Custom Armoire Cost
A custom armoire or wardrobe costs $2,000 to $18,000 depending on species, size, door panel style, and interior configuration. This guide covers real price ranges by design type, what drives cost the most, and a full worked pricing example for woodworkers quoting this piece.
Custom Armoire Cost by Type
| Armoire Type | Sale Price |
|---|---|
| 2-door painted poplar | $2,000 to $3,200 |
| 2-door maple shaker | $3,800 to $5,800 |
| 2-door white oak | $5,200 to $7,500 |
| White oak with drawers | $7,000 to $10,000 |
| Cherry raised panel | $8,500 to $12,500 |
| Walnut figured panel | $12,000 to $18,000+ |
Prices assume solid domestic hardwood construction at a shop rate of $60 to $80/hr and a 30% profit margin. Painted finishes reduce material cost by 40 to 60%. All prices include finish and basic hardware.
Armoire and Wardrobe Styles
Two-Door Hanging Armoire
$2,000 to $8,000The most common configuration. Two full-height doors open to a hanging rod, one or two fixed shelves, and sometimes a small drawer section below. Works as a primary or secondary closet in bedrooms without built-in storage.
Wardrobe with Drawer Bank
$4,500 to $12,000One hanging section for clothes and a full bank of four to eight drawers on the opposite side, all behind matching doors. The drawer section adds significant build time but maximizes interior utility. Common in master bedroom suites.
Raised Panel or Shaker Door Armoire
$5,000 to $14,000Traditional styling with recessed or raised door panels, a built-up cornice or crown molding at the top, and turned or cabriole feet. Popular in traditional and transitional interiors. Cherry and walnut are the most requested species for this style.
Freestanding Wardrobe Closet
$3,000 to $10,000A simpler, more utilitarian version often used in rental properties or guest rooms as a closet substitute. May use flat slab doors, birch plywood for the case, and a basic hanging rod with a shelf. Can be designed to disassemble for moving.
Wood Species for Custom Armoires
| Species | Cost/BF | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Poplar | $2 to $4 | Budget |
| Paint-grade maple | $4 to $6 | Budget |
| Hard maple | $5 to $8 | Mid-range |
| Ash | $5 to $8 | Mid-range |
| White oak | $7 to $11 | Premium |
| Cherry | $7 to $12 | Premium |
| Walnut | $10 to $18 | Luxury |
What Drives Custom Armoire Cost
Wood Species
High ImpactSwitching from painted poplar to white oak adds $300 to $600 in material cost on a standard two-door armoire using 70 board feet. Walnut adds $600 to $1,200 in material cost vs. poplar on the same piece. Species is the single largest driver of material cost.
Drawer Count and Joinery
High ImpactEach drawer adds 5 to 8 shop hours. Machine-cut box joints take 1 to 2 hours per drawer. Hand-cut dovetail joints take 4 to 6 hours per drawer and are visible on the finished piece. A six-drawer armoire with hand-cut dovetails can add 24 to 36 hours over an open-interior version.
Door Panel Style
High ImpactFlat slab doors are the fastest to build (2 to 4 hours per door). Shaker-style frame-and-panel doors add 3 to 5 hours. Raised panel doors require router setup and add 4 to 6 hours per door. Carved or arched panels can add 8 or more hours per door.
Cornice and Molding
Medium ImpactA simple flat top takes 30 minutes. A built-up cornice with crown molding adds 6 to 10 hours and $40 to $120 in material. A full architectural cornice with dentil or egg-and-dart detail can add 20 or more hours and significant material cost.
Interior Fittings
Medium ImpactA plain hanging rod and single shelf adds $20 to $40 in materials and 1 to 2 hours. Cedar lining adds $60 to $150 in material and 3 to 5 hours. Pull-out valet trays, mirror backs, and specialty organizers add cost proportional to complexity.
Hinge and Hardware Quality
Medium ImpactBudget hinges cost $8 to $15 per pair; quality Blum concealed hinges cost $20 to $45 per pair with soft-close. Handles and pulls range from $10 to $80 each. A walnut armoire with 2 doors and 4 drawers can have $200 to $500 in hardware alone at the premium end.
How to Price a Custom Armoire: Worked Example
White oak two-door armoire, 80H x 46W x 22D in, shaker-style doors, hanging rod, cedar-lined interior with two dovetail drawers, adjustable shelf, and hardwax oil finish.
| Line Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| White oak lumber (70 bf @ $9.00/bf) | $630 |
| Hardwood veneer plywood, 3 sheets @ $90 | $270 |
| Cedar closet lining (interior) | $95 |
| Hardware (hinges, handles, drawer slides, rod, pins) | $210 |
| Hardwax oil finish + supplies | $70 |
| Materials subtotal | $1,275 |
| Labor: 48 hours @ $72/hr | $3,456 |
| Overhead (25% of materials + labor) | $1,183 |
| Total cost | $5,914 |
| Profit margin (30%) | $1,774 |
| Sale price | $7,688 |
This example uses a $72/hr shop rate with 25% overhead and 30% profit margin. A walnut version with the same dimensions would add approximately $600 to $900 in material cost, pushing the sale price to $9,000 to $10,500.
