How Much Does It Cost For A Carpenter To Make Built In Wardrobes?

How Much Does It Cost For A Carpenter To Make Built In Wardrobes?

Carpenters are people who install wooden fittings into larger projects. You will normally find them on a construction site fitting things like roof frames and wooden flooring. However, you might also hire a carpenter to install fitted wardrobes. It’s important to keep in mind that a carpenter might not actually make the wardrobes themselves as it’s usually the job of a joiner to craft furniture while a carpenter is the one who fits it. 

In any case, for the purposes of this article, we will be referring to the person that will complete the work as a carpenter. But when making home improvements like this, it doesn’t always come cheap; so how much does it cost for a carpenter to make built-in wardrobes?

The cost of built in wardrobes will vary based on certain factors. For a two door wardrobe, you could be looking around £1500 plus VAT whereas a three door fitted wardrobe may cost you as much as £2200 plus VAT. 

But these are very basic prices and the structure inside the wardrobe will also determine how much you can expect to pay. If you are looking for a very large fitted wardrobe then you may need to be willing to make a considerable investment. For example, some wardrobes can cost up to and in excess of £4500 plus VAT. This would be typical of the cost of a seven door wardrobe that also features overhead storage. Inside, you may also find things like drawers and storage compartments. 

Adding these extras does come with a higher price tag. While every carpenter will charge differently, you might expect to add an additional £100 onto your final bill for internal drawers and shoe racks. But we will look at these prices in a little more detail later on. 

Can Carpenters Make Fitted Wardrobes?

When we talk about someone who works with wood, it is very easy to label everyone with the same title; carpenter. But this is just one of many skilled jobs within the woodworking field. We have written a more definitive guide on this here which can help to clear up some of the confusion. But let’s explore whether a carpenter can make fitted wardrobes. 

A joiner is a type of woodworking expert whose main job is to craft furniture and other wooden components. They can be found making everything from door frames to staircases and moulding to window frames. But another thing that they specialise in is furniture making. This job is a little different from carpentry, in its truest from, since joiners are not trained to install the furniture. 

So, when choosing a joiner to make your fitted wardrobes, you may find that you then need to hire a separate person; a carpenter to install the structures. If you choose to work with a large wardrobe company then they will have a team of skilled people, each with their own role to play in the creation and installation of your new bedroom storage. 

Material Costs For Fitted Wardrobes

When you contact a carpenter to build fitted wardrobes, the price you are quoted will normally include the labour costs as well as the materials. However, it’s important to understand how much the materials for your new wardrobes will set you back. 

Again, we have to consider the size of the wardrobe; the larger it is, the more materials you will need and this will naturally up the cost. You should also consider the type of materials being used in construction of the wardrobes as varying quality materials will also come with different costs. 

The cost of the wardrobe may frequently be given in linear metres; you’ll pay a set price per linear metre which will vary according to the quality of the wood. As a rule of thumb, for a bog standard built-in wardrobe, you might be able to get this for between £800 and £1200 per linear metre. However, if you’re looking for a top of the range wardrobe then this price may skyrocket to more than £3000 per linear metre. Of course, there are mid-range options that fall in between these extremes. 

Basic wardrobes are usually made from MDF or plywood coated in melamine whereas a mid-range wardrobe might be made from something like veneered MDF. At the top end of things, a premium wardrobe may be made from solid woods like oak, beech, pine and many others which naturally come with a higher price. 

You will also need to factor in the cost of any additions such as LED lighting, which is a popular choice and whether you would like mirror fitting to the outside of the wardrobe doors. 

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Conclusion

We are all looking to create the most practical and beautiful space within our homes and if yours hasn’t been blessed with ample storage then you may find yourself looking for ways to improve this. If you’re short on space then a built-in wardrobe can be an excellent solution but of course, you’re going to need someone to make the furniture for you. 

A carpenter, or rather a joiner, is trained to make this type of furniture but the price you will pay largely depends on the size of the wardrobe and what internal features you have. Once you start adding things like extra shelves, shoe racks and drawers, the price can soon mount up. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay between £1500 and £4500, depending on how large or complex the project is. That includes building the wardrobes and installing them.