Refacing your kitchen cabinets is a great way to update the appearance of your kitchen without needing to invest in the high cost of cabinet replacement.
There are a wide array of aesthetic and material choices available for cabinet refinishing, so the options for new looks are almost limitless.
Refinishing cabinets are an affordable remodeling option that adds value to your home and keeps your kitchen looking fresh without needing major updates.
If you are ready to reface your old kitchen cabinets, contact your local cabinet pros for FREE ESTIMATES.
Average Cost to Reface Kitchen Cabinets
Generally speaking, refacing your kitchen cabinets will cost about half as much as replacing them entirely. However, while refacing your cabinets is significantly cheaper than replacing them, it is not a cheap remodeling project. Be prepared to pay a significant amount for your newly refaced cabinets.
For a standard ten by twelve foot kitchen, expect to pay an average $1,000 to $3,000. For real wood veneers, cabinet refacing cost is $3,500 – $6,000.
When refacing a larger kitchen, expect to pay between $9,000 and as much as $14,000 when installing real wood veneers.
Cabinet hardware can also add to the cost: depending on the degree of luxury, expect to pay between $2 and $50 per piece of hardware.
In the average American household, refacing your kitchen cabinets costs between $7,000 and $10,000.
Compared to refacing your cabinets, the cost of full cabinet replacement is at least $4,500 – 7,500, and $20,000 + for large, high-end cabinets.
Trying to cut costs by refacing your cabinets DIY is not recommended unless you have previous experience in veneering. Cabinet refacing requires specialized skills and tools, but if you are able to do so refacing your kitchen DIY is a good way to cut costs.
The table below shows the average cost of refacing your kitchen using the most popular materials, laminate, high-quality veneer and real wood veneer.
| Cabinet Material | Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Laminate | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| High-Quality Veneer | $2,500 – $6,500 |
| Real Wood Veneer | $6,000 – $14,000 |
If you are refacing your cabinets as part of a complete kitchen renovation, you can use or Kitchen Remodel Calculator to estimate your costs.
Cabinet Refacing Costs per Linear Foot
The price of refacing your cabinets will depend on the size of your kitchen. The table below lays out how much you can expect to pay per linear foot, which you can use to calculate the approximate cost for the size of your kitchen.
The price will also vary depending on local labor costs, so reach out to contractors near you for a more exact estimate.
| Cabinet Material | Cost per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| Laminate | $100 |
| High-Quality Veneer | $200 |
| Real Wood Veneer | $450 |
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Accessory Costs of Changing Cabinet Doors
Changing a cabinet door can be an important part of remodeling your cabinets. A single cabinet door costs $30 – $100, and labor costs cost you an additional $100 – $250.
The material you choose for your cabinet doors will make a big difference in what you pay. Each material offers its own features and benefits.
Wood veneer has the aesthetic benefits of real wood, and also is sealed to protect against moisture and drying. Solid wood and plywood is the most pricey material choice, but also the most beautiful and durable.
Plastic laminate is affordable, with many color choices available but few door or drawer styles. It is a durable material but susceptible to cracking over the years.
Rigid thermofoil laminate is another affordable choice with an appealing smooth surface that resembles real wood. While it is a durable material, it is heat sensitive and can chip in the corners. The table below outlines the average costs of different materials.
| Cabinet Material | Cost (Average) |
|---|---|
| Plastic Laminate | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Rigid Thermofoil Laminate | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Real Wood Veneer | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| Plywood and Solid | $5,000 – $10,000 |
The accessories of cabinets will cost an additional amount. The table below outlines the costs of accessories needed for cabinets.
| Accessory Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic hardware | $2 – $5 |
| High-end hardware | $20 – $50 |
| Pair of hinges | $15 – $50 |
| Basic pull-outs/organizers | $50 – $200 |
| High-end pull-outs/organizers | $150 – $800 |
How Much Does Home Depot Cabinet Refacing Cost?
Home Depot is a well-known contractor choice for refacing cabinets. Home Depot partners with local licensed professionals to complete the refacing.
Moreover, Home Depot offers financing options including specialized credit cards, and all products come with Home Depot warranties.
For a minor cabinet refacing project, expect to pay between $6,800 and $13,700. This includes custom doors and door fronts, custom drawers, basic hardware, hinges, and high quality finish.
A larger project will cost you between $13,700 and $21,000. Included in this price is custom doors and door fronts, custom drawers, in-cabinet accessories, soft-close hinges and glides, pull-outs, additional cabinet boxes, premium decorative hardware and in-cabinet lighting.
Home Depot offers additional features to add on. Add-ons include a backsplash, countertops, sinks and faucets, and a pantry. Each add-on will cost an additional price.
