Buying guide

Custom cabinetry: where the hidden costs hide

Low package prices are usually recovered through add-ons. These four are the most common.

Projected area vs expanded area

Projected area (length × height) looks cheap, but sellers often bill shelves and drawers separately; expanded area (sum of all panels) is more transparent but totals higher. The same wardrobe can differ by several thousand RMB between the two methods—ask which one the quote uses.

Hardware upgrade fees

Standard hinges and drawer slides are usually the lowest grade. When the salesperson says “imported soft-close costs extra”, a full set of cabinets can grow by one to two thousand RMB. Ask upfront: what brand is standard, and what does the upgrade cost?

Door straighteners

Doors taller than 2.4 m warp easily and need straighteners at one to two hundred RMB each. Many quotes exclude them—you only hear “without them the door will bend” at installation.

Exposed panels and edge finishing

Cabinet sides visible to the room need “exposed panels”, and tops and bottoms need finishing strips—frequently billed as separate line items, along with “non-standard size fees” and “irregular shape fees”.

The defense

Before signing, require a total price that includes all hardware, straighteners, exposed panels and finishing—in writing. A verbal “roughly included” means nothing.

About Yijian

We have worked in Foshan furniture for 19 years and know 200+ source factories in the Lecong–Longjiang belt personally. Our service: plan a route around your budget, shortlist factories to your style, verify materials on site, negotiate, and get the contract signed in one day. We never touch your payment, never take kickbacks—only a fixed fee of RMB 800 per day (about US$110, rate as of Oct 2026), car transport within the belt included. How the service works →

Common questions

Projected area or expanded area—which is better?

Projected looks cheaper but hides add-ons; expanded is more transparent. Compare only total prices under the same method before signing.

What are the most common hidden charges in custom cabinetry?

Hardware upgrades, door straighteners, exposed side panels, finishing strips, and non-standard size fees.

How do I stop post-contract add-ons?

Lock a written total price covering all hardware, straighteners, exposed panels and finishing. Verbal promises are not binding.

Do doors over 2.4 m really need straighteners?

Yes—tall doors warp without them. The issue is not whether you need them, but whether the quote includes them upfront.

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