What got wet
Toe-kick, one base, the dishwasher bay, or the whole run. Particleboard swells. Plywood sometimes survives a flood-cut.
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Cabinets · Counters · Flood-cut toe-kick · MatchingKitchen cabinet and counter replacement calculator
Replacing the cabinets and counters in an average kitchen, without moving plumbing or walls, commonly costs $12,000 to $35,000. A flood-cut of the toe-kicks and the damaged bases after a sudden leak is often $600 to $3,500 if the boxes can be saved, and a full run if they cannot. Continuous cabinets are a matching problem: one ruined base can pull the run with it when the product is discontinued.
Reviewed 25 October 2026 · Written by Mantu Kumar
See the photo · See the cost diagram · Open the calculator
Written and maintained byMantu Kumar
Evidence review17 October 2026
Calculation rulesRead the methodology
Quality standardEditorial policy
Key facts at a glance
- Cabinets, average kitchen: about $8,000–$22,000 installed for stock to semi-custom boxes, including basic installation.
- Counters: about $3,000–$9,000 for laminate through mid quartz on an average layout. Stone slabs go higher.
- Flood-cut / toe-kick repair: about $600–$2,500 when the boxes are sound and only the bases and kick are wet.
- Moving the sink is a plumbing change. It is not in the default. Use the repipe page if the walls open.
- Matching a discontinued door style is why a one-cabinet loss becomes a run. See matching laws.
2026 planning bands for cabinet and counter replacement, not for a chef’s kitchen with structural changes. Local labor moves the install share.
2026 planning ranges
- 1Wall cabinets · by the linear foot
- 2Base cabinets · $100–$1,200 / ft by grade
- 3Countertop · by the sq ft
- 4Sink, faucet & hookups
- 5Flood-cut repair · $600–$3,500
- 6Range & hood · their own lines
- 7Tear-out + haul-away
- 8Tile backsplash
- 9Reface option
- Boxes are the cabinetry.
- Tops are a separate trade and a separate life.
- Toe-kick water is not a reason to price a whole design project unless the boxes are gone.
Kitchen replacement estimator
No email · nothing sentDiagram, part by part
Kitchen cabinet and counter replacement: every numbered part explained
The kitchen cabinet and counter replacement drawing above has 9 numbered parts, from Wall cabinets to Refacing instead of replacing. Each card below frames one of them, and after you run the calculator it shows what that part adds to your estimate.
1 Wall cabinets
by the linear foot
Wall cabinets hang above the counter and are priced by the linear foot. Stock, semi-custom and custom lines differ mainly in box material, the sizes offered and the finish, and taller 42-inch uppers or glass doors add cost.
What moves it: Linear feet, cabinet grade, height and door style.
On the quote: Compare box construction, plywood or particleboard, and ask whether crown molding and light rail are included.
2 Base cabinets
$100–$1,200 / ft by grade
Base cabinets carry the countertop, sink and drawers and take the most wear. Plywood boxes, dovetail drawers and full-extension, soft-close hardware last longer, and the sink base is the box most often damaged by leaks.
What moves it: Linear feet, cabinet grade and the number of drawer stacks.
On the quote: Ask about box material, drawer construction and soft-close hardware, and whether the sink base has a water-resistant floor.
3 Countertop
by the sq ft
Countertops are priced by the square foot installed. Laminate is cheapest and installs the same day; quartz and granite need a template visit, cutouts for the sink and cooktop, and an edge profile, with installation a week or two later.
What moves it: Area, material, edge profile and number of seams and cutouts.
On the quote: Check where the seams will fall, the edge profile and whether the sink cutout and faucet holes are included.
4 Sink, faucet & hookups
The sink, faucet, disposal and dishwasher are disconnected and reconnected, or replaced. New shutoff valves and braided supply lines are cheap insurance against the next leak.
What moves it: Whether the sink and faucet are new and how much plumbing is changed.
On the quote: Ask whether new shutoffs and supply lines are included and who hooks up the dishwasher.
5 Flood-cut repair
$600–$3,500
A slow leak under a sink or dishwasher rots the cabinet floor and the wall behind it. The wet section is cut out, dried and checked for mold before new boxes or drywall go in.
What moves it: How far the water spread and how long it went unnoticed.
On the quote: Ask for moisture readings before closing up, and keep them with your claim file.
6 Range & hood
their own lines
The range, refrigerator and dishwasher are pulled out and reset when cabinets and counters change. A range hood vented outside needs a duct through a wall or roof, which is a separate line.
