How Much To Reface Cabinets In Kitchen: Your Guide

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How Much To Reface Cabinets In Kitchen: Your Guide

You want to give your kitchen a fresh look. Maybe your cabinets look old or worn. Replacing them is one way, but it costs a lot and makes a big mess. A different choice is refacing. What does cabinet refacing include? It means you keep your old cabinet boxes. New doors and drawer fronts go on the fronts. A new skin, or veneer, covers the parts of the old boxes you still see. This gives you a totally new look without tearing everything out. The kitchen cabinet refacing cost is often much less than buying all new cabinets. We will look at the average cost to reface kitchen cabinets and what makes the price go up or down.

Deciphering Cabinet Refacing

So, what is cabinet refacing exactly? Think of it as giving your cabinets a facelift. You are not changing the kitchen layout. You are not putting in all-new cabinet boxes. You are changing how the cabinets look on the outside.

Here is what usually happens:

• Old Stuff Comes Off: Workers take off all the old cabinet doors and drawer fronts. They also take off hinges and hardware like knobs or pulls.
• Boxes Get Covered: They put a thin, new layer, called veneer, over the parts of the cabinet boxes you see. This veneer matches the new doors and fronts you pick. It can be sticky-backed or glued on.
• New Doors Go On: New doors and drawer fronts are made in the style, material, and color you chose. Workers drill holes for new hinges and hardware. Then they hang the new doors.
• New Fronts Go On: New fronts are put on the drawer boxes.
• Hardware Added: New knobs or pulls are put on the new doors and fronts.

This makes your old cabinets look completely new. But the inside of the boxes and the basic structure stay the same.

What Refacing Does Well

Refacing has good points.
* It costs less than getting new cabinets most times.
* It makes less mess than ripping out old boxes.
* It takes less time. A few days usually, not weeks.
* You can update the style and color a lot.

When Refacing Might Not Work

Refacing is not always the best idea.
* If your cabinet boxes are falling apart. Refacing only changes the outside. Bad boxes are still bad boxes.
* If you want to change the kitchen layout. Refacing keeps the same layout.
* If you want bigger cabinets or different types of cabinets (like pull-out shelves inside). You might add some, but it is easier with new cabinets.

Refacing is best when your current cabinets are sturdy and well-placed, but just look old or tired.

Things That Change the Price

The final refacing kitchen cabinets price changes a lot. Many things make the cost go up or down. Knowing these helps you guess your own estimate to reface kitchen cabinets.

Kitchen Size and Number of Cabinets

This is a big one. More cabinets mean more work and more materials. The cost per linear foot cabinet refacing is a way pros measure this. They measure how long the cabinets are along the wall. Each linear foot needs veneer and new doors/fronts.

• A small kitchen costs less.
• A large kitchen costs more.

Think about how many doors and drawers you have. More doors and drawers mean more items to replace. This adds to the cost.

Materials You Choose

This is maybe the biggest factor for the kitchen cabinet refacing materials cost.
* Laminate: This is the cheapest material. It is a strong plastic layer put over wood or particleboard. It is easy to clean and lasts well. But it can look less fancy than wood. It can also chip if hit hard.
* Thermofoil: This is a plastic coating put over MDF (medium-density fiberboard). It is heated and shaped onto the MDF doors and fronts. It often looks smooth and modern. It is also easy to clean and costs less than wood. But heat can damage it, making it peel or bubble near ovens or dishwashers.
* Wood Veneer and Wood Doors: This is the most costly choice. You can get veneer from different kinds of wood like oak, maple, cherry, or birch. New doors and fronts are made from matching solid wood or wood frames with wood panels. Wood looks classic and can be painted or stained. It is strong but needs care and can scratch or dent. The type of wood changes the price a lot. Maple and oak cost less than cherry or walnut.

Choosing cheaper materials like laminate or thermofoil can cut your kitchen cabinet refacing cost a lot compared to using real wood.

Style of Doors and Drawer Fronts

Simple styles cost less to make.
* Flat Panel: These are plain, flat doors. They are easy to make and cost less. Good for a modern or minimalist look.
* Shaker Style: These have a flat center panel and a raised frame around it. They are very popular now. They cost a bit more than flat panels because of the extra steps to make the frame.
* Raised Panel: These have a center panel that sticks out. They often look more traditional. They are more complex to make and cost more.

More details or complex shapes on the doors increase the making cost.

