do kitchen cabinets get installed before flooring
May 24, 2025
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Do Kitchen Cabinets Get Installed Before Flooring?
The order depends on your flooring type, budget, and long-term plans. Here's a concise breakdown to guide your decision:
1. Key Considerations
| Factor | Cabinets First | Flooring First |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ✅ Saves flooring material (no need under cabinets). | ❌ Requires 5–10% more flooring material. |
| Flexibility | ❌ Harder to replace flooring later. | ✅ Easier to update cabinets/flooring later. |
| Flooring Type | Best for floating floors (laminate, LVP). | Best for permanent floors (tile, hardwood). |
| Aesthetics | ❌ Gaps if flooring is replaced. | ✅ Seamless look under cabinets/appliances. |
2. When to Install Cabinets First
Floating Floors (laminate, LVP, engineered wood):
Cabinets compress floating floors, restricting expansion.
Install cabinets on the subfloor, then lay flooring around them.
Budget Projects: Avoid wasting material under cabinets.
Temporary Layouts: Plan to reconfigure cabinets later.
3. When to Install Flooring First
Permanent Floors (tile, hardwood):
Ensures flooring runs continuously; avoids mismatched heights if replaced.
Heated Floors: Heating systems must be installed under cabinets.
High-End Kitchens: Seamless look with toe kicks covering gaps.
Appliances: Flooring must extend under dishwashers/fridges for easy removal.
4. Best Practices
Floating Floors:
Install cabinets on the subfloor, then add flooring with a ¼" gap around cabinets.
Use transition strips at thresholds.
Permanent Floors:
Install flooring first, then cabinets anchored to wall studs (not the floor).
Appliances: Always extend flooring under appliances for future access.
5. Common Mistakes
Ignoring Expansion Gaps: Floating floors need room to expand (¼"–½").
Compressing Floors: Heavy cabinets on floating floors can cause buckling.
Uneven Subfloors: Level subfloors before installing cabinets to prevent alignment issues.
6. Final Recommendation
Choose Cabinets First If:
Using floating floors (laminate/LVP) or prioritizing budget savings.
Choose Flooring First If:
Installing permanent floors (tile/hardwood) or aiming for a seamless, long-term design.
Pro Tip: For floating floors, use toe kicks to hide gaps. For tile/hardwood, install flooring first and protect it with cardboard during cabinet installation!