In This Article
The Tariff That Changed Cabinet Pricing
In October 2025, the U.S. government implemented 25% Section 232 tariffs on imported cabinets — part of a broader set of tariffs on building materials with national security implications. The tariffs apply to cabinets manufactured outside the U.S. and imported for sale. That rate is scheduled to rise to 50% in January 2027, adding significant further pressure to offshore RTA pricing.
Most online cabinet retailers — Lily Ann Cabinets, RTA Cabinet Store, Kitchen Cabinet Depot, and others — source their products from overseas manufacturing. When the tariff took effect, their landed cost per cabinet increased by 25% overnight. A 25% import tariff (rising to 50% in January 2027) adds $1,500–$4,000 to offshore RTA orders depending on kitchen size — Room Squared's Anaheim pickup is 100% unaffected.
That cost increase didn't disappear. It passed through to retail prices.
Who Got Hit — and By How Much
The price increases across major online cabinet retailers since October 2025 have ranged from 20% to 35%, depending on the brand and product line. What that means for a standard 10×10 kitchen:
A cabinet-only order that cost $2,000 in early 2025 now costs $2,400–$2,700 from the same retailer. When you add countertops, hardware, and a sink — which these retailers sell separately — the total material cost for a 10×10 kitchen from an online RTA brand now frequently exceeds $6,000–$9,000.
The pricing structure hasn't changed — component-by-component pricing still adds up quickly. But the starting point for each component is now materially higher than it was 12 months ago.
"A cabinet-only order that cost $2,000 in early 2025 now costs $2,400–$2,700 from the same retailer — before countertops, hardware, or a sink."
Memorial Day and Holiday "Sales"
Worth noting: many online retailers are running Memorial Day sales and deep discount promotions right now. Some are advertising 40–60% off. In most cases, these discounts are applied to prices that have already been raised 20–35% from the tariff. The effective price after the "sale" is often comparable to — or higher than — the pre-tariff price. When evaluating a sale, the relevant comparison is: what did this kitchen cost in early 2025, not what is the sale percentage off the current price.
Why Room Squared's Price Hasn't Changed
Room Squared packages are picked up in Anaheim, California — not shipped from an overseas manufacturer through a U.S. importer. Our supply chain is not subject to the Section 232 import tariffs in the same way as online RTA brands.
The result: Room Squared's package pricing has not moved since the tariffs took effect. A complete 10×10 kitchen — cabinets, quartz countertops, hardware, sink, and faucet — still starts at $3,199. That price includes everything listed. No separate countertop order. No per-cabinet math.
In a market where competitor prices have risen 20–35%, that stability matters.
"Room Squared packages are picked up locally in Anaheim — not subject to import tariffs. Our $3,199 starting price has not moved since October 2025."
What to Look for When Comparing Prices Now
If you're comparing kitchen cabinet prices in 2026, a few things to check:
- •Is the price for cabinets only, or does it include countertops? Most online retailers quote cabinets. Countertops are a separate line item — often $1,500–$3,000 for a 10×10 kitchen sourced from a stone supplier.
- •Is this a post-tariff price or a sale price applied to a post-tariff base? "60% off" applied to a price that's already 30% higher than last year is not 60% off the 2024 price.
- •What's included in the "complete kitchen" quote? Hardware, sink, and faucet add another $300–$800 when sourced separately.
- •Is there freight? Freight shipping for cabinets adds risk (damage claims are common) and can add $200–$500 in delivery cost.
Room Squared's all-in price covers cabinets, countertops, hardware, sink, and faucet — with local pickup in Anaheim so you inspect everything before taking it home. No freight, no hidden add-ons, no post-tariff markup.