Short answer: a single custom floating shelf, built and installed, starts around $150. Most of our shelf projects land between $150 and $1,500 depending on size, wood, and how many shelves we’re hanging. Here’s what actually drives the number.
What affects the price
Length and depth. A 24-inch shelf over a coffee bar costs less than a 10-foot run across a living room wall. Longer shelves need thicker stock and heavier-duty hidden brackets to stay dead level.
Wood species. Paint-grade or stained poplar and maple are the budget-friendly picks. White oak, walnut, and other hardwoods cost more — but they’re also the ones that make people stop and stare.
Finish. A clear coat is straightforward. Custom stain matching, specialty finishes, or paint matching your existing cabinetry adds labor.
Installation. This is the part people underestimate. A shelf is only as good as its mounting — we anchor into studs (or add blocking) so a loaded shelf never sags or pulls away from the wall. Tricky walls, tile backsplashes, and plaster add time.
Quantity. Three shelves on one wall cost less per shelf than a single shelf — one trip, one setup, one finish batch.
Solid vs. hollow
Cheap floating shelves are hollow boxes wrapped in veneer. They look fine until they don’t — sagging, peeling edges, mounting hardware pulling out.
We build ours from solid stock. Heavier, stronger, and they age like furniture instead of falling apart like flat-pack. It’s the difference between a shelf you replace in three years and one that’s still there in thirty.
Custom vs. off-the-shelf
A big-box shelf comes in three lengths and one finish. If your wall is 73 inches and the shelf is 72, you get a gap — or you live with it.
Custom means the shelf fits your wall to the sixteenth, the wood matches your room, and the finish matches your trim. For about the cost of a nice dinner out more than the cheap option, you get something made for your space.
The short version
Single shelf installed: starting at $150. A wall of two or three shelves: typically $400–$900. Full-room runs and premium hardwoods go higher — send us a photo and rough dimensions and we’ll give you a real number, free.
Call or text (360) 606-1106 or email scott@foundrycabinets.com for a free estimate.
Or get started right now: request your free estimate here
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