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How Does Cabinet Refacing Work?
Cabinet refacing allows you to change the external appearance of your cabinets without removing the sound structure of your existing cabinets.
Refacing involves the removal of the outer layer of your cabinets and drawers and replacing them with a fresh new exterior. This method allows you to retain your cabinets longer and make use of their full lifespan. If your cabinets are in good shape but you want a new aesthetic, cabinet refacing is a good option.
To begin cabinet refacing, the cabinet doors are first removed and their fronts are stripped. Next, the front section of cabinet boxes are covered with a veneer or rigid thermofoil, and then the cabinet sides are veneered. See the sections above to learn more about different veneer options. New fronts of doors and drawers are then added.
Depending on the condition of the existing hardware, new cabinet hinges, handles, drawer pulls, and other fixtures are added at this point. Finally, additional accessories are added if desired, such as glass panels, cabinet lighting, storage accessories, and crown molding.
Cabinet Refacing Options
There are a wide array of options when refacing your cabinets. The most affordable option is Rigid Thermofoil doors (RTF), which include a durable plastic coating over fiberboard, and will cost on average between $1,000 and $3,000.
Thermofoil is made from malleable vinyl that is molded on a thin piece of plywood. When installed correctly, thermofoil can be long lasting despite its affordability. However, thermofoil is heat sensitive, and can be prone to chipping at the corners. Thermofoil has a smooth surface and can replicate the appearance of real wood.
Plastic laminate comes in hundreds of colors and styles, both solid colors and wood grains. Laminate is moisture resistant, and costs about $1,000 – $3,000.
Laminate is available in high-pressure versions like Formica and low pressure versions like Melamine. Melamine is more likely to chip than higher pressure versions and is also less water resistant. While laminate is available in a variety of colors, it has more limited door and drawer styles. Over time, laminate may crack or chip.
Wood veneer is a thin piece of wood, and comes in birch, maple, oak, ash, hickory, and walnut, among others. It is an expensive option, costing between $2,500 and $6,000. Wood veneer must be sealed to protect against moisture damage.
The most expensive option is the authentic solid wood, which costs $5,000 and up. Solid wood has a high-end appearance, and the doors and drawers are very durable. It can be made to match the veneers on the existing cabinet boxes.
Pro Tip: The finished look of your new cabinets will vary greatly depending on the wood veneer you choose. This is because real wood comes in numerous shades, grains and densities, which greatly impacts the appearance of colors and stains applied to the wood. Some woods provide a richer, more dramatic aesthetic, while others are better for painting versus staining.
Cost to Reface vs Replace Cabinets
On average, refacing your cabinets will cost you around half as much as you would pay to replace your cabinets.
While you can reface a standard size kitchen for under $1,000 and on average $7,000, replacing cabinets in a kitchen of the same size will cost minimally $4,500 for standard cabinets and may reach up to $20,000 and more for high-end, custom replacements.
Additionally, refacing your cabinets takes much less time than replacing your cabinets, as the project is usually completed in three days.
Also, during the construction time your kitchen is still usable. Another benefit is that refacing your cabinets results in less material being shipped off to landfills, making it a more environmentally friendly choice.
However, if you are seeking to change the layout of your kitchen or if your cabinets are damaged beyond repair, replacing may be the best option for you as neither of those issues can be fixed by just refacing the cabinets.
Because refacing is not an extremely cheap option, you may be better off in the long run replacing your cabinets than refacing them now and deciding in a few years that you want a full replacement.
Replacement Cabinet Door Styles
The style you choose for your replacement door can have a big impact on the look of your kitchen. Traditional style doors have an outer frame and a raised center, accented with decorative molding. This style is timeless and versatile, and can fit well with a variety of kitchen styles.
The simple Shaker-style door is popular for its rectangular frames. The rectangular inlay in the center is a good middle ground between minimalist modern looks and more traditional cabinet doors.
Beadboard doors are similar to Shaker-style but with the addition of a beard board center panel, giving it a somewhat rustic appearance. The rectangular style fits well with both contemporary and traditional kitchen designs.
Flat front doors are modern and sleek, with a completely flat surface that are perfect for contemporary kitchen designs.
If you are seeking a more traditional look, rustic cabinets are the perfect fit. Rustic cabinets are a good fit for kitchens with industrial accents or cottage-style kitchens. If other features of your kitchen are more modern, however, rustic style cabinets may clash.
Finally, glass front doors are an excellent accent piece that can display your fine dishes. Glass cabinet doors can also open up the space of your kitchen and help make a smaller kitchen feel larger. Glass cabinets are versatile and can be used in both traditional and contemporary kitchen designs.
