Kitchen cabinets cost in Boston, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $4,600 – $16,100
- Per linear ft
- $163 – $581
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #20
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for new kitchen cabinets in the Boston area: $4,600 to $16,100 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 14% higher than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $36.16 an hour in the Boston area, 24% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in Boston, MA, standard level
$8,100 to $12,700
About $288 to $456 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,250 | $4,250 |
| Labor | $3,950 | $7,150 |
| Permits and fees | $870 | $1,300 |
| Total | $8,100 | $12,700 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in Boston, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,750 | $5,000 | 36% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $5,550 | $9,550 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $540 | $1,100 | $1,600 | 10% |
| Total | $4,600 | $10,400 | $16,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Boston number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $36.16 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Boston is 1.27 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boston is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,750 nationally becomes $3,750 here (midpoint, 25 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.3: $540 to $1,600.
Kitchen cabinets: what moves the price in Boston
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.
How Boston compares
Same job, same size (25 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group. Manchester is the cheapest at $9,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MAthis page | $4,600 – $16,100 | $10,400 | |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $4,250 – $14,100 | $9,150 | −12% |
| Worcester, MA50 miles | $4,450 – $15,500 | $9,950 | −4% |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $4,250 – $14,300 | $9,300 | −10% |
| Barnstable, MA70 miles | $4,400 – $15,100 | $9,750 | −6% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $4,250 – $14,400 | $9,300 | −10% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $4,600 – $16,000 | $10,300 | −1% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boston ranks #20 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boston is 1% above the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $4,450 – $15,500 | $9,950 | −4% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $4,500 – $15,800 | $10,100 | −2% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $4,400 – $15,100 | $9,750 | −6% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $4,350 – $14,800 | $9,550 | −8% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $4,250 – $14,400 | $9,300 | −10% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $4,250 – $13,400 | $8,800 | −15% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $4,150 – $13,800 | $8,950 | −14% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $4,100 – $12,900 | $8,500 | −18% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $5,100 – $18,000 | $11,600 | +11% |
Who does the work: Boston 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 Boston the blend is 1.27.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $36.16 an hour, 24% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $29.26 and $47.47 an hour. About 12,720 work in the metro. That is 47.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $38.42 an hour, which is 26% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $28.03 and $49.11 an hour. BLS counts 13,410 of them working in the area, 49.6 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 $46.52 an hour, 52% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $30.12 and $56.68 an hour. About 9,200 work in the metro. That is 34.0 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 $1,350 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $830. That is a swing of roughly 8.0% to 13.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has 2,703,890 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 10th 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% | $29.26 | $36.16 | $47.47 | $29.12 | 1.24 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $28.03 | $38.42 | $49.11 | $30.38 | 1.26 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $30.12 | $46.52 | $56.68 | $30.67 | 1.52 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.27 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Boston
Jobs that often go together with kitchen cabinets are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boston wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+29%) and front door lowest (+6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,600 – $33,400 | +6% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $390 – $1,050 | +9% |
| Front door | 1 door | $570 – $2,600 | +6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,600 – $27,800 | +19% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,300 – $3,500 | +29% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $370 – $1,750 | +19% |
Cost by quality level and size in Boston
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boston. 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 $9,250
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$8,100 to $12,700
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$11,500 to $16,100
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $3,000 – $5,950 | $5,200 – $8,150 | $7,400 – $10,300 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,800 – $7,600 | $6,650 – $10,400 | $9,450 – $13,200 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $4,600 – $9,250 | $8,100 – $12,700 | $11,500 – $16,100 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $7,050 – $14,200 | $12,400 – $19,500 | $17,700 – $24,900 |
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Kitchen cabinets in Boston: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Boston?
For 25 linear ft, expect $4,600 to $16,100 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,100 to $12,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in Boston?
About $163 to $581 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $540 to $1,600 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $500.
+Is kitchen cabinets cheaper in Boston or Manchester?
Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $9,150, which is 12% less than Boston ($10,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $5,550 out of $10,400. Materials are 36% and permits 10%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in Boston?
$4,600 to $16,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in Boston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $540 to $1,600 for fees in the Boston area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boston expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Boston is 1% above the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($10,300 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Boston?
The BLS median is $36.16 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.26 to $47.47.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in Boston?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $4,600 to $9,250 and premium work $11,500 to $16,100. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets near Boston
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.