When remodeling a kitchen, one of the biggest decisions is whether to go with standard or inset cabinets. Inset cabinets, also known as full inset or Euro-style cabinets, have doors that fit flush inside the cabinet face frame. This creates a seamless, integrated look. However, inset cabinets also tend to be more expensive than standard cabinets. Here we’ll look at the pros, cons, and costs of inset cabinets to help you decide if they are worth the higher price tag.
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What are the differences between standard and inset cabinets?
Standard cabinets have doors that overlay the front of the cabinet face frame by a quarter to half an inch. This creates a recessed panel look with a visible lip around each door and drawer. The space between the doors is often covered with a thin strip of wood called a stile.
Inset cabinets have doors that fit flush within the face frame, creating a smooth, seamless front. Rather than being mounted on top of the cabinet box, inset doors are set back into the cabinet opening. The hinges and joint detailing are concealed for a cleaner look.
| Standard Cabinets | Inset Cabinets |
|---|---|
| Doors overlay face frame | Doors fit flush within face frame |
| Visible lip around doors | Seamless look |
| Recessed panel style | Integrated style |
| Hinges partially visible | Concealed hinges |
So in summary, the main difference is that inset cabinets have a smooth, seamless look, while standard cabinets have recessed doors with visible edges.
Pros and cons of inset cabinets
**Pros**
– Seamless, integrated aesthetic
– Sophisticated, high-end look
– Easier to clean with no ridges to trap dirt and grime
– Concealed hinges for a cleaner exterior
– More customizable with wider range of door styles
**Cons**
– More expensive than standard cabinets
– Require highly skilled installation for perfect alignments
– Doors may be prone to chipping at edges
– Hinges cannot be adjusted from exterior
– Replacement doors may be difficult to find
So in summary, inset cabinets provide a superior aesthetic but at a higher cost. They also require greater precision in manufacturing and installation.
Are inset cabinets more expensive?
Yes, inset cabinets are generally 20-50% more expensive than standard cabinets. Here are some of the reasons why:
– **Custom fabrication** – Inset doors must be precision-milled to perfectly fit the cabinet opening. This is a time-intensive process done by skilled craftspeople. Standard cabinet doors are mass-produced.
– **Materials** – The joint detailing and concealed hinges on inset cabinets require high-end materials and hardware. Stainless steel hinges, premium plywood boxes, and solid hardwood frames all drive up costs.
– **Labor** – Proper inset cabinet installation takes expertise to perfectly align doors and drawers within the face frames. The labor costs involved add to the total price.
– **Limited economies of scale** – As a specialty product, inset cabinets are produced in lower volumes than standard cabinets. This means manufacturers cannot take advantage of mass production cost savings.
– **Customization** – With a wide array of door styles and finishes available, customizing inset cabinets gets expensive. Unique door shapes, exotic veneers, and custom paints or glazes all add cost.
So generally expect to pay at least 20% more for the most basic inset cabinet compared to a standard cabinet of the same size and material. On larger kitchen installations or with high-end customization, the price difference could be 50-100% or more.
Price comparison example
To compare prices, let’s look at a mid-range inset cabinet vs. a standard cabinet from the same manufacturer:
| Cabinet Type | Door Style | Size | Material | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Shaker | 30″ base cabinet | Maple | $300 |
| Inset | Slab | 30″ base cabinet | Maple | $425 |
Here we see the standard 30″ shaker door base cabinet in maple is $300. The same size inset cabinet with a simple slab door is $425 – a 42% price jump. The price difference is due to the inset cabinet’s custom-fit doors, concealed hinges, and labor-intensive installation.
This means replacing standard cabinets with inset cabinets for a whole kitchen could easily tack on thousands to the total project cost. The price premium may be worth it for the integrated look, but expect to pay significantly more.
Factors that affect inset cabinet pricing
Several factors beyond door style impact the cost of inset cabinets:
– **Size** – Larger cabinets cost more since they require bigger custom doors and components. Pricing is often based on square footage.
– **Material** – Solid hardwoods like cherry and walnut are more expensive than plywood boxes with oak veneers. Exotic veneers also add cost.
– **Door style** – Simple slab doors are generally the most affordable. More elaborate raised panel and recessed panel designs add cost.
– **Finish** – Staining, painting, and glazing are special finish processes that increase price. Distressed and antiqued finishes also add labor expense.
– **Hardware** – Decorative glass knobs, rustic iron pulls, and soft-close hinges raise the price over standard hardware.
– **Manufacturer** – Boutique workshops charge a premium over large cabinet brands. But quality and materials may be superior.
So the more customized the inset cabinet design, the more you can expect to pay. Simple shaker-style inset cabinets will be the most budget friendly.
Are inset cabinets worth the higher price?
Whether inset cabinets are worth the higher price depends on your design priorities:
**Go with inset if you want:**
– A flawless, bespoke aesthetic
– Concealed hinges and hardware
– An unbroken kitchen interior
– Highly customized cabinets
– A furniture look over mass-produced cabinets
**Choose standard if you want:**
– More budget-friendly options
– Ease of installation and replacement
– Simple design with visible hinges
– Quality mass-produced cabinets
In short, inset cabinets appeal to those wanting a seamless, custom look and willing to pay a premium for quality manufacturing and installation. Homeowners looking for simpler design at a lower cost may be better served with standard cabinets.
How to get the inset look for less
If you love the inset style but want to avoid the high costs, here are a few options:
– **Get a mix of standard and inset** – Use inset cabinets just for high visibility areas like the kitchen island. Use standard cabinets elsewhere.
– **Try shaker-style** – Well-made shaker cabinets mimic some inset features like concealed hinges and a flush finish.
– **Use an inset veneer** – Some manufacturers offer veneer overlays that attach to standard cabinet fronts for an inset look.
– **Refacing** – You may be able to convert existing standard cabinets to inset by replacing just the doors and resurfacing the frames.
– **DIY conversion** – Similarly, you can replace standard cabinet doors with new inset-style doors for a custom integrated look.
While these techniques reduce costs versus all inset cabinets, expect to pay more than sticking with all standard cabinets. The upgrade will be somewhere in the middle.
Conclusion
Inset cabinets provide a superior, integrated aesthetic but at a premium price. Expect to pay 20-50% more for the most basic inset cabinets over standard cabinets. Beyond increased fabrication and installation costs, the price reflects the higher quality materials and workmanship inset cabinets demand.
If designed and installed properly, inset cabinets will last longer and hold their value. For homeowners who appreciate fine craftsmanship and custom design, inset cabinets may be worth the investment. Yet budget-minded buyers can stick with quality standard cabinets and still get an attractive, functional kitchen at a lower price point.