Cabinet Maker Estimate Template
A cabinet maker estimate forecasts the price before work starts: 8 lines for design, build and install a 14 ft built-in bookcase and media wall in painted maple, totalling $8,788.00, with labour the largest share (45%). It states its assumptions and stays valid for 30 days. Edit the lines and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a cabinet maker: design, build and install a 14 ft built-in bookcase and media wall in painted maple. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Lakeside Cabinet Shop
714 Market Street
Madison, WI 53703
billing@example.com
(312) 555-0114
Estimate
Prepared for
Robin Okafor
311 Pine Road
Fairview, OR 97024
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and shop drawings | 6 hr | $75.00 | $450.00 |
| Maple plywood and hardwood lumber | 1 lot | $1,850.00 | $1,850.00 |
| Shop fabrication: carcasses, face frames and shelves | 42 hr | $70.00 | $2,940.00 |
| Raised-panel doors, made in shop | 6 each | $140.00 | $840.00 |
| Hinges, drawer slides and pulls | 1 lot | $320.00 | $320.00 |
| Spray finish: primer and two coats of lacquer | 14 linear ft | $95.00 | $1,330.00 |
| Delivery and on-site installation | 10 hr | $75.00 | $750.00 |
| Scribe to walls and crown to ceiling | 14 linear ft | $22.00 | $308.00 |
- Subtotal
- $8,788.00
- Estimate total
- $8,788.00
Notes
A cabinetry estimate should describe dimensions, species, finish, door style, hardware and install conditions, and say the price is subject to final drawings.
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Cabinet Maker estimate at a glance
| Scope estimated | Design, build and install a 14 ft built-in bookcase and media wall in painted maple |
|---|---|
| Estimate total | $8,788.00 before tax |
| Valid for | 30 days from the estimate date |
| Deposit on acceptance (50%) | $4,394.00 |
| Labour (3 lines) | $3,998.00, 45% |
| Materials (2 lines) | $2,170.00, 25% |
| Services (2 lines) | $1,780.00, 20% |
| Priced in | project |
Estimate breakdown for design, build and install a 14 ft built-in bookcase and media wall in painted maple
| Item | Type | Est. quantity | Est. amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and shop drawings | Services | 6 hr | $450.00 |
| Maple plywood and hardwood lumber | Materials | 1 lot | $1,850.00 |
| Shop fabrication: carcasses, face frames and shelves | Labour | 42 hr | $2,940.00 |
| Raised-panel doors, made in shop | Products | 6 each | $840.00 |
| Hinges, drawer slides and pulls | Materials | 1 lot | $320.00 |
| Spray finish: primer and two coats of lacquer | Services | 14 linear ft | $1,330.00 |
| Delivery and on-site installation | Labour | 10 hr | $750.00 |
| Scribe to walls and crown to ceiling | Labour | 14 linear ft | $308.00 |
| Estimated total | $8,788.00 |
What to write on a cabinet maker estimate
A cabinetry estimate should describe dimensions, species, finish, door style, hardware and install conditions, and say the price is subject to final drawings.
Materials and products are $3,010.00 of this $8,788.00 estimate (34%), so say how long those prices hold: supplier prices can move before the job starts.
Builds to a fixed price per project or per linear foot of cabinetry, with design, materials, finishing and installation itemized and paid in stages.
Assumptions behind each line
Write these next to the 8 lines so the customer sees what the $8,788.00 depends on.
- Design and shop drawings: 6 hr, $450.00.
- Maple plywood and hardwood lumber: 1 lot at $1,850.00 ($1,850.00); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Shop fabrication: carcasses, face frames and shelves: 42 hr at $70.00 per hr ($2,940.00); extra hr at the same rate.
- Raised-panel doors, made in shop: 6 each at $140.00 ($840.00); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Hinges, drawer slides and pulls: 1 lot at $320.00 ($320.00); another grade or brand changes this line.
- Spray finish: primer and two coats of lacquer: 14 linear ft, $1,330.00.
- Delivery and on-site installation: 10 hr at $75.00 per hr ($750.00); extra hr at the same rate.
- Scribe to walls and crown to ceiling: 14 linear ft at $22.00 per linear ft ($308.00); extra linear ft at the same rate.
Changes, overruns and change orders
If the customer adds work, put it on a signed change order first. Here one more hr of "Shop fabrication: carcasses, face frames and shelves" adds $70.00, or 0.8% of the estimate.
A 10% rise in material prices would add $301.00 to this job, which is why many cabinet makers limit how long an estimate stays valid.
Tips from custom cabinetry billing
- Reference the approved drawing revision on the invoice, so any change asked for after approval can be traced and billed as an extra instead of argued over.
- Bill design time on its own line even if you credit it against the build, because a customer who takes your drawings to another shop should still pay for that work.
- Record wood species, sheen and paint color; matching a replacement door or an added cabinet later is impossible without them.
- Hardware upgrades such as soft-close slides or specialty pulls vanish into a lump-sum price, so list each type with its quantity.
Checking the labour rate
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters $22.12 (employees, not contractor rates).
The sample's $70.00 per hour for "Shop fabrication: carcasses, face frames and shelves" is 3.2 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Turning the cabinet maker estimate into an invoice
-
Get it approved
Ask Robin Okafor to sign or reply in writing to estimate EST-1841.
-
Record the changes
Update quantities to what was actually used across the 8 lines.
-
Switch the document type
Change Estimate to Invoice in the tool; the lines and parties stay.
-
Deduct what was paid
Enter the $4,394.00 deposit as amount paid so the balance shows $4,394.00.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a cabinet maker estimate?
Describe the job (Design, build and install a 14 ft built-in bookcase and media wall in painted maple), list each line with an estimated quantity and rate, total it ($8,788.00 in the sample), state how long it is valid and what it assumes, then send it as a PDF for approval.
Is a cabinet maker estimate binding?
An estimate is a forecast, not a fixed price, so the final invoice can differ when the work or materials change. Rules vary by country and state; to stay safe, get written approval before billing noticeably more than the $8,788.00 you estimated.
How long should a cabinet maker estimate be valid?
Thirty days is common and is what this template uses. With 34% of the price in materials, a shorter validity protects you if supplier prices rise.