The Only Kitchen Cabinet Makers You Should Consider

So you're thinking about getting new kitchen cabinets in your home, but you want to make sure they're quality. After all, if you're going to do it, then you should do it right. We've scouted for the best cabinet makers currently out there, and put a list together for you. But first, let's talk a little about what makes a high quality cabinet. According to Simply Kitchens, the first thing you're going to look for is quality, solid plywood, rather than those made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or particleboard. MDF is sensitive to moisture and heat, whereas solid wood cabinets are not. Then, you'll want to look for dovetail joints in the drawers, and full-extension glides. Next, check the inside cabinet panel for solid wood frames that should be in one piece, and of the same finish. You're also going to need to check out the underside of the cabinets for I-beams securing the cabinet box. The best kind of cabinets have ½ inch plywood stretchers.

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing says to look for soft-close hinges on the cabinet doors, which are the best closing fixtures. Also it advises checking the strength of the back panel, making sure it's solid and at least ⅜ inches thick. And finally, check the interior for a light coating that's likely melamine, which is designed to keep moisture out and make them easier to clean. Be sure they come with a good warranty. According to CliqStudios, kitchen cabinets run from $2,500 to $24,000, with an average of between $4,000 and $13,000. However, custom cabinets can cost from $12,500 to well over $30,000 — a significant investment! Before you choose your kitchen cabinet style, check out these top cabinetry brands. Keep in mind, this list is in no particular order. 

Canyon Creek Cabinet Company, according to their website, offers several options in materials and a good quality cabinets. Besides wood cabinets, they have textured laminate, high gloss, super matte, laminate, and metal. Not quite the caliber of StarMark, Canyon Creek has the dovetail joints and the full-extension glides, but cabinet boxes are made from particleboard or laminate, with plywood options available. Their cabinets are semi-custom, and they're known for their modern, European-style frameless cabinets that can make maximum use of small spaces. They also carry more traditional style framed cabinets, and have plenty of selections to customize your order. The company has been in business for over 40 years and primarily serves the West Coast, as they're headquartered in Washington. They have a warranty but it's not lifetime, and their prices are said to be reasonable.

According to Kitchen Reviews, 100% of customers would recommend them and give 5-star ratings, though it's worth noting that was only based on three reviews. The reviews were from completely different areas, including Colorado, Pennsylvania, and British Columbia. Two of the people had cabinets from the Millenia collection, and all mentioned longevity as a notable feature. Angi shows 17 reviews, and although the majority were 4 to 5 stars, there were a few 1-star ratings. The lower ratings were mostly from customers who had been battling with small mistakes (which seem to be common with kitchen cabinets), as well as frustrating shipping issues that can cause a remodeling project to take much longer than expected. The reviews overall were still overwhelmingly positive, and they remain a trusted cabinetmaker.

Signature Custom Cabinetry is one of those names in cabinets that you just associate with excellence. Their reputation precedes them, so to speak! On their website, they list their values as people, integrity, quality, innovation, competency, and performance. Their products come with a (limited) lifetime warranty, and their cabinets are in fine homes everywhere. For their story, however, we go to Cox Kitchens and Baths, who did a focus piece on Signature. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, there were three Martin brothers who had been taught by their grandfather how to craft wood furniture, and decided to start Signature Custom Cabinetry in 1989. They started in one of the brother's garages, but grew quickly and now have 55,000 square feet manufacturing space and 150 employees. Their cabinets use fine hardwoods and a unique French dovetail joinery, coupled with the highest quality glide system.

Going back to Main Line Kitchen Design and their rating system, Signature Custom Cabinetry has one of the highest rankings. A price point of 5 means higher in price, but a quality score of A+ and a value score of A+ makes this cabinetmaker stand out from the rest. Looking at further reviews on Birdeye, most are from Facebook and they are overwhelmingly positive, with a few bad ones related to shipping issues. Signature received a 4.2 out of 5 star rating. 