Hardware

You will need new hinges for the new doors. Many companies include standard hinges. But if you want fancy hinges, like soft-close hinges that make doors close quietly, that costs more. You also need new knobs or pulls. These range from very cheap to very expensive depending on the material and style. While the cost of knobs and pulls might seem small, for a whole kitchen, they can add up. Some refacing quotes include basic hardware, others make you buy your own.

Extras and Add-ons

Sometimes you want more than just refacing.
* Crown molding: Adding decorative trim along the top of cabinets makes them look more finished. This adds cost.
* Glass door inserts: Swapping some wood panels for glass costs extra.
* Pull-out shelves or drawers: Adding new things inside the cabinets adds cost. Remember, refacing keeps the old boxes. Adding new inside parts might need changes to the box or special inserts, which costs more money.
* New drawer boxes: If your old drawer boxes are bad, you might replace just the boxes and put the new fronts on them. This is an extra cost beyond just refacing the front.

Each extra makes the total refacing kitchen cabinets price higher.

Kitchen Layout Complexity

A kitchen with lots of corner cabinets, custom sizes, or strange angles is harder to reface. Workers have to cut veneer and fit pieces carefully. This takes more time and skill, which costs more in labor. A simple kitchen with straight runs of standard-sized cabinets is easier and cheaper to reface.

Where You Live

Labor costs change from place to place.
* In big cities or areas with a high cost of living, workers charge more.
* In smaller towns or areas with a lower cost of living, workers might charge less.

This affects the professional cabinet refacing cost a lot.

How Much It Might Cost: A Look at the Numbers

It is hard to give one exact number for the kitchen cabinet refacing cost. It is like asking how much a car costs. It depends on the type, features, and where you buy it.

But we can look at ranges. The average cost to reface kitchen cabinets is often between $4,000 and $10,000 for a medium-sized kitchen.

Let’s break it down more:

Lower Cost Refacing: $1,000 to $5,000

• This is often for smaller kitchens.
• Uses cheaper materials like laminate or thermofoil.
• Simple door styles (flat panel).
• Basic hinges and knobs.
• Done by a local company or maybe parts are DIY.
• cost per linear foot cabinet refacing might be $50 to $150 here.

Average Cost Refacing: $5,000 to $10,000

• This is for medium to larger kitchens.
• Uses thermofoil or less costly wood veneers (like oak or maple).
• Popular door styles (like Shaker).
• Standard or slightly upgraded hinges and hardware.
• Done by a professional refacing company.
• cost per linear foot cabinet refacing might be $100 to $250 here.

Higher Cost Refacing: $10,000 to $20,000+

• This is for larger kitchens with many cabinets.
• Uses expensive wood veneers (like cherry or walnut) and matching solid wood doors.
• Complex door styles (raised panel, custom).
• High-end hinges (soft-close standard) and fancy hardware.
• Includes extras like crown molding, glass doors, or pull-out shelves.
• Done by a skilled professional company.
• cost per linear foot cabinet refacing might be $200 to $500 or more here.

Keep in mind, these are just guides. Your own estimate to reface kitchen cabinets will depend on your exact choices and kitchen size.

Paying a Pro vs. Doing It Yourself

You have two main ways to get cabinets refaced: hire a pro or do it yourself. Both have different costs and results.

Hiring a Professional

Using a professional company for cabinet refacing is the most common way. The professional cabinet refacing cost covers labor, materials, and their expertise.

Pros:
* Skill and Quality: Pros have done this many times. They know how to make veneer look smooth and new doors fit right. The finish is usually better than DIY.
* Speed: They can finish the job much faster than most homeowners. Usually, it takes just a few days.
* Less Stress: The company handles ordering materials, cutting pieces, and doing the work. You don’t have to learn new skills or buy tools.
* Warranty: Many companies offer a warranty on their work and materials.

Cons:
* Cost: This is the most expensive option. The professional cabinet refacing cost includes their time, knowledge, and company costs. Labor is a big part of the price.
* Less Control: You pick the styles and colors, but the company does the work their way.

When you get an estimate to reface kitchen cabinets from a pro, it includes everything: measuring, ordering, labor, and cleanup. The refacing kitchen cabinets price they give you is usually the total cost.

Doing It Yourself (DIY)

If you are good with tools and like projects, you might think about doing it yourself. The DIY cabinet refacing cost is usually much lower because you don’t pay for labor.

Pros:
* Save Money: You only pay for materials and tool rental if needed. This can cut the cost by half or more compared to hiring a pro.
* Learn Skills: You learn how to work with wood, veneer, and tools.
* Flexibility: You can work on your own schedule.

