6 min readYour kitchen cabinets are the most visible—and most used—features in your kitchen, right behind your countertops. They set the tone for the entire space, and they determine how well it actually functions day to day. The right cabinets can streamline your routine and improve resale value. But the wrong ones can leave you with awkward layouts and a costly renovation regret. In other words, getting your cabinets from one of the best kitchen cabinet brands is one of the smartest investments you can make.
New York-based interior designer Nina Lichtenstein says the first step with any cabinet purchase is to evaluate your priorities. Materials, size, storage—which of these is most crucial to you?
“Upper cabinets are perfect for lightweight items like glassware, dishes, and spices. Use these for items you access frequently. Lower cabinets are for storing heavy items like pots, pans, mixing bowls, and small appliances,” Lichtenstein says. “Consider pullout shelves to make access easier. Pantry cabinets are tall cabinets that are great for pantry staples, dry goods, and even broom or cleaning supply storage. Lastly, freestanding cabinets can serve as stylish accent pieces for showcasing decorative items or storing less frequently used serving ware.”
That’s quite a lot to consider, so we did the grunt work for you. Below, you’ll find over a dozen excellent home brands to source your new cabinets from. Whether you need something quick-ship and freestanding, or you’re ready to splurge on striking metal finishes, we’ve got you covered. Ready to upgrade your kitchen storage in a highly stylized way?
Jump to:
- Best for Customer Satisfaction: IKEA
- Best for First-Time Renovations: KraftMaid
- Best Designer-Approved Cabinets: Stoffer Home Cabinetry
- Best Luxury Cabinet Brand: St. Charles New York
- Best Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets: CliqStudios
- Best Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets: Frontgate
- Best Freestanding Cabinets: Crate & Barrel
- Best Quick-Ship Kitchen Cabinets: Amazon
Best Unique Cabinet Finishes: Unique Kitchens & Baths
The product is in the name: Unique Kitchens and Baths. The talented designers, brought together by firm founder and famous kitchen designer Tanya Smith-Shiflett, create spaces that radiate timelessness. They utilize high-quality natural materials, specialized finishes, and more to produce the completely bespoke cabinetry, all of which is built in the U.S. If you want to get a better sense of the brand's look, check out any of their showrooms, which are scattered across the country, from California to Maryland.
Best Wooden Cabinets: Fabuwood
Like several firms on our carefully curated list, Fabuwood is all about custom design so that your kitchen becomes a reflection of your own personal taste and style, so what you find in your culinary sanctuary won't ever look exactly like what anyone else's does. The main material, wood, may be in the brand's name, but the experts at Fabuwood can build just about anything, so feel free to get creative.
Best British Heritage Brand: Plain English
Plain English is a beloved, iconic British brand that finally launched custom cabinet work in the United States in 2016. It’s a great option for you if you love color, as the brand is known for its bold, rich-but-livable hues (purple cabinets, anyone?). Oh, and all of Plain English’s cabinets are traditionally hand-made, too.
Best for Customer Satisfaction: IKEA
It should come as no surprise that your go-to one-stop shop for affordable homewares is also one of the top places to buy the best kitchen cabinets. According to a 2021 report by J.D. Power—which surveyed more than 1,600 customers who had bought kitchen cabinets within the year—IKEA’s Sektion cabinet system ranked the second-highest in overall satisfaction.
The ranking was based on five different features: design elements, operational performance, ordering and delivery, price, and warranty. The Sektion system can also be customized with dozens of different door styles, drawer fronts, hardware, and interior organizers, and you can install it yourself or have IKEA handle it for you.
Best for First-Time Renovations: KraftMaid
Another J.D. Power survey winner, KraftMaid came in third for overall customer satisfaction with kitchen cabinets, so you know it’s a good option based on reviews. Plus, they’re accessible; you can purchase KraftMaid cabinets through Lowe’s or The Home Depot, meaning you can schedule an appointment at your local store for a consultation to set up your perfect kitchen. Overall, KraftMaid has tons of styles and color options to choose from, so you’re sure to find something you’ll love.
Best Designer-Approved Cabinets: Stoffer Home Cabinetry
There’s nothing quite like being able to buy your kitchen cabinets straight from an interior designer, and at Stoffer Home Cabinetry, you can do just that. Stoffer Home offers a line of English-style flush-inset cabinets that can be made in four wood finishes and dozens of different paint colors—all carefully curated, of course—and customers can work with a designer on the team to tailor their kitchen to their needs.
Best Metalwork Cabinetry: Waterworks
Waterworks is best known for its classic American bath fittings, but the brand expanded to kitchens some years ago and created an entire cabinetry line. Its kitchen cabinet options include four collections and can be customized to fit your style. Where the brand really shines is its metalwork cabinetry, which features shining hardware to turn your storage into a striking finish.
Best Luxury Cabinet Brand: St. Charles New York
As an 80+ year-old brand, St. Charles has long been associated with luxury. Several years ago, the brand launched its first-ever pre-designed kitchen models that can be tailored to individual clients. Designer Karen Williams told House Beautiful that the goal of this launch was “to take the guesswork out of it by offering custom personalization that would deliver foolproof results and unparalleled luxury.” Perhaps the best part of the collections is the storage and organization options offered—the key is custom drawer liners showing where everything should go.
Best Comprehensive Kitchen Design: Bilotta
Bilotta, which has been around since 1955 when it started as a residential construction company, makes custom kitchens in two different styles: classic and contemporary. The brand’s products are all handcrafted, and along with kitchen cabinets, it also works on bathrooms and other custom rooms.
Best Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets: CliqStudios
If you're looking for inspiration, CliqStudios has a wide portfolio of client kitchen renovations available on its site. It’s an immersive experience while shopping and narrowing down your customizations. The brand creates ready-to-assemble pieces with many specifications available, like colors, finishes, and styling.
If you’re not sure you’re ready to take on a DIY project, CliqStudios’s team will also video chat and walk you through the process, giving you an in-store demo without you leaving your home! You can evaluate the design and cost, visualize your floor plan, and choose a style appropriate to your home’s aesthetic.
Best Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets: Frontgate
If you are a Frontgate fan, you may be surprised to find it on a list of kitchen cabinets, but their specialty isn’t indoors. Frontgate has a massive outdoor furniture collection, and that includes kitchen cabinets for your outdoor entertaining. The brand’s options range from moisture-wicking teak to rust-resistant aluminum, so it’ll hold up to the elements. Full disclosure: The selection is not massive, but it is attractive. Most are modular, so you can mix, match, and build your perfect outdoor kitchen setup.
Most Cabinet Variety: RTA Cabinet Store
Unlike some of the other retailers on our list, which sell more than just cabinets, RTA Cabinet Store does not, which means there are tons and tons of options to consider, and you are bound to find something that suits your space. When shopping, you'll notice that there are two categories to choose between: custom and assembled cabinets, so make your choice depending on the scope of your project.
Best Freestanding Cabinets: Crate & Barrel
Crate & Barrel is more famous for its myriad sofa designs and smaller kitchen wares than it is for cabinets, but there are a few on offer, and they're all beautiful standalone pieces. So, if you're looking for display storage for your most precious porcelain, or a glossy bar cabinet primed for entertaining, this is the spot. Take a peek at what Crate & Barrel has to offer.
Best Quick-Ship Kitchen Cabinets: Amazon
You may not be able to get one-of-a-kind custom cabinets here, but you can snag ready-to-ship high-quality ones that can arrive on your doorstep within two days. Plus, if you’re into DIY, you can always rework them (read: paint the doors and swap out hardware) yourself.
