Is plywood or MDF better for cabinets?

When building kitchen cabinets, the first thing we consider is the material to use. Cabinets made of different materials have varying performance, so the choice needs to be based on one’s actual situation—starting with budget, desired effect, and durability. For those with a limited budget, plywood and Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) are viable options for cabinet making. But between the two, which is more suitable for cabinets?

1. Durability and Structural Strength

• Plywood: Made by cross-laminating multiple thin wood veneers, it inherently boasts high strength and rigidity. Compared to MDF, it is less prone to warping, cracking, and bending, and even slight impacts will not easily damage it. Plywood is an ideal choice for cabinet boxes and drawer boxes. After all, when storing heavy items (such as pots and pans), plywood drawers are less likely to deform.
• MDF: Compressed from wood fibers and resin, it has high density but is somewhat brittle. It lacks the laminar strength of plywood; when bearing heavy loads for a long time, it tends to sag and deform. Therefore, it is not suitable for making shelves for large cabinets or drawer boxes. However, it works well for non-load-bearing parts like cabinet doors, where the requirement for load-bearing capacity is relatively low.

2. Moisture Resistance

Areas like kitchens and bathrooms are relatively humid, so cabinets used in these spaces must have strong moisture resistance. Natural wood plywood itself has a certain degree of moisture resistance, and in this aspect, it outperforms MDF.

3. Cost and Budget

Budget is a top concern for many people. Although plywood is slightly more expensive than MDF, the actual price difference is negligible when other needs are taken into account. This is because MDF requires additional costs if it needs to be covered with wood veneer or painted with high-quality paint. That said, MDF offers better cost-effectiveness.

In conclusion, plywood is more suitable for cabinet making than MDF. However, if you want to leverage the advantages of both materials, you can try a hybrid cabinet design: use plywood for the cabinet boxes (to ensure strength and moisture resistance) and MDF for the cabinet doors. This combination fully brings out the strengths of both materials.