Introduction
Sarah lives in Burritts Rapids. Recently, she opened her old kitchen cabinets for the last time. The shelves were bent and broken, showing her something important: cheap cabinets cost more money in the long run.
Ottawa homeowners spend $15,000 to $45,000 on custom kitchen cabinets for their Ottawa projects. This guide will help you understand what you need to know. You'll learn about materials and prices. You'll also learn how to pick the right person to build your cabinets.
We'll show you which wood types last longest in Ottawa's weather, you’ll find out what makes prices go up or down, and we'll teach you how to choose a good cabinet maker.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets Ottawa: Materials, Costs & Design Guide [2025]
Custom kitchen cabinets in Ottawa cost $800 to $1,400 per foot. Most kitchen cabinets cost from $15,000 to $45,000 total. The price depends on a few things.
Wood type changes the price. Maple and oak cost less. Cherry and walnut cost more. Better wood costs more money.
How they're built matters too. Better ways to build cost more. Shaker doors cost less than fancy designs.
Hardware also adds to the cost. Soft-close hinges and good drawer slides cost extra.
Semi-custom cabinets cost $400 to $800 per foot. Stock cabinets cost $150 to $400 per foot. But you get fewer choices with these.
Get pricing for your Ottawa kitchen → request a free custom quote
How Much Do Custom Kitchen Cabinets Cost in Ottawa?
You have three choices when buying new cabinets. Each one is different.
Custom cabinets are made just for your kitchen. You pick everything you want. They take 6 to 12 weeks to make. Custom cabinets fix tricky spaces. They work great in older Ottawa homes with crooked walls.
Semi-custom cabinets come in set sizes, but you can change some things about them. These arrive in 4 to 8 weeks. They work well for normal kitchens.
Stock cabinets are ready to buy right away. You pick from what they have. You can't change the sizes, so sometimes they don't fit perfectly. You might see gaps.
Custom cabinets make sense when you need special sizes. They help when you want cabinets that reach the ceiling, which gives you more storage space. They're also good for old houses.
We built cabinets in a Manotick kitchen. The room had a big beam in the middle. Custom cabinets wrapped around the beam, making the kitchen look fantastic. Stock cabinets would have left big gaps.
Custom vs. Semi-Custom vs. Stock Kitchen Cabinets
Ottawa has wet air all year. In spring, the humidity is about 49 percent. In winter, it goes over 70 percent. This wetness can hurt cabinet materials.
Plywood handles wetness better than MDF or particleboard. It has layers that overlap. These layers stop it from bending.1 Plywood stays straight for many years. If you live in rural Ottawa, plywood is a smart choice.
Wood types not only respond differently to moisture but also look different and last different amounts of time. Maple is easy to paint and hard to dent. Oak has lines in it that look beautiful. Cherry gets darker over time. Walnut is dark brown and has a modern look.
Five-piece doors let wood move without cracking. This type of door lasts longer when Ottawa's weather changes.
Special finishes make cabinets stronger. The toughest finish is called conversion varnish. It stops water, heat, and cleaning sprays better than a regular finish.
Best Materials for Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Ottawa's Climate
Cabinet makers measure your kitchen by the foot. Each foot has a price. The price depends on the options you choose.
Your money pays for these things:
Cabinet boxes
Doors and drawer fronts
Hinges and drawer slides
Workers who put them in
Paint or stain
Some extra costs may surprise you. Delivery to far places like Burritts Rapids or Oxford Mills costs more. Taking away old cabinets costs extra. New lights under cabinets require an electrician. Ask about these costs at your first meeting.
A $25,000 project gives you plywood boxes and real wood doors. You get soft-close hinges. Everything fits your kitchen perfectly.
A $15,000 project uses mixed materials. You get fewer custom parts. Some things come in standard sizes.
Most cabinet makers want three payments. You pay the first part when you say yes to the design. You pay the second part when the cabinets arrive. You pay the last part when everything is done.
Ready to talk about your project? → schedule a free design consultation
Understanding Custom Kitchen Cabinet Pricing in Ottawa
The Custom Kitchen Cabinet Design and Installation Process
Step 1 starts at your house. We measure every wall and ceiling. We look for things that may get in the way. This takes about an hour. You get a price estimate based on what you want.
Step 2 is making the design. We draw pictures of your cabinets. You look at them and tell us what to change. Most people need one or two changes. Then you say yes and pay the first payment.
Step 3 is building your cabinets. This takes 8 to 12 weeks. Workers cut wood to the right size. They build doors. They paint or stain everything, laying on many coats.
Step 4 is putting the cabinets in your kitchen. This takes 3 to 5 days. On day one, we take out the old cabinets. On days two and three, we put in the new boxes. On the last days, we add trim and handles.
Ottawa has some rules about kitchen projects that you should know. Big changes need a building permit. You might need to work with other people, like electricians. Spring and fall are busy times. If you live far out, we need space for our truck.
Smart storage helps your kitchen work better. Pull-out shelves fit in tight spots. Spice racks go inside doors. Lazy Susans make corner space easy to reach. Appliance garages hide your toaster and blender. You can also get a special cabinet for Ottawa's three bins.
Good hinges and slides matter because they are used every day. Blum hinges can open and close 200,000 times. That's many years of use. Drawer slides hide under the drawer. They hold more weight. Good parts work better for longer.
Ottawa people like these styles. Shaker cabinets look good for a long time. Two colors look nice together. Some people use dark cabinets on the bottom and light on top. Natural wood is popular too. Pick what you really like, because good cabinets will last you for many years.
Choosing Custom Cabinet Features and Hardware
Make sure the cabinet maker builds the cabinets themselves. They shouldn't send the work to someone else. Ask how they build cabinets. Ask what wood they suggest. Ask about their warranty. Get the names of people they've worked for in Ottawa. Ask about work in rural areas, too. When you look at custom kitchen cabinet services in Ottawa, find local cabinet makers who know what they're doing.
Watch out for bad signs. Some prices are way too low compared to others. Some people push you to sign right away. Some have no shop you can visit. Some contracts are not clear in their communication. Some have no insurance papers.
Look closely at their past work. Check if joints fit tightly. Check if the paint or stain looks smooth. Check if the cabinets are put in straight. Check the small details. Good cabinet makers are proud of their work.
Local Ottawa shops know our building rules. They know about our weather. They know how to deliver to far places. They help you faster and more efficiently than big stores with faraway call centers.
Pick a cabinet maker who listens to you. They should explain things in a way you understand.
How to Choose a Custom Cabinet Maker in Ottawa
Custom kitchen cabinets require smart choices. You need to pick the right materials. You need to understand prices. You need to find the right person to build them. Ottawa homeowners do well when they work with local cabinet makers. Local people know our weather and rules. They know how long things take.
Start by looking at pictures of past work. Set up meetings with a few cabinet makers. Compare what materials they offer. Ask how they build cabinets. Good custom cabinets fix your storage problems and add value to your home for a long time.
See custom kitchen cabinets we've built for Ottawa homes → View our cabinet portfolio or call (343) 549-1214.
Conclusion
Ready to Transform Your Ottawa Home?
Get a free quote from licensed general contractors with over 15 years of experience. We handle everything from design to final cleanup.