When you visit a kitchen showroom and look for a kitchen cabinet brand, but you find two identical brands, it is a very frustrating and common issue faced by many people planning to renovate their kitchen. Both Cubiatic and Fabuwood sit in the mid-range bracket, both use plywood for construction, both brands avoid particleboard, and both promise quality at a fair price. So what actually separates them, which one deserves to be in your kitchen, and which one is worth your money?
What is cubitac? The brand behind the price tag
Cubiatic has built its brand reputation around one specific strength: color. Their wide range of products includes Prestige, Basic, and Presto, with 18+ design styles and a custom color program with up to 5,000 options. For someone who wants to have a personalized kitchen or has a specific shade in mind, this range of color options is best at this price point.
The construction of Cubiatic is solid, with all plywood boxes, solid wood dovetail drawers, and no particleboard in the build. The most common issue that is later discovered is hardware Bum soft close hinges are standard in the Imperial line; others like Basic, Prestige, and Presto use unbranded soft close mechanisms.
Who makes cubitac and where?
Founded in 2011, the company operates in Ridgefield, New Jersey. Whereas the company manages designs, distribution, and quality standards in the United States, manufacturing is operated and done via a global manufacturing network spread across the world. Cabinets are distributed through the extensive dealer network that the company has in North America.
Instead of selling its product directly to customers, Cubiatic depends on kitchen showrooms and remodeling professionals, which turns out to be an advantage for customers as they receive measurement and installation assistance.
WHAT IS FABUWOOD?The Brand behind the Q12 Standard
Fabuwood built its reputation around consistency and speed. They follow a self-made quality standard called Q12, consisting of 12 specifications and offering a lead time of 2-3 weeks max as standard. Another plus point with Fabuwood is its Blum Hardware, which is the industry’s most trusted hinge and drawer slide brand, which is also standard across all main lines, not just any one or just premium lines; it is standard across all lines.
Another strength of Fabuwood is that it offers both framed and frameless construction.- Allure is framed, Illume and Ovela are frameless, giving modern kitchen designers an option that Cubiatic does not match or offer, as Cubiatic has no actual frameless line. For anyone planning a European-style slab-door kitchen, this single difference makes Fabuwood the only viable choice between the two.
Fabuwood holds FSC certification, which means it sources its wood sustainably and meets CARB2 compliance, another thing not matched by Cubiatic on third-party documentation.
Who makes Fabuwood and where?
Fabuwood was founded in 2009 in New Jersey and has grown into North India’s largest semi-custom cabinet suppliers. Just like Cubiatic, it combines international manufacturing with US-based distributors.
Direct Comparison : Cubitac vs. Fabuwood
Both brands use plywood box construction and solid wood dovetail drawers. On raw build quality, both brands tie completely. Neither of the two brands uses practice boards at any stage of construction, which puts them ahead of the rest of the options in the same price range. The only place where the difference in construction quality is noticeable is in the frameless category; Fabuwood offers genuine frameless options, and Cubitac does not.
Hardware- Major difference
This is where competition gets interesting, and Fabuwood edges over Cubitac as it includes Blum hardware across all main collections as standard. Cubitac has reserved it’s blum hardware for the Imperial line only- Basic, Prestige and Presto are unbranded soft-close mechanisms only. Blum hardware replacement is available at every store, but unbranded parts are often discontinued after a certain period or a few years, making it difficult to find a replacement. So, if you are selecting Cubitac, choose Imperial or accept that a replacement will be hard to find in the future.
Design and Color
Cubitac owns this category with over 5000 custom options across 18 design styles, which provides buyers with creative control that Fabuwood cannot match. Fabuwood offers a solid selection of finishes within structured tiers, but cannot match Cubitac’s breadth. For a two-tone kitchen or any buyer with a specific color or look in mind, Cubitac is the stronger choice.
Frameless vs Framed
Cubitac doesn’t have any frameless line. A modern slab look comes from fully overlay doors on a framed box. Fabuwood Ovella and Illume lines are really frameless. For anyone looking to design a kitchen with European style with clean slab doors, this difference immediately points towards Fabuwood as the only viable option between the two.
Price
For a 10X10 kitchen, Cubitac starts at $ 3,553 and reaches approx $6,800 for Imperial Madison. Fabuwood starts around $4,500.00 and goes up to $5,500.00 approx. At the lowest entry point, Cubitac wins, but once Blumhardware is upgraded on lower lines, the price gap closes significantly.
