Kitchen cabinets cost in Waterloo, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $3,950 – $13,000
- Per linear ft
- $141 – $468
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #169
- 1 = most expensive
New kitchen cabinets in Waterloo, IA usually costs $3,950 to $13,000 for 25 linear ft. That works out to about $141 to $468 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $650 less. Carpenters earn a median of $26.85 an hour in the Waterloo area, 8% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in Waterloo, IA, standard level
$6,650 to $10,300
About $239 to $370 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,050 | $4,000 |
| Labor | $2,900 | $5,250 |
| Permits and fees | $700 | $1,050 |
| Total | $6,650 | $10,300 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in Waterloo, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,350 | $3,500 | $4,700 | 41% |
| Labor | $1,150 | $4,100 | $7,000 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $440 | $870 | $1,300 | 10% |
| Total | $3,950 | $8,500 | $13,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Waterloo number
Labor is 48% of the midpoint bill here, against 48% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (80%), electricians (10%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Waterloo the blended ratio comes out at 0.94.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Waterloo is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,750 nationally becomes $3,500 here (midpoint, 25 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.1: $440 to $1,300.
Waterloo: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Waterloo. 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
$3,950 to $7,550
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$6,650 to $10,300
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$9,400 to $13,000
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $2,550 – $4,850 | $4,300 – $6,600 | $6,000 – $8,350 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,250 – $6,200 | $5,450 – $8,450 | $7,700 – $10,700 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $3,950 – $7,550 | $6,650 – $10,300 | $9,400 – $13,000 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $6,050 – $11,600 | $10,200 – $15,800 | $14,400 – $20,000 |
Waterloo against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Waterloo. Iowa City is the lowest at about $8,150 (midpoint, 25 linear ft), 80 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IAthis page | $3,950 – $13,000 | $8,500 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA55 miles | $4,000 – $13,400 | $8,750 | +3% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $4,000 – $13,400 | $8,700 | +3% |
| Iowa City, IA80 miles | $3,850 – $12,400 | $8,150 | −4% |
| Des Moines, IA95 miles | $4,100 – $13,800 | $8,950 | +5% |
| Rochester, MN100 miles | $4,200 – $14,400 | $9,300 | +10% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $4,000 – $13,200 | $8,600 | +1% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Waterloo ranks #169 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Waterloo is 1% below the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $4,100 – $13,800 | $8,950 | +5% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $4,100 – $13,800 | $8,950 | +6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $4,000 – $13,400 | $8,750 | +3% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $3,850 – $12,400 | $8,150 | −4% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $3,900 – $12,700 | $8,250 | −2% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $4,000 – $13,400 | $8,700 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Waterloo against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $4,100 – $13,800 | $8,950 | +6% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $3,800 – $12,100 | $7,950 | −6% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $3,850 – $12,200 | $8,000 | −5% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $3,950 – $12,800 | $8,400 | −1% |
Planning more than one job in Waterloo?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen cabinets are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Waterloo wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (−5%) and front door lowest (−6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,500 | −6% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $330 – $890 | −6% |
| Front door | 1 door | $470 – $2,350 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,200 | −5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $900 – $2,650 | −5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,450 | −5% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Waterloo bid
Permit
Kitchen remodeling permits are $500-$1,500 where one is needed, usually when you change layout, plumbing or wiring.
Stock, semi-custom or custom
Stock cabinets run $100-$400 per linear foot installed, semi-custom $150-$700, and custom $500-$1,200 (HomeGuide).
Layout changes
Keeping the plumbing and wiring where it is saves real money. Moving them brings in plumbers and electricians.
What local crews earn in Waterloo
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 Waterloo the blend is 0.94.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $26.85 an hour, 8% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.07 and $29.81 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 30.9 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 $30.49 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.10 and $38.89 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 42.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.91 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.45 and $36.96 an hour. About 220 work in the metro. That is 26.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $360 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $450. That is a swing of roughly 5.4% to 4.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls has 84,260 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 229th 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% | $23.07 | $26.85 | $29.81 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.10 | $30.49 | $38.89 | $30.38 | 1.00 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $23.45 | $29.91 | $36.96 | $30.67 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
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Kitchen cabinets in Waterloo: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Waterloo?
For 25 linear ft, expect $3,950 to $13,000 in the Waterloo area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,650 to $10,300. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in Waterloo?
About $141 to $468 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $440 to $1,300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $500.
+Is kitchen cabinets cheaper in Waterloo or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $8,750, which is 3% more than Waterloo ($8,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Waterloo?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $4,100 out of $8,500. Materials are 41% and permits 10%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in Waterloo?
$3,950 to $13,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in Waterloo?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $440 to $1,300 for fees in the Waterloo area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Waterloo expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of Iowa?
Waterloo is 1% below the Iowa statewide estimate ($8,600 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Waterloo?
The BLS median is $26.85 an hour in the Waterloo area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.07 to $29.81.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in Waterloo?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $3,950 to $7,550 and premium work $9,400 to $13,000. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets near Waterloo
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.