In a Google review, a contractor named Eric Sorensen wrote, "Signature is clearly a company that practices the highest moral and ethical principles of business as is written in their mission statement." Sorensen, who had 40 years experience in cabinetry industry, used Signature as his supplier, and stressed he gained nothing for his review. This company is top-notch.

Next on our list of cabinet makers to consider is KraftMaid Cabinetry, whose name appears often on lists of top cabinet brands. Their website tells us they've been in business for over five decades, and their quality standards are high. They use ¾ inch solid wood drawer construction, and dovetail joints on all four sides. Furthermore, they use Whisper Touch hinges and drawer runners, and full extension glides that can handle up to 90 pounds. They also use ¾ inch face frames and shelves, and ½ inch panels, as well as having I-beam sturdy framing construction. In addition, they use a process called DuraKraft Plus Finish System, a two-layer coat of protection that helps prevent scuffs or marks, and makes cleaning easy.

First, KraftMaid is on the DWELL44 list of 6 of the best brands in kitchen cabinetry. They're on several lists like these, but reviews are mixed. On Kitchen Cabinets Reviews, the company scores a 4.6 out of 10 stars possible. After reading many of the reviews, it's honestly a bit difficult to evaluate fairly. The bad ones complain of damaged items and customer service nightmares, while the good ones talk about how wonderful the company is and how great they were about straightening any problems out. One thing that may make this maker more appealing to many consumers is that they are available to order through places like Lowe's and Home Depot, as well as design showrooms. They are somewhat less expensive than some of the others we discuss, as well.

Brighton Cabinetry makes a wonderful choice as well, offering multiple different wood choices, like red oak, cherry, maple, walnut, red birch, rustic alder, hickory, and quarter sawn white oak — just to name a few. Limited lifetime warranty is offered for all products, and they even have a copy of the warranty on their website for complete transparency. They boast over 1,000 combinations of door styles, finishing options, and woods. This company values the environment as well, with a statement on the website about their commitment to use products from sustainable sources and from other environmentally considerate businesses. The company is headquartered in Neoga, Illinois and serves the Midwest and the East Coast primarily.

Looking at customer satisfaction, Kitchen Cabinets Reviews has just one review that is fairly detailed, and is 10 out of 10 stars. These reviews ask customers to rate things like durability, finish, custom options, price, quality and warranty. The next spot we looked at is KitchensRated, where they give Brighton an A+ rating. However, there are just four reviews and they're mixed, two good and two bad. The negative comments both had to do with extended shipping time and frustration with customer service issues related to that. For further reference, Main Line Kitchen Design gives a price point of 4, so they're a little more reasonably priced, with a quality grade of A and a value grade of A+.

We wanted to round out this list with a cabinetmaker that delivers good quality at a great price, since many of the others are a bit on the expensive side. Let's face it, kitchen cabinets are quite expensive no matter how you look at it, so is there a brand that gives quality work for less? 21st Century Cabinetry – founded in 2005 and headquartered in New Jersey — may be the answer. They're a wholesale cabinet supplier, so you can purchase them from multiple places and dealers throughout the entire country. Every cabinet is made with solid maple wood, soft close hinges on cabinets, and drawer glides with dovetail joints. Delivery on orders is fast, with most orders leaving the warehouse within one to five days.

Another great thing about 21st Century Cabinetry is the reviews. Angi shows them at 4.8 out of 5 stars, with all customers giving glowing reports about craftsmanship and good quality. A couple of people mentioned that for the price, the cabinets can't be beat. Our standby Main Line Kitchen Design gives this company a price point of 1 (the lowest and most reasonable prices), a quality grade of A, and a value grade of A-. These are excellent marks, so if you're looking for great quality cabinets at a reasonable price, 21st Century Cabinetry fits the bill. 

We hope you found this list helpful. Now, let us leave you with a bit of humor: What did the cabinetmaker do when he got cold? He cupboard himself, of course!