What drives the price.
Material: painted MDF and engineered substrates at the low end ($250 to $400 per linear foot installed). Hardwood veneers and solid wood at the high end ($600 to $1,200). Quarter-sawn oak, rift-cut white oak, walnut, and other premium materials premium further.
Complexity: flat shelving and basic casework at the low end. Raised-panel paneling, intricate moulding, integrated hardware, lighting, and rounded corners all push the multiplier up. Each detail is a labor-intensive operation in the shop.
Finish: pre-finished factory paint is cheapest. Site-finished spray paint is mid-tier. Stained and lacquered wood is high-tier. Hand-rubbed oil finishes and French polish are top-tier.
Install: a clean rectangular wall in a finished room is the easy case. A built-in into an out-of-square historic wall, around existing mouldings, or in a space with ceiling height variation adds days of fit-up labor.
Common questions.
- What does built-in millwork cost per linear foot?
- Typically $250 to $1,200 per linear foot installed, with painted MDF at the low end and premium solid wood with intricate detail at the high end. Specify material, complexity, and install scope at quote to get a real number.
- Is custom millwork worth it over IKEA or off-the-shelf?
- Custom is worth it when the wall dimensions are not standard, the look requires materials or moulding profiles that retail does not offer, or when the built-in must integrate with existing architecture. For standard-sized bookcases on flat walls, off-the-shelf is faster and cheaper.
- Can you ship custom millwork direct?
- Yes. Crateworks sources custom millwork to drawing, ships flat-packed or pre-assembled depending on the install, and coordinates with the project finish carpenter.
Project in motion
Specifying built-in millwork?
We source custom millwork sized and finished to your drawings.