How Much Does a Custom Closet Cost?

Custom closets can be designed and built to suit your personal needs and fit your budget. If you’re just starting to look at custom closet prices, then you’ll want to consider how you plan to use the space. This will not only begin to inspire the visual space, but also give you an idea of the closet by design cost that will inspire how you choose to furnish the interior. 

A custom closet typically costs between $1,500 and $2000. You may be using it now to tuck away large items like furniture, but it can be the reason your partner lets you keep hundreds of Thundercat comic books too. Both walk-in and reach-in closets give you an opportunity to utilize wall space that you can design to store the past, or have the future on display. 

Average Cost of Custom Closets

As mentioned, a custom closet that meets the basic needs: With shelves, hanging rods, and wall-mounted baskets ranges from $1,500 to $2,500. Of course, if you’re renovating an existing space, the cost will be lower, but keep in mind that large spaces cost more to furnish and smaller spaces may require more drawers or other hardware to maximize the space you have. 

Whether you’re installing a custom built in closet or upgrading your existing closet space, there’s plenty of styles and customization options to choose from at various price points. For the faint of heart, it’s good to note that the prices of products, install-services, and materials for custom closets will depend on your region.

Custom Closet Types and Their Cost

If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll want to understand the custom closet cost for each style in order to know which one fits your budget. If you’re creating a new space for a walk-in closet, that’s going to be larger. You’ll be furnishing more space, buying more materials and using more labor. A reach-in closet may cost less with a simpler design and smaller spacer, but if you have a built-in closet, then you’ll save money on the amount of materials needed to build the structure, and may even be able to recycle existing furnishings from the space. 

Walk-In Closet

You can expect to pay anywhere from $1k to $5k for a custom walk-in closet. The size, preferences in materials, and furnishings can make this cost go up or down, so plan your space according to any labor costs you can expect to pay if you’re hiring some help. The labor will depend on a number of factors, including your region, but you can expect to pay at least $90/hour for a contractor. 

Reach-in Closet

If you have a large space and smaller budget, a reach-in closet is a great option to meet your basic storage needs. Adding any customized shelving, hanging rods, or fun hooks to optimize the space can be anywhere from $500 to $1k. 

Built-in Closet

Of course, creating something out of nothing is going to be the most expensive option. Built-in closets are still an amazing stress-saving option for homeowners looking to free up more space, without kicking out any family members. The closet installation can cost $1,000 to $5,000, and then you’ll need to add up your customization and hardware. 

Freestanding Closet

There’s some beautiful freestanding closet concepts that can give you the storage space you need and your bedroom or living room a vibe check. You can get a customized freestanding closet from anywhere between $1k and $3k depending on the type of hardware and materials you choose. 

Other Factors Affecting Custom Closet Prices

You probably know by now that different strokes will have different costs for different locations. The more features you want, the type of space and closet, plus making any upgrades to hardware and furnishings with brand names like the Container Store or California Closet will impact the cost of your project

Closet size: Large closets cost more to build, but you can save money on hardware and accessories with a simpler design.

Materials: 

Everything from materials, furnishings, shelving, drawers, wallpaper, paint to the type of screws and wood you use will affect the overall price of your custom closet. 

Labor:

 Depending on region and availability, a handyperson may charge you around $60 – $80 an hour to build a custom closet. If you want to step up the design in the space, an interior designer may cost between $200 to $2k an hour. Other additional labor costs can include lighting work, labor can be between $40 to $100, and an HVAC system through the space, plan to spend $10 and $20 per foot to replace the ductwork. 

Doors: 

If your closet will have doors, you’ll also have some options and cost ranges to consider. Bifold doors will be the most affordable, as low as $100, but you can find different brands that make accordion doors, between $200, $2,000 or mirrored doors, around $300 to $3,000, to suit your space. 

Design:

To create the look you want in your closet, you can find various price points for upgraded finishes or molded and raised doors, but expect to pay extra for anything less than the basic design. Hardware like custom drawers or shelving can vary based on if you’re using a material like plywood versus bamboo. 

Mount type: 

For the budget-friendly, wall-mounted drawers are a great option between $140 and $240. You combine different organizers to meet your budget and your ideal storage needs too. Adding custom cabinets can cost between $500 and $2k, but you could add wall-mounted drawers for $150 to $250. And if you’ve got loads of space, floor-mounted closet system organizers can cost up to $350 per foot. 

Should I Hire Help?

Now you know the cost of custom closets and have a pretty good idea of what needs to be purchased and done to build a solution to your storage woes. If you’re not feeling up to the task, you’re not alone. Fortunately, you can hire help for the more complex parts of the project, like replacing any ductwork, and building the framework. 

Whether you’re the designer or the builder or both, the custom closet you want for your home has a price range. Be selective about the things you can’t live without in your new space, and choose affordable brands when you can make concessions. And when you’re ready to give up? There’s a freestanding closet for everyone. 

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