How to Save on Cabinets Without Sacrificing Quality: Skip the Builder, Go Direct
Cabinetry is often the single largest line item in a kitchen budget. And if you’re working through a builder or contractor, it’s also one of the most inflated. Homeowners are frequently shocked to learn that they could have saved tens of thousands of dollars — without compromising on quality — simply by working directly with a cabinet shop.
Why Builders Mark Cabinets Up
Most builders don’t make cabinets themselves. Instead, they buy semi-custom or RTA lines from distributors and resell them at a steep markup — often 40–60% or more. For them, cabinets are a profit center. For you, it’s a hidden expense.
What You’re Really Getting
The reality is that many builder-supplied cabinets are not custom at all. They’re pre-sized boxes made in factories, offered in limited styles and finishes. Even when labeled “custom,” these cabinets are often semi-custom lines with filler panels used to make them fit.
Meanwhile, homeowners are told they’re paying for “premium cabinetry” when in fact, they’re funding builder profits.
The Direct-to-Shop Advantage
When you go direct to a true cabinet shop, the difference is immediate:
Transparency: You see where and how your cabinets are built.
Customization: Every cabinet is designed to fit your home, not pulled from a catalog.
Value: Your budget goes into craftsmanship, not contractor margins.
At SWFL Custom Cabinetry, for example, we specialize in inset cabinetry, built and finished in Naples. Many of our kitchens come in at the same price point builders charge for semi-custom lines — only ours are truly custom, built to heirloom quality.
Real-World Example
We recently reviewed a project where the contractor had already installed the kitchen but wanted to compare pricing. The so-called “custom” kitchen they ordered from a mass-production shop in Canada cost them $19,500. They turned around and billed the homeowner $45,000.
When we priced the same kitchen built locally in Naples, with higher-quality materials and true custom craftsmanship we came in at $43,000. The builder’s response? “Oh no, that’s too high, we wouldn’t make anything on that we can’t work with you”
The moral of the story: the homeowner overpaid by $25,500 for lower-quality, mass-produced cabinets simply because the builder was protecting their margin. By going direct, that client could have had a superior product at the same price point.
How to Make the Switch
Ask your builder if you can work with your own cabinet supplier. Many will allow it if you insist.
Research local cabinet shops not just showrooms that resell imported lines.
Visit the shop. If they’re truly custom, they’ll be building right there in your community.
Final Thoughts
Builders and contractors may not highlight this option because it cuts into their margins. But as the homeowner, you’re in control. By going direct, you get better cabinets for the same budget or the same cabinets for far less money.
At SWFL Custom Cabinetry, we’ve helped countless families across Naples, Marco, and Estero upgrade their homes with real custom cabinetry while saving against builder markups. Don’t settle for less. Build smarter, buy direct, and enjoy the kitchen you deserve