When it comes to kitchen cabinets, it’s well-known that flat packs are the cheapest option, but how does the IKEA alternative measure up to custom cabinetry?

In the process of any kitchen renovation, there are a number of important decisions to be made.

From style and material to finishes and hardware, few decisions impact the aesthetics and functionality of your kitchen as much as cabinetry. They’re also usually the biggest investment in a kitchen renovation budget.

Our specialists at Dan Kitchens have over 40 years of experience in luxury kitchen designs and can take you through the whole process, ensuring your kitchen cabinets are made with care. At Dan Kitchens, all of our kitchen renovations in Sydney start in our Seven Hills manufacturing facility.

Each and every piece is made by skilled cabinet makers and joiners, who have decades of experience. From hidden kitchen ideas to clever storage solutions, we pride ourselves in creating timeless kitchens our clients love for years to come.

If you’re still pondering this crucial decision, we’ve put together this guide on the difference between custom cabinetry and stock cabinets, the pros and cons, and how to choose the one that’s right for you.


What are stock cabinets?

Stock cabinets, sometimes called flatpack cabinets, modular cabinets, or ready-made cabinets, are pre-manufactured in a factory, and come in standardised dimensions.

They can be bought off the shelf, with no waiting time, from stores like Bunnings or IKEA. Stock cabinets are considered a DIY version, as they can be assembled and installed if you’re handy with power tools.


What are semi-custom cabinets?

As the name suggests, semi-custom cabinets fall somewhere in the middle. As far as material quality, this choice is typically on par with stock cabinets, but you may have material upgrade options depending on the manufacturer.

Semi-custom cabinetry is still restrained by the options presented by the manufacturer, and customisation is usually limited to your choice of colours, trims, finishes and changes in certain dimensions.


What is custom cabinetry?

Custom cabinetry is a tailored product, holistically designed and made to suit the overall needs and desires of the homeowner, as well as the shape of the space.

It is not constrained by modular sizes or the limits of machine fabrication. Manufacturers that produce custom cabinetry are able to offer greater material and fittings choice.

Custom cabinetry often uses a hybrid manufacturing process, with cabinet makers utilising machines, power tools and their hands. Custom cabinetry can vary greatly between kitchen companies, due to staff skill sets, preferences to suppliers, and specialisations.

The more custom a kitchen is, the greater the need for skilled hands

Consider the difference between a detailed country style kitchen and a modern, streamlined kitchen. For this reason, it is always best to see examples of their work, preferably in a showroom, and choose the company that best resonates with you.

Across the industry, manufacturers that offer this type of cabinetry tend to be smaller, bespoke, family businesses This is a way for them to differentiate themselves from the larger volume-based companies offering stock and semi-custom cabinets.


What is the difference between custom kitchen cabinets and stock cabinets?

Custom doors, drawers, and panels

Continuing on with the tailored description, a kitchen built from custom cabinets is like a tailored suit—it is designed and made to fit the user perfectly, with personalised choices of materials and hardware, making it unique to the owner.

On the other hand, stock cabinets are more like off-the-rack clothing. They’re typically much cheaper, but might not be the right fit for you, and you’ll have to settle for less choice.


Another major consideration between the two is the design limits on doors, drawers and other exterior panels that come with cabinetry. After all, these elements make the most visual impact on a kitchen.

Beyond budget, variety can play a big part in decision making

Stock cabinet doors will be greatly limited in sizes, styles, colours and materials. A custom cabinet company that makes its own doors can change any of these elements – very handy if you’re desiring a specific colour using a unique door profile you may have seen somewhere.

Stock and semi-custom cabinets, due to the limits of their automation, tend not to work with solid timbers and timber veneers, almost exclusively working with melamines and laminates.

Wall Cabinets, Shelves and Benchtop made from Solid and veneer timber

For timbers, you require skilled craftspeople, which is often the domain of kitchen companies that produce custom cabinets.


Pros and cons of custom cabinets vs flat pack cabinets

It’s easy to dismiss cupboards as a functional renovation choice, but few things impact the usability or look of your kitchen as much as cabinetry.

