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IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Review: Are They Good?

By: Andrew Saladino | min

IKEA Kitchen Cabinets Review: Are They Good?

IKEA was probably on your mind even before you thought about redoing your kitchen. IKEA kitchen cabinets come in a variety of finishes and can be rewarding for any DIYer to put together. But are they good? Read on to find out.

Overview of IKEA Kitchen Cabinets

IKEA's main kitchen cabinet offering is called SEKTION. It is a frameless cabinet style that offers 23 choices for colors and finishes at this time. It's geared towards DIYers and is somewhat easy to assemble once you get the hang of it.

IKEA kitchen cabinets have a built-in look, since each cabinet sits against the next and the countertop is only broken by sinks and appliances. SEKTION cabinets don't come with pulls or knobs, you'll have to pick those out yourself.

You can get IKEA kitchen cabinets shipped to you, or you can pick them up from a store in person. Just bring some friends for the extra muscle. You can use IKEA's free 3D kitchen planner online and then bring your designs into the store. You can work with a designer at the store for free, or you can have one come to your home for a small fee.

Construction & Price

All of IKEA's SEKTION wall cabinets and base cabinets use particle boards for the front, sides, top, and bottom. The back is a thin piece of fiberboard. You can choose from different colors and wood-effects, which are made with acrylic paint or colored plastic. The only solid-wood cabinet front option is natural ash.

Drawers in SEKTION base cabinets have a solid birch front with metal sides and particle board base. The drawers have side-mount soft-close slides.

IKEA cabinets come ready-to-assemble (RTA) and flat-packed. It can take some time to figure out how to put them together, as each piece is drilled with many holes for different shelves, drawers, and installation configurations. IKEA kitchen cabinets also use a proprietary assembly system. So if you work with a pro, make sure they have experience with IKEA kitchen cabinets.

As far as measurements go, you only have one option for lower cabinets: 30 inches with 4.5-inch legs. Upper cabinets can come in various heights, and cabinet widths range from 12 inches to 47 inches.

The IKEA Effect

Many customers rave about their IKEA cabinets and feel very proud about how their kitchens turn out. As they should. It's a feat to install your own cabinets and make things look good. However, that's not all there is to the story.

According to Harvard, there's something called the IKEA effect. And no, it's not the feeling you get when you mix Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce.

The IKEA effect is a psychological observation that people are more inclined to be happy with an installation or project if they did some of the work themselves. For a number of years, Consumer Reports rated Kraftmaid, a high-end cabinet maker, with low scores from consumers. On the other hand, IKEA was always at the top of the list in terms of satisfaction.

If you were to ask cabinet professionals, they would all say that Kraftmaid cabinets were built better, lasted longer, and offered a wider range of customization. In the long run, people should be happier with a better product. Of course, they cost more money, and you have to hire a pro to make sure the installation is a success.

If you install your own IKEA kitchen, it will feel good. But if you want to enjoy those cabinets for another 10 or 15 years, it pays to shop around.

IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Reviews

Most positive reviews are about satisfaction in how IKEA kitchen cabinets look, while most negative reviews are about IKEA's customer service. Many negative reviews are about long shipping times, some measured in months instead of weeks. Below are a few examples from IKEA's page on the Better Business Bureau.

Positive IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Reviews

"I love their products, and we did order a whole bunch of kitchen cabinets, lights, and other kitchen related things." – Debbie G., BBB

"I have purchased my kitchen, bedroom furniture, a PAX closet system, all of my dishes, my TV entertainment center, and my modular sectional from IKEA in St. Louis. I built all of the products myself. The kitchen was over 400 boxes and only one piece had an issue with the assembly." – Sam T., BBB

Negative IKEA Kitchen Cabinet Reviews

"We have been waiting almost four months from our July 15th purchase for kitchen cabinets. IKEA placed another order in and said it will be delivered by Oct 2nd. I called today and found out the second order was canceled by IKEA." – Leoja, BBB

"After spending $10,000 they decided to not deliver everything needed to put the kitchen together: no feet, no hinges, sink missing, cabinets missing, and two of the most expensive cabinets damaged." Jason F., BBB

IKEA vs. Kitchen Cabinet Kings

The materials we use at Kitchen Cabinet Kings are a bit different than what IKEA uses. Here's a quick comparison:

IKEA

  • Quality: Low tier
  • Design Options: One lower cabinet height choice, multiple width choices
  • Moldings & Accessories: A few options
  • Delivery Style: RTA
  • Customer Service: Poor to average
  • Cabinet Sides & Back: Particle board wrapped in melamine
  • Hinges: May or may not be soft-close
  • Drawer Glides: All soft-close
  • Drawer Construction: Basic DIY joinery

Kitchen Cabinet Kings

  • Quality: Upper-mid tier and above
  • Design Options: Three height choices and multiple widths in three-inch increments
  • Moldings & Accessories: Many options
  • Delivery Style: RTA or pre-assembled
  • Customer Service: Live support from cabinet specialists
  • Cabinet Sides & Back: 1/2 inch A-grade plywood
  • Hinges: All concealed soft-close
  • Drawer Glides: All undermount with soft close
  • Drawer Construction: All dovetail joinery

Why Consider Kitchen Cabinet Kings

With pre-assembled cabinets from Kitchen Cabinet Kings, you can still install them yourself and enjoy the IKEA effect, just with better materials. We only use A-grade plywood or solid wood in cabinet construction.

Why does that matter? Well, plywood has advantages of strength and stability over particle board. It also holds screws better and lasts longer over time.

Particle board can also have problems with warping or swelling because of moisture. You might not notice it right away, but that deformity can cause the plastic or melamine wrap to flake or roll off after a few years. Speaking of melamine, we don't use it. Instead, we use quality real wood veneers or stains and paints.

While you can find kitchen cabinets from IKEA on a shoestring budget, it can be worth comparing prices between online cabinet manufacturers, too. Our RTA cabinets start under $2,000 for a 10x10 kitchen. Pick your RTA cabinet finish to get started.

IKEA Cabinet Design Inspiration

Transitional kitchen with gray IKEA kitchen cabinets and stainless appliances. Sleek matte black IKEA kitchen cabinets.

IKEA Kitchen Cabinet FAQs

Are IKEA cabinets good quality?

Many people are satisfied with IKEA kitchen cabinets, but we wouldn't say the cabinets are the best quality themselves. IKEA cabinet quality is on the lower end of the spectrum.

What is the cost of an IKEA kitchen?

IKEA kitchen cabinets and hardware can cost between $1,200 and $3,000. If you add design, appliances, and the rest of the kitchen, an entire IKEA kitchen could cost between $10,000 to $15,000 or above.

Are IKEA kitchen cabinets made in China?

According to online reviews, some IKEA kitchen cabinet components may be made in China. Others may be made in the EU or the USA, as well. There isn't a simple answer, since the door front may come from one place, the hardware from somewhere else, and the cabinet box from a third location.

Can you buy cabinet doors from IKEA separately?

Yes, you can buy doors and drawer fronts separately. Many DIYers actually like to put together a SEKTION kitchen first, and then upgrade to new semi-custom cabinet doors and drawer fronts later on.

Are you ready for a full remodel? Design the kitchen of your dreams from the comfort of your home. Create a free 3D kitchen design including two free revisions from NKBA certified designers.

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