How Much Does Cabinet Refacing Cost in 2025?
The average cabinet refacing cost is $7,230
Cabinet refacing costs an average of $7,230, with most homeowners spending between $4,234 and $10,226, at roughly $150 to $450 per linear foot.
Costs vary based on material choices, cabinet size, ease of access, hardware replacement, and additional upgrades.
Refacing involves updating existing cabinets with new veneers and hardware, providing a fresh look without the expense of complete replacement.
Refacing is 30% to 50% less expensive than replacing cabinets and enhances your home’s value.
Hiring a cabinet refacing professional ensures a smooth finish, a polished look, and lasting results.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
On average, cabinet refacing costs between $4,234 and $10,226, with most homeowners spending an average of $7,230. A smaller project with laminate or wood veneer cabinet materials might cost $1,200, while a central cabinet refacing project could cost $16,135, especially if you choose solid wood.
Total costs vary based on material choices, cabinet size, hardware replacement, and additional upgrades. Refacing is 30% to 50% less expensive than replacing cabinets while enhancing your home’s value and aesthetics. Hiring a cabinet specialist for refacing ensures time savings, custom solutions, and proper installation.
What Is Cabinet Refacing?
Instead of gutting the kitchen, a refacing pro skins the cabinet boxes with fresh veneer, then swaps in new doors, drawer fronts, hinges, and pulls. If your boxes are sturdy, this one-two punch delivers a like-new look for a fraction of the cost of full replacement.
Replacing vs. Refinishing vs. Refacing
With refacing, you keep the boxes but swap in new doors, drawer fronts, and veneer—so the kitchen looks new, even though the layout remains the same. Refinishing is simply sanding, then painting or staining what you already have, and costs between $1,800 and $4,200. A full replacement means tearing everything out and starting fresh, which can cost $10,000 or more. For many homeowners, refacing strikes the sweet spot between budget and wow factor.
Cabinet Refacing Cost Factors
Several factors influence the cost of your cabinet refacing project, including the cabinet size, material type, hardware replacement, and additional upgrades.
Size
The bigger the run of cabinets, the higher the bill. Expect to spend $150 to $450 per linear foot, depending on the material. Measure your linear footage for a ballpark estimate, then ask a cabinet professional for a firm quote that takes into account kitchen size, material grade, and regional labor rates.
Ease of Access
Tight corners or cramped galley kitchens slow a crew down. More setup time and specialty tools translate into higher labor fees, so budget extra if installers will be working in tight spaces or maneuvering past appliances.
Hardware Replacement
New pulls and hinges complete the makeover, but they’re an extra line item. Love your current hardware? Clean it up and reinstall—easy savings without sacrificing style.
Cabinet Accessories
Feel like splurging? Under-cabinet lighting ($200 to $300 per light) or a run of crown molding ($700 to $2,100) can take the refinish from nice to knockout. Just remember—each add-on increases the total, especially if you tack on custom pull-outs or extra shelving.
Refacing Cost by Cabinet Door Type
The type of material you choose for your cabinets has a significant impact on the cost. Laminate is the most budget-friendly option, while solid and plywood are the most costly.
| Material | Cost Range Per Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|
| Wood veneer | $100–$250 |
| Rigid thermofoil (RTF) | $80–$125 |
| Solid and plywood | $200–$500 |
Wood Veneers
Wood veneers cost between $100 and $250 per square foot. They are sheets and strips of thin wood material applied to exposed surfaces, available in various wood tones, including oak, maple, cherry, birch, and walnut. Wood veneers can last for years with minimal care once sealed.
Rigid Thermofoil (RTF)
Rigid thermofoil (RTF), a particular type of economical laminate, runs from $80 to $125 per square foot. RTF is a flexible vinyl molded over medium-density fiberboard. It can be shaped and molded to fit various door styles, offering the clean look of painted cupboards without brushstrokes.
Solid and Plywood Doors
Replacing your doors and drawers with solid wood costs $200 to $500 per square foot. Solid wood is a sound investment for many homeowners because it can be refinished and repaired more easily, allowing for the easy repair of surface damage.
DIY vs. Hiring a Cabinet Refacing Pro
Refacing demands precision tools, a steady hand, and plenty of patience. While DIY materials can cost between $1,645 and $6,570, hiring a cabinet professional ensures high-quality results, saves time and stress, and eliminates the risk of costly mistakes. A local cabinet professional can transform your space efficiently, providing you with the look you want at a competitive price. Book a local cabinet refacing pro now for a custom look.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Refacing returns 65% to 80% of your investment at resale, and you get an updated kitchen right now. Because you’re not paying for new boxes or demo work, the price lands well below complete replacement but still delivers a fresh, custom look that buyers—and you—notice every time you walk in.
To trim costs, start by pricing a high-quality paint or gel stain instead of full refacing—stain alone can be one-third the price of full refacing. Keep existing hinges and pulls if they’re in good shape, and shop sales for sandpaper, primer, and sealer. The sweat equity is real, but so are the savings, and a careful DIY job can still leave your cabinets looking sharp for years to come.
A professional crew needs only three to five days to reface a standard kitchen, although a larger layout or intricate door style may add one to two days. Compare that with the several weeks a full cabinet swap can drag on. In other words, you get your space back fast, often before the paint on the new doors is even fully cured.
Yes, you can replace just the cabinet doors and drawer fronts without covering the cabinet boxes. Cabinet refacing involves installing new doors and drawer fronts while applying veneers to existing cabinet boxes. If you’re satisfied with the condition of your cabinets, swapping doors and drawer fronts reduces labor and materials, saving you time and cost. Always consult a professional to confirm compatibility and ensure a seamless, high-quality finish.
Most cabinet refacing projects do not require removing countertops because professionals can access doors and drawers around existing surfaces. However, if your countertop overhang prevents full access to the cabinet boxes, contractors may need to lift the countertop to install veneers properly temporarily. Discuss this with your refacing specialist during the on-site estimate so you know exactly what the project entails.
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