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Cabinet Hinges Options
The type of hinge you can choose for your cabinet largely depends on the type of cabinet you have in your kitchen. Framed cabinets have hinges that attach both at the door and the frame, whereas the hinges of cabinets without frames attach at the door and cabinet wall.
European concealed hinges are invisible when the door is closed, and only available in frameless cabinets or full overlay cabinet doors. Perfect for a modern aesthetic, the hidden hinges allow for a sleek, crisp appearance.
In contrast, more traditional exposed hinges are made from spring-loaded hinges or self-closing barrel hinges or knife hinges, letting the door open 180 degrees. The exposed hinges give the kitchen a more classic, and even rustic appearance.
How Long Does Professional Cabinet Refacing Take?
A professional cabinet refacing will generally take around three days. Usually, the installer will remove the doors and drawers and hardware on the first day and begin veneering, cleaning up at the end of the day.
They will continue the veneering process on the second day, again cleaning up once their work is done. On the third day, the contractor would finish the veneering process, install new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware, and make any last adjustments as needed.
Pros & Cons of Refacing Kitchen Cabinets
Refacing your kitchen cabinets may be the right choice, or it may not be worth the cost. The table below describes some of the major benefits and drawbacks of refacing your kitchen cabinets.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Environmentally friendly: Refacing allows you to use your kitchen cabinets to their fullest potential and minimize waste. | DIY is difficult: Veneering is a specialized skill so unless you have previous experience with veneering, refacing cabinets is best left up to professionals. |
| Cost savings: Refacing cabinets costs on average half as much as replacing cabinets would cost. | Can get pricey: If you go for an extensive refacing project, it might not be as cheap as you expect the more features you add. |
| Retains layout: If you like the layout of your kitchen, refacing is a good choice as the layout stays the same. | Layout cannot change: If you are looking to change the layout of your kitchen, that cannot be done with just a cabinet refacing as the structure stays the same. |
| Diverse style choices: There are a wide array of aesthetics you can choose for your new cabinet surfaces. | Box interiors do not change: If you are seeking out more storage space in your cabinets, you won’t be able to get that during refacing without paying for extra add-ons. |
| Veneers: If you choose a wood veneer for your cabinets, it may require additional work such as painting, staining, or varnishing to protect the material and ensure longevity |
How Long Do Refaced Cabinets Last?
The longevity of refaced cabinets greatly depends on the quality of the materials as well as paint/stain finishes that are used to make the final product. High quality refaced cabinets can last as long as mid-range quality factory made brand new cabinets.
On average, you can expect quality refinished cabinets to last 10-15 years.
Top Cabinet Refacing Companies
The brand you choose to do your refacing project may make a big difference in the look and quality of cabinets you end up with. Different companies offer different features, so be sure to explore your options thoroughly before settling on one company.
Below is an outline of some of the primary features of three premiere cabinet refacing companies.
Kitchen Saver
Kitchen Saver offers high quality materials and services when refacing your kitchen cabinets. Kitchen Saver has full wood rather than wood veneer options, and offers laminate veneering instead of lower quality thermofoil. The company also offers add-ons such as increasing storage and new sinks, countertops, and lighting. Kitchen Saver does not use subcontractors, rather employs its own installers.
Kitchen Magic
In their Kitchen Refacing package, Kitchen Magic offers new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, new cabinet hardware, as well as optional enhancements such as additional storage, new countertops, and a new backsplash.
In terms of veneer, Kitchen magic offers laminate or wood veneer options. Kitchen Magic also adds a 1/4” of plywood reinforcement between the cabinets and the new veneer.
N-Hance
N-Hance fully replaces the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, offering a wide range of styles to choose from. With a large selection of paint colors, you can easily match the new cabinet looks with the rest of your kitchen. N-Hance prioritizes environmental friendliness, and partners with the American Forest to plant a tree for every kitchen they refinish.
Is It Worth It to Reface Kitchen Cabinets?
Refacing kitchen cabinets may be worth it if you are considering selling your home in the future in a competitive real estate market and are looking for a boost to make your home stand out.
Refaced cabinets can add as much as 7% to the value of your home, and they have a Return on Investment (ROI) of about 65% – 75%, meaning you will earn back between 65% – 75% of what you paid to reface your cabinets when you sell your home.
Refacing can increase the value of your home nearly as much as replacing your cabinets can.
Even if you are not planning to sell your home any time soon, but want to update your old kitchen cabinets without breaking the bank, refacing may be a much more economical option then full replacement.
This is especially true if you have high-quality cabinet boxes which are in good shape, and you just want to change out the old doors to give your kitchen a facelift.
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