Kitchen Cabinets & Wardrobes Installation Costs in Nairobi (2025 Guide)
Kitchen cabinetry and wardrobes often take up the majority of your furniture and joinery budget. Understanding these costs clearly helps homeowners—both local and diaspora—make smarter investment choices.
Cost Benchmarks (Per Serious Cost Category)
| Category | Typical Cost (Excl. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Standard laminated cabinets | KSh 20,000 – 30,000 / linear ft (~KSh 65,600 – 98,400 / meter) |
| Mid-range semi-solid wood | KSh 35,000 – 45,000 / linear ft (~KSh 115,000 – 148,500 / m) |
| Premium solid wood (oak, walnut, etc.) | KSh 55,000 – 80,000 / linear ft (~KSh 180,800 – 262,400 / m) |
| Ultra-lux custom cabinetry | KSh 100,000 – 150,000+ / linear ft (~KSh 328,000 – 492,000+ / m) |
For wardrobes (built-in):
- Standard laminate wardrobes: KSh 15,000 – 25,000 / linear ft
- Mid-range: KSh 25,000 – 40,000 / linear ft
- Premium solid wood: KSh 45,000 – 70,000 / linear ft
- Ultra custom wardrobes: KSh 80,000 – 120,000+ / linear ft
Neighborhood Cost Multipliers in Nairobi
Use these multipliers to adjust up or down, reflecting differences in finish expectations, labor costs, and material logistics:
- Karen / Runda / Muthaiga / Rosslyn: × 1.25 – 1.4
- Lavington / Kileleshwa / Riverside: × 1.10 – 1.2
- Kilimani / Westlands / Hurlingham: × 1.05 – 1.15
- Ruaka / Ridgeways / Donholm / Embakasi: × 1.0 – 1.1
Budget Examples (All Figures Ex-VAT)
1. Kilimani Kitchen Cabinets (6 linear meters) – Mid-range
- Cost/m: KSh 38,000 × 1.10 = KSh 41,800
- Total cabinetry: 6 × 41,800 = KSh 250,800
- Add installation labor (~10%): KSh 25,080
- Total mid-range cabinet budget: ~ KSh 276,000
2. Karen Wardrobe (4 m built-in) – Premium solid wood
- Base cost: KSh 60,000/m × 1.35 = KSh 81,000/m
- Total cabinets: 4 × 81,000 = KSh 324,000
- Installation labor (~10%): KSh 32,400
- Total: KSh 356,400
3. Lavington Luxury Kitchen (8 m cabinets) – Ultra custom
- Base cost: KSh 120,000/lft → KSh 394,000/m × 1.2 = KSh 472,800/m
- Cabinets: 8 × 472,800 = KSh 3,782,400
- Labor (~10%): KSh 378,240
- Total: KSh 4.16M (ex-VAT)
Breakdown of What Affects Costs
- Material Grade: Laminates vs solid woods vs artisan joinery
- Hardware: Soft-close hinges, integrated lighting, power outlets
- Finishes: Paint, veneer, polyurethane, custom paint
- Complexity: Corner units, islands, glass doors, carvings
- Service and Measurements: Survey, drawings, delivery, mounting
ROI and Value Insights
- Kitchens: High-quality custom cabinets can increase property value by 8–12%
- Wardrobes: Built-ins can add 5–8% resale or rental value
- Compared to loose furniture, built-ins offer durability, style cohesiveness, and space efficiency
Why Precision Matters for Diaspora Clients:
Clear budgeting suffers when ambiguity remains. Prestige Bluestar delivers:
- Detailed BoQs with line-by-line unit costs
- 3D visual mock-ups before work begins
- Transparent milestones and change order process
- National recognition: Kenya’s Top Interior Design Brand 2025 (Villa Rosa Kempinski, 5 Sep 2025)
Choosing the Right Cabinetry/Wardrobe Partner
Check for:
- Clear references and portfolio
- Warranty (12-24 months)
- Quality of hardware and finish
- Detailed BoQ and visual samples
- Willingness to execute diaspora-friendly workflows (virtual walkthroughs, milestones, remote payment)
Final Takeaway
Whether you’re getting a 4 m wardrobe in Kileleshwa or a 10 m custom kitchen in Rosslyn, align material, complexity level, and location to budget estimates—and insist on transparency and design accountability.
Want me to build you a downloadable calculator sheet (linear ft × cost/m × multiplier) to quickly estimate these for clients or prospects?