What moves it: The number of appliances and whether the hood is vented outside.
On the quote: Ask whether appliance pull-out, reset and hood venting are included.
7 Tear-out and haul-away
$600–$1,800
Old cabinets and counters are unscrewed, cut free and hauled away, and the walls are patched where they were attached. Stone tops are heavy and take more people to remove safely.
What moves it: The number of cabinets, countertop material and dump fees.
On the quote: Ask whether disposal and wall patching are included.
8 Tile backsplash
$525–$1,155 typical
A tile backsplash protects the wall between the counter and the upper cabinets. Price follows the area, tile size and pattern; small mosaics and natural stone take longer to set.
What moves it: Backsplash area, tile choice and pattern.
On the quote: Ask whether grout sealing and outlet extenders are included.
9 Refacing instead of replacing
Often 40%–50% less than new
When the cabinet boxes are sound, refacing keeps them and replaces the doors, drawer fronts and hardware, with new veneer on the frames. It costs less and creates far less mess, but the layout stays the same.
What moves it: Box condition, door style and the veneer chosen.
On the quote: Ask whether drawer boxes and hinges are replaced too, and check the boxes for water damage first.
Cabinets and counters
Price the cabinet run that has to match
Stock, semi-custom and custom are different products. A leak claim owes the damaged boxes and, where the rules require it, a match — not a new layout. Write the linear feet of cabinet and the square feet of counter before you compare bids.
Separate damage from the remodel you wanted anyway. These close-ups are crops of the same AI-generated illustration.
Linear feet and the door
Count the feet of base and wall cabinet. Photograph the style. Discontinued doors are the matching argument.
Counters and the sink
Square feet, material, and whether the sink stays. Moving it is plumbing, not a counter upgrade.
Before you sign a quote or file a claim, verify these three details
- Feet of cabinet
- Base and wall, listed apart.
- Counter material
- Laminate, quartz or stone, and the splash.
- Plumbing
- Sink and dishwasher stay, or they move.
On this page
- 2026 kitchen ranges
- What this tool includes
- Worked example
- Insurance
- Kitchen cabinet and countertop cost by region
- What “What needs replacing” does to the price
- What “Cabinet grade” does to the price
- How age changes the kitchen cabinet and countertop claim payout
- Quote checklist: 7 items to verify
- How long the job takes
- Common mistakes that raise the cost
- Ways to keep the cost down
- Signs cabinets need replacing
- Sources
- Questions
Kitchen replacement cost (2026)
Layout stays put. Appliances are not included unless a covered loss destroyed them — price those from the invoice, not from this cabinetry band.
| Scope | Planning range | Leaves out |
|---|---|---|
| Flood-cut and kicks | $600 – $2,500 | New doors |
| Counters only, average | $3,000 – $9,000 | New boxes |
| Cabinets and counters | $12,000 – $35,000 | Moving walls or the sink |
| Large semi-custom | $25,000 – $55,000 | True custom millwork |
| One ruined base, match required | Up to the run | If the line is discontinued |
What cabinet and counter replacement includes
Most kitchen cost questions come down to two numbers: what it costs to replace the cabinets and counters, and what a sudden leak under the sink actually owes.
An average U.S. kitchen in this model is about 10 to 14 feet of base cabinet and a similar wall run, one sink, no island move. Stock boxes sit at the bottom of the band. Semi-custom doors and better drawers sit in the middle. A stone slab, a waterfall edge or an island that did not exist before is a choice, and choices are not the claim.
Particleboard bases wick water at the toe-kick. The honest repair is sometimes a cut and a new kick, and sometimes a new base because the swell will not stay square. Photograph the swelling before anyone cuts. If the door is discontinued, continuous cabinetry is why carriers and matching statutes argue about the rest of the run. The matching laws calculator is the companion, and it is state-specific.
Worked example: 26 feet of semi-custom cabinets and quartz, plumbing stays
Boxes and tops, sink unmoved
Worked example| Line | Range |
|---|---|
| Base cabinets, 14 ft semi-custom | $4,200 – $9,100 |
| Wall cabinets, 12 ft semi-custom | $3,000 – $6,600 |
| Quartz countertops, 40 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,200 |
| Templating, sink cutout and edge | $300 – $900 |
| Tear-out and haul-away | $600 – $1,800 |
| Sink disconnect and reconnect | $250 – $600 |
| Appliance pull-out and reset | $200 – $500 |
| Planning total | $10,950 – $24,700 |
A flood-cut only, with the same calculator set to that scope, lands near $600–$2,500. Do not let a restoration contractor turn the second number into the first without showing swollen board. Age matters: a 15-year cabinet on a 20-year life is mostly depreciated on an ACV policy.
