Choosing between semi-custom cabinets and custom cabinets is one of the biggest decisions in any kitchen remodel. Cabinets typically account for 30-40% of your total kitchen budget, so understanding what you get at each price point directly affects both the outcome of your project and the money left over for countertops, appliances, and finishes.
At Turan Designs, we have designed and installed both semi-custom and custom kitchen cabinets for homeowners across Peachtree City, Tyrone, Fayetteville, Newnan, and the greater Atlanta area for over 24 years. We have seen projects where semi-custom was the clear right choice and others where only full custom cabinetry could deliver the result the homeowner wanted. This guide gives you the detailed comparison you need to make that decision with confidence.
What Are Semi-Custom Cabinets?
Semi-custom cabinets start as factory-produced units built in standard sizes, but they offer a meaningful range of modifications. Unlike stock cabinets that come in fixed sizes and limited finishes, semi-custom lines let you adjust dimensions in small increments (typically 1/8" to 3" modifications), choose from dozens of door styles and finishes, and add interior accessories like pull-out shelves, spice racks, and soft-close hardware.
Manufacturers such as Kraftmaid, Yorktowne, and Medallion produce semi-custom cabinets on production lines that balance efficiency with flexibility. The cabinets are built to your specifications within the manufacturer's set parameters, then shipped to your home for installation.
Key characteristics of semi-custom cabinets:
- Factory-built with standardized construction methods
- Size modifications available within set ranges
- 40-80 door style options depending on manufacturer
- 20-50+ finish and stain options
- Interior accessories selected from a catalog
- Typical lead time of 4-8 weeks
What Are Custom Cabinets?
Custom cabinets are built from scratch by a cabinet shop to your exact specifications. Nothing is predetermined. Every dimension, material, joint, and detail is designed specifically for your kitchen. A skilled custom cabinet maker in Atlanta builds each box, door, and drawer to the precise measurements of your space.
This means a custom cabinet can be any size, any shape, and any configuration. Angled corners, curved panels, integrated appliance garages, furniture-style legs, and one-of-a-kind finishes are all on the table. If you can draw it, a good cabinet shop can build it.
Key characteristics of custom cabinets:
- Handcrafted in a local or regional cabinet shop
- Unlimited sizing, no dimensional restrictions
- Unlimited door styles including fully original designs
- Any wood species, finish, or paint color
- Interior accessories designed to your exact needs
- Typical lead time of 8-16 weeks
For a deeper look at what goes into custom cabinetry in the Atlanta market, see our detailed guide on custom cabinetry styles and costs.
Construction Quality Comparison
One of the most common questions we hear at our Tyrone showroom is whether custom cabinets are inherently better built than semi-custom. The honest answer is that it depends on the specific product and the specific shop. Here is how the two categories typically compare:
| Feature | Semi-Custom Cabinets | Custom Cabinets |
|---|---|---|
| Box material | 1/2" plywood or furniture board | 3/4" plywood (hardwood preferred) |
| Box joinery | Dado, staple, or cam-lock | Dovetail, mortise-and-tenon, dado |
| Drawer construction | 1/2" plywood or solid wood | 5/8"-3/4" solid hardwood dovetail |
| Drawer slides | Undermount soft-close (most lines) | Undermount soft-close or premium European |
| Hinges | Concealed soft-close | Concealed soft-close, often Blum or Hettich |
| Shelving | 3/4" adjustable, some plywood | 3/4" plywood, custom-fitted |
| Finish | Factory-sprayed catalyzed lacquer or paint | Hand-sprayed or hand-applied, conversion varnish |
| Back panel | 1/4" panel, typically stapled | 1/2"-3/4" panel, glued and pinned |
| Face frame | 3/4" solid hardwood | 3/4" solid hardwood, precision-fitted |
| Overall durability | 15-25 years before refacing/replacement | 25-50+ years with proper care |
Premium semi-custom lines have closed much of the quality gap in recent years. However, custom cabinets built by a reputable shop still offer a measurable advantage in material thickness, joinery strength, and long-term durability.
