Cabinets glossary
Plain-English definitions of 0 cabinets terms you will see on quotes and inspection reports.
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Find the word. Read the definition. Check the bid.
Linear foot - the unit cabinets are priced in: one foot of cabinet run. Your total run length times the per-foot rate is roughly your cabinet cost. In 2026 that rate is about $80-$120 stock, $150-$300 semi-custom and $500-$800 custom, installed.
Stock / semi-custom / custom - fixed sizes off a catalog, catalog sizes with modification options, and built-to-order for your room, respectively. RTA - ready to assemble, shipped flat.
Face frame - the wood frame across the front of the box, standard in American cabinetry. Frameless (sometimes called European or full-access) - no front frame, giving slightly wider openings. Overlay - how much of the frame the door covers: partial, full, or inset (flush inside the opening).
Toe kick - the recessed base under the lower cabinets. Filler - a strip of matching material closing the gap where cabinetry meets a wall or appliance. Scribe - trimming a piece to follow an uneven wall. Thermofoil - vinyl film heat-wrapped over MDF. Soft close - hinges or glides that decelerate the last inch. ANSI/KCMA A161.1 - the cabinet quality certification standard covering structural, drawer, door and finish testing.
Three rules for every term
- Check the per-linear-foot figure It should be derivable from any quote. If it is not, ask for it.
- Confirm overlay in writing Inset costs substantially more than full overlay and is easy to assume rather than agree.
- Ask about fillers up front Gaps at walls and appliances need fillers, and unbudgeted trim is a common small surprise.
A-Z cabinets dictionary
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Glossary terms for this industry are being written.
Where related figures come from
Sources last checked
- SimplyWise - Cost to Install Kitchen Cabinets in 2026 · retrieved 2026-07-25
- KCMA - A161.1 Quality Cabinet Certification · retrieved 2026-07-25
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