Kitchen cabinets cost in Knoxville, TN
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 – $448
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $9,150
- Rank of 300 metros
- #204
- 1 = most expensive
Knoxville homeowners pay roughly $3,950 to $12,600 to replace kitchen cabinets at 25 linear ft, or $139 to $448 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Knoxville is 9% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.23 an hour in the Knoxville area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 25 linear ft in Knoxville, TN, standard level
$6,550 to $10,000
About $232 to $355 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,150 | $4,100 |
| Labor | $2,650 | $4,800 |
| Permits and fees | $740 | $1,100 |
| Total | $6,550 | $10,000 |
Cost breakdown for 25 linear ft in Knoxville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,600 | $4,800 | 44% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $3,750 | $6,400 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $460 | $930 | $1,400 | 11% |
| Total | $3,950 | $8,250 | $12,600 | 100% |
Where the Knoxville price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: carpenters at 80%, electricians at 10%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 10%. Weighted together, Knoxville wages are 0.85 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (48% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Knoxville metro is 96.2 (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 (92.6) and land at $460 to $1,400.
Specs and site conditions that change a Knoxville 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.
Is Knoxville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Knoxville. Dalton is the lowest at about $7,700 (midpoint, 25 linear ft), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TNthis page | $3,950 – $12,600 | $8,250 | |
| Asheville, NC95 miles | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Dalton, GA95 miles | $3,750 – $11,600 | $7,700 | −7% |
| Chattanooga, TN95 miles | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Johnson City, TN100 miles | $3,850 – $12,100 | $7,950 | −4% |
| Kingsport, TN100 miles | $3,850 – $12,300 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $3,950 – $12,600 | $8,300 | level |
| United States | $4,250 – $14,000 | $9,150 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Knoxville comes in at #204 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $12,000; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,050 (midpoints, 25 linear ft). Statewide, Knoxville is 0% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $4,050 – $13,200 | $8,650 | +5% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $3,950 – $12,600 | $8,300 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $3,950 – $12,700 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $3,850 – $12,300 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $3,900 – $12,400 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $3,850 – $12,200 | $8,000 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Knoxville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Knoxville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $3,900 – $12,500 | $8,200 | −1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $4,000 – $13,200 | $8,600 | +4% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $3,900 – $12,500 | $8,200 | −1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $4,200 – $14,400 | $9,300 | +12% |
What nearby projects cost in Knoxville
Because every project leans on different trades, Knoxville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −6% and kitchen backsplash −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Storm door | 1 door | $320 – $880 | −8% |
| Front door | 1 door | $450 – $2,350 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,000 | −10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $820 – $2,550 | −10% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,350 | −11% |
Cost by quality level and size in Knoxville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Knoxville 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
$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 – $4,750 | $4,200 – $6,450 | $5,900 – $8,100 |
| 10x10 kitchen (20 linear ft) | $3,250 – $6,100 | $5,350 – $8,200 | $7,500 – $10,400 |
| average kitchen (25 linear ft) | $3,950 – $7,400 | $6,550 – $10,000 | $9,150 – $12,600 |
| large kitchen (40 linear ft) | $6,000 – $11,300 | $10,000 – $15,300 | $14,000 – $19,300 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Knoxville is 0.85 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $24.23 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.11 and $28.56 an hour. BLS counts 1,280 of them working in the area, 30.1 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 $28.19 an hour, 7% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.79 and $34.73 an hour. About 2,170 work in the metro. That is 51.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.78 an hour, which is 6% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.69 and $35.32 an hour. BLS counts 1,700 of them working in the area, 40.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.56 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $520. At the 25th percentile ($22.11) it shrinks by about $250. The total moves by 6.3% or 3.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 424,600 jobs in the Knoxville area. That makes it the 59th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.27% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $22.11 | $24.23 | $28.56 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.79 | $28.19 | $34.73 | $30.38 | 0.93 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.69 | $28.78 | $35.32 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
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Kitchen cabinets in Knoxville: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace kitchen cabinets in Knoxville?
For 25 linear ft, expect $3,950 to $12,600 in the Knoxville 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 Knoxville?
About $139 to $448 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $460 to $1,400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $500.
+Is kitchen cabinets cheaper in Knoxville or Asheville?
Asheville is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 25 linear ft there is $8,350, which is 1% more than Knoxville ($8,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Knoxville?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $3,750 out of $8,250. Materials are 44% and permits 11%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would average kitchen (25 linear ft) cost in Knoxville?
$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 Knoxville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $460 to $1,400 for fees in the Knoxville area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Knoxville expensive for kitchen cabinets compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Knoxville is 0% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($8,300 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Knoxville?
The BLS median is $24.23 an hour in the Knoxville area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.11 to $28.56.
+What do basic and premium kitchen cabinets work cost in Knoxville?
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 Knoxville
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.