Custom Cabinets vs. Semi-Custom: What’s the difference?
These cabinets were manufactured by DodiHome in 2022!
Your cabinets can define the look and feel of your entire kitchen, and, by extension, your home itself. However, replacing kitchen cabinets can be costly and time consuming, and these factors can lead to compromises. Cheaper pre-built stock cabinets from big box stores can save time and money, but they may not fit a more unique kitchen space, and are naturally the least customizable option. However, these compromises may not always be necessary; DodiHome can provide custom cabinets in even less time than stock cabinets, and at a significantly lower cost than competitive custom and semi-custom options. Of course, we’re writing this to keep you informed about your options, so we’ll hold off on the Dodi details until later in this article.
In a nutshell…
Here’s a simple breakdown of the kitchen cabinet types:
Stock cabinets, also known as RTA cabinets (Ready to Assemble), are made in a factory using standard measurements and styles. These cabinets offer consumers few, if any, options for customization.
Semi-custom cabinets are also manufactured at a factory to standard measurements, but at a lower level of finishing than stock cabinets. These cabinets can then be finished by a purchaser with a variety of options, such as by resizing drawers and door fronts, or adjusting the depth of the cabinet box.
Custom cabinets are measured and designed to meet the contours of the room in which they are installed, and then made either at a woodshop or similar production site. These cabinets are designed to meet the customer’s needs, and thus can come in a variety of shapes and sizes that stock and semi-custom cabinets don’t allow.
Examples of stock and semi-custom cabinets
Stock and semi-custom cabinets are available at a wide range of recognizable retailers. IKEA kitchen cabinets are stock cabinets made from medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard mixed with wood, metal, glass, and melamine foil. IKEA sources material for their cabinets from China, the US, and Europe. Some disadvantages of IKEA kitchen cabinets include a lack of variety in cabinet fronts, lower quality compared to custom cabinets, and longer installation times. However, you’ll find that their cabinets are competitively priced.
National chains like Home Depot and Lowe’s tend to offer offer semi-custom cabinets from large corporate-owned manufacturers. For example, the Cabinetworks Group is among the largest kitchen cabinet manufacturers in North America, with 16 brands and $1.8 billion in revenue, and was acquired by Platinum Equity in 2021. One of their most popular brands is KraftMaid, which operates production facilities in Ohio. KraftMaid cabinets are made of real wood, plywood, or MDF, and offer semi-custom cabinets with a variety of styles, finishes, and features.
Industry trends and the rise of custom cabinets
As the kitchen cabinet industry continues to grow, homeowners are opting for more unique bespoke kitchen designs, and custom and semi-custom sales are rising noticeably faster than stock cabinet sales. In their Trend of Business report last November, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) found that while overall cabinet sales had increased by 14.7% in the past year, custom cabinet sales were up 24.9%, and semi-custom sales went up by 22.1%. Meanwhile, stock sales only saw a 7.8% increase.
A detailed comparison
To lay it all out for you, here’s a detailed table on the differences between each manufacturing type, including what DodiHome can offer you!
So, what’s the best choice?
Having considered all of these factors, you might still be conflicted about the best option for you. Custom cabinets could be a fantastic way to spice up your home, but the high price and slow turnaround time can sound less than appealing. Luckily for you, that’s where Dodi comes in! DodiHome custom cabinets can be installed in as little as two weeks; on average, that’s around four times as fast as stock cabinets, and eight times as fast as competing custom cabinets. We provide the flexibility and freedom of custom cabinets for half the cost of the average custom cabinet manufacturer, with even more convenience than stock cabinets!
You can work with us today to design your kitchen, including the layout, door styles, and finishes that will really make your kitchen remodel stand out. And, best of all, the Dodi app gives you real-time pricing as changes are made! Reach out to us below, or visit our showroom at 11908 Main Street, Sunol, CA.