Common Cabinet Materials

What it is: Light- to medium-toned hardwoods, such as maple (shown) and birch. Oak, which has a slightly coarser grain, is also an affordable option.

Pros: Thanks to their strength and uniform grains, these popular varieties take paint well. Maple and oak mellow in color as they age.

Cons: Birch and maple may not absorb stains as evenly as midrange and expensive woods.

Cost: Averages $2,350 for a 10-by-10-foot room (stock). Semicustom rooms range from $2,500 to $9,000; custom, from $7,200 to $10,000.

What it is: Hardwoods with a pronounced grain, such as hickory (shown).

Pros: This type of wood is very dense and extremely strong and comes in a range of colors, from cream to reddish brown.

Cons: Some cuts are fairly uniform in tone, while others are not; one piece may contain several variations of the same color. But you can use a midtone stain to smooth out discrepancies.

Cost: Around $2,500 or more for a 10-by-10-foot room (stock).

What it is: Premium hardwoods, such as cherry (shown) and walnut, known for their smooth grains.

Pros: It’s hard and durable.

Cons: Cherry darkens as it ages, and walnut lightens over time, so consider this when coordinating the cabinetry with other finishes.

Cost: Cherry and walnut are among the priciest species. Cherry costs about 10 to 15 percent more than midrange woods. Walnut can be twice as expensive as cherry.

What it is: Layers of paper topped with plastic, then glued to plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

Pros: A ubiquitous cabinet material, laminate is affordable and comes in seemingly endless color and pattern options, from hot pink to polka dots. It’s a great choice if you want to redo your kitchen or bathroom in a flash.

Cons: Door fronts come in slab styles only. It is prone to scratching.

Cost: $1,540 to $2,000 for a 10-by-10-foot room (stock).

What it is: Metal cabinets built with a sleek, frameless construction (the doors are attached directly to the cabinet box).

Pros: It is durable and won’t warp like wood. Colors include industrial silver and powder-coated red, green, and orange.

Cons: Stainless scratches and dents easily and shows fingerprints (unless it’s powder-coated).

Cost: $3,330 to $5,900 for a 10-by-10-foot room (stock).

What it is: A thin layer of vinyl molded to MDF.

Pros: It doesn’t warp, so it’s ideally suited to humid environments. Thermofoil cleans in a snap with soap and water and is competitively priced.

Cons: Since it looks more like plastic or enamel, you won’t fool anyone into thinking it’s wood. Cabinets positioned next to or above a hot oven can sometimes peel or yellow.

Cost: $2,000 to $2,700 for a 10-by-10-foot room (stock).