When planning a kitchen upgrade, many Australian homeowners face a common question: should I go custom or flat-pack? Both options have their place — the right choice depends on your budget, timeline, and how long you plan to stay in your home.
What Is a Custom Kitchen?
A custom kitchen is designed and built to your exact specifications. Every cabinet, shelf, and drawer is made to measure for your specific space. At PCS Cabinets, all our kitchens are fully custom — designed in Perth and manufactured at our Carlisle workshop.
What Is a Flat-Pack Kitchen?
Flat-pack kitchens come in standard sizes from major retailers like IKEA, Bunnings, and Kaboodle. You select from a fixed range of cabinet dimensions and assemble them on-site. They're cheaper upfront but require compromises on fit and finish.
Cost Comparison
- Flat-pack: $3,000–$10,000 (materials only; installation extra)
- Custom: $12,000–$35,000+ depending on size, materials and finishes
Key Differences
Fit and Finish
Flat-pack cabinets come in fixed increments (typically 200mm, 300mm, 600mm widths). Odd-shaped kitchens with angled walls, alcoves, or non-standard ceiling heights almost always end up with filler panels and awkward gaps. Custom cabinetry fills every millimetre.
Material Quality
Most flat-pack kitchens use 16mm particleboard with a melamine finish. Custom kitchens can use thicker board (18–33mm), solid timber, or premium lacquered finishes — and the joinery is typically dovetail or dowelled rather than cam-lock fittings.
Hardware
Custom kitchens typically include soft-close hinges and drawer runners as standard. With flat-pack, soft-close hardware is often an upgrade, and the quality varies widely.
Longevity
A well-built custom kitchen from a reputable manufacturer can last 20–30 years. Flat-pack kitchens, depending on quality and usage, typically last 10–15 years before the board edges, hinges and drawer runners start to show wear.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose flat-pack if you're on a tight budget, renovating an investment property, or plan to sell within a few years. Choose custom if you plan to stay in your home long-term, have a non-standard layout, or want quality finishes that will stand the test of time.
PCS Cabinets specialises in fully custom Australian-made cabinetry. Get a free quote and our team will assess your space and give you an honest recommendation.