5 Steps to Price a Custom Armoire
- 1
Calculate board footage and plywood
A standard two-door armoire case (72H x 42W x 22D in) requires approximately 60 to 80 board feet of solid lumber for face frame, doors, and drawer fronts, plus 3 to 4 sheets of plywood for the case, back, and interior shelves. Multiply board feet by species cost and add plywood at $60 to $110 per sheet.
- 2
Add hardware and interior fittings
Budget $150 to $400 for hardware depending on configuration: hinges ($15 to $50 per pair), door handles ($15 to $60 each), drawer slides ($20 to $60 each), adjustable shelf pins ($10 to $20), hanging rod and brackets ($20 to $40), and cedar closet lining ($40 to $120). Soft-close hinges add $10 to $20 per door.
- 3
Estimate labor hours
A two-door armoire with no drawers takes 30 to 40 shop hours. Add 6 to 10 hours per drawer. Add 4 to 8 hours for hand-cut dovetail joints vs. 1 to 2 hours for machine-cut box joints. Add 4 to 6 hours for a cornice or detailed molding. Multiply total hours by your shop rate.
- 4
Add finish materials
A penetrating oil or hardwax oil finish uses $50 to $100 in product and 3 to 5 hours of application time. A sprayed lacquer or catalyzed finish costs $80 to $180 in material and requires booth time or spray setup. Cedar-lined interiors can be left unfinished or lightly sanded.
- 5
Apply overhead and margin
Add 25 to 30% overhead to all costs (materials plus labor) to cover shop rent, tools, insurance, and administrative time. Then add your target profit margin of 20 to 35% on top of the cost-plus-overhead total. A $4,200 cost with 25% overhead and 30% margin produces a sale price of approximately $6,800.
Custom Armoire Cost: Common Questions
- How much does a custom armoire cost?
- A custom armoire costs between $2,000 and $14,000 depending on species, size, interior configuration, and joinery. A painted poplar two-door armoire runs $2,000 to $3,500. A white oak armoire with cedar-lined drawers and a hanging rod runs $5,000 to $8,000. A walnut armoire with figured panels and hand-cut dovetail drawers can reach $10,000 to $14,000 or more.
- What is the difference between an armoire and a wardrobe?
- The terms are often used interchangeably. Traditionally, a wardrobe is a larger, plainer freestanding closet while an armoire is a more decorative piece with carved or paneled doors, often with a cornice at the top. In custom woodworking, the distinction matters less than the interior configuration: hanging rod only, hanging rod with drawers, full shelving, or a combination.
- What wood species is best for a custom armoire?
- White oak and cherry are the most popular choices for natural-finish armoires. White oak's open grain and warm tone age beautifully; cherry darkens to a rich amber over time. For painted armoires, poplar or paint-grade maple gives a smooth, furniture-grade finish at a lower cost. Walnut is the premium choice for clients wanting a statement piece with visible grain.
- How long does it take to build a custom armoire?
- A basic two-door armoire takes 30 to 50 shop hours. Adding a full interior with drawers, a hanging rod, and adjustable shelves adds 10 to 20 hours. A carved or highly detailed armoire with hand-cut joinery can take 80 or more hours. Lead time from order to delivery is typically 6 to 12 weeks.
- How do I price a custom armoire for a client?
- Start with the board footage: a standard two-door armoire uses 60 to 100 board feet of solid lumber plus two to four sheets of plywood for the case. Multiply board footage by species cost per board foot. Add plywood, hardware (hinges, handles, drawer slides, cedar lining), and finish supplies. Estimate labor hours and multiply by your shop rate. Add overhead (25 to 30%) and your target profit margin (20 to 35%). CraftQuote can walk you through this calculation and generate a professional quote.
- Should I use solid wood or plywood for the armoire case?
- Most custom armoires use a combination: solid wood for all visible face-frame and door components, and plywood or MDF for the case sides, top, bottom, and interior shelves. Plywood is more stable than solid wood for large panels and won't expand and contract seasonally. Baltic birch or hardwood-veneer plywood is used for interiors; matching veneer plywood is used for sides if visible.
Quote a Custom Armoire in Minutes
Upload a reference photo or describe the armoire your client wants. CraftQuote walks you through species selection, dimensions, hardware, and finish to generate a professional, itemized quote.
Related Bedroom Furniture Cost Guides
Platform beds, four-poster frames, live edge headboards, and storage beds by species and size.
Six-drawer, nine-drawer, tall boy, and gentleman's chest pricing by species.
Walnut and white oak nightstand pricing, including floating wall-mounted styles.
Reach-in, walk-in, and built-in wardrobe closet pricing for when a freestanding armoire is not the right fit.
Current per-board-foot pricing for walnut, white oak, cherry, maple, and 15+ other species.
Price ranges for 40+ custom wood furniture projects organized by category.