually costs between $2,000 and $6,000. It's a budget-friendly first choice for a makeover because you keep the existing boxes and swap the doors, drawer fronts, handles and kickboards. The final figure depends on your kitchen size and the materials and style you choose, so treat this as an estimate rather than a quote.
How much should I budget for new kitchen cabinetry in Auckland?
For new custom cabinetry in Auckland in 2026, budget roughly $20,000 to $50,000+ supplied and installed, excluding benchtops and appliances. Modular or flat-pack cabinetry starts lower, around $5,000 to $15,000. Most family homes land in the $20,000 to $35,000 mid-range band. Drawers, full-height uppers, islands and premium hardware push the figure up. For a whole-kitchen breakdown including benchtops and appliances, see our kitchen cabinet cost guide.
What is the most popular kitchen cabinet door style?
Shaker is the most popular kitchen cabinet door style in NZ. It's a five-piece door — a four-piece frame around a recessed centre panel , and it suits both character villas and modern new builds. It comes in any colour, sits mid-range on cost, and works with traditional or contemporary kitchens, which is why it's the safe, timeless choice for most Auckland homeowners.
Is it cheaper to replace cabinet doors or get a whole new kitchen?
Replacing the doors only is far cheaper — $2,000 to $10,000 versus $20,000 to $50,000+ for full custom cabinetry , and it's done in days rather than weeks. It's the right call when your layout works and the carcasses are sound. A whole new kitchen makes more sense when the boxes have swollen or failed, or when the layout itself is the problem. A consultation will tell you which camp you're in.
How accurate is a kitchen cabinetry cost calculator?
A kitchen cabinetry cost calculator gives a quick ballpark based on averages and a standard kitchen, so it's accurate enough for research and budgeting but not a fixed quote. Anything specific about your project — an awkward corner, a scullery, premium hardware or a layout change , shifts the number. For an accurate, fixed-price figure you need an on-site measure and design. Use the calculator to sanity-check quotes before you commit.
Do I need building consent to replace kitchen cabinets in Auckland?
Usually no. Replacing cabinetry, benchtops and appliances in the same positions is a like-for-like update and is generally exempt under Schedule 1 of the Building Act. Consent is triggered when you move plumbing, relocate the sink or dishwasher, change waterproofing, or make structural changes such as removing a wall. Auckland Council and MBIE's free 'Can I build it?' tool at building.govt.nz confirm your specific project. Exempt work must still meet the Building Code.
How long does a custom kitchen take from design to install?
A custom kitchen in Auckland typically runs around 8 to 12 weeks from design to handover — roughly 2 to 4 weeks of design and 3D rendering, manufacturing in the factory, then 1 to 2 weeks on site for installation and finishing. NZ-made cabinetry is usually faster than imported alternatives, which matters if you're working towards a deadline like Christmas or a house sale. Door-only replacements are far quicker , days, not weeks.
Which cabinet material handles Auckland's humidity best?
Moisture-resistant melamine and polyurethane-painted finishes handle Auckland's humid, often coastal conditions best, especially with properly sealed edges. Moisture-resistant melamine and polyurethane-painted finishes both outlast unsealed budget board, which can swell early near steam or salt air. What decides the lifespan is the edge: a sealed, properly banded edge keeps water out of the core, and that is where cheap cabinetry fails first. On coastal sections, stainless or powder-coated hinges resist corrosion better than standard ones.
What does a Little Giant Interiors kitchen quote include?
Every Little Giant Interiors project starts with a free in-home consultation and a complimentary 3D design render, so you can see the kitchen before committing. We then work through a six-step process — consultation, estimate, custom design, manufacturing in our Rosedale factory, installation and handover , on a fixed-price contract. That means the figure we agree is the figure you pay, with no surprise variations once the design is locked in.
How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Auckland?
Replacing the cabinetry alone in an Auckland kitchen generally runs $20,000 to $50,000+ supplied and installed for made-to-order work, or roughly $5,000 to $15,000 for modular. If the carcasses are sound and only the fronts are tired, a door-only replacement lands at $2,000 to $10,000 instead. The deciding factor is the condition of the boxes, not the age of the kitchen, so it is worth having someone look before you budget for a full rebuild.
How much do cabinet makers charge in Auckland?
Cabinet makers price in one of three ways: per cabinet, per linear metre of run, or as a fixed price for the whole job. Per-linear-metre rates are the quickest to produce and the least reliable, because a metre of plain base units and a metre of full-height pantry are not the same work. A fixed price takes longer because the design has to be resolved first, but it is the only version where the number you sign is the number you pay.
Can I get kitchen cabinets made to measure rather than buying standard sizes?
Yes, and it is the main reason people choose a cabinet maker over a modular range. Made-to-measure cabinetry is cut to your actual dimensions rather than to fixed size increments, so it suits the 640mm gap beside a fridge, a villa lean-to with a sloping ceiling, or a corner that a standard unit would turn into dead space. The trade-off is lead time: modular runs on stock, made-to-measure runs on a manufacturing slot.
Have you been putting off your kitchen renovation?
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References
- RNZ — Residential building costs rise at fastest pace in over two years (Cordell Construction Cost Index, Cotality, April 2026)
- MBIE Building Performance (building.govt.nz) , building consent exemptions and the “Can I build it?” tool
- Auckland Council , Making changes to an existing building (consent requirements)
