Guide
Kitchen cabinets in NZ: what they cost and what you are paying for
Cabinetry for a standard New Zealand kitchen runs about $3,000–7,000 for basic pre-made units, $5,000–10,000 for mid-range custom MDF, and $15,000–30,000+ for solid timber or lacquered joinery (Superior Renovations, 2026; GST basis not stated). The board, the door finish, the hardware and how well it is fitted explain most of the gap.
Updated
Key takeaways
- Basic pre-made cabinets: about $3,000–7,000 for a standard kitchen (Superior Renovations, 2026).
- Mid-range custom MDF cabinetry: about $5,000–10,000. Solid timber or lacquer: $15,000–30,000+.
- Most cabinets are board with a finish on it. The difference between tiers is the finish, the hardware and the fit, more than the box.
- Drawers cost more than doors and are worth it in base units.
- A quote that does not name the board, the door finish and the hinge and runner hardware cannot be compared with another.
How much do kitchen cabinets cost in NZ?
For the cabinetry alone in a standard kitchen, Superior Renovations' 2026 Auckland figures put basic pre-made units at about $3,000–7,000, mid-range custom MDF at $5,000–10,000 and luxury solid timber or lacquer at $15,000–30,000 or more. Benchtop, appliances, plumbing and electrical sit on top of those numbers.
| Tier | Typical cost | What it usually is |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pre-made | $3,000–7,000 | Flat-pack or kitset modules in standard widths, melamine finish |
| Mid-range custom | $5,000–10,000 | Made to your measurements in MDF, painted or melamine doors |
| Luxury | $15,000–30,000+ | Solid timber, veneer or lacquered (2-pac) doors, ceiling-height joinery |
For context, a whole mid-range kitchen renovation is about $25,000–45,000 (CheckMyBuilder, July 2026), so cabinetry is usually the largest single line.
What are kitchen cabinets made of?
Almost every NZ kitchen cabinet box is engineered board, either particleboard or MDF, faced with melamine. The doors are where finishes differ: melamine, thermo-formed vinyl, painted or lacquered MDF, timber veneer or solid timber. Moisture-resistant board around the sink and dishwasher is the detail most worth asking about.
| Finish | What it is | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Melamine | A printed, hard-wearing surface fused to board | Cheapest and tough; flat colours and woodgrain prints only |
| Thermo-formed (vinyl wrap) | A vinyl skin pressed over shaped MDF | Allows a profile cheaply; can lift near heat |
| Lacquered or 2-pac | MDF sprayed with a two-part paint | Any colour, smooth finish; chips need a painter to fix |
| Timber veneer | A thin slice of real timber on board | Real grain for less than solid; edges need care |
| Solid timber | Doors made from the wood itself | Ages well and can be re-sanded; dearest, and moves with humidity |
Where does the money go in a cabinet quote?
Four places: the carcasses (the boxes), the doors and drawer fronts, the hardware (hinges, runners, internal fittings) and the installation, including scribing to walls that are not square. Two kitchens with the same number of cabinets can differ by thousands on doors and hardware alone.
- Drawers over doors. A wide drawer in a base unit costs more than a door and a shelf, and it is the upgrade people notice every day.
- Corner units. Blind corners need either a fitting that brings the contents out or an honest dead space. Fittings add cost.
- Height. Ceiling-height wall cabinets add boxes and doors, but remove the dust shelf on top.
- Fit. In a villa or bungalow where nothing is square, scribing and filler panels are real labour. Flat-pack or custom is mostly a question about this.
How do I compare two kitchen cabinet quotes?
Make both quotes state the same ten things. If one leaves any of them out, ask for it in writing before you compare prices, because the cheapest quote is often the one that has left out the installation, the old kitchen's removal or the hardware brand.
- The board for the carcasses, and whether it is moisture-resistant at the sink and dishwasher.
- The door and drawer-front finish, and the edge treatment.
- The hinge and drawer-runner hardware, soft-close or not, and its warranty.
- How many drawers, and how many doors.
- Corner solutions and internal fittings (bins, pull-outs, cutlery inserts).
- Kickboards, end panels and filler panels.
- Whether the benchtop is included, and in what material.
- Installation, including scribing to walls and ceilings.
- Removal and disposal of the old kitchen.
- What is excluded: plumbing, electrical, splashback and painting.
Can I keep my cabinets and just change the doors?
Yes, when the boxes are dry, square and the layout works. Refacing with new doors and drawer fronts on the existing carcasses is $4,830–12,420 + GST, and refinishing them is $2,070–4,140 + GST (Superior Renovations, 2026). Either is far less than new cabinetry, and the [facelift guide](/guides/kitchen-facelift-cost-nz) sets out when it is the better buy.
Questions
How much do kitchen cabinets cost in NZ?
About $3,000–7,000 for basic pre-made cabinets in a standard kitchen, $5,000–10,000 for mid-range custom MDF and $15,000–30,000+ for solid timber or lacquer (Superior Renovations, 2026; GST basis not stated). Installation and benchtops are usually extra.
Are flat-pack kitchen cabinets cheaper than a joiner?
Usually, in a square room that suits standard module widths. In an older house the filler panels and lost storage can close much of the gap. See flat-pack vs custom.
Is MDF or particleboard better for kitchen cabinets?
Both are used for good kitchens. What matters more is that the board is moisture-resistant where water is (under the sink and beside the dishwasher), that every edge is sealed, and that the hinges and runners are good.
How do I get a quote for kitchen cabinets?
Get a measured plan first, so every company prices the same thing. Our design consult produces scaled drawings and a written scope you own and can send to anyone; a retailer's free design is drawn around their own range.
Sources
- Superior Renovations, kitchen renovation cost Auckland (2026)
- CheckMyBuilder, kitchen renovation cost (updated July 2026)
Checked 19 October 2026. We re-check every published figure quarterly.
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