WHAT IS THE VALUE of a set of vintage steel kitchen cabinets? What price should you ask? This is a common questions that I receive on the blog. The answer is not definitive — but there are a number of factors I would suggest to consider, including: Condition, Size of Set, Brand, Location, and Luck.
Note, I have updated this story several times, often to include links to more, related stories. Most recent update: 2019.
I have been watching the market for vintage metal kitchen cabinets on ebay since 2002 and for sure, prices have gone up, but… maybe not as much as you’d think, since this is a hassle-filled endeavor. So, now that the disclaimer is in place, here are my thoughts on value:
1. Condition — The number-one determinant of value, I’d say, is condition. If the cabinets are are in excellent shape — with their original finish — and don’t need repainting, that will add to their value. Repainting cabinets can get expensive and is a hassle. Rust on the sink cabinet also is not good. And a serious ding will pretty much bring a cabinet’s value to zero. My advice to buyers is: Hold out for cabinets in excellent condition, they are out there. AND REMEMBER: Old products and materials can contain hazards, such as lead paint. Get with your own properly licensed professional to assess what you are dealing with so that you can make informed decisions how to handle. For more links and info see our Be Safe/Renovate Safe page .
2. Number of pieces available…size of your set — It can also be quite a hassle to retrofit someone else’s kitchen into your kitchen space. I bought 67 cabinets to get the right fit into my 15’x15′ space. And I made it work by the skin of my teeth. I know several readers who are in the process of collecting 2 or more sets just to get the right pieces — one collected four sets! So in general I’d say that the larger your set, the better luck you will have finding a buyer.
3. Brand — I tend to believe that the larger-name brands are going to find a home sooner because of the issue above, that is, people collecting multiple sets. From my research I’d say that the big name brands were and are: Youngstown, Geneva, St. Charles. It’s generally believed that St. Charles was the cream of the crop…but I have 1963 Geneva’s and I think their quality is terrific. If you have a less-common brand — like Crosley, Tracy, American brand — you still may find a buyer, especially if there is a collector watching far and wide to find just the cabinets they like.
- See my entire category on steel kitchen cabinets.
- Here is my growing Encyclopedia of Steel Kitchen Cabinets
- And here’s my history of steel kitchen cabinets.
4. Location — I tend to believe that the market for cabinets is very local or tight regionally. Buyers are most likely going to want to come pick up the cabinets personally as shipping is costly. They also are likely to want to see them. So, the closer you are to a large city the better you chances may be of finding a buyer close enough to work with. That said, I’ve also known readers to drive all over the nation to get the cabinets they need.
The last factor is: How much time do you have? If you need your cabinets out of the garage next week… well, don’t be thinking you’ll get the top possible dollar. While interest in these cabinets is growing, it’s still *probably* a collector’s market. If you plan for some time to connect with the right buyer you may get a better price.
Okay. All that said, how much?
$5,000+?
In the early-ish days of this blog — like, circa 2010, a large set of cabinets (sorry, I forget the brand) in a great shape, from a church kitchen in Iowa, sold for $5,000. At that time, that was the most I ever heard a set sell for, and I thought it was krazy. Today, it’s more common to see large sets of good name brands on ebay for prices heading this direction.
$3,000?
I bought my 67 cabinets — 100+ linear feet in great shape, original finish, great color – for $3,000 in 2005. The reason I got them so cheap (67 cabinets!) is that the seller would not break up the set, and the buyer had to dissassemble them and get them out, and she was in the Heart of Gotham. Also, 2005 was ‘early days’ before these cabinets became as collectible as they are today.
Just so you have an idea of what a buyer might have to go through:
- I took a day off work and paid my hauler to go with me to NYC to check out the cabinets and viability of moving them, BEFORE I made my decision.
- I then had to pay another $3,000 to the hauling company for the cabinets’ Escape from New York.
- Then for 4 months, I had to rent a Pod to house them in my front yard while the kitchen renovation got under way.
- During this entire time, I also had to endure my husband’s beady-eyed stare, he did not believe the grungy cabinets would be worth the effort. (Fortunately, all the NYC grime protected their finish, they are gorgeous and all is well here in Pam’s Retro Paradise once again.)
- After I installed all I could (in mudroom and garage, too), I sold the remaining 28 cabinets (pictured above) for $2,500 minus commissions to ebay and paypal. One bidder, at the last second.
So that’s the saga of one buyer, moi. Honestly, the seller in NYC probably should have paid me to take them off her hands — I am sure she would have had to pay some dough-re-mi to cart them off to a dump. But it was a non-profit… I didn’t even dicker. I had been looking for five years til these gems found me, and I snapped them up fast as you could say New York New York.
$2,000 and less….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Go onto ebay and craigslist and Facebook Marketplace and start checking current prices in your current market. That’s kinda what it comes down to. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Why don’t the cabinets sell for more? They are expensive to repaint. As described by my personal experience, they are a hassle to hunt down, pick up, store and then try to retrofit into an existing kitchen. To that right person it can be very gratifying, but Retro Renovation takes a lot of energy physically and creatively — it’s hard work and time consuming.
Where to sell you metal kitchen cabinets
Once you get your pricing in mind, you can also see:
- My post on how and where to sell your cabinets and
- And here’s another one, kinda similar, on where to sell vintage stuff.
A note on sink cabinets with porcelain-on-cast-iron or -steel drainboard sinks:
If these are in terrific shape — if the drainboard sink is in pristine condition — they can be also desirable in on the open market. If you have a name brand, you may have good chance of finding a buyer looking for this important piece. See my story here on where to find drainboard sinks.