Cons:
* Skill Needed: Refacing is not just painting. Putting on veneer smoothly without bubbles or wrinkles is hard. Cutting and fitting doors needs good measuring and tool skills. Mistakes can be costly.
* Time: It takes much longer for a DIYer than a pro, maybe weeks instead of days.
* Tools: You might need special tools you don’t own.
* Result Might Vary: The final look might not be as perfect as a professional job. If you mess up, fixing it costs more time and money.

The DIY cabinet refacing cost mainly comes from the kitchen cabinet refacing materials cost (veneer, new doors/fronts, hinges, hardware) plus tools. You have to find places to buy these materials, which can be harder than using a pro who gets them easily.

For most people, especially for a whole kitchen, hiring a professional leads to a better result and less hassle, even though the professional cabinet refacing cost is higher. DIY is better for smaller projects or if you have good woodworking skills.

Refacing or Getting New Cabinets?

This is a big question many people ask. Should I reface or replace? The cabinet refacing vs replacement cost is a major factor in this choice.

Refacing Cost vs. Replacement Cost

Let’s compare the typical costs:

Job Type	Typical Cost Range (Medium Kitchen)	What You Get
Cabinet Refacing	$4,000 – $10,000	New look on the outside (veneer, doors, fronts). Keeps old cabinet boxes.
Cabinet Replacement	$10,000 – $30,000+	All new cabinet boxes, doors, fronts, hardware. Can change layout.

As you can see, the average cost to reface kitchen cabinets is usually much less than replacing them. Replacing cabinets means ripping out everything, which takes more labor, creates more waste, and the new boxes themselves are costly.

When to Choose Refacing

Choose refacing if:
* Your current cabinet boxes are strong and in good shape.
* You like your kitchen layout and don’t want to change it.
* You want to save money compared to replacing.
* You want to update the look fairly quickly with less mess.

When to Choose Replacement

Choose replacement if:
* Your cabinet boxes are old, damaged, or not sturdy.
* You want to change the kitchen layout, add more cabinets, or change cabinet sizes.
* You want the most options for materials, styles, and internal features.
* You are doing a full kitchen remodel and changing floors, counters, etc., anyway.

Refacing gives you a new face. Replacement gives you a whole new body and face for your cabinets.

Getting a Price Idea

You need an exact number for your kitchen. This means getting an estimate to reface kitchen cabinets. How do you do this?

1. Find Companies: Look for companies that do cabinet refacing in your area. Check online reviews and ask friends for names.
2. Call Them: Call a few different companies. Ask if they offer free estimates.
3. Home Visit: A person from the company will come to your home. They will look at your kitchen cabinets. They will measure everything. They will check the condition of your current cabinets.
4. Discuss Options: They will show you samples of different materials (laminate, thermofoil, wood veneers), colors, and door styles. You pick what you like.
5. Get the Quote: The company will give you a written estimate. This should show the kitchen cabinet refacing cost based on your choices. It should list what is included (materials, labor, hardware, etc.).

Important Tip: Get quotes from at least three different companies. Prices can vary a lot. Make sure each quote lists the same things so you can compare them fairly. Ask questions if you don’t understand something in the estimate to reface kitchen cabinets.

What Your Payment Covers

When you pay for professional cabinet refacing, what exactly does the professional cabinet refacing cost include? It is important to know so there are no surprises.

Typically, the price includes:

• Labor: This is the cost for the workers to do all the steps: taking off old doors, preparing surfaces, applying veneer, installing new doors, fronts, and hardware. This is a big part of the total refacing kitchen cabinets price.
• Materials: This covers the cost of the veneer used to cover the cabinet boxes, the new cabinet doors, and the new drawer fronts. The type of material you choose (laminate, thermofoil, wood) greatly changes this part of the cost. This is your kitchen cabinet refacing materials cost.
• Hinges: Standard new hinges are usually included. If you want upgraded hinges like soft-close, that will be an extra cost.
• Basic Hardware Installation: The company will usually install the knobs or pulls you provide or buy from them. The cost of the knobs/pulls themselves may or may not be included. Make sure to ask if the estimate to reface kitchen cabinets includes the price of the knobs/pulls or just puts them on.
• Basic Cleanup: Workers will usually clean up their mess from the work.

What might NOT be included?
* The cost of new knobs and pulls.
* Changing your kitchen layout at all.
* Major repairs to bad cabinet boxes (they might charge extra or say you need replacement).
* Adding new cabinets.
* Adding internal organizers like pull-out shelves (unless listed as an extra).
* Painting the inside of the cabinet boxes (usually the inside is not touched).

Always check your quote to see exactly what does cabinet refacing include.

