Cabinet Cost Estimation for Dummies - The Freelance Files MMXCIX

Cabinet estimation

We run across all sorts of strange notions as we patrol the internet looking for people to greedy to bother to think through their content. Most of the time this happens because the freelancer in question knows nothing, or next to nothing, about the topic in question. We think that's what happened with today's nominee, returning awardee Stephanie Mitchell. Mitchell apparently suffered a lapse in logic (that, or a lacuna in knowledge) as she wandered through the topic she'd picked out at eHow.com, "How to Calculate The Cost of Kitchen Cabinets."

Several staffers have been through this process, and they were all a bit taken aback at Mitchell's instructions. Before we get to that, though, let's tell you how it's done.

You start by measuring the length of the walls on which you'll install the cabinets, since the base price of cabinetry is the width. Measure both the length of floor cabinets and wall cabinets, since the two may not be equal – you may need to leave a space for a dishwasher, add length for an island in the middle of the room, or include a short cabinet above a refrigerator. Once you have the basic measurements, you decide on cabinet types - drawer units, sink cabinets, corner units with lazy susans, etc. Lumber choice, including use of MDF in drawers and shelves, has an influence on price; as does the style of doors and drawer fronts.

According to Stephanie, however, cabinets are priced by the square foot. Yep, she said to,

"Measure the width and height of each section of wall you plan to cover with cabinets. If you plan to install an island, measure the width and height of the planned island cabinets as well. Take your measurements in inches... Add all the widths together, then add all the heights together. Multiply the two sums to find the total cabinet area in square inches. Divide this amount by 144 to convert the measurement to square feet."

We kid you not: Mitchell actually thought that to calculate a price, you pick some styles and then,

"Multiply the total square feet of cabinets you plan to install by the price per square foot of each of the products you selected."

Is she out of it or what? Cabinets are sold by running width, not by square footage. Oh, sure, wall cabinets have different prices for 36-inch height vs. 42 inch, but try finding a floor cabinet that isn't 34 inches high...

No, Stephanie, even your one reference that actually goes through the estimation process didn't say jack about square footage of cabinets, only the linear measurements. And now you know why you're our Dumbass of the Day, cabinetry department.

DD - CABINETS