Cupboards are the largest single line in almost every kitchen budget, typically 40% to 60% of the total. They are quoted per linear metre of run, and the finish moves that rate more than anything else.
Carcasses are near-identical across the market: 16 mm melamine-faced board. What you are choosing between is doors, hardware and who cuts it. Full renovation scope is under Kitchen Renovations Cape Town.
Send the wall lengths and the finish you want, and quotes come back per metre.
Get a Kitchen Cupboard QuoteBoard and Doors
| Element | What to check |
|---|---|
| Carcass board | 16 mm is standard; 18 mm is better on long shelf spans. Moisture-resistant board under the sink is worth insisting on. |
| Edging | 2 mm ABS edging lasts. Thin iron-on edging lifts within a few years, especially near a kettle. |
| Hinges | Soft-close as standard now. Named brands are serviceable years later; unbranded ones often are not. |
| Drawer runners | Undermount full-extension runners cost more and are the single biggest day-to-day quality difference. |
Kitchen Cupboard Prices in Cape Town
| Item | Indicative range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| White melamine | R4,000 – R6,000 per linear metre | The value standard. |
| Colour or wood-grain melamine | R5,000 – R7,500 per linear metre | Same board, wider finish range. |
| Wrap (vinyl-wrapped MDF) doors | R5,500 – R8,000 per linear metre | Profiled doors possible. |
| High-gloss or sprayed duco | R8,000 – R12,000+ per linear metre | Any colour; sprayed off-site. |
| Solid timber | R12,000 – R20,000 per linear metre | Species and joinery drive it. |
| Full set, small kitchen | R30,000 – R60,000 | Base and wall units, tops excluded. |
| Full set, medium kitchen | R60,000 – R120,000 | The most common band. |
| Soft-close, pull-outs and internals | +5% – 20% | Corner and pantry pull-outs add most. |
These are indicative market ranges, not a quotation. They are compiled from published South African kitchen pricing to give you a starting point for budgeting. They are not the rate card of any company on this platform.
Confirm whether the per-metre rate covers base units only or base and wall units together. It is the most common reason two quotes look far apart when they are actually similar.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much are kitchen cupboards per metre in Cape Town?
Roughly R4,000 to R6,000 a linear metre for melamine, R5,500 to R8,000 for wrap doors, and R8,000 to R12,000 or more for high-gloss and sprayed duco.
Whether the rate includes wall units as well as base units varies by company, so check that before comparing.
What is the difference between melamine and wrap?
Melamine is a finish bonded to the board, so doors are flat-fronted. Wrap is a vinyl film vacuum-pressed over shaped MDF, which allows profiled and shaker-style doors.
Melamine handles heat better; wrap can lift at the edges next to an oven if there is no heat deflector.
Do I need to replace the carcasses?
Not if they are square, dry and solidly fixed. Replacing only the doors and tops typically costs a third of a full replacement.
Swollen board under the sink or a sagging shelf run means the carcass has failed and should go.
How long do kitchen cupboards last?
Fifteen to twenty-five years for the carcasses if kept dry. Hinges and runners wear first and are replaceable, which is why branded hardware matters.
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