Where should the money go in a kitchen?

Into the carcass and the hardware. Shutters are what you see and are the easiest thing to change later; the carcass is hidden and decides whether the kitchen lasts a decade in a humid climate.

Why are base units dearer than wall units?

They carry the countertop, the sink and the heavier hardware, and they take the load. The wall run is lighter work per metre.

Construction & HomecostIndia only

Modular Kitchen Cost Calculator

Modular kitchen cost by running metre, with carcass, shutters, countertop and hardware priced separately. Shutters are the visible choice and the carcass is the one that decides whether the kitchen survives ten years of a wet climate.

Also called: kitchen cost calculator, modular kitchen price.

Kitchen cost

₹2,58,455

₹2,58,455 for 7.2 running metres, of which ₹27,090 is carcass and ₹23,040 shutters. Shutters at 3200 a metre are the visible choice and the easiest to change later. The carcass at 4200 is hidden and decides whether the kitchen survives ten years, since a good shutter on a poor carcass fails at the joints first. Marine plywood costs more and earns it in a humid climate. Hardware of 60000 covers hinges and channels used tens of times a day, and it is the first thing to fail on a cheap kitchen. Base units are priced above wall units because they carry the countertop and the load. Rates vary by city, season and contractor. Treat the figure as a budget with a stated contingency, not a quotation.

Carcass

₹27,090

Shutters

₹23,040

Countertop

₹18,900

Hardware

₹60,000

GST

₹39,425

Running metres

7.2

Cost a running metre

₹35,897

On the materials

Shutters at 3200 a metre are the visible choice and the easiest to change later. The carcass at 4200 is hidden and decides whether the kitchen survives ten years, since a good shutter on a poor carcass fails at the joints first. Marine plywood costs more and earns it in a humid climate.

On hardware

Hardware of 60000 covers hinges and channels used tens of times a day, and it is the first thing to fail on a cheap kitchen. Base units are priced above wall units because they carry the countertop and the load. Rates vary by city, season and contractor. Treat the figure as a budget with a stated contingency, not a quotation.

How this is calculated

Shutter options on the same kitchen

Shutter material	A metre	Shutter cost	Kitchen total
Laminate	₹3,200	₹23,040	₹2,58,455
Membrane	₹4,200	₹30,240	₹2,66,951
Acrylic	₹6,500	₹46,800	₹2,86,492
Pu	₹7,800	₹56,160	₹2,97,537

Method and background

How this is calculated

Kitchens are quoted per running metre, and base units cost more than wall units because they carry the countertop and the heavier hardware. The two material choices behave differently: shutters are what you see and what the showroom sells on, while the carcass is hidden and decides longevity, since a laminate shutter on a poor carcass fails at the joints long before the shutter wears. Marine plywood costs more and is worth it in a humid climate. Hardware is the other quiet decision, as soft-close hinges and channels are used tens of times a day and are the first thing to fail on a cheap kitchen.

base and wall runs priced separately for carcass and shutters, with the countertop on the base run alone

l_b: Base run
l_w: Wall run
s: Shutter rate

Worked examples

Each of these is asserted on every build. If a change to the engine ever moved one of these answers, the build would fail before the page could print it.

a 4.2 metre base with 3 metres of wall units

Base units: 4.2 m
Wall units: 3 m
Shutter material: Laminate on plywood
Carcass material: BWR plywood
Countertop a running metre: ₹4,500
Hardware and fittings: ₹60,000
Built in appliances: ₹90,000
GST: 18%

Kitchen cost₹2,58,455

4.2 x 4200 plus 3 x 3150 of carcass

Open this example

acrylic shutters double that line

Base units: 4.2 m
Wall units: 3 m
Shutter material: Acrylic
Carcass material: BWR plywood
Countertop a running metre: ₹4,500
Hardware and fittings: ₹60,000
Built in appliances: ₹90,000
GST: 18%

Kitchen cost₹2,86,492

boundary: the visible choice, at twice the rate of laminate

Open this example

Method and limits

What it assumes

Rates covering fabrication and installation, as modular quotes usually do.

What it deliberately does not model

Corner units, tall units and pull-out mechanisms are priced individually and can exceed the linear rate.
Countertop material varies by several times between laminate, granite, quartz and stone.

Formula version 1.0.0 · definition 1.0.0 · India · Report a problem with this calculator

Frequently asked questions

Where should the money go in a kitchen?: Into the carcass and the hardware. Shutters are what you see and are the easiest thing to change later; the carcass is hidden and decides whether the kitchen lasts a decade in a humid climate.
Why are base units dearer than wall units?: They carry the countertop, the sink and the heavier hardware, and they take the load. The wall run is lighter work per metre.