How Many Backlinks Does It Take to Rank a Cabinet Maker in Search Results?

If you’ve ever Googled “how many backlinks does it take to rank a cabinet maker in search results,” you’ve probably gotten a frustratingly vague answer. The truth is: it depends. It depends on your industry, your city, and who you’re up against in the search results.

But at MarketKeep we don’t like the answer it depends. That is why we set out to figure out the answer once and for all for cabinet makers. Or at least provide them with as much guidance as we can. 

Using Ahrefs, we pulled SERP data on May 26, 2026 for five different “cabinet maker” keywords: one national term and four city-specific searches. What we found confirmed something we see consistently when working with local trade businesses: the cabinet makers who struggle most with SEO are almost always chasing the wrong keywords. And the ones quietly picking up new leads from Google? They’ve figured out that local, specific searches are where the real opportunity lives.

Here’s the data, our interpretation of it, and what it means for your business.

Why Backlinks Matter for SEO (And Why They’re Not the Whole Story) 

Before we dive into the numbers, let’s set the stage. Backlinks are simply links from other websites that point back to yours, and are one of the most important factors in Google’s search ranking algorithm. The more authoritative the websites that link back to you are, the more Google trusts your site. 

But backlinks alone don’t guarantee rankings. Google also considers:

• The quality of your content – Does your page actually answer what someone is searching for?
• Your Google Business Profile – Especially important for local searches
• On-page SEO – Titles, headers, and keyword usage
• Page experience signals – Speed, mobile-friendliness, and more

That said, backlinks remain a critical piece of the puzzle. For a deeper breakdown of SEO strategy for cabinet makers, check out our blog article which is a complete guide to ranking on page one for cabinet makers.

How We Pulled This Data

All keyword metrics and SERP data in this article were pulled from Ahrefs on May 26, 2026. For each keyword, we recorded the keyword difficulty score, monthly search volume, traffic potential, and the backlink and referring domain counts for each page ranking in the top 10 organic results. We focused on cabinet maker keywords across one national term and four major U.S. cities to give a representative picture of what local competition actually looks like.

Note: SERP data changes over time – rankings shift, new competitors enter, and old ones drop off. The numbers here reflect a specific snapshot in time and should be used as directional benchmarks rather than permanent targets. 

The Key Insight: National vs Local Keywords

Here’s the big takeaway before we get into the individual keyword breakdowns: if you’re a local cabinet maker, don’t try to rank for broad national terms. The first page for “cabinet maker” (no city) is dominated by citation sites like Yelp, industry association websites, and YouTube videos. It’s an uphill battle that requires 95+ referring domains and a keyword difficulty score of 53 — rated “Hard” by Ahrefs.

The smarter play? Target city-specific, long-tail keywords like “cabinet maker [your city].” These keywords have lower difficulty scores (as low as 11–26), require far fewer backlinks to compete, and still deliver meaningful traffic from people who can actually hire you.

This is something we see play out repeatedly when working with local trade businesses. A cabinet maker spending months trying to rank for “cabinet maker” nationally will be outgunned by national directories and associations almost every time. That same effort pointed at a local keyword? Entirely different outcome.

Keyword Breakdown: What Does It Take to Rank

1. Cabinet Maker (National Keyword)

Keyword Stats:

Source: Ahrefs, May 26, 2026

What’s Ranking on Page 1: 

Key Takeaway: The SERP for this keyword is a mixed bag. A 403 error page is ranking at #2 and the Cabinet Maker Association is significantly skewing the backlink averages. For a local cabinet maker, this national keyword is nearly impossible to crack without a major content and link-building investment. Your energy is better spent elsewhere. 

2. Cabinet Maker Boston

Keyword Stats:

Source: Ahrefs, May 26, 2026

What’s Ranking on Page 1: 

Key Takeaway: Fort Point Cabinetmakers is ranking #7 with just 2 backlinks from 2 referring domains — proving that a strong Google Business Profile, relevant content, and local signals can punch well above their weight. For a Boston cabinet maker, this keyword is very winnable.

3. Cabinet Maker Miami

Keyword Stats:

Source: Ahrefs, May 26, 2026

What’s Ranking on Page 1: 

Key Takeaway: Miami is one of the most accessible markets in this study. J&J Cabinets is holding the #1 spot with only 26 backlinks from 10 referring domains. With a keyword difficulty of just 12, this is a very achievable ranking target for any Miami-area cabinet maker with a solid SEO foundation.

4. Cabinet Maker Dallas

Keyword Stats:

Source: Ahrefs, May 26, 2026

What’s Ranking on Page 1: 

Key Takeaway: Dallas has a wide range of backlink profiles on page one. Houzz ranks #3 with just 6 backlinks — domain authority at work. The top-ranking local business has 66 backlinks from 57 referring domains. Competitive but very achievable for a Dallas cabinet maker willing to invest in consistent SEO.

