Are All-Plywood Cabinets Really Worth the Extra Cost?
Today's cabinets aren't built with yesterday's particle board — here's what actually determines cabinet quality.
Every once in a while a contractor or homeowner walks into the Blue Mountain showroom and the conversation goes something like this…
"Are these cabinets all plywood?"
It's a great question. But over the years we've noticed something interesting. Many people asking that question aren't really asking about plywood. They're asking about particle board.
Somewhere along the way, many homeowners — and even some contractors — developed the idea that anything that isn't plywood must be the same crumbly particle board used decades ago. (If you've ever watched an old piece of inexpensive furniture swell after getting wet, it's understandable why that reputation stuck.)
The thing is… all plywood cabinets are great if you've got the budget for them. But the truth is, today's cabinets are not built with yesterday's particle board.
First, Let's Define the Terms…
Engineered Particle Board
Modern particle board is an engineered wood product made from refined wood fibers and wood particles bonded together under tremendous heat and pressure.
The result is a dense, stable panel that's specifically engineered for cabinetry and furniture.
It is not the loose, flaky particle board many people remember from decades ago.
Today's premium engineered particle board has become one of the most commonly used cabinet materials in North America.
Plywood
Plywood is made by laminating multiple thin layers of wood together with adhesive.
The direction of each layer alternates, creating strength and stability.
For many homeowners, plywood has long been viewed as the premium cabinet construction option.
And in many situations, it absolutely is, but it's not the end all that it once was.
Blue Mountain Insight: One thing we've learned after over a decade in the cabinet industry is that cabinet quality does not just depend on plywood vs. furniture board. In reality, that's only one piece of a much bigger framework that equals a quality cabinet.
In the world of cabinetry, quality is also determined by:
- Drawer construction
- Hardware
- Interior finishes
- Cabinet engineering
- Joinery
- Finish quality
- Manufacturer's warranty
Something to note is that most manufacturers today offer a hybrid of plywood and engineered particle board in the construction of their cabinetry. In fact, many premium cabinet manufacturers intentionally choose engineered particle board because of its consistency and stability.
At Blue Mountain, we don't sell any cabinets that don't at least have plywood sides in the construction. This allows for some plywood construction at a lower price point and also the application of real wood veneer sides to the cabinets and/or panels. But in those instances the rest of the cabinet box is constructed with modern engineered particle board.
Today's Engineered Particle Board Has Come a Long Way
If you haven't looked at cabinet construction in the last twenty years… you might be surprised.
Modern premium particle board is:
- Extremely flat
- Dimensionally stable
- Resistant to seasonal movement
- Consistent from sheet to sheet
- An excellent substrate for durable cabinet finishes
One of the reasons manufacturers continue using engineered particle board is because of that consistency. Engineered particle board tends to remain remarkably stable. In fact, today's premium engineered particle board has very little in common with the inexpensive material that gave particle board its reputation decades ago.
And Not All Plywood Is Created Equal
Another thing to keep in mind when looking at plywood construction is that many people think plywood is simply… "Plywood."
It isn't. Different manufacturers use different grades of plywood. One example is a premium cabinet line we proudly offer at Blue Mountain called DeWils.
One of the things we appreciate is that DeWils uses exterior-grade plywood for the construction of its cabinet sides. That material offers excellent durability along with increased moisture resistance. That's a very different product than lower-grade plywood used in some applications.
Just because two cabinets are labeled "plywood" doesn't necessarily mean they're built from the same quality plywood.
A Designer's Eye
Go ahead and open up the cabinets, pull open the drawers. How does the interior look? Are you looking at a white melamine material, or a maple/birch melamine finish on the inside? Are the drawer boxes a stapled white melamine, or are they a real hardwood dovetailed construction?
There is so much more to look for in a quality cabinet than just, "Is this plywood?"
- What grade of plywood is used?
- Where is plywood used?
- What material are the cabinet backs?
- What are the drawer boxes made from?
- What hardware is used?
- What warranty comes with the cabinets?
Those questions tell you much more about cabinet quality than simply asking if it's all plywood construction.
There are certainly situations where we recommend upgrading to all plywood construction. But, that just depends on the client's needs and preferences. At Blue Mountain we offer Schrock Full Access cabinets, a frameless cabinet that comes standard with all plywood construction, without the usual hefty upgrade that all plywood construction often comes with. In fact it's a very high quality cabinet with a price point that offers an exceptional value to homeowners and contractors looking for an all plywood cabinet.
The Quality Is in the Details…
One thing we've learned is that people sometimes become so focused on whether the cabinets are constructed of all plywood that they forget to ask about the parts they interact with every day.
We'd much rather see a homeowner with:
- Beautiful solid wood dovetail drawers
- Premium soft-close hardware
- An exceptional finish
- Thoughtful storage and design
And remember, you'll touch those drawers every single day. You'll open those doors thousands of times over the life of your kitchen. Those details matter. A well-designed cabinet is always more than one material choice.
In fact, after visiting and observing the manufacturing processes at both Schrock and DeWils cabinetry, we had fully expected to see mostly machines turning out cabinets. Instead, we watched skilled craftspeople hand-gluing dovetail drawer boxes, sanding cabinet doors, hand-wiping stains, and constructing and carefully inspecting every cabinet piece before it moved to the next station. It reminded us that beautiful cabinetry is still built by people, and that's where the real quality comes from.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is today's engineered particle board the same as the old particle board?
No. Modern premium particle board is a much more refined, durable, engineered material than the inexpensive particle board many people remember from decades ago.
Is plywood stronger?
Both materials are extremely strong and durable when used and treated appropriately.
Is plywood waterproof?
No. However, some plywood products — such as exterior-grade plywood — offer significantly greater moisture resistance than standard plywood.
Why do some manufacturers use engineered particle board instead of plywood?
Because modern engineered particle board offers outstanding consistency, stability, and a smooth surface for high-quality finishes. Many premium manufacturers intentionally choose it for those reasons — not simply because of cost.
Does Blue Mountain offer both?
Yes. We offer cabinet lines with premium particle-board construction paired with plywood sides, as well as all-plywood construction upgrades. We'll help you choose the option that best fits your priorities and investment.
The Bottom Line
After designing thousands of kitchens and working with multiple cabinet manufacturers over the years, we've learned that quality is never determined by a single material choice.
It comes from thoughtful engineering, quality craftsmanship, beautiful finishes, professional installation, and a design that's thoughtfully tailored to the way your family actually lives.
At Blue Mountain, our goal has never been simply to sell cabinets — our goal is to help you understand your options so you can invest confidently in cabinetry you'll love every time you walk into your kitchen and open up a cabinet.
