Wholesale vs Big Box Store Kitchen Cabinets: Which To Buy?

So, it's time to redo your kitchen. But as you shop around for cabinets, you have a choice to make. Should you go with wholesale or big box store cabinets? Sure, you might have seen some cheap prices at Home Depot, but are cabinets from big box stores worth it?

We'll compare quality, price, customer service, and design selection between these two kitchen cabinet options. If you're ready to price out a certain color or design, check out our selection of RTA kitchen cabinets and pre-assembled kitchen cabinets

Overview Comparison

Before we get into the details, here's an overview of the main differences you'll find between kitchen cabinets from big box stores and wholesale providers.

Build Quality

One of the most important aspects of cabinet design is the build quality. There's a huge range of different materials and techniques on the market today. Generally speaking, big box stores occupy the range from low quality to medium-high quality. Wholesalers stay away from low-quality materials and usually only offer high quality cabinets.

You can judge quality by the wood type, hardware, and construction techniques used. Low-quality cabinets use particleboard or fiberboard for construction, which is made from sawdust and wood fibers. The end result is a piece of material that's sturdy enough, but it can soak up water like a sponge over time and expand. The lifespan of these cabinets is measured in the single digits. They aren't the best long-term solution.

Low-quality hardware includes standard hinges that don't have a soft-close feature or six-way adjustability. Lower quality base cabinets will have side-mounted drawer slides without soft-close capability, as well.

Good quality cabinets use plywood instead of fiberboard for cabinet construction. Plywood is made from layers of real wood. It lasts much longer plus it doesn't split or crack when you make new holes for hardware. Wholesale cabinets also come with upgraded soft-close hardware that is hidden from view. Drawers use sturdy dovetail joinery, which isn't usually offered by big box stores.

Price

At first glance, it might seem like a big box store offers cheaper cabinets than online cabinet stores. However, you have to compare apples to apples. Let's take IKEA for example. People tend to love IKEA cabinets and appreciate that they are also very cheap. But there's a reason they are cheap.

The cabinet boxes are made with particleboard and finished in paint or colored plastic. Basic hardware also contributes to the low price. If you compare big box store prices on cabinets that use all-plywood boxes, good hardware, and dovetail drawer joinery, they will often be more expensive than wholesale cabinets from online stores like Kitchen Cabinet Kings.

Big box stores also have to pay for massive advertising, physical locations, and staff. That cost is passed on to customers. Low priced cabinets are therefore usually made from cheaper materials that wouldn't necessarily last 10 or 20 years in your home.

Customer Service

In terms of customer service, wholesale stores have big box stores beat. We're talking about stores like Lowe's and IKEA. These stores sell thousands and thousands of products. They sell kitchen cabinets, but they don't specialize in a single product. Since their customer service staff needs to know about so many different areas, the person that answers your phone call might not be able to answer your questions with expertise.

Also, certain stores have a reputation for long shipping times and unhelpful staff. Customers have had problems waiting for cabinets from IKEA for weeks and weeks. In some cases, the cabinets may arrive on time but the hardware will still be a month away. What good is a kitchen remodel without any hardware?

In contrast, when you call a wholesale cabinet company, you'll talk with a specialist who can help you decide between different cabinet styles or pick out the right sizes. Cabinets are all they do, so that's what they know.

Design Selection

Design selection really depends on what you're going for and from which store. IKEA has just one RTA cabinet style available in various colors. Lowe's carries a handful of different styles in-stock, and Home Depot offers a bit more selection. If you go to semihandmade, you'll have more design options (but a heftier price tag).

Wholesale cabinet stores like KCK offer many more design options for the same price range. You can also get a range of accessories like moldings, decorative corbels, extra toe kicks, and filler pieces that ship with your order. Cabinet styles are available in three-inch width increments and a variety of different heights. In contrast, some big box stores only offer one or two height selections.

The Bottom Line

If you just want to redo your kitchen on a budget for now, or if you plan on renting out your home, big home improvement stores might get you by. However, if you want lasting construction and plenty of design options, check out wholesale RTA cabinet styles from Kitchen Cabinet Kings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best cabinets for the money?

Many people are satisfied with IKEA kitchen cabinets, but we wouldn't say the cabinets are the best quality themselves. IKEA cabinet quality is on the lower end of the spectrum.

What are RTA kitchen cabinets?

IKEA kitchen cabinets and hardware can cost between $1,200 and $3,000. If you add design, appliances, and the rest of the kitchen, an entire IKEA kitchen could cost between $10,000 to $15,000 or above.

Are RTA cabinets easy to assemble?

Yes, if you can build an IKEA shelf you can definitely build RTA cabinets. RTA cabinets from Kitchen Cabinet Kings come with pre-drilled holes and much of the hardware already attached. Plus, paper instructions and digital guides are easy to understand and follow. You just need a couple of basic tools like a screwdriver and rubber mallet. We've found it takes most people about 30 to 45 minutes to build the first cabinet and 15 to 20 minutes to build each of the remaining cabinets.

What is a 10x10 kitchen?

A 10x10 kitchen is the standard layout for pricing kitchen cabinets. The 10x10 model includes common cabinets you'd find in a kitchen of those dimensions along two adjacent walls, but it doesn't include molding or other accessories. The 10x10 kitchen includes base cabinets, corner cabinets, wall cabinets, and cabinets over the refrigerator, among others. It's mainly a way to compare prices online between different brands quickly.