Cost Comparison: Semi-Custom vs Custom Cabinets
Cost is often the deciding factor, so let us break down what you can expect to spend in the Atlanta and Peachtree City market in 2026.
| Cost Category | Semi-Custom Cabinets | Custom Cabinets |
|---|---|---|
| Per linear foot (installed) | $200-$650/LF | $500-$1,200+/LF |
| Average 10x10 kitchen | $8,000-$16,000 | $18,000-$40,000+ |
| Average 12x14 kitchen | $12,000-$25,000 | $25,000-$55,000+ |
| Large/complex kitchen | $18,000-$35,000 | $40,000-$80,000+ |
These ranges reflect installed pricing including hardware and standard accessories. Countertops, backsplash, lighting, and appliances are separate.
A few factors that push costs toward the higher end of each range:
- Wood species. Cherry, walnut, and white oak cost more than maple or birch in both categories.
- Finish complexity. Glazing, distressing, and multi-step paint finishes add 15-25% to cabinet cost.
- Accessories. Pull-out pantries, lazy Susans, drawer organizers, and integrated lighting add up quickly.
- Kitchen layout. Irregular shapes, angles, and high ceilings require more custom work even with semi-custom lines.
For a complete picture of how cabinetry fits into your overall remodel budget, our Peachtree City kitchen remodel cost guide breaks down every category of spending.
Lead Times: How Long Will You Wait?
Lead time is the second most frequent question after cost, and it matters more than many homeowners realize when planning a remodel.
Semi-custom cabinets: 4-8 weeks from order to delivery. Most manufacturers quote 4-6 weeks for standard orders, with complex configurations or specialty finishes pushing toward 8 weeks. Holiday seasons and supply chain disruptions can extend timelines further.
Custom cabinets: 8-16 weeks from design approval to delivery. A custom shop needs time to source materials, build each component by hand, and apply finishing coats that require drying time between applications. Highly detailed projects with specialty hardware or imported materials can take 16-20 weeks.
Planning tip: Add 1-2 weeks for design revisions and approvals on either side, plus 1-2 weeks for installation. If you are remodeling for a specific deadline like a holiday gathering or home sale, work backward from that date to determine your order deadline.
Customization Options Side by Side
Understanding exactly what you can and cannot modify helps clarify which category fits your kitchen.
What semi-custom cabinets allow:
- Width adjustments in small increments (typically 3" range)
- Depth modifications on select models
- Choice from manufacturer's door style catalog
- Choice from manufacturer's finish catalog
- Interior accessories from a pre-set options list
- Decorative moldings and trim from catalog
- Standard and some specialty cabinet types (corner, pantry, appliance)
What only custom cabinets can deliver:
- Cabinets built to any exact dimension, down to 1/16"
- Completely original door designs
- Matching cabinetry to existing architectural details in your home
- Unusual configurations for non-standard spaces
- Furniture-style details like turned legs, arched valances, and curved panels
- Integration of antique or specialty hardware
- Any wood species, including reclaimed or exotic lumber
- Mixed materials such as metal, glass, or stone inlays
- Matching built-ins, islands, and hutches as a unified suite
For a broader overview of cabinet styles and materials available in our market, see our guide on kitchen cabinets in Georgia.
When Semi-Custom Cabinets Are the Better Choice
Semi-custom cabinets are the right call for many kitchen remodels. We recommend them when:
- Your kitchen has a standard layout. If your kitchen follows common dimensions without unusual angles, soffits, or structural obstacles, semi-custom lines offer plenty of sizes to fill the space cleanly.
- Your budget prioritizes other areas. Saving on cabinetry lets you invest more in countertops, appliances, or opening up a wall. A smart allocation often creates a better overall result than spending the maximum on cabinets alone.
- Your timeline is tight. A 4-6 week lead time versus 10-14 weeks can be the difference between completing your remodel before school starts or entertaining guests for the holidays.
- You want proven quality without the premium. Today's top semi-custom lines deliver plywood construction, dovetail drawers, and soft-close everything. For most families, the daily experience of using these cabinets is indistinguishable from custom.
- You plan to sell within 5-10 years. Semi-custom cabinets from a respected brand offer excellent return on investment at resale. Buyers recognize quality without necessarily distinguishing custom from semi-custom.
