Install Kitchen Cabinets Or Floors First
The reason is that most engineered floors floating floor and loose tile types are not rated to take the weight of the kitchen cabinet carcusses and you will end up with problems.
Install kitchen cabinets or floors first. If you have the choice its usually easier to install the flooring first and then the cabinets. I always install the lowers first. Find the flooring you want below and see whether you should install cabinets or flooring first.
Most of the kitchens I install have a subzero or similar fridge. Remove the cabinets and screw a plywood filler piece to the subfloor about ½ inch inside the line where it will be under the cabinets. You want a flexible floor plan.
If I were responsible for both the flooring and the cabs I would install flooring first and then protect with rosin paper and cardboard. Generally it is much better to install the hardwood floors BEFORE the kitchen cabinets. By installing the floor first there will be no need for using trim moldings against toe kicks unless the floor itself is far out of.
No time or money will be wasted on hidden flooring. Also your floor is less likely to experience damage in the form of dents or scratches when you put the cabinets in first. Well look at it from two different angles and let you decide.
Floors or kitchen cabinets. If you install your cabinets prior to the flooring you will use slightly less flooring materials. What I found when the old cabinets were removed was that the tiles didnt cover the entire floor - they only went far enough under the cabinets a few inches to provide for a finished look at all the edges and I think also to provide a level surface for the cabinets.
But if you are installing any type of floating floor where each piece is not directly attached to the floor you should install the cabinets first. There is one exception to this rule see below. Since this is a full reno far better to lay the floor first and then install the cabinets.