Kitchen cabinets cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $4,000 – $12,800
- Per linear ft
- $140 – $454
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #176
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace kitchen cabinets in Durham, plan on $4,000 to $12,800 for 25 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $140 to $454 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, 15% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in Durham, NC, standard level
$6,650 to $10,200
About $234 to $360 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,150 | $4,100 |
| Labor | $2,700 | $4,900 |
| Permits and fees | $780 | $1,150 |
| Total | $6,650 | $10,200 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 | $4,850 | 43% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $3,800 | $6,500 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $490 | $980 | $1,450 | 12% |
| Total | $4,000 | $8,400 | $12,800 | 100% |
Why Durham prices look the way they do
Labor is 45% 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 Durham the blended ratio comes out at 0.87.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Durham metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 25 linear ft comes to $3,600, compared with $3,750 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.6) and land at $490 to $1,450.
Durham: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Durham wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,000 to $7,500
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$6,650 to $10,200
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$9,300 to $12,800
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $2,600 – $4,850 | $4,300 – $6,550 | $6,000 – $8,250 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,300 – $6,200 | $5,450 – $8,350 | $7,650 – $10,500 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $4,000 – $7,500 | $6,650 – $10,200 | $9,300 – $12,800 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $6,100 – $11,500 | $10,100 – $15,600 | $14,200 – $19,600 |
Durham labor market for kitchen cabinets
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Durham is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $24.78 an hour, which is 15% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.40 and $29.03 an hour. BLS counts 520 of them working in the area, 15.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.47 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.95 and $30.77 an hour. About 1,160 work in the metro. That is 33.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.90 an hour, which is 6% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.25 and $31.27 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 18.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.03 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $510. At the 25th percentile ($21.40) it shrinks by about $410. The total moves by 6.1% or 4.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 344,020 jobs in the Durham-Chapel Hill area. That makes it the 74th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.22% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $21.40 | $24.78 | $29.03 | $29.12 | 0.85 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.95 | $28.47 | $30.77 | $30.38 | 0.94 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $23.25 | $28.90 | $31.27 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
How Durham compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 25 linear ft range from $8,000 to $8,400 across Durham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $4,000 – $12,800 | $8,400 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | −3% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $3,950 – $12,500 | $8,250 | −2% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $4,000 – $12,700 | $8,350 | −1% |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $3,850 – $12,100 | $8,000 | −5% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | −3% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $3,900 – $12,500 | $8,200 | −3% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Durham comes in at #176 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $12,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,050 (midpoints, 25 linear ft). Statewide, Durham is 3% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $4,000 – $12,700 | $8,350 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $3,950 – $12,500 | $8,250 | −2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | −3% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $3,950 – $12,600 | $8,300 | −1% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Durham's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $4,450 – $15,500 | $9,950 | +19% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $4,000 – $12,800 | $8,400 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $3,750 – $11,900 | $7,850 | −7% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $3,700 – $11,400 | $7,550 | −10% |
Kitchen cabinets: what moves the price in Durham
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.
Planning more than one job in Durham?
Because every project leans on different trades, Durham's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and kitchen backsplash −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −5% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $320 – $890 | −7% |
| Front door | 1 door | $450 – $2,350 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $830 – $2,600 | −9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
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 $6,650 to $10,200 for Durham, NC is attached.
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Kitchen cabinets in Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Durham?
For 25 linear ft, expect $4,000 to $12,800 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,650 to $10,200. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in Durham?
About $140 to $454 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $490 to $1,450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $500.
+Is kitchen cabinets cheaper in Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $8,150, which is 3% less than Durham ($8,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $3,800 out of $8,400. Materials are 43% and permits 12%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in Durham?
$4,000 to $12,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in Durham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $490 to $1,450 for fees in the Durham area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 3% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($8,200 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Durham?
The BLS median is $24.78 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.40 to $29.03.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in Durham?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $4,000 to $7,500 and premium work $9,300 to $12,800. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets near Durham
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.