Ways to Spend Less

If the average cost to reface kitchen cabinets seems high, there are ways to lower the refacing kitchen cabinets price.

• Pick Cheaper Materials: Laminate or thermofoil cost much less than real wood veneer and doors. This is the biggest way to save on the kitchen cabinet refacing materials cost.
• Choose Simple Styles: Flat panel doors are cheaper than Shaker or raised panel styles.
• Keep Your Hardware: If you like your current knobs and pulls and they work with the new look, reuse them. Buying all new hardware for a kitchen adds up.
• Keep Standard Hinges: Skip the soft-close upgrade if you need to save money.
• Limit Extras: Don’t add crown molding, glass doors, or pull-out shelves if your budget is tight. You can always add some of these later.
• Get Multiple Quotes: As mentioned, prices vary. Getting several estimate to reface kitchen cabinets lets you pick the best price for the same work.
• Do Some Prep Work Yourself (Ask First): Some companies might let you remove the old doors and hardware yourself to save a little on labor. Always ask the company first. Doing things they plan to do can sometimes cause problems for their process if not done right.
• Focus Only on Refacing: Don’t try to add new cabinets or change the layout if saving money is the goal. That moves you into the higher cabinet refacing vs replacement cost range.

By making smart choices about materials and options, you can significantly lower the total kitchen cabinet refacing cost.

Things to Watch Out For

Even with pros, things can go wrong or cost more than you thought.

• Hidden Problems: The company might find problems with your cabinet boxes once they start. If the boxes are not strong enough to hold the new doors well, you might face extra repair costs or find refacing is not possible.
• Matching Issues: While pros aim for perfect matches, sometimes veneer and doors from different batches can have slight color differences.
• Finding a Good Pro: Not all companies are equal. Look for companies with good reviews and lots of experience specifically in refacing, not just general remodeling. Getting a good estimate to reface kitchen cabinets also means trusting the company giving it to you. The professional cabinet refacing cost should come with good service.
• Disruption: While less messy than replacement, refacing still means your kitchen is a work zone for a few days. You will need to empty cabinets and find a way to cook.
• Matching Other Kitchen Elements: Make sure your new cabinet look will go well with your countertops, backsplash, and flooring. Refacing is a big change to the kitchen’s look.

Plan carefully and ask lots of questions before the work starts.

Conclusion

Refacing your kitchen cabinets is a great way to update your kitchen’s look without the high cost and large mess of replacing them. The kitchen cabinet refacing cost is much lower than the cabinet refacing vs replacement cost.

The refacing kitchen cabinets price changes based on many things: the size of your kitchen (cost per linear foot cabinet refacing), the materials you choose (kitchen cabinet refacing materials cost), the style of doors, hardware, extras, and whether you hire a pro (professional cabinet refacing cost) or try DIY (DIY cabinet refacing cost).

The average cost to reface kitchen cabinets is between $4,000 and $10,000 for a medium kitchen, but it can be less or much more. Getting a detailed estimate to reface kitchen cabinets from a few companies is the best way to know your real cost.

If your cabinet boxes are strong and you like your kitchen layout, refacing can give you a beautiful, new kitchen look for a lot less money and time than starting over. It is a smart choice for many homeowners.

Frequently Asked Questions

H5 How long does cabinet refacing take?

Usually, it takes 3 to 5 days for a professional to reface a kitchen. It might take longer for a very large kitchen or if surprises come up. Doing it yourself will take much longer, maybe a few weekends or weeks.

H5 Can I change the color of my cabinets when refacing?

Yes, absolutely! That is one of the main reasons people reface. You pick new doors and veneer in any color or stain you want. Your old cabinets might be dark wood, and you can reface them to be white or grey, for example.

H5 Can I change the layout of my kitchen with refacing?

No. Refacing keeps your current cabinet boxes and their places. You cannot move cabinets, add new ones in different spots, or change the kitchen layout with refacing. For layout changes, you need full cabinet replacement.

H5 What materials are best for refacing?

The “best” material depends on what you want.
* Laminate is cheapest and strong, good for budget and easy cleaning.
* Thermofoil is good for smooth, modern looks and is easy to clean, costs less than wood.
* Wood veneer and doors give a classic, real wood look, are most costly, and can be stained or painted many times.

Consider your budget, desired look, and how much care you want to do.

H5 Does refacing add value to my home?

Yes, updating a kitchen usually adds value to a home. Refacing makes the kitchen look new and modern, which buyers like. It is a good way to improve your kitchen without spending as much as a full remodel.