Kitchen cabinets cost in Reading, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (25 linear ft)
- $4,200 – $13,600
- Per linear ft
- $148 – $484
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #130
- 1 = most expensive
New kitchen cabinets in Reading, PA usually costs $4,200 to $13,600 for 25 linear ft. That works out to about $148 to $484 per linear ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Carpenters earn a median of $26.41 an hour in the Reading area, 9% below the US median of $29.12.
Estimate your kitchen cabinets cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in Reading, PA, standard level
$7,000 to $10,700
About $249 to $383 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,250 | $4,300 |
| Labor | $2,950 | $5,300 |
| Permits and fees | $780 | $1,150 |
| Total | $7,000 | $10,700 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in Reading, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,800 | $5,050 | 43% |
| Labor | $1,200 | $4,100 | $7,050 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $490 | $970 | $1,450 | 11% |
| Total | $4,200 | $8,850 | $13,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Reading number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $26.41 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Reading is 0.94 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Reading is at 100.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,750 nationally becomes $3,800 here (midpoint, 25 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.1: $490 to $1,450.
Kitchen cabinets: what moves the price in Reading
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.
Stock, semi-custom or custom
Stock cabinets run $100-$400 per linear foot installed, semi-custom $150-$700, and custom $500-$1,200 (HomeGuide).
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen cabinets pricing in Reading
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Reading. 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
$4,200 to $7,950
Stock cabinets, same layout
Standard
$7,000 to $10,700
Semi-custom with upgraded finishes
Premium
$9,800 to $13,600
Custom cabinetry, new layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small galley (15 linear ft) | $2,700 – $5,100 | $4,500 – $6,900 | $6,300 – $8,700 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,450 – $6,500 | $5,750 – $8,850 | $8,050 – $11,100 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $4,200 – $7,950 | $7,000 – $10,700 | $9,800 – $13,600 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $6,400 – $12,200 | $10,700 – $16,500 | $15,000 – $20,800 |
Planning more than one job in Reading?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen cabinets are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Reading wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen backsplash comes out highest (+10%) and storm door lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $340 – $930 | −2% |
| Front door | 1 door | $480 – $2,500 | −1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,200 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,950 | +7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $330 – $1,650 | +10% |
Is Reading cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Reading. Lancaster is the lowest at about $8,850 (midpoint, 25 linear ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, PAthis page | $4,200 – $13,600 | $8,850 | |
| Lancaster, PA30 miles | $4,150 – $13,500 | $8,850 | level |
| Allentown, PA40 miles | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,100 | +3% |
| Philadelphia, PA50 miles | $4,250 – $14,300 | $9,250 | +4% |
| York, PA55 miles | $4,250 – $14,100 | $9,200 | +4% |
| Harrisburg, PA60 miles | $4,250 – $13,900 | $9,100 | +3% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $4,200 – $13,900 | $9,050 | +2% |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Reading ranks #130 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Reading is 2% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $4,250 – $14,300 | $9,250 | +4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $4,250 – $14,200 | $9,200 | +4% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,100 | +3% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $4,250 – $13,900 | $9,100 | +3% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $4,250 – $13,900 | $9,100 | +3% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $4,150 – $13,500 | $8,850 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Reading against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 177,050 jobs | $4,750 – $16,200 | $10,500 | +18% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $4,150 – $14,000 | $9,100 | +2% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | −8% |
| Naples, FL | 173,880 jobs | $3,950 – $12,600 | $8,300 | −6% |
What local crews earn in Reading
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 Reading the blend is 0.94.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $26.41 an hour, 9% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.60 and $29.57 an hour. About 760 work in the metro. That is 43.5 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 $36.09 an hour, which is 19% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.79 and $44.80 an hour. BLS counts 820 of them working in the area, 46.9 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 $29.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.25 and $36.66 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 20.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $380 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $460. That is a swing of roughly 5.2% to 4.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Reading has 174,670 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 132nd 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% | $22.60 | $26.41 | $29.57 | $29.12 | 0.91 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.79 | $36.09 | $44.80 | $30.38 | 1.19 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.25 | $29.99 | $36.66 | $30.67 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
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 $7,000 to $10,700 for Reading, PA is attached.
Detailed kitchen cabinets report for Reading, PA, $9
The report lays out the kitchen cabinets numbers for Reading, PA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen cabinets in Reading: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Reading?
For 25 linear ft, expect $4,200 to $13,600 in the Reading area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,000 to $10,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for kitchen cabinets in Reading?
About $148 to $484 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 Reading or Lancaster?
Lancaster is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $8,850, which is 0% less than Reading ($8,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Reading?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $4,100 out of $8,850. Materials are 43% and permits 11%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in Reading?
$4,200 to $13,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen cabinets need a permit in Reading?
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 Reading area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Reading expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Reading is 2% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($9,050 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Reading?
The BLS median is $26.41 an hour in the Reading area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.60 to $29.57.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in Reading?
For 25 linear ft, basic work runs $4,200 to $7,950 and premium work $9,800 to $13,600. Basic means: stock cabinets, same layout. Premium means: custom cabinetry, new layout.
Kitchen cabinets near Reading
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.