- Note: Re potential safety issue with old drainboard sinks, see my May 2016 story, Understanding potential lead hazards in old porcelain enamel bathtubs and sinks and ceramic tile of any age
Common question — on refinishing:
This blog is not a fixit blog per se — and I am not an expert on these questions. That said, readers have used several methods. In general you can read about them in their stories which are either in Kitchen Help / Steel Kitchen Cabinets or Kitchen Help / Readers and their Kitchens subcategories. That said: My key advice is: Get with your own properly licensed professional to help you with such questions. And importantly, be aware that there may be hazards in old products and materials — for example, there may be lead in the paint on these cabinets and in the finish and manufacture of the sinks, and you don’t know what the sound-deadening materials (if used) were made of — so get with your own pro to determine what you are dealing with so that you can make informed decisions how to handle. Yup, one more time, for more info and links see our Be Safe/Renovate Safe page –> https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/
For more info:
Judy Graves says
I grew up in Arden Manor (subdivision) in Sacramento, CA. We had metal kitchen and bathrm cabinets. I’d really like to find some of those to buy.
Lisa says
Question: I have the opportunity to buy a set of Geneva metal kitchen cabinets with wooden doors and drawer fronts. Were they ever sold this way or did a previous owner reface them?
pam kueber says
Likely they were. See our stories in Kitchens / Steel Kitchens. Youngstown’s Monterey line was like this, and we have seen similar designs in St. Charles. We have numerous stories about this….
michelle ford says
We just bought a house that has a full set of Youngstown metal cabinets in great condition. They could just use a little paint. I don’t want to do it myself. Any suggestions on companies or people who would know how to work with these types of cabinets? Someone suggested we check with an autobody repair shop.
pam kueber says
michelle, you can read about the different methods and experiences that readers have had and used in our Kitchens / Steel Kitchens category up the blue navigation bar… Lots of experience there. Good luck!
Marie says
Hi Pam-
After 47 years in their home, my parents are FINALLY planning to update their kitchen and I told my mom that the bunch of metal cabinets she has – all in good condition including a floor to ceiling bank about 6′ wide – should be sold, not scrapped. Any up to date guidance or advice I could pass along would be welcome as they live a state away and are in their early 70s. I’m trying to help as much as I can before the demo begins.
Thanks, Marie
Marie says
I looked at the forum but it appears that no one posts photos. I have no idea of the age (could be 20s as the house was built in the 20s) nor any brand (what’s a St Charles???)
pam kueber says
See all our stories about metal kitchen cabinets in the category (above in the navigation) Kitchens / Steel Kitchen Cabinets. Tons of info there…
Rhonda says
I have a full set of St. Charles kitchen cabinets in butter yellow with maple doors on some of the uppers…gadgets galore…pots and pans cabinet, island cabinets, retractable rising spring loaded shelf for heavy appliance, partitioned drawers, vintage Thermador oven from same era, etc. I even have the original dated invoice 1952 for the kitchen. These cabinets came out of a 12,000sf 1927 mansion that updated its look in the 50?s and as much as we loved these cabinets, we took the kitchen back to a twenties look. Whoever buys these will have a top of the line vintage fifties kitchen for sure! We even have the sink, sink base, wall oven…you name it!! These are located 2 hrs from San Francisco, 2 hours from Fresno and 2 hours from Sacramento in the charming little town of Sonora, California. We are selling these as a set. Anyone interested? They would make a hot ticket laundry room too.
Ron says
I got a set of kitchen cabinets free from a friend, have refinished them and am wanting to hang them in my garage but cannot find the “old fashioned” rail mounting brackets. Can anyone help me locate these? Thanks
Marsha says
I am buying a set of St Charles Cabinets tomorrow. I lucked out, including the double ovens that are in the cabinet (new stainless steel ovens!) and the original cooktop, I am paying $900.00. All that and they are 20 miles from my house.
pam kueber says
Wow! Good luck! Send pics!
Victoria says
Wow! How many cabinets are in the set? Do they have wood doors? What part of country are you in? Will they be enough for your remodel? How much refinishing will they need? Sorry for all the questions….I have a VERY LARGE set of wood front St Charles pulled out of a 1960’s executive home (butler’s pantry, several walls of cabinets as well as pantry-style cabinets) which I’m trying to figure out how to price to list on Craigslist. I’m close to SF Bay area so hoping to get a premium price (of course). Thank you in advance for any information you provide! Best of luck on the rest of your remodel…..you sound very lucky already!
Cathi says
This site is so cool! We sold our house inVirginia in 2005(it may still be on the market from that person) but it had a seton steel cabinets on one entire wall of the kitchen. Also a cast iron double drain board sink. House was built by my father in law in 1946, and hubby lived there until we married and moved here in 2005. If one wants vintage, that house is IT! We spent 3 years renovating it attic to basement, and it was beautiful when we left. Cabinets are in excellent condition. Address is 1667 Varina ave, Petersburg VA.
Jillian says
Hello! My husband and I are buying a house that has the original 1950’s Youngstown/American Standard metal kitchen cabinets. I am not sure if the cabinets have been painted or not (they look like someone tried to make them look like wood..I see brush strokes). They also have wallpaper boarder…??? They have the chrome trim and such.
I wish I could post a picture on here.
I need help with them! I don’t have a clue where to even begin with them. How much am I looking at to paint them? Where do I start????
I’ve never done such a thing before.
Help!!!!!!
pam kueber says
Jillian, this is not a DIY site. But, I have featured several stories in which readers share how they repainted their cabinets. You can get to them via the Kitchens/Steel Kitchens category. Get to know our Navigation bars at the top! Note: Old paint may contain vintage nastiness like lead – be sure to consult with properly licensed professionals to make sure you are handling this and any other renovation project in your old house properly. Good luck.
Kyle says
Thank you for the reply, Pam. I visited the links you posted and checked out the instructions and tips for listing. When I can get one of my children to help me with the posting of photos I will do so. Thank you again for your time.