What Should a Kitchen Cabinet Quote Include?

By the MJC design team, Orlando. Updated November 2026.

Why does a detailed cabinet quote matter?

Two cabinet quotes for the same kitchen can describe very different jobs. One may include the countertop, demolition and installation, and the other may cover only the boxes dropped in your driveway. A single total at the bottom of a page hides those differences. A line-by-line quote shows what you are buying, what each choice costs and what happens if you change your mind.

The Better Business Bureau’s checklist for home improvement contracts makes the same point for any remodeling job: the type of work, the materials by manufacturer and brand name, the payment terms and the schedule should all be written down before work begins.

What should the cabinet section list?

• Every cabinet, with its size. Base, wall, tall and island cabinets, each with width, height and depth, or a drawing keyed to the list.
• Box material. The material of the sides, bottoms, backs and shelves, spelled out instead of a vague label like “premium box.”
• Door and drawer fronts. The door style, such as Shaker or flat panel, and the material of the fronts.
• Finish and color. Painted, stained or laminate, the color name and whether the cabinet interiors are finished too.
• Panels, fillers and trim. End panels, crown molding, light rail and toe kicks are easy to leave out and costly to add later.
• Interior accessories. Pull-outs, trash bins, spice racks, drawer dividers and pantry organizers, each named.

Which hardware and countertop details belong on the quote?

Hardware is where vague quotes hide the most. The quote should name the hinge type, say whether hinges and drawer slides close softly and whether drawers open all the way. Knobs and pulls should appear with their style and finish, or with an allowance if you have not chosen them yet.

If the countertop is included, look for the material, the color or slab name, the edge profile, the backsplash and every cutout for the sink and cooktop. A countertop marked “by others” means you hire and coordinate that work yourself.

What about installation, removal and delivery?

• Installation. Who installs and what it covers: leveling, scribing to uneven walls, mounting the hardware and adjusting the doors.
• Removal and disposal. Taking out the old cabinets and countertop and hauling them away. If it is not listed, assume it is not included.
• Delivery. Whether delivery to your home is included and who carries the cabinets inside.
• Related trades. Who disconnects and reconnects the sink, dishwasher and range, who handles any electrical work and whether the project needs a permit.

How should the schedule and payment terms appear?

A quote is not a contract, but it should already show how the project will run. Look for the main steps, such as design approval, final measurements, production, delivery and installation, with target dates or a target window for each. Lead times vary a lot between companies and between projects, so ask how each step is scheduled. Our guide on how long custom cabinets take explains what drives the timeline.

Payment terms should state how much is due at signing, what triggers each later payment and which payment methods are accepted. Payments tied to clear steps in the project protect both sides. The terms should also explain how design changes are priced once production starts, because a change on screen costs little and a change to a built cabinet does not.

What should a quote say it does not include?

Exclusions are the part of a quote people skip and later regret. A clear quote lists them in writing, for example:

• Plumbing and electrical work, appliance installation and gas connections
• Drywall repair and paint after the old cabinets come out
• Flooring that stops short of the new cabinet footprint
• Backsplash tile, lighting and new fixtures
• Repairs to water damage or subfloor found during demolition

Each exclusion is fine as long as you know about it and know who handles it. Surprises come from the lines nobody wrote down.

How do you compare two cabinet quotes fairly?

Line the quotes up item by item before you look at the totals. Check that both cover the same number of cabinets, the same box and door materials, the same hardware, the same countertop and the same installation scope. Then account for anything one quote includes and the other leaves out. A lower total often turns out to describe a smaller job. Our list of questions to ask a cabinet maker in Orlando helps you fill the gaps before you sign.

How MJC handles this

At MJC, the quote comes after the free 3D design, so the numbers describe a kitchen you have already seen on screen. You receive a detailed, transparent written quote with the costs presented line by line, before anything goes into production. Complete custom kitchens at MJC start at $15,000, and the final price depends on the size of the kitchen, the materials and the countertop. Our guide to custom kitchen cabinet costs in Orlando explains what moves that number.

Frequently asked questions