Custom vs semi-custom vs stock cabinets — what's the difference?

Stock cabinets are pre-built in standard sizes. Semi-custom allows modifications in ½-inch increments and limited finishes. True custom cabinets are built to your exact dimensions, in any door style, finish, and interior configuration — fitted like furniture to your space.

What door styles do you offer?

Shaker (most popular), inset (traditional, premium look), frameless European (modern), flat-panel, Shaker with beaded inset, and custom profiles. We match historic homes or modernize with clean lines.

Painted vs stained — which holds up better in Houston?

Both last decades with proper prep. Painted finishes show wear sooner at pinch points (drawer edges) but are easy to touch up. Stained hardwoods hide wear better and age gracefully. For a family kitchen, we often recommend painted perimeter cabinets with a stained island for contrast.

Do you refinish or just build new?

Both. If the cabinet boxes are solid wood and in good shape, refacing (new doors + drawer fronts + veneer on boxes) is often 50-70% the cost of new. We'll tell you honestly whether your existing cabinets are worth saving.

What's the lead time for custom cabinets?

6–10 weeks from order to delivery for most projects. This drives the overall kitchen remodel schedule — we order cabinets first so demo and rough-in can happen while they're being built.

How much do custom built-ins cost in Houston?

Most custom built-ins, such as a mudroom, home office or primary closet, run $4,000–$20,000 each in Katy and $5,000–$25,000 each in The Woodlands, depending on size and finish. Our Cinco Ranch mudroom with bench seating, cubbies for four kids and a dog wash station was about $22,000 and took 4 weeks.

Do you build custom built-ins beyond the kitchen?

Yes. We build mudroom systems, home office cabinetry, primary closet systems, walk-in pantry built-ins, bar areas, entertainment walls and outdoor kitchen storage. In Sugar Land, most clients who order custom kitchen cabinets add one or two built-ins to the same project so the finish and hardware match across the home.

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Custom Cabinetry in Houston, TX

April 21, 2026 · Updated November 2, 2026

By Debbie McKelvey, Co-Founder & Principal Designer · 30+ years remodeling Houston homes

Quick answer

Custom kitchen and bath cabinetry, built-ins, and millwork across the Houston metro. Shaker, inset, frameless European, painted, and stained hardwoods. Designed and fitted to your exact space. Free in-home consultations: (281) 499-0581.

Cabinets are the single biggest driver of how a kitchen looks and functions — and the line item that fails first when someone cuts the wrong corner. We design and build to your exact space in inset, frameless European, shaker, or traditional door styles, in painted hardwoods or stained Texas species. Real wood boxes, dovetailed drawers, soft-close everything. No stock-sized compromises.

Custom Cabinetry by McKelvey Designs — Houston-area remodeling project example

How much do custom cabinets cost in Houston in 2026?

As of 2026, custom kitchen cabinets in Houston typically cost $15,000–$60,000+, and they take 6–10 weeks to build plus 1–2 days to install. Luxury inset cabinetry in painted hardwood runs $60,000–$120,000+. Custom built-ins such as a mudroom, home office or primary closet typically run $4,000–$25,000 each, depending on the area and the scope. Cabinets are 30–40% of a kitchen remodel budget.

Cabinet project	Typical 2026 cost	Typical timeline	Details
Small kitchen, painted shaker doors	From about $15,000	6–10 weeks to build, 1–2 days to install	Custom cabinets cost guide
True custom kitchen, built to your exact space	$25,000–$60,000	6–10 weeks to build, 1–2 days to install	Custom cabinets cost guide
Luxury inset kitchen (painted hardwood or rift-cut white oak)	$60,000–$120,000+	6–10 weeks to build	Inset kitchen in Memorial
Custom kitchen cabinetry in Katy	$20,000–$60,000+	6–10 weeks to build, 1–2 days to install	Custom cabinetry in Katy
Custom kitchen cabinetry in The Woodlands	$25,000–$80,000+	6–10 weeks to build	Custom cabinetry in The Woodlands
Built-ins in Katy (mudroom, home office, primary closet)	$4,000–$20,000 each	Depends on scope	Custom cabinetry in Katy
Built-ins in The Woodlands (mudroom, primary closet)	$5,000–$25,000 each	Depends on scope	Custom cabinetry in The Woodlands
Interior fittings (pull-outs, dividers, organizers)	+$1,500–$5,000	Built with the cabinets	Custom cabinets cost guide

Door style is the biggest price factor: inset costs 20–40% more than overlay shaker. For a number based on your own kitchen, try the remodel cost calculator.

Custom built-ins in Houston: what can we build?

Beyond kitchens, we design and build custom built-ins across the Houston area:

Mudroom systems with bench seating, hidden storage and cubbies.
Home office cabinetry and millwork.
Primary closet systems.
Walk-in pantry built-ins and butler's pantries.
Bar areas and entertainment walls.
Outdoor kitchen storage.

In Sugar Land, most homeowners who order custom kitchen cabinets add one or two built-ins in the same project, so the finish, hardware and proportions match across the house.

In Katy, built-ins typically run $4,000–$20,000 each. In The Woodlands, built-ins, mudroom systems and primary closets typically run $5,000–$25,000 each.

What custom cabinet and built-in projects have we finished?

Custom mudroom built-ins in Katy (2025): bench seating with hidden storage, individual cubbies for four kids and a dog wash station for a Cinco Ranch family. About $22,000, 4 weeks.
Custom inset cabinetry kitchen in Memorial (2024): fully custom inset cabinetry in painted hardwood for a 1970s Memorial Villages renovation, with a hidden pantry door, a custom range hood enclosure, brass hardware and integrated appliances. About $142,000, 14 weeks.
Whole-home refresh in Sugar Land (2024): a top-to-bottom remodel of a 3,200 sq ft Sweetwater home that included custom built-ins in the office and the primary closet.