Delivery
Fabuwood’s standard time for delivery is 2 to 3 weeks, whereas Cubitac’s ranges from 2 to 8 weeks depending on customization and production capacity. Production capacity of Cubitac is a significant consideration given the brand’s 2024 bankruptcy filing, and its impact on operational consistency
Warranty
Fabuwood offers a limited lifetime warranty across its main line, and Cubitac offers a limited warranty, not lifetime, across mostof it’ product range. Fabuwood’s Q12 quality standard gives its warranty more substance since it ties its coverage to 12 specific quality parameters.
Which Family should buy Fabuwood?
The Forever Home family
Fabuwood is a better and more reliable choice for long-term investment because of its Blum hardware, Q12 Quality standard, and limited lifetime warranty. Pay once, install, and never think about it again.
The Modern Kitchen Family
Anyone looking to design a European-style kitchen with slab doors has no other option, as Fabuwood is the only true choice. Fabuwood offers frameless construction.
The contractor or builder
Builders and contractors generally need to deliver the project on time and prefer quality with quick delivery. Fabuwood 2-3 weeks leead time ensures projects remain on time hence why it’s the preferred choice for builders and contractors.
Design Concious family
Due to the finish quality and premium frameless options, Fabuwood delivers a visual result that can elevate a kitchen renovation from good-looking to exceptional.
Which Family should buy Cubitac?
The Color first Family
If you have a specific shade in you r mind or want a two tone kitchen or need a different color which standard line offers then Cubitac 5000+ colors are unmatched at this price point.
The Budget conscious family
Cubitac’s presto and Basic line offersthelowest entry point in this comparison. If you are someone who is renovating a kitchen for first time but you are budget conscious then Cubitac offers acceptable quality at a very accessible price.
Important Note for all Cubitac buyers
Cubitac filed chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2024 so it is advised to always confirm with dealer about the capacity to fullfill the order.
What Real buyers say?
Cubitac Reviews
Cubitac buyers most commonly praise the kitchen colors and the finish quality of the kitchen. The Imperial line constantly receive praises on door quality, finish depth, and overall appearance. DIY friendly on Presto Line also earns appreciation from budget renovators who like to install cabinets themselves.
The most important criticism comes on hardware on lower lines- an unbranded soft close mechanism that feels noticeably cheaper than Blum equivalents, and several buyers have reported it failing in the first few years. Delivery issues and post-bankruptcy communication issues from dealers have also been complained about.
Fabuwood reviews
Fabuwood buyers consistently praise the hardware- Blum across every line, which means that your doors and drawers feel premium even at entry-level cabinets. The Q12 quality standard has also earned the buyers’ trust as it is a documented benchmark rather than a vague quality promise. Lead time accuracy is praised a lot as it is one of the quickest in the market. Buyers report cabinets arriving in 2 to 3 weeks consistently.
The most common criticism of Fabuwood is in the finished variation between batches, as some buyers have reported color differences in cabinet doors ordered for the same job but delivered in different batches. The frameless line has also attracted criticism for a somewhat complex assembly process from DIY installers who are not familiar with European Frameless systems.
Conclusion
There is no right or wrong brand, but which brand fits your property? A right brand in a property not suited for it eventually becomes a wrong decision. Both brands have pros and cons. Many homeowners praised Fabuwood for its hardware and customer service, but concerns have been mentioned online about warranty and finish quality. The same goes with Cubitac, which has been adored and has received positive feedback for its value, but questions have been raised about whether it can match Fabuwood’s consistency.
Your kitchen is a 15-20 year decision, so choose based on what your kitchen actually needs, not on which brand name sounds better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cubitac still in business?
Cubitac filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024. Always check for order fulfillment status with your dealer before ordering.
Does Cubitac have a frameless line?
No, Cubitac has no true frameless cabinet line. Fabuwood offers frameless construction via Ovella and Illume.
Is Cubitac cheaper than Fabuwood?
Yes, in most cases, Cubitac is slightly more affordable than Fabuwood.
Are Cubitac cabinets solid wood?
Not entirely, but Cubitac cabinets typically feature all-plywood cabinet boxes, solid wood face frames, and solid wood dovetail drawer boxes.
Are both made in the USA?
No, neither brand manufactures all products in the US. Both brands combine their global manufacturing with their US distribution network to deliver the best possible quality to the customer with standards.
Which is easier to install
Both brands require a professional to install, but Fabuwood is slightly easier to install than Cubitac.
Which brand is better for rental properties?
For rental, Cubitac is clearly better because of its plywood construction, attractive finishes, and competitive pricing.
Which Cabinet lasts longer?
Both brands last longer if properly installed and maintained, but Fabuwood edges out Cubitac in long-term durability.