If you’re weighing up the benefits of custom cabinets versus flat pack cabinets, then the following breakdown of pros and cons might help.

Custom-made cabinets

Pros :

  • Completely bespoke : Designed to seamlessly integrate into the kitchen layout rather than being a fixed component.
  • More design flexibility : Allows for greater personal expression and cohesion.
  • Supports unique hardware and fittings : You have the possibility of features like pullout pantries, pocket doors, carousels, and motorised drawers, which flat packs typically don’t offer.
  • Superior material choices : More control over substrate materials (Australian-made boards, waterproof board, etc). You’ll also have more colour and surface options, including polyurethane, timber veneer, and laminate/melamine.
  • Greater durability : Higher quality materials mean a longer-lasting kitchen.
  • Enhanced decorative elements : Custom cabinets can include highly detailed panels, curved panels, traditional embellishments, and bespoke range hood boxes.
Greater design flexibility with custom cabinets


Cons :

  • Higher cost : Customisation, limited production runs, and extra labour increase manufacturing costs.
  • Longer lead times : Takes longer to produce compared to off-the-shelf solutions.
  • Less DIY-friendly : Requires professional design knowledge or a kitchen designer/cabinet maker for planning and installation.


Stock kitchen cabinets

Pros :

  • Standardised dimensions: Available in common sizes (same height/depth, width in 50mm intervals), making DIY assembly easier.
  • Cost-effective: Usually cheaper than custom cabinets. However, some imported modular kitchens can be very pricey and have long wait times.
  • Readily available: Many options are off-the-shelf with no lead time.
  • DIY-friendly: Can be self-assembled, reducing labour costs. Professional installers are also available if needed.
  • Semi-bespoke options: Some companies offer custom door fronts for flat packs, mimicking the look of custom cabinets within modular constraints.

Cons :

  • Lower material quality : Often made as cheaply as possible, with little regard for material sourcing or durability.
  • Limited choice : Fewer customisation options for layout, materials, and finishes.
  • Requires handy skills for installation : DIYers must coordinate multiple trades (plumber, electrician, tiler, etc.).
  • Outdated dimensions : Typically designed to older kitchen standards, such as 900mm benchtop height and 600mm depth, which may not meet modern needs. Most people need taller benchtops than they did 40 years ago (we’ve gotten taller on average), and 600mm deep cabinets don’t store very much.
  • Less space efficiency : To make flat pack cabinets even cheaper, companies will offer drawers that don’t make full use of the available depth, so they’re not as space efficient.


Why choose custom-made kitchen cabinets for your renovation?

Unless your only consideration is price and speed of installation, premade kitchen cabinets don’t stack up to custom cabinets.

It’s an excellent choice for quick flips, and speedy renovations, but if your priority is to create a beautiful, functional space that can be enjoyed for many years to come, then it’s hard to go past custom joinery.

Custom Cabinets are usually installed by skilled installers, not DIY

The cost and lead times from kitchens made from custom cabinets can give some renovators pause, but this is ultimately an investment in what many consider the most important space in the home.


“Everything is just so incredibly well thought through. The attention to detail is phenomenal, and we noticed this from our first meeting. The soft glide of the drawers, the logic of what is located where, how all our spices fitted perfectly in the custom spice racks … It’s a joy to spend time in the kitchen that Dan Kitchens designed for us.”

– Pascale Helyar-Moray (Balmoral Kitchen)


Choose Dan Kitchens

Choosing a kitchen built with our custom cabinetry means investing in superior craftsmanship, personalised design, and long-lasting quality.

Unlike off-the-shelf alternatives, our cabinetry is designed and manufactured to exact specifications, ensuring a flawless fit and a refined, cohesive aesthetic. We use only high-quality materials and expert joinery techniques, creating cabinets that are as durable as they are beautiful.

Whether it’s maximising storage, integrating seamless functionality, or achieving a distinct design vision, our custom cabinetry allows for complete flexibility, resulting in a kitchen that truly complements your home.

By choosing custom-built cabinetry from Dan Kitchens, you’re not just selecting a kitchen—you’re investing in a space that reflects thoughtful design, expert craftsmanship, and enduring performance.