Sudden leak versus the kitchen you wanted
- A sudden pipe break can cover damaged cabinets, the counter if it is ruined, and matching where the policy or state law requires it.
- Wear, slow leaks and a remodel are not the same check. Upgrades in material are yours.
- Paint and floors that wicked water are separate tools. Do not hide them inside the cabinet number.
- ACV holds back age. RCV releases it after the work, up to a reasonable match, not up to a new layout.
Kitchen cabinet and countertop cost by region
The calculator's default kitchen cabinet and countertop job, repriced for each of its six regions. At the national average it runs $10,950 – $24,700; South / Lower Midwest is the lowest at $9,527 – $21,489, and West Coast metro is the highest at $14,235 – $32,110, a gap of about $7,664 at the midpoint.
| Region | Planning range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| National average | $10,950 – $24,700 | $17,825 |
| South / Lower Midwest | $9,527 – $21,489 | $15,508 |
| Mountain / Plains | $10,403 – $23,465 | $16,934 |
| Mid-Atlantic / Upper Midwest | $12,264 – $27,664 | $19,964 |
| Northeast metro | $13,797 – $31,122 | $22,460 |
| West Coast metro | $14,235 – $32,110 | $23,172 |
What “What needs replacing” does to the price
Every other input stays at its default and only “What needs replacing” changes. The cheapest choice, Leak repair only (flood-cut, toe-kicks, wet bases), comes to $1,550 – $4,700; the most expensive, Cabinets, tops, sink and backsplash, comes to $11,825 – $26,855.
| Choice | Planning range | Midpoint vs default |
|---|---|---|
| Leak repair only (flood-cut, toe-kicks, wet bases) | $1,550 – $4,700 | −$14,700 |
| Countertops only | $3,200 – $7,400 | −$12,525 |
| Cabinets and countertops (default) | $10,950 – $24,700 | — |
| Cabinets, tops, sink and backsplash | $11,825 – $26,855 | +$1,515 |
| Reface: boxes stay, new doors and veneer | $5,440 – $13,020 | −$8,595 |
What “Cabinet grade” does to the price
Every other input stays at its default and only “Cabinet grade” changes. The cheapest choice, Stock (big-box lines), comes to $7,290 – $17,260; the most expensive, Custom, comes to $18,150 – $37,800.
| Choice | Planning range | Midpoint vs default |
|---|---|---|
| Stock (big-box lines) | $7,290 – $17,260 | −$5,550 |
| Semi-custom (default) | $10,950 – $24,700 | — |
| Custom | $18,150 – $37,800 | +$10,150 |
How age changes the kitchen cabinet and countertop claim payout
Using the default job, a $1,000 deductible and a 20-year expected life. At 10 years old, about $8,913 is held back as depreciation; a replacement cost policy releases it after the work is finished, while an actual cash value policy keeps it.
| Age | Wear | First check | Held back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years | 10% | $15,043 | $1,783 |
| 5 years | 25% | $12,369 | $4,456 |
| 10 years | 50% | $7,913 | $8,913 |
| 15 years | 75% | $3,456 | $13,369 |
| 20 years | 80% | $2,565 | $14,260 |
| 30 years | 80% | $2,565 | $14,260 |
Quote checklist: 7 items to verify
Kitchen quotes are easiest to compare by linear feet, grade and countertop material.
- Cabinet line and grade. Brand, box material and door style.
- Linear feet. Base and wall cabinets measured.
- Countertop. Material, square feet, edge and seams.
- Sink and plumbing. New sink, faucet, shutoffs and dishwasher hookup.
- Backsplash. Area and tile.
- Tear-out and disposal. Removal and wall patching.
- Appliances. Pull-out, reset and hood venting.
How long the job takes
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Design and measuring | 1 – 3 weeks | Layout finalized. |
| Cabinet lead time | 2 – 10 weeks | Stock is fastest; custom is slowest. |
| Tear-out and install | 3 – 7 days | Cabinets set and leveled. |
| Countertop template and install | 1 – 3 weeks | Stone is templated after cabinets are set. |
| Backsplash and plumbing | 2 – 4 days | Sink and appliances reconnected. |
Set up a temporary kitchen with a microwave and kettle; the sink is usually out of service between cabinets and countertops.
Common mistakes that raise the cost
- Ordering before measuring. Cabinets must fit the room exactly.
