Kitchen cabinets cost in Wilmington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $3,950 – $12,600
- Per linear ft
- $139 – $447
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #199
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for new kitchen cabinets in the Wilmington area: $3,950 to $12,600 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 9% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $24.44 an hour in the Wilmington area, 16% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in Wilmington, NC, standard level
$6,550 to $10,000
About $231 to $354 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,150 | $4,100 |
| Labor | $2,650 | $4,750 |
| Permits and fees | $770 | $1,150 |
| Total | $6,550 | $10,000 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in Wilmington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 | $4,850 | 44% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $3,700 | $6,350 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $480 | $960 | $1,450 | 12% |
| Total | $3,950 | $8,300 | $12,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Wilmington number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.44 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Wilmington is 0.85 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 45% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Wilmington is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,750 nationally becomes $3,600 here (midpoint, 25 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.4: $480 to $1,450.
How Wilmington 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 $8,350 across Wilmington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $3,950 – $12,600 | $8,300 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $3,850 – $12,100 | $8,000 | −4% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $3,850 – $12,100 | $8,000 | −3% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $3,850 – $12,100 | $8,000 | −4% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $3,900 – $12,300 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $4,000 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $3,900 – $12,500 | $8,200 | −1% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Wilmington ranks #199 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Wilmington is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| 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 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $4,000 – $12,800 | $8,400 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | −2% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $4,150 – $13,800 | $9,000 | +9% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $3,900 – $12,200 | $8,050 | −3% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $3,800 – $12,200 | $8,000 | −4% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $4,500 – $14,900 | $9,650 | +17% |
Planning more than one job in Wilmington?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen cabinets are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Wilmington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and shower pan lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −6% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $320 – $880 | −8% |
| Front door | 1 door | $450 – $2,350 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $810 – $2,550 | −10% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Wilmington bid
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: Wilmington 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 Wilmington the blend is 0.85.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $24.44 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $28.70 an hour. About 640 work in the metro. That is 33.5 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 $26.00 an hour, which is 14% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.07 and $28.87 an hour. BLS counts 910 of them working in the area, 47.6 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 $27.11 an hour, 12% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.29 and $30.10 an hour. About 690 work in the metro. That is 36.1 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 $510 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $290. That is a swing of roughly 3.5% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Wilmington has 191,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 120th 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% | $22.06 | $24.44 | $28.70 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.07 | $26.00 | $28.87 | $30.38 | 0.86 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.29 | $27.11 | $30.10 | $30.67 | 0.88 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
Wilmington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Wilmington. 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 $7,400
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$6,550 to $10,000
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$9,150 to $12,600
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $2,550 – $4,800 | $4,250 – $6,450 | $5,900 – $8,150 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,250 – $6,100 | $5,400 – $8,250 | $7,550 – $10,400 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $3,950 – $7,400 | $6,550 – $10,000 | $9,150 – $12,600 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $6,050 – $11,400 | $10,000 – $15,300 | $14,000 – $19,300 |
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Kitchen cabinets in Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Wilmington?
For 25 linear ft, expect $3,950 to $12,600 in the Wilmington area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,550 to $10,000. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in Wilmington?
About $139 to $447 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 Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $8,000, which is 4% less than Wilmington ($8,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $3,700 out of $8,300. Materials are 44% and permits 12%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in Wilmington?
$3,950 to $12,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in Wilmington?
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 Wilmington area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington is 1% 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 Wilmington?
The BLS median is $24.44 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.06 to $28.70.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in Wilmington?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $3,950 to $7,400 and premium work $9,150 to $12,600. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets near Wilmington
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.