Kitchen cabinets cost in El Centro, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $4,600 – $15,700
- Per linear ft
- $165 – $570
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #26
- 1 = most expensive
New kitchen cabinets in El Centro, CA usually costs $4,600 to $15,700 for 25 linear ft. That works out to about $165 to $570 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,000 more. Carpenters earn a median of $35.74 an hour in the El Centro area, 23% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in El Centro, CA, standard level
$7,900 to $12,300
About $286 to $448 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,400 | $4,450 |
| Labor | $3,750 | $6,750 |
| Permits and fees | $760 | $1,150 |
| Total | $7,900 | $12,300 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in El Centro, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $3,950 | $5,250 | 39% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $5,250 | $9,000 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $480 | $950 | $1,450 | 9% |
| Total | $4,600 | $10,100 | $15,700 | 100% |
Why El Centro prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $35.74 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for El Centro is 1.20 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 52% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. El Centro is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,750 nationally becomes $3,950 here (midpoint, 25 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.2: $480 to $1,450.
How El Centro compares
Same job, same size (25 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Los Angeles is the priciest of the group at $10,500. Yuma is the cheapest at $8,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CAthis page | $4,600 – $15,700 | $10,100 | |
| San Diego, CA80 miles | $4,750 – $16,100 | $10,400 | +3% |
| Yuma, AZ85 miles | $3,900 – $12,300 | $8,100 | −20% |
| Riverside, CA115 miles | $4,500 – $15,300 | $9,900 | −2% |
| Los Angeles, CA180 miles | $4,750 – $16,200 | $10,500 | +4% |
| Phoenix, AZ190 miles | $4,150 – $13,800 | $8,950 | −12% |
| California (statewide) | $4,750 – $16,200 | $10,500 | +4% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, El Centro ranks #26 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, El Centro is 3% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $4,750 – $16,200 | $10,500 | +4% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $5,100 – $18,000 | $11,600 | +14% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,500 – $15,300 | $9,900 | −2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $4,750 – $16,100 | $10,400 | +3% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $4,900 – $17,200 | $11,000 | +9% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $4,650 – $15,900 | $10,300 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is El Centro against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $3,950 – $12,500 | $8,250 | −19% |
| Dalton, GA | 65,300 jobs | $3,750 – $11,600 | $7,700 | −24% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $4,350 – $14,800 | $9,550 | −6% |
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,050 | −10% |
Planning more than one job in El Centro?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen cabinets are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same El Centro wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, storm door comes out highest (+10%) and shower pan lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,900 – $33,700 | +7% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $390 – $1,050 | +10% |
| Front door | 1 door | $570 – $2,700 | +9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,300 | +8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,850 | +2% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $320 – $1,600 | +6% |
Why two El Centro quotes can differ
Layout changes
Keeping the plumbing and wiring where it is saves real money. Moving them brings in plumbers and electricians.
Removal
Taking out the old cabinets is $300-$600, though many installers fold it into their labor price.
Permit
Kitchen remodeling permits are $500-$1,500 where one is needed, usually when you change layout, plumbing or wiring.
What local crews earn in El Centro
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For El Centro the blend is 1.20.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $35.74 an hour, 23% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.37 and $39.04 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 21.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $35.80 an hour, which is 18% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $26.36 and $46.02 an hour. BLS counts 160 of them working in the area, 24.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.00 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.78 and $37.28 an hour. About 150 work in the metro. That is 22.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $400 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,250. That is a swing of roughly 12.3% to 3.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
El Centro has 65,430 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 275th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $25.37 | $35.74 | $39.04 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $26.36 | $35.80 | $46.02 | $30.38 | 1.18 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.78 | $30.00 | $37.28 | $30.67 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.20 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen cabinets pricing in El Centro
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to El Centro. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small galley (15 linear ft) to large kitchen (40 linear ft).
Basic
$4,600 to $9,050
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$7,900 to $12,300
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$11,200 to $15,700
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $2,950 – $5,750 | $5,050 – $7,850 | $7,150 – $9,950 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,800 – $7,400 | $6,500 – $10,100 | $9,200 – $12,800 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $4,600 – $9,050 | $7,900 – $12,300 | $11,200 – $15,700 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $7,100 – $13,900 | $12,200 – $19,100 | $17,400 – $24,200 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $7,900 to $12,300 for El Centro, CA is attached.
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Multi-page report for El Centro, CA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen cabinets in El Centro: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in El Centro?
For 25 linear ft, expect $4,600 to $15,700 in the El Centro area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,900 to $12,300. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in El Centro?
About $165 to $570 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $480 to $1,450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $500.
+Is kitchen cabinets cheaper in El Centro or San Diego?
San Diego is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $10,400, which is 3% more than El Centro ($10,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in El Centro?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $5,250 out of $10,100. Materials are 39% and permits 9%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in El Centro?
$4,600 to $15,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in El Centro?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $480 to $1,450 for fees in the El Centro area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is El Centro expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of California?
El Centro is 3% below the California statewide estimate ($10,500 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in El Centro?
The BLS median is $35.74 an hour in the El Centro area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.37 to $39.04.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in El Centro?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $4,600 to $9,050 and premium work $11,200 to $15,700. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets near El Centro
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Do Kitchen Cabinets Cost? (2026 Prices) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Cabinet Installation Cost? (New 2026 Prices) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's labor figure of $50-$300 per linear foot, matched low-to-low and high-to-high. Treat the split as a rough guide: labor swings with the cabinet type.