4. Cabinet Maker Los Angeles

Keyword Stats:

Source: Ahrefs, May 26, 2026

What’s Ranking on Page 1: 

Key Takeaway: Lily Ann Cabinets is ranking #7 with zero backlinks — a testament to how powerful well-optimized content and local signals can be. LA also has the highest traffic potential of any city keyword studied (400 visits/month) with a difficulty of just 11. This is a high-opportunity market.

Summary: Backlinks Needed by Keyword

What This Means for Your Cabinet Making Business

Here’s what this data tells us in plain terms:

• Local keywords are your fastest path to page one. With keyword difficulty scores between 11–26 and minimum backlink requirements as low as 12–30, city-specific searches are far more achievable than broad national terms.
• You don’t need hundreds of backlinks to rank locally. Multiple businesses in these SERPs are ranking on page one with fewer than 30 backlinks. Quality and relevance matter more than sheer quantity.
• Citation sites (Yelp, Houzz, Angi) occupy spots you won’t beat. Your strategy should focus on ranking your own website in the remaining spots — and optimizing your Google Business Profile to appear in the local pack before the organic listings.
• The local pack is the real prize. Many of these city-specific SERPs lead with a “Local pack” result. Getting into Google Maps for your city should be your first SEO priority — and it requires less link building than organic rankings.

For a detailed look at which keywords you should be targeting in your market, check out our guide to SEO keywords for cabinet makers.

Where Do Cabinet Makers Actually Get Their Best Backlinks? 

This is the question that matters most once you understand how many backlinks you need. The good news: cabinet makers have more natural link-building opportunities than most local service businesses. Here’s where we consistently see the best results.

Local Business Directories and Citations

This is the starting point for every cabinet maker we work with. Getting listed accurately and completely on Google Business Profile, Yelp, Houzz, Angi, the Better Business Bureau, and your local Chamber of Commerce creates a foundation of consistent NAP (name, address, phone) data that Google uses to verify your legitimacy as a local business.

Industry Associations

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) both offer member directories that link back to your website. These are exactly the kind of niche-relevant, authoritative backlinks that Google weights heavily for local trade businesses.

Supplier and Manufacturer Websites

If you work with specific cabinet brands, hardware suppliers, or countertop fabricators, many of them maintain “Find a Pro” or “Dealer Locator” pages on their websites. Getting listed earns you a relevant, industry-specific backlink from a site that already has authority in your space — an underutilized opportunity most cabinet makers overlook entirely.

Local Press and Community Websites

A completed kitchen remodel featured in a local lifestyle blog, a mention in your city’s business journal, or a quote in a home improvement article — these earn backlinks that carry strong local relevance signals. Pitching a local reporter with a “before and after” project story costs nothing but time, and it’s the kind of authentic coverage money genuinely can’t buy.

Houzz Portfolio and Project Pages

A fully built-out Houzz profile with professional photos, detailed project descriptions, and genuine client reviews functions both as a backlink source and its own lead-generation channel. We regularly see Houzz profiles ranking in local SERPs on their own — which means your presence there can earn you visibility even before your own website cracks page one.

Your Own Satisfied Customers

Customers who own local businesses, write blogs, or run active social media accounts will sometimes link to vendors they’ve worked with when sharing renovation content. Simply asking a happy customer to mention your business when they post about their new kitchen — and making it easy with your website URL — can generate genuinely earned links over time.

The pattern we see across all of these: the cabinet makers building the most durable SEO foundations aren’t buying links or chasing shortcuts. They’re building relationships, performing excellect work, and making sure the internet refelcts that. 

Where Do You Go From Here?

Building backlinks isn’t something that happens overnight — and it shouldn’t. Google values links earned naturally over time from relevant, trustworthy websites. The data in this article shows that in most local markets, you don’t need hundreds of them. You need the right ones, built consistently.

But backlinks are just one piece of a larger SEO puzzle. If you’re serious about ranking on page one, showing up in Google Maps, and even appearing in AI-powered search results like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews, you need a comprehensive strategy built around your business, your market, and your goals.

Ready to See Where You Stand? 

At MarketKeep, we specialize in helping small businesses like cabinet makers get found online. Whether you need help building backlinks, optimizing your Google Business Profile, or developing a full SEO strategy, we’re here to help.

Explore how we help cabinet makers and other small businesses rank on page one, appear in Google Maps, and get found in AI search results.

Schedule a Free SEO Evaluation. We’ll analyze your website, your competitors, and your local market — and give you a clear picture of what it would take to rank on page one.