If you have been reading about aluminium kitchens, you have probably seen plenty of price tables. Wood kitchens get far less attention online, even though plywood and laminate cabinets are a long-standing choice in Singapore homes. This guide covers what we charge, what moves the price up or down, and why we usually recommend wood to our own customers.
Our starting price: from S$145 per foot run
La Maison Carpentry’s custom wood kitchen cabinets start from S$145 per foot run (PFR). This is the same starting rate published on our kitchen cabinets page.
“Per foot run” means the price is based on the length of the cabinet run, measured along the wall in feet. A wall of cabinets 10 feet long counts as 10 foot run, regardless of how many doors or drawers it has. The top (wall) cabinets and the bottom (base) cabinets are each measured and priced separately.
Worked example: a straight 10-foot kitchen with bottom cabinets only starts from S$1,450 (10 ft × S$145). Add 10 feet of top cabinets and it starts from S$2,900 (10 ft top + 10 ft bottom = 20 ft × S$145). The worktop and hardware are priced separately.
This is a starting rate, not a fixed quote. Your final price depends on your layout, the finish you pick and the fittings inside. We quote after measuring your kitchen.
What “wood” means in a Singapore kitchen cabinet
Very few kitchen cabinets in Singapore are solid timber. When a carpenter says “wood”, they usually mean an engineered board for the cabinet body with a laminate surface on top:
- Plywood: thin layers of wood glued together in alternating directions. It is strong, holds screws well and is the most common choice for custom carpentry.
- Particle board (chipboard): compressed wood chips. It is cheaper and common in ready-made kitchens, but it is more vulnerable if water gets into an exposed edge.
- Laminate (HPL): the hard, printed surface on the doors and visible sides. It gives you the colour or woodgrain look and protects the board underneath.
What we use: our S$145 PFR kitchen cabinets are made from E1-grade plywood with a laminate finish. E1 is a low formaldehyde-emission grade for wood panels. We build with solid plywood only. We do not use particle board (chipboard).
What changes the price
- Length of the run. The foot run is the main driver. An L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen simply has more foot run than a straight one.
- Top cabinets, bottom cabinets or both. Top and bottom runs are each charged per foot run, so a full kitchen with both is roughly double the foot run of a bottom-only kitchen.
- Laminate choice. Standard laminate colours are included in the S$145 starting rate. Premium laminate is priced separately.
- Hardware and internal fittings. Hardware is not included in the S$145 starting rate. Drawers, pull-out baskets, corner units and soft-close mechanisms add to the cost.
- Tall units. Full-height pantry or appliance cabinets are priced differently from standard runs. Our pantry cabinets start from S$240 PFR.
- Round corner profile. Rounded cabinet corners are available as an option at an additional charge.
- Worktop. Countertops such as quartz or solid surface are usually priced separately from the cabinets.
Why we usually recommend wood over aluminium
We build both wood and aluminium kitchens, and for most homes we recommend wood. Two reasons come from our day-to-day installation work:
- It is easier to install. Wood cabinets can be fitted closely to real walls, which are rarely perfectly straight. Panels can be trimmed and adjusted to close gaps neatly.
- It can be modified on site. If a pipe sits where the drawing did not show it, or you change an appliance, wood cabinets can usually be cut, trimmed or re-drilled on site. Aluminium profiles are cut to size in the factory and are much harder to alter once delivered.
Aluminium still has its place. If you are weighing the two, read our aluminium vs wood kitchen cabinets comparison or our aluminium kitchen cabinet price guide.
Looking after a wood kitchen in Singapore’s humidity
No cabinet board is fully waterproof, so the sink cabinet deserves the most attention. Wipe up standing water, fix leaking pipes quickly and keep the cabinet ventilated. Edges are where moisture usually gets in, so well-sealed edges matter as much as the board itself. On our wooden swing doors, the edges are finished with ABS trimming.
How we work
La Maison Carpentry designs your cabinets, manufactures them in our own workshop in Johor, Malaysia, and delivers and installs them in Singapore. Buying direct from the workshop means no middleman’s mark-up. Our sales office is in Singapore, and we are a BCA Registered Renovation Contractor (RCPH2500239) with more than 1,300 completed projects.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a wood kitchen cabinet in Singapore?
Our custom wood kitchen cabinets start from S$145 per foot run. Your final price depends on the length of the run, fittings, finish and worktop.
Is plywood better than particle board for kitchen cabinets?
Plywood is generally stronger and holds screws better, which matters for doors and hinges that are used every day. Particle board is cheaper but more easily damaged if water reaches an unsealed edge.
Is wood or aluminium cheaper?
At La Maison, wood is the lower starting rate. Our wood cabinets start from S$145 per foot run (E1 plywood, standard laminate). Our aluminium cabinets start from S$220 per foot run for bottom cabinets and S$215 for top cabinets (aluminium composite panel box with honeycomb door; powder coating adds 15%). Countertop and hardware are extra for both. Your final price depends on your layout, so compare quotes for the same design.
Can you change the design after the cabinets are made?
Small changes are usually easier with wood, because it can be trimmed and adjusted on site. Larger changes may need new panels.
Get a quote for your kitchen
Send us your floor plan or a few photos of your kitchen on WhatsApp, and we will advise on layout and give you a quotation. Contact us.