How Much to Install Cabinet Hardware? A Detailed Cost Analysis
Cabinet pulls and knobs may be small, but they have a huge impact on the style and usability of a kitchen, bath, or laundry room. The first question contractors often face is: how much to install cabinet hardware? Below, we outline the cost drivers, current price ranges, and the fastest way to generate an accurate, client-ready estimate.
The Quick Answer
Across the U.S., most professionals charge between $5 and $15 per opening for basic hardware plus $4 to $10 per opening for professional installation. This places the average complete cost at $9 – $25 per cabinet door or drawer. Multiply by 40–50 openings in a typical kitchen and you get $360 – $1,250. Projects in 2025 trend toward the mid-range: $580 for a 42-opening kitchen using mid-grade brushed nickel pulls.
Six Key Factors That Control Cabinet Hardware Costs
- Hardware Style & Finish – Designer pulls can cost ten times more than economy knobs.
- Quantity of Openings – Count every door and drawer; islands add 8–12 more.
- Cabinet Material – Solid hardwood is harder to drill than MDF and may increase labor.
- Layout Complexity – Blind corners, appliance panels, and stacked drawers add minutes per piece.
- Labor Rates – Urban markets command higher hourly rates than suburban or rural areas.
- Accuracy of Your Takeoff – Miscounts inflate budgets; AI-powered takeoffs eliminate guesswork.
Material Pricing Snapshot for 2025
Material databases are updated in real time, but at publication the following averages apply:
- Economy round knob (zinc): $1.05 – $1.55 each
- Mid-grade bar pull (brushed nickel): $4.25 – $6.75 each
- Designer pull (oil-rubbed bronze): $12.00 – $22.00 each
- Finishing screws, jigs, bits, touch-up: $0.35 – $0.60 per opening
Labor Benchmarks
- Marking and drilling template: 30–45 seconds per opening
- Mounting hardware and verifying alignment: 60–90 seconds
- Cleanup and client walkthrough: 10–15 minutes for the full kitchen
Multiply total minutes by your crew’s loaded hourly rate, then add travel and profit. Automation tools can streamline these calculations.
Pro Tips to Keep Cabinet Hardware Costs in Check
- Order 10% extra hardware to cover manufacturer defects and future replacements.
- Use a universal drilling jig to shave 20% off labor time and guarantee alignment.
- Suggest mid-grade pulls; they deliver style without designer markups.
- Batch similar projects to negotiate bulk pricing with suppliers.
- Re-use existing holes when swapping hardware of the same footprint.
Case Study: 72-Opening Retrofit
A Memphis remodeler needed to replace dated brass knobs with matte black pulls across 72 cabinet doors and drawers. The estimator simply walked the kitchen while narrating:
- “Seventy-two openings, matte black bar pulls, paint-grade cabinets.”
- Dimensions captured from a linked digital plan, auto-counting each opening.
- Live supplier feeds priced the selected pull at $5.89 each, screws included.
- Local labor rate was set at $68 per hour. Calculated 2.1 hours of install time based on complexity factors.
- Overhead and profit multipliers applied, generating a total cost of $912.17—all within three minutes.
After-Action Results
- The homeowner approved the quote on a tablet before the estimator left the driveway.
- Field crews used task sheets, complete with drill-point templates, finishing 24% faster than previous projects.
- Final invoice matched the estimate to the penny, boosting client trust and referral potential.
Additional Insights for Residential Pros
- Upsell opportunity: Offer soft-close hinge retrofits alongside hardware replacement.
- Change orders: If the client switches to a designer pull mid-project, update the estimate in seconds.
- Marketing edge: Showcase before-and-after photos to win future cabinetry jobs.
The bottom line: whether you’re bidding a 10-door mudroom or a 200-opening luxury build, delivering speed and accuracy is key. Book a live demo to enhance your quoting process.
