How Much Does a Custom Kitchen Cost? What Actually Drives the Price

"How much does a custom kitchen cost?" is the first question we hear at the showroom — and the only honest answer is: it depends on your choices. Two kitchens with identical dimensions can differ in price by a factor of two, purely through materials and appliances. But "it depends" doesn't help you plan a budget. So in this article we'll walk through the factors that actually determine the price, so that when you receive a quote — from our custom kitchens or anywhere else — you can read it with open eyes.

Linear metres: the basis of every calculation

Kitchens are measured in linear metres — the length of cabinetry along the wall, counting base and wall units. A one-wall apartment kitchen typically runs 2.5–3.5 linear metres; an L-shaped kitchen 4–6; an island kitchen can exceed 7. More metres means more material, more hardware and more hours of work. But beware: two well-planned metres with proper drawers and mechanisms are worth more than four metres of empty shelves.

Doors: where the price moves most

Kitchen carcases (the part you don't see) are almost always built from quality melamine or moisture-resistant MDF — there's no room to economise here, because kitchen humidity bankrupts weak materials. The big price difference comes from the doors:

• Quality melamine — the most economical option, with wood textures that are genuinely convincing today and a good lifespan.
• MDF with PVC foil — a step up; allows shaped and profiled doors, resistant to moisture.
• Matt or gloss lacquer — today's most requested look; as a general rule it costs significantly more than melamine, because every door is sprayed and cured individually.
• Natural veneer or solid wood — top of the range; no two doors are identical.

If the budget is tight, a smart combination — lacquer only on the most visible doors, melamine inside and on the sides — delivers a premium look without the premium price.

The worktop

From laminate to natural stone, the worktop can be the second-largest line on your quote. Modern laminate is far better than its reputation; quartz and granite cost several times more but shrug off heat and scratches for decades. A practical rule: if you cook daily, invest in the worktop and save on the doors — not the other way round.

Mechanisms and internal fittings

This is where the difference hides between a kitchen that looks good on day one and a kitchen that works well in year ten. Soft-close hinges and runners, steel drawer systems rated for heavy loads, corner mechanisms (carousels, magic-corner systems), integrated bins — each adds to the price, but these are the parts you use a hundred times a day. In cheap quotes, this is exactly where the hidden saving is made. Always ask: what brand are the hinges and runners?

Appliances

The oven, hob, extractor, dishwasher and integrated fridge can account for a third to a half of a complete kitchen's total cost. We offer both routes: appliances supplied by us, or a kitchen built precisely around appliances you buy yourself. What matters is that the dimensions are known before production — not after.

How to read a quote

• Check that the quote specifies carcase and door materials separately — "MDF" with no details tells you nothing.
• Ask for the brand of the mechanisms — a no-name hinge today is a sagging door tomorrow.
• Clarify what installation includes: plumbing and electrical hook-ups, appliance fitting, transport.
• Ask for the warranty in writing — not verbal promises.
• Compare quotes on identical materials — otherwise you're comparing apples with pears.

Why we don't quote prices without seeing the space

Because they would be wrong prices. A wall with a column, a sloped ceiling, a gas pipe that needs concealing — each changes the design and the cost. That's why our process starts with a free measurement at your home and continues with a free 3D design with the full itemised price. Our quote comes with no obligation — take it, compare it with anyone, and decide calmly. And if your bedroom or wardrobe needs the same approach, have a look at our fitted wardrobes and bespoke bedrooms too.

Let's price it together

The fastest way to get an accurate price is a visit to our showroom at Km 8 of the Tirana–Durrës highway, where you can touch every material — or write to us on WhatsApp with rough dimensions and a few photos. The measurement, the 3D design and the full quote are free.