Carpentry work at a glance
Hardly any other material shapes living spaces as much as wood. It stands for naturalness, durability, and individuality. At the same time, the range of carpentry work is enormously broad: from custom-fit built-in cabinets, parquet flooring, and custom kitchens to wooden windows, facades, roof structures, and outdoor structures. It is precisely this diversity that makes it difficult to quote flat rates, as the effort, materials, and production vary significantly from project to project.
This guide shows you what costs are realistic for carpentry work in Switzerland, how prices are calculated, and when a custom-made solution is really worthwhile.
How are carpenters' prices calculated in Switzerland?
Carpentry work is often billed based on time spent, supplemented by material and machine costs. The hourly rate is the most important benchmark here—and varies depending on the activity, qualifications, technical equipment, and region.
Standard hourly rates in the carpentry trade
Project coordination and planning (approx. $100–140/hour)
For larger projects such as kitchens, interior renovations, or complex custom-made items, a project manager takes care of planning, coordination, and supervision. The higher rate reflects experience, responsibility, and organizational effort.
Carpentry work (approx. $100–120/hour)
The manual work—from furniture construction and repairs to assembly work—is usually carried out by trained carpenters. Regional differences are common here.
Workshop work on standard machines (approx. $100–140/hour)
Cutting, milling, and preparatory work are often carried out by machine. Although the hourly rate is higher, the time required is reduced and precision is increased.
Special machines and CNC technology (approx. $120–160/hour)
CNC systems, edge banding machines, and painting lines are used for millimeter-precise manufacturing, perfect edges, and high-quality surfaces. This technology increases costs but ensures the highest quality.
On-site assembly and installation (approx. $100–120/hour)
Installation at the customer's premises incurs additional costs for transport, tools, adjustments, and fine-tuning—the rate is therefore higher than for workshop work alone.
Why hourly rates differ
In addition to qualifications and region, the choice of materials, project size, time pressure, and complexity also influence the price. Working with precious woods, special surfaces, or tight deadlines requires more experience and increases the amount of work involved.
What kind of work does a carpenter do—and how much does it cost?
Carpenters work in many areas of interior and exterior construction. The following examples give you a realistic idea of the budgets to be planned for depending on the size of the project.
Custom kitchens and kitchen renovations
Custom-built kitchens offer maximum design freedom and are ideal for difficult floor plans or high demands on storage space and quality.
Budget:
- CHF 7,000–10,000 for simple solutions
- CHF 25,000–50,000 for high-quality kitchens
- From $85,000 for exclusive models
The price depends heavily on fronts, countertops, appliances, fittings, and the proportion of custom-made items.
Parquet and wood flooring work
In addition to laying flooring, carpenters take care of subfloor construction, insulation, clean transitions, and baseboards.
Guideline values:
- Oak parquet flooring usually costs between $80 and $110 per square meter.
- Precious woods such as cherry wood often cost CHF 100–200/m².
Elaborate patterns, rooms with lots of nooks and crannies, or a substrate in need of renovation increase the costs.
Custom-made furniture and built-in systems
Custom furniture is ideal for niches, sloping ceilings, or under stairs.
Price range:
- Built-in cabinets often cost between $1,300 and $2,000 per linear meter.
- Simple individual items starting at $1,100
- complex custom-made products significantly above that
Interior dividers, pull-outs, lighting, high-quality woods, or lacquered fronts are typical cost drivers.
wooden facades
Wooden facades combine aesthetics and functionality and can be energy efficient.
Cost: approx. $300–550/m² including substructure, insulation, and installation.
The price varies depending on the type of wood, profiling, insulation thickness, and detail connections.
Roof truss and roof extension
Carpenters and joiners are responsible for construction and interior finishing.
Guideline values:
- Roof truss renovation approx. $200–350/m²
- Renovation with above-rafter insulation approx. $500–650/m²
The renovation will incur additional costs for interior paneling (60–100 CHF/m²), flooring, doors, and furniture.
Wooden windows and wood-aluminum systems
Wooden windows offer a natural look and good insulation values, while wood-aluminum combinations are easier to maintain.
Costs:
- double glazing approx. $400/m²
- triple glazed approx. $450/m²
Special dimensions, sound insulation, security technology, and the number of sashes influence the final price.
Carports and outdoor structures made of wood
Carports, pergolas, and canopies are classic wood construction projects.
Cost of a wooden carport: approx. $5,000–$12,000
The size, foundation, roof shape, and additional rooms have a significant impact on the price.
Specific examples from everyday life
Renovating a compact kitchen (14–22 m²)
Partial renovations often involve replacing cabinet fronts, adapting existing elements, and replacing individual appliances. Typical budgets range from $7,000 to $10,000, depending on materials, fittings, and appliance integration.
Cupboard solution under astaircase
A custom-made cupboard in the sloping area usually costs between $3,000 and $6,000. Additional pull-out shelves, lighting, or high-quality fronts increase the price but create optimal storage space.
Converting an attic (carpentry work)
For carpentry work in an attic (approx. 20–35 m²), you should budget CHF 30,000–40,000. Complex roof slopes, insulation, and custom-made furniture increase the cost.
Renovating a wooden facade
For a facade area of 100–120 m², the total cost is around CHF 30,000–55,000. The decisive factors are the quality of the wood, the choice of profile, and the design of the connections.
Custom-made or standard solution – when is which option appropriate?
When DIY or standard products aresufficient
Simple shelves, minor repairs, flat-pack furniture, or maintenance work can easily be done yourself. This saves money if a perfect fit and design are not a priority.
When a carpenter is clearly the better choice
Skilled work is essential for custom-made products, complex installations, high-quality materials, or load-bearing components. Carpenters ensure a precise fit, stable constructions, and clean installation.
Where DIY store solutions are justified
Standard furniture, simple cabinets, or inexpensive flooring can be a good choice if budget is more important than individuality or maximum durability.
Where custom work is superior
Carpentry solutions are advantageous wherever space needs to be used optimally or the result needs to be of lasting high quality—for example, in built-in units in alcoves, custom kitchens, or high-quality wooden windows.
Common mistakes when planning carpentry work
Unsuitable types ofwood
Not all wood is suitable for damp conditions, heavy use, or certain rooms. The wrong choice can lead to damage or high maintenance costs.
Budget calculated too tightly
In addition to materials, planning, production, machine, and assembly times must also be taken into account. Failure to do so can lead to unpleasant surprises.
Inaccuratemeasurements
Even small deviations can result in fixtures not fitting properly. Ideally, the carpenter should take measurements on site.
Low-qualityfittings
Inexpensive pull-outs and hinges wear out more quickly. High-quality fittings significantly increase comfort and service life.
Unclearuse
Storage space, load capacity, and suitability for everyday use should be defined before planning—otherwise, you will end up with attractive but impractical solutions.
Forget about installation and logistics
Transport routes, stairwells, and access situations must be considered early on to avoid problems during installation.
Conclusion: When carpentry work adds value
Carpentry work is particularly worthwhile when standard solutions are not suitable or you are looking for long-term quality. Custom-made furniture, well-designed interior fittings, and high-quality woodwork not only increase living comfort but also the value of the property. For simple, interchangeable solutions, the hardware store may suffice—but the more individual and durable a project is to be, the more obvious it is that a professional is the right choice.
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