Custom, semi-custom or stock: which cabinets fit a Houston kitchen?

Stock ($4,000–$10,000 for a 10-cabinet kitchen): pre-built standard sizes. Fine for rentals and tight budgets.
Semi-custom ($8,000–$25,000): built to order in ½-inch increments, with more finishes. Works for many standard layouts.
True custom ($25,000–$60,000): built to your exact dimensions in any door style and finish. Best when the layout has awkward gaps, you want a specific door style, or the home has character that off-the-shelf boxes won't match.

A common way to save: custom on the main run and the island, semi-custom or stock in the butler's pantry or laundry. The custom cabinets cost guide breaks down every price factor.

How long do custom cabinets take in Houston?

Most custom cabinets take 6–10 weeks from order to delivery, then 1–2 days to install a typical kitchen. Cabinets are almost always the longest lead item in a kitchen remodel, so we order them first and do demo, plumbing, electrical and prep while they're being built. Larger projects with built-ins beyond the kitchen run longer. The kitchen remodel timeline shows where cabinets fall week by week, and the remodel planning checklist covers what to decide before you order.

What holds up in Houston humidity?

Box construction first. ¾-inch plywood boxes, dovetailed all-wood drawer boxes, soft-close slides and Blum or Hettich hinges. Cheap cabinets are the first thing to fail in Houston humidity.
Painted or stained. Both last decades with proper prep. Painted finishes show wear sooner at drawer edges but are easy to touch up. Stained hardwood hides wear better. For family kitchens we often suggest painted perimeter cabinets with a stained island.
Popular looks. Painted shaker in white, off-white or soft greige is the most-requested style across Houston. Inset is the premium upgrade, most common in Memorial, River Oaks and West University remodels.

Cabinetry is usually part of a kitchen remodel, and design is included in every project. McKelvey Designs is family-owned since 1991 and a NARI member. Get a free in-home consultation or call (281) 499-0581.

How does our custom cabinetry process work?

Design consultation — Measure the space, discuss door style, finish, layout, and storage needs.
Shop drawings & quote — Detailed elevations showing every cabinet, dimensions, hardware, and finish.
Build & install — Cabinets are built, delivered, and installed by our crew — with on-site adjustments to ensure perfect fit.

Where do we offer custom cabinetry?

Custom Cabinetry in The Woodlands, TX
Custom Cabinetry in Katy, TX
Custom Cabinetry in Sugar Land, TX
Remodeling in Houston, TX
Remodeling in Cypress, TX
Remodeling in Memorial, TX
Remodeling in Bellaire, TX
Remodeling in West University, TX
Remodeling in River Oaks, TX
Estimate your budget with the remodel cost calculator, then work through the remodel planning checklist.

What do Houston remodeling numbers show?

The median owner-occupied home in the City of Houston is valued at $277,800, and 42.1% of homes are owner-occupied, per the U.S. Census Bureau's QuickFacts (American Community Survey, 2020–2024).
In Houston, a midrange minor kitchen remodel averages $28,300 and recoups 106.1% of its cost at resale, according to the Remodeling 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com).
In Houston, a midrange major kitchen remodel averages $81,521 and recoups 46.8% of its cost at resale, per the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do custom cabinets cost in Houston?: Custom kitchen cabinetry in Houston ranges from $15,000 for a small kitchen with painted shaker doors up to $60,000+ for a large kitchen with inset doors, specialty finishes, and custom built-ins. Expect 30–40% of a kitchen remodel budget to go to cabinets.
Custom vs semi-custom vs stock cabinets — what's the difference?: Stock cabinets are pre-built in standard sizes. Semi-custom allows modifications in ½-inch increments and limited finishes. True custom cabinets are built to your exact dimensions, in any door style, finish, and interior configuration — fitted like furniture to your space.
What door styles do you offer?: Shaker (most popular), inset (traditional, premium look), frameless European (modern), flat-panel, Shaker with beaded inset, and custom profiles. We match historic homes or modernize with clean lines.
Painted vs stained — which holds up better in Houston?: Both last decades with proper prep. Painted finishes show wear sooner at pinch points (drawer edges) but are easy to touch up. Stained hardwoods hide wear better and age gracefully. For a family kitchen, we often recommend painted perimeter cabinets with a stained island for contrast.
Do you refinish or just build new?: Both. If the cabinet boxes are solid wood and in good shape, refacing (new doors + drawer fronts + veneer on boxes) is often 50-70% the cost of new. We'll tell you honestly whether your existing cabinets are worth saving.
What's the lead time for custom cabinets?: 6–10 weeks from order to delivery for most projects. This drives the overall kitchen remodel schedule — we order cabinets first so demo and rough-in can happen while they're being built.
How much do custom built-ins cost in Houston?: Most custom built-ins, such as a mudroom, home office or primary closet, run $4,000–$20,000 each in Katy and $5,000–$25,000 each in The Woodlands, depending on size and finish. Our Cinco Ranch mudroom with bench seating, cubbies for four kids and a dog wash station was about $22,000 and took 4 weeks.
Do you build custom built-ins beyond the kitchen?: Yes. We build mudroom systems, home office cabinetry, primary closet systems, walk-in pantry built-ins, bar areas, entertainment walls and outdoor kitchen storage. In Sugar Land, most clients who order custom kitchen cabinets add one or two built-ins to the same project so the finish and hardware match across the home.