Probably more than any other element, cabinetry sets the look and feel of your kitchen. It also can set the size of your budget. Nearly half of the average kitchen remodeling budget goes toward cabinets.

Cabinets fall into three basic categories: stock, semicustom, and custom. The category is not necessarily an indication of quality; fine cabinetry can be had in all three. Look for the blue-and-white “certified cabinet” seal from the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association.

Stock Cabinets
Stock cabinets come in a great number of styles. Widths run between 9 and 48 inches, increasing in 3-inch increments. They can be ordered through retailers, at home improvement and kitchen and bath centers, or from manufacturers’ catalogs.

Pros: Stock cabinets are usually the most economical choice. They are also readily available—usually within a week or so of being ordered.

Cons: Because they’re already built, they don’t come in special sizes. Filler strips can close gaps between a cabinet and an appliance or a wall, but that’s pretty much the extent to which the cabinets can be customized. Stock cabinets are usually made with laminates or veneers; you’re unlikely to find solid wood.

Semicustom Cabinets
These cabinets are built only after an order is final. You can choose from a wider range of styles, construction materials, and colors than stock cabinets. They can be amended easily with storage units and accessories, such as pullout bins and lazy Susans.

Pros: Because they are constructed after you’ve placed your order, modifications to standard cabinet sizes can be made. The greater number of options means your kitchen can have a more personal look.

Cons: The biggest drawback is price. They also may take a month or longer to be delivered.

Custom Cabinets
These units are built, either by a local cabinetmaker or by a national manufacturer, from the material you choose (usually a hardwood, such as maple, cherry, walnut, or oak); in the size, shape, and configuration you choose; and with whatever finish you want.

Pros: Your cabinets will look and function exactly the way you want. If you have an oddly shaped kitchen, a curved wall, or some other uniquely interesting aspect to your kitchen, it can be perfectly fitted with custom cabinets. You can also accommodate specialized storage needs.

Cons: They’re the most expensive. True custom cabinets take at least 10 weeks—and often longer—to complete.