We Learned Everything About Menards' Kitchen Cabinets So You Don't Have To

Do you like to shop at Menards? The company offers various home-related products, selling everything from appliances to bathroom items to yard-related products, so it's no surprise that Menards also has many kitchen options — including cabinets. Whether you need wall cabinets, base cabinets, or utility cabinets, Menards has it all (and then some), so it's a good idea to have a clear idea of what you're looking for before you start browsing.

To the company's credit, the Menards website offers a buying guide and virtual design tool to help you be more confident that your specific choice of cabinets will look great in your kitchen. Also, the cabinets can be made of various wood choices, which include options such as birch, cherry, and oak. Clearly Menards cabinets are quite versatile, so going for them might seem like an immediate slam dunk — but like kitchen cabinets from any other retailer, they have pros and cons. So before you purchase, here's a deeper look into what's great (and what's not so great) about Menards' kitchen cabinet selections. 

If all you want to do is stay within your budget and find cheap kitchen cabinets, Menards is one of the best options out there, as their cabinets are relatively inexpensive. For instance, many of Menards' kitchen wall cabinet options are more affordable than similar items that you'll find at Home Depot and Lowe's, with Menards even offering a few options below $100. Moreover, even though base cabinets can typically be pricier than wall cabinets, Menards is still the most budget-friendly destination for those cabinets of the three retailers. While Menards sells many base cabinet options for under $200, for instance, most cabinet choices available at Home Depot and Lowe's have higher price tags.

Not only do Menards' kitchen cabinets have the benefit of affordability, but they're also convenient for installation. Customers note you can install these cabinets without too much difficulty and stress, which is good to remember if you always dread and fear installing new features in your home. The website even provides a helpful how-to section for installation, listing the necessary tools — such as a tape measure, level, and stud finder — and detailed steps to guide you through the process. But before you get too excited, consider that there are downsides in addition to perks.

While Menards' kitchen cabinets are a terrific choice when it comes to convenience, the retailer isn't typically the best option for quality. For example, reviewers have noted that the cover panels don't look so good, chip easily, and sometimes need you to do extra painting for them to appear more presentable. Customers comparing Menards' cabinets to other products often note that Menard's kitchen cabinets are lower quality than the competition. So, it's worth considering that while they might save you money in the short term, those cabinets can make it harder to sell your home in the future.

Money and quality aside, do you take pride in being an environmental shopper? If sustainability is a significant factor for your purchasing decisions, you might prefer to avoid Menards. The company is notorious for being ... not great, when it comes to the environment. In 2005, Menards was required to pay millions of dollars as a consequence of water pollution, per The Daily Reporter, and then was guilty of illegally dumping chemicals in 2007, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

With that full picture in mind, your decision to buy or not buy Menards' cabinet products depends on your goals. If versatility, ease of installation, and low prices are your priorities when shopping for kitchen cabinets, you'll likely love Menards. On the other hand, if you prioritize quality and sustainability, you'll be better off shopping elsewhere.