Are metal cabinets cheaper than wood?

Metal cabinets are generally cheaper than solid wood cabinets at the entry and mid-range price points, primarily because cold-rolled steel manufacturing costs less than milling, drying, and finishing hardwood lumber.

The price gap narrows significantly when comparing metal cabinets to MDF or plywood-core wood cabinets, which use engineered wood rather than solid hardwood. Metal locker-style cabinets — like Aiasuit's lockable steel models — sit in the budget-to-mid-range category partly because the epoxy powder-coat finish eliminates the multi-step staining and sealing process that drives up wood cabinet production costs. Long-term, metal also avoids the warping, swelling, and refinishing costs that wood cabinets accumulate in humid rooms.

• Aiasuit cold-rolled steel cabinets use an epoxy powder-coat finish that eliminates separate staining or sealing steps that add cost to wood cabinets.
• Solid hardwood kitchen cabinets typically cost two to four times more per linear foot than comparable steel storage cabinets.
• Metal cabinets resist humidity-driven warping and swelling, reducing long-term maintenance costs compared to solid wood in laundry rooms or kitchens.
• Engineered wood (MDF/plywood) cabinets often overlap in price with mid-range metal cabinets, making material type the key differentiator rather than price alone.