Kitchen cabinets cost in Lake Charles, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $3,800 – $12,100
- Per linear ft
- $134 – $432
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #275
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for new kitchen cabinets in the Lake Charles area: $3,800 to $12,100 for 25 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 13% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $22.08 an hour in the Lake Charles area, 24% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in Lake Charles, LA, standard level
$6,300 to $9,600
About $224 to $342 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,050 | $4,000 |
| Labor | $2,550 | $4,600 |
| Permits and fees | $690 | $1,050 |
| Total | $6,300 | $9,600 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in Lake Charles, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,350 | $3,500 | $4,700 | 44% |
| Labor | $1,000 | $3,550 | $6,100 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $430 | $860 | $1,300 | 11% |
| Total | $3,800 | $7,950 | $12,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Lake Charles number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.08 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Lake Charles is 0.81 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 45% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Lake Charles 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 85.9: $430 to $1,300.
Lake Charles: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Lake Charles. 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
$3,800 to $7,100
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$6,300 to $9,600
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$8,750 to $12,100
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $2,450 – $4,550 | $4,050 – $6,150 | $5,650 – $7,750 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,100 – $5,850 | $5,150 – $7,900 | $7,200 – $9,900 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $3,800 – $7,100 | $6,300 – $9,600 | $8,750 – $12,100 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $5,800 – $10,900 | $9,650 – $14,700 | $13,500 – $18,500 |
Why two Lake Charles quotes can differ
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.
Removal
Taking out the old cabinets is $300-$600, though many installers fold it into their labor price.
Who does the work: Lake Charles trade wages
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 Lake Charles the blend is 0.81.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $22.08 an hour, 24% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $16.13 and $28.48 an hour. About 630 work in the metro. That is 62.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.59 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.38 and $34.83 an hour. BLS counts 590 of them working in the area, 58.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $32.69 an hour, 7% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.59 and $35.49 an hour. About 560 work in the metro. That is 55.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $770 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $720. That is a swing of roughly 9.0% to 9.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Lake Charles has 101,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 202nd 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% | $16.13 | $22.08 | $28.48 | $29.12 | 0.76 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.38 | $30.59 | $34.83 | $30.38 | 1.01 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $28.59 | $32.69 | $35.49 | $30.67 | 1.07 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Lake Charles
Jobs that often go together with kitchen cabinets are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Lake Charles wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (−8%) and storm door lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,000 – $28,900 | −8% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $300 – $840 | −12% |
| Front door | 1 door | $420 – $2,250 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,600 | −8% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,300 | −12% |
Is Lake Charles cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Lake Charles. Alexandria is the lowest at about $7,800 (midpoint, 25 linear ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LAthis page | $3,800 – $12,100 | $7,950 | |
| Beaumont, TX60 miles | $4,000 – $13,300 | $8,650 | +9% |
| Lafayette, LA65 miles | $3,800 – $12,100 | $7,950 | level |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $3,750 – $11,900 | $7,800 | −1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $4,000 – $13,200 | $8,600 | +8% |
| Houston, TX130 miles | $4,050 – $12,900 | $8,450 | +7% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $3,850 – $12,400 | $8,150 | +3% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Lake Charles ranks #275 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Lake Charles is 3% below the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $3,900 – $12,500 | $8,200 | +3% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $4,000 – $13,200 | $8,600 | +8% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $3,800 – $12,100 | $7,950 | level |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $3,800 – $12,000 | $7,900 | level |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $3,850 – $12,200 | $8,050 | +1% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $3,800 – $12,100 | $7,950 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lake Charles against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,100 | +15% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $4,450 – $15,800 | $10,100 | +28% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | +3% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 98,500 jobs | $4,750 – $16,300 | $10,500 | +33% |
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Kitchen cabinets in Lake Charles: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Lake Charles?
For 25 linear ft, expect $3,800 to $12,100 in the Lake Charles area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,300 to $9,600. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in Lake Charles?
About $134 to $432 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $430 to $1,300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $500.
+Is kitchen cabinets cheaper in Lake Charles or Beaumont?
Beaumont is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $8,650, which is 9% more than Lake Charles ($7,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lake Charles?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $3,550 out of $7,950. Materials are 44% and permits 11%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in Lake Charles?
$3,800 to $12,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in Lake Charles?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $430 to $1,300 for fees in the Lake Charles area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lake Charles expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Lake Charles is 3% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($8,150 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Lake Charles?
The BLS median is $22.08 an hour in the Lake Charles area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.13 to $28.48.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in Lake Charles?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $3,800 to $7,100 and premium work $8,750 to $12,100. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets near Lake Charles
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.