The Truth About Builder Cabinet Markups: Why You’re Paying Double (or Triple)
If you’ve ever built or remodeled a home through a general contractor or builder, you’ve probably been shocked by the cost of cabinetry. Kitchens quoted at $60,000… $80,000… even $100,000 or more. What most homeowners don’t realize is that a significant chunk of that number has nothing to do with the actual cabinets — it’s the markup.
How Markups Work
Builders and contractors typically purchase cabinets wholesale or through semi-custom lines. A kitchen package that costs them $15,000–$25,000 may be resold to the homeowner for $50,000–$80,000. That’s a markup of 100% to 300%.
Why? Because cabinetry is one of the easiest categories for builders to pad margins. Unlike plumbing or electrical, most homeowners don’t know the baseline cost of cabinetry. That lack of transparency creates opportunity.
The Problem with Markups
The issue isn’t just price it’s value. Many of these cabinets aren’t even high-end. They’re semi-custom or RTA (ready-to-assemble) lines dressed up as “custom.” They look decent on the surface but lack the craftsmanship, finishes, and materials of true custom cabinetry.
So not only are you paying 2–3 times more, you’re often getting a product that’s mass-produced, thinly finished, and designed to maximize builder profit — not homeowner satisfaction.
Signs You’re Paying Too Much
Your builder insists on handling cabinetry “in-house” with no transparency on product line or source.
You’re quoted $60,000–$100,000 for cabinets but never shown the manufacturer’s actual name.
Cabinet options feel limited, with only a handful of door styles or finishes.
The word “custom” is used freely, but there’s no evidence the cabinets are actually being built locally.
The Alternative: Direct-to-Shop
When you bypass the builder markup and work directly with a cabinet shop like SWFL Custom Cabinetry, you cut out the middleman. You’re paying for actual craftsmanship, not inflated overhead.
Our clients are often shocked when they see that a $70,000 “builder kitchen” could have been delivered by us for $35,000–$40,000 with higher quality cabinetry built right here in Naples.
Why Builders Won’t Tell You
Builders don’t talk about this because cabinetry is one of their biggest profit centers. But as a homeowner, you have options. You don’t need to accept inflated pricing for lower-quality cabinets.
The Bottom Line
If you’re building or remodeling in Southwest Florida, do your homework. Ask questions. Demand transparency. And consider working directly with a shop that specializes in the cabinetry you actually want.
At SWFL Custom Cabinetry, we don’t just sell cabinets we build them. And we believe your investment should go into quality craftsmanship, not contractor markups.