- Ignoring the sink base. It is the box most often damaged by leaks.
- Late countertop template. Stone is templated only after cabinets are set.
- Forgetting outlets. Backsplashes need outlets planned to code.
- No hood venting plan. Recirculating hoods remove less grease and moisture.
Ways to keep the cost down
Kitchen costs depend on cabinets and counters.
- Keep the layout. No plumbing moves.
- Reface sound boxes. Saves money.
- Choose stock cabinets. Lower cost.
- Use quartz remnants. Small areas.
- Do the backsplash yourself. If comfortable.
- Fix leaks first. Avoid rot.
Signs cabinets need replacing
Refacing works only on sound boxes.
- Water-damaged boxes. Swollen bottoms.
- Sagging shelves. Weak material.
- Broken drawers. Worn hardware.
- Poor layout. Function.
- Mold under the sink. Leaks.
Sources and further reading
- NAIC — Actual cash value vs replacement cost coverage
- ReplaceCost matching laws calculator
- HomeAdvisor — Kitchen cabinet cost
Frequently asked questions
What does refacing cost versus new boxes?
Refacing keeps the boxes. Doors, drawer fronts, and veneer are about $90 to $220 per linear foot of base and wall cabinets that stay. Fourteen feet of base and twelve of wall is about $2,300 to $5,700 before countertops. Countertops are still their own line. It is not a new-cabinet price.
How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in 2026?
An average layout is often $8,000 to $22,000 for the boxes installed, before a high-end custom shop. Counters are extra.
How much do kitchen counters cost?
About $3,000 to $9,000 for many laminate and mid-range quartz jobs. Large stone layouts cost more.
What is a flood-cut on a cabinet?
Cutting away the wet toe-kick and the swollen bottom of a base so the box can be saved. It fails when the particleboard has already swollen out of square.
Will insurance pay for new kitchen cabinets?
For cabinets a covered sudden loss destroyed, often yes, with depreciation and matching limits. For a remodel, no.
Does one wet cabinet mean all of them?
Only if the run cannot be matched or the policy’s matching rule says so. Document the product and the damage.
Is this a full kitchen remodel calculator?
No. It prices cabinets, counters and a flood-cut. It does not move walls or design a new kitchen.
How are linear feet of cabinets measured?
Base and wall cabinets are measured separately along the wall, leaving out gaps for the refrigerator and range. A 10-foot wall with both rows is roughly 17 to 20 combined linear feet.
Can I replace countertops and keep the cabinets?
Yes, if the boxes are dry, level and solid enough to carry stone. Swollen particleboard under the sink is the usual reason a counter job turns into a cabinet job.
How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets and countertops together?
For an average kitchen, plan on about $11,000 to $31,000: roughly $8,000 to $22,000 for stock to semi-custom cabinets installed, plus $3,000 to $9,000 for laminate through mid-range quartz counters. Stone slabs, an island or moving the sink pushes the total higher. Replacing both at once avoids paying to protect, template and reinstall counters on old boxes, which is why most remodelers quote them together.
How long do kitchen cabinets last?
Well-built cabinets can last decades. Sink bases and bottom panels near dishwashers usually wear out first because of leaks and steam.
Is quartz better than granite?
Quartz is engineered, consistent in color and needs no sealing. Granite is natural stone with unique patterns and should be sealed from time to time. Both are durable for everyday use.
Can I keep my countertops when replacing cabinets?
Rarely. Stone tops often crack when removed, and new cabinets may differ slightly in size. Laminate tops are usually replaced along with the cabinets.
How long does a cabinet replacement take?
Tear-out and installation often take one to two weeks, plus one to three weeks for stone countertop templating and installation.
Are soft-close hinges worth it?
Yes for most kitchens. They prevent slamming, reduce wear and are standard on many cabinet lines.
Can cabinets be painted instead?
Yes, if the boxes and doors are sound. Proper cleaning, sanding and primer make the finish last.
Related planning tools
Next steps for your estimate
Use the companion calculators when the job touches another part of the house or the claim.
Water damage calculatorDrying and the floor under the cabinets.Repiping calculatorIf the leak means the supply pipes are done.Matching lawsWhen one door pulls the rest of the run.Flooring calculatorThe floor in front of the sink.Painting calculatorWalls after the backs of the cabinets come off.Bathroom calculatorA different room. Do not mix the quotes.
Key topics covered
Popular kitchen cabinet searches answered on this page
Planning topics covered in the calculator and guide above.
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