When Custom Cabinets Are Worth the Investment
Custom cabinetry becomes the clear winner in specific scenarios:
- Your kitchen has non-standard dimensions. Older homes in Inman Park, Druid Hills, and historic Atlanta neighborhoods often have irregular walls, uneven ceilings, or architectural features that stock and semi-custom sizes cannot accommodate.
- You want a one-of-a-kind design. If you have a specific aesthetic vision that no catalog can match, such as a hand-carved hood surround, a curved island, or cabinetry that replicates a period style, custom is the only path.
- You are building your forever home. When you plan to live in your home for 20+ years, the durability and personalization of custom cabinets pays dividends over decades of daily use.
- Your kitchen is the centerpiece of your home. Open-concept layouts where the kitchen is visible from living and dining areas benefit from the refined fit and finish that custom cabinetry delivers.
- You need to maximize every inch of storage. Custom cabinets can be built to fill every gap, reach every ceiling, and wrap around every obstacle. In kitchens where space is limited, custom sizing often recovers 15-20% more usable storage.
- You want heirloom quality. Solid hardwood dovetail construction, hand-applied finishes, and premium joinery create cabinets that last 40-50 years or longer. We have clients whose custom cabinets have outlasted two sets of appliances.
The Middle Ground: Customizing Semi-Custom Cabinets
Many homeowners do not realize there is a middle path. A skilled designer can push semi-custom cabinets well beyond their catalog appearance. Techniques include:
- Custom panels and fillers to close gaps and create a built-in look
- Stacked molding combinations that rival high-end custom trim work
- Mixed cabinet configurations that pair standard uppers with modified base units
- Aftermarket interior organizers that match or exceed factory accessory quality
- Site-built range hoods and decorative elements paired with semi-custom box cabinets
This approach delivers 80-90% of the custom look at 50-60% of the custom price. It is one of the most effective strategies we use at Turan Designs for homeowners who want elevated design within a defined budget.
How a Design-Build Firm Helps You Decide
The semi-custom vs custom decision should not be made in isolation. It connects directly to your layout, your budget allocation across all categories, your timeline, and your long-term goals for the home.
At Turan Designs, we approach every kitchen project through our five-step design-build process. During the design phase, we present cabinet options across both categories using your actual kitchen measurements. You see real pricing, real lead times, and real samples side by side before you commit.
Because we are a design-build firm, not a cabinet dealer, our recommendation is based on what serves your total project best. We have no incentive to push you toward the most expensive option. Sometimes the right answer is semi-custom boxes with a custom island. Sometimes it is full custom throughout. Often it is a combination that allocates your budget where it makes the most visible impact.
Our team handles the entire process: measuring, designing, ordering, building (for custom), and installing. You work with one company from your first consultation through the moment you open your finished cabinets for the first time. You can browse examples of our cabinet work across both categories in our project portfolio.
Making Your Decision: A Quick Reference
Ask yourself these five questions:
- Does my kitchen have standard dimensions? If yes, semi-custom works well. If no, lean toward custom.
- Is my total kitchen budget under $60,000? If yes, semi-custom cabinetry likely gives you the best overall result. If your budget is higher, custom becomes a strong option.
- Do I need cabinets delivered in under 8 weeks? If yes, semi-custom is your practical choice.
- Do I have a specific design vision that requires unique details? If yes, custom is the way to achieve it.
- Will I live in this home for 15+ years? If yes, the longevity of custom cabinets adds meaningful long-term value.
Ready to See the Difference in Person?
The best way to understand the difference between semi-custom and custom cabinets is to see and touch them. We keep door samples, finish options, and hardware from both categories at our showroom so you can compare quality, weight, and craftsmanship side by side.
At Turan Designs, we have helped homeowners across Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Newnan, and the greater Atlanta area choose the right cabinets for over 24 years. Whether you are leaning toward semi-custom or custom, we will guide you to the option that delivers the best result for your kitchen, your budget, and your timeline.
Use our free renovation cost calculator to start estimating your project, or contact us today to schedule a complimentary showroom consultation.
Call us at (404) 394-2038 or visit our showroom at 125 Howell Road, Tyrone, GA 30290.