What sets the price of custom kitchen cabinets from China?
Reviewed by Bo, Project Manager at NOVARTE · Updated
The seven choices that move the price of a custom kitchen made in China, how to compare quotations like for like, and how to request a budget for your own plans.
The practical answer
The price of a custom kitchen from China is set mainly by the carcass board (particle board or plywood), the door finish (melamine, PET, fluted, lacquer or veneer), the hardware brand (DTC or Blum), the cabinet run in linear metres, non-standard depths, the benchtop, and what the quote includes beyond ex-works supply. Send your plans to discuss a room-by-room budget range with our team.
How kitchens are measured and priced
Factory quotations price base, wall and tall cabinets per linear metre of run, and wardrobes per square metre of front (width × height). The rate normally includes the carcass, standard doors, edge banding, hinges, drawer runners and handles. Benchtops, appliances, sinks and taps are listed separately. Measuring conventions differ: confirm whether base, wall and tall runs are combined or counted separately before comparing quotations.
Seven choices that move the price
| Choice | Options | Effect on price |
|---|---|---|
| Carcass board | ENF-grade particle board or plywood | Plywood costs more than particle board |
| Door finish | Melamine, PET, fluted, lacquer (2-pac), timber veneer | PET is close to melamine; fluted, lacquer and veneer cost noticeably more |
| Board pattern | Solid colours, standard woodgrain, synchronised or textured grain | Premium grains and textures cost more on the same board |
| Hardware | DTC or Blum hinges, drawers and lift systems | Blum costs more; the gap grows with the number of drawers |
| Cabinet depth | Standard up to 620 mm, or deeper | Each extra 100 mm of depth adds cost |
| Benchtop | Standard quartz, premium quartz or sintered stone, stainless steel | Material, fabrication and destination compliance change the cost |
| Supply scope | Ex-works, FOB or delivered; with or without installation | Freight, import costs and installation are separate lines |
Three material tiers
Any tier can take any door finish. Ask for the tier and the finish to be stated on every quotation so you can compare like for like.
- Premium: plywood carcass with Blum hardware.
- Standard: ENF-grade particle board with Blum hardware.
- Value: ENF-grade particle board, or honeycomb aluminium board, with DTC hardware.
How to compare quotations
- Check that the cabinet run in metres is the same on each quote.
- Check the carcass board, board grade, door finish and hardware brand by name.
- Check whether benchtops, end panels, kickboards, lighting and accessories are included.
- Check the trade term: ex-works Foshan, FOB or delivered.
- Check who measures the site and who installs.
Local prices in Australia for reference
For third-party local context only, The Quote Yard’s 2026 NSW table lists made-to-measure laminate cabinetry at AUD 1,100–1,700 per linear metre and two-pack cabinetry at AUD 1,800–3,200. These are Australian market references, not NOVARTE prices; confirm the local quote’s inclusions. When you compare an imported kitchen with these figures, add sea freight, GST and customs clearance, local delivery and installation to the factory price.
Get a budget for your own plans
Send a floor plan, elevations or renderings on WhatsApp. We list every cabinet by room in metres or square metres, then discuss a budget range based on the information available. We confirm the next steps after reviewing your scope. An itemised quotation follows once dimensions, finishes and hardware are confirmed.
Sources
Common questions
Can I get a price without drawings?+
Yes, as a range. Send the room size and a photo or sketch with the cabinet layout. Drawings give a tighter budget, and final production needs confirmed dimensions.
Do your prices include shipping?+
Quotations are ex-works Foshan unless agreed otherwise. We can arrange packing, container consolidation and sea freight and show those costs separately.
What boards do you use?+
Our standard carcass is 18 mm moisture-resistant particle board with double-sided melamine in ENF grade, the lowest formaldehyde class under China's GB/T 39600 standard. Plywood carcasses are available in the premium tier.