What You Need To Know When Choosing Between Framed Vs. Frameless Cabinets

It's always the subtle details that deliver the biggest impact in a kitchen's design, and one example is the distinction between a framed and frameless cabinet. Kitchen cabinet space is a dealbreaker for most homeowners — who wouldn't want to utilize every inch of cabinet storage space available? So, it's important to understand how framed and frameless cabinetry can affect the look and functionality.

The main difference between the two styles is that framed cabinets have a 1 ½-inch wooden frame installed along the sides of the cabinet that conceals a small portion of its interior edges. The frameless versions allow you to see and access the entirety of the cabinet without any visual and physical hindrances.

Framed cabinets are also often dubbed American-style because of their popularity in most American kitchens. The added frame makes the cabinet stronger and more solid due to the extra reinforcement. Appearance-wise, the frame gives the illusion of a reduced storage space, which is not the case for cabinets but rings true for framed kitchen drawers. The frame added to a kitchen drawer creates an unusable space along its opening, decreasing the height of the actual drawer and reducing the potential space you could use for organizing kitchen flatware. The frame of both cabinets and drawers also juts out ever so slightly from the cabinet's body, revealing a small, wood lining between lined-up cabinetry. It's an almost imperceptible detail that doesn't take away from the aesthetic but merits consideration if you decide on framed cabinets for your kitchen.

Living up to its "full-access cabinet" moniker, frameless cabinets take advantage of their full storage width. This cabinet style is more prevalent in Europe, where living spaces are more compact than their American counterparts. Without the lip of a frame cabinet, objects can be slid along the sides without any hindrances, making cleaning the interiors easier, as well. The absence of a solid wood front also yields a sleeker, more seamless, and contemporary aesthetic.

The choice between framed versus frameless cabinetry ultimately boils down to aesthetic and budget. Frameless cabinets are slightly more expensive and take longer to install than framed ones due to the intricacies and precision of their installation. For a medium-sized kitchen remodel (which measures around 161 square feet according to a National Kitchen and Bathroom Association study), a full suite of framed cabinets and installation could cost between $22,000 and $28,000, while the frameless option could set you back $25,000 to $30,000.