How Much Does Cabinet Refacing Cost?

Average Cost to Reface Cabinets

The national average cost to reface cabinets is $6,518, with most homeowners spending between $4,214 and $8,110 for a 10′ x 12′ kitchen. A smaller kitchen costs $1,000 to $3,000 for laminate, and a larger kitchen with high-quality wood veneer, costs can rise to $8,000 to $10,000+.

Typically, the cost of refacing your kitchen cabinets will be 25%–50% of what it could cost to install new cabinets. With multiple options in color and style, it’s absolutely the better choice for sprucing up the kitchen.

Table Of Contents

1. Cabinet Refacing Costs
2. Cabinet Refacing Costs Per Linear Foot
3. Refacing & Replacing Cabinet Doors Cost
• Wood Veneers
• Plastic Laminate
• Rigid Thermofoil (RTF)
• Solid Wood
4. Reface vs. Replace vs. Refinish
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. Additional Costs & Labor
7. Pros and Cons
8. DIY Cabinet Refacing
9. Hiring Your Cabinet Refacing Company
10. Cabinet Refacing Near Me

Cabinet Refacing Costs Per Linear Foot

When refacing cabinets, laminate typically costs around $60 per linear foot when opting for the most basic design quality. With high-quality veneer, the average cost can be between $100 and $200 per linear foot. Real wood is the most expensive, costing anywhere between $250 and $500 per linear foot depending on many factors. Therefore, refacing your cabinet doors could cost as little as $1,000 all the way up to $10,000 or more depending on the size of the area and the materials used.

Refacing & Replacing Cabinet Doors Cost

Here are the costs of cabinet refacing materials for an average 10’ x 12’ kitchen:

Wood Veneers - $2,500–$6,500

Wood veneers are considered a top choice when it comes to refacing your kitchen cabinets. They generally cost 15% to 25% higher than laminate options, at around $2,500–$6,500. Produced as a product that also requires pin nails and panel adhesive to be held securely, wood veneers are sliced as thin as 5/16” and is also suitable for resurfacing the cabinet frame face. Many types of wood are available including walnut, birch, maple, oak, and cheery.

Plastic Laminate - $1,000–$4,000

Plastic Laminate veneers are available in the largest range of patterns and colors and are a water-resistant and durable option, making them a value choice. 3D laminate is available in both pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets, which require no additional adhesive products, or non-adhesive, phenolic-backed sheets which require either a solvent or water-based contact cement. At an average price of $1,000–$3,500 it's a good choice. However, laminate can chip and can be less water resistant.

Rigid Thermofoil (RTF) - $1,800–$3,500

Another less expensive option is rigid thermofoil (RTF) on fiberboard which is a coating made of a durable plastic. Fiberboards come as either medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or high-density fiberboard (HDF) and can be bought finished or unfinished, allowing you to stain or paint onsite. Fiberboards are another product that requires pin nails and panel adhesive to be held securely. RTF offers a clean, wood grain look without the high costs. RTF costs on average $1,800–$3,500.

Solid Wood - $5,500 and up

Solid wood cabinets are expensive, but offer a premium high-quality look. Once installed, solid wood cabinets can be refinished and repaired as needed which guarantees they last a long time. For many homeowners, solid wood is the best investment.

To minimize your costs, consider refacing your cabinets with wood veneer or laminate. Keep in mind there materials only cover surfaces that are flat and will not work with doors that contain any amount of detail.

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Reface vs. Replace vs. Refinish Cabinets & Doors

• Refacing – The cabinets are refaced with the new surface film and color of your choice. Refacing consists of using adhesive and nails to secure a veneer over the surface of flat doors and drawer fronts, covering your existing doors and drawer faces with new material, or, replacing doors and drawer fronts that are not flat with new doors and fronts.
• Replacing – This is a great choice if there is any major physical damage to your cabinet doors or boxes. Replacing also makes sense when changing the layout of your kitchen or bathroom.
• Refinishing or Repainting – For those who are on a tighter budget, you can also refinish or repaint, instead of refacing your cabinets. Instead of using laminate or veneer to enhance the look of your home, you can simply paint or stain the existing cabinets. Repainting kitchen cabinets costs $903 to $3,764 depending on the size of your kitchen. This is the optimal choice when the cabinets are in good condition and you would like a color change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cabinet Refacing?

Simply put, cabinet refacing means that you replace the front of your cabinets and/or drawers to update the overall look of your kitchen or bathroom. This means that you can achieve a whole new look without needing to alter the actual structure or layout of your original cabinetry.

In addition, while refacing your cabinets, there are slight alterations that you can do in the process that will enhance the overall functionality of the space. For example, during the renovation process, you could easily add a lazy Susan or reinforce a preexisting shelf so that it can better hold heavy pots.

Is It Worth It To Reface Kitchen Cabinets?

Although more expensive than refinishing, cabinet refacing is generally 30 to 50 percent cheaper than replacing custom cabinets. While the cabinets remain the same inside, they will get an entirely new, modern look. It is a great time to also update the knobs, handles and hinges so everything is updated at the same time.

If choosing to refinish or paint the cabinets, if there is existing damage, the potential for it still to be visible exists, as well as a dated look if the cabinets are of an older style.

How Long Does Cabinet Door Refacing Take?

There are many variables that play a role here, including the size of the work area and even weather conditions (especially if you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow). However, as long as the company you hire can work according to their anticipated schedule, the average job takes anywhere between 2 and 5 days.

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Additional Cabinet Refacing Costs

If you're eager to give your cabinets a fresh look, it's important that you understand your options in terms of added features. Hardware replacements are a fairly major variable in regards to the final cost and can also add a more high-end look, especially when opting for basic refacing materials.

Although you can obtain basic handles and knobs for less than $5 each, more expensive hardware will quickly drive up the final cost of your project. Modifications can add an extra $300 to $1,200 to the total cost of the refacing project. Expect to pay more if you want:

• More doors and drawers than a regular kitchen
• Very ornate designs on the doors
• A lot of modifications – adding drawers to a cabinet, turning a desk into another cabinet, adding rollout storage, adding glass doors
• Soft close slides or full extension slides
• A trash or recycle pull out
• Slide-out storage for spices or Tupperware
• Hinges, knobs or handles:
  • Most knobs range from $1.03–$4.64 each, depending on size and materials—ceramic, nickel, brass-plated, wood, etc.
  • Overlay cabinet hinges cost $21/pack of 10; semi-concealed hinges are $2.26–$2.89; semi-concealed self-closing hinges are $21/pack of 20.
  • Handles/pulls cost $2.08–$5.41 each, although custom-designed pulls can cost up to $50 each.

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Cabinet Refacing Labor Costs

Depending on your location and value for experience, licensing, and the contractor’s insurance policy, labor will cost approximately $30–$100 per hour. A lone handyman charges $50 to $80 per hour, while a full-service contractor charges $60 to $100 hourly to cover the project management and payroll costs.

Pros And Cons Of Cabinet Refacing

Reasons To Reface Cabinets

1. Resale value - A minor kitchen remodel can increase the value of your home by about 5%, and you will usually recoup about 81% of the amount of money you spend on it when selling your home.
2. Colors and styles – they come in many colors. You can choose from wood look to flat to metallic.
3. Cost – up to half the price of replacing your cabinets.
4. Time – only takes 2–3 days, whereas a full kitchen remodel can take weeks.
5. Use of kitchen – you can still use your kitchen while the cabinets are being refaced, whereas replacing cabinets usually requires you to move out of the home while it’s being done. With cabinet replacement, you also have to replace the countertops, backsplash, sinks, etc., and the floors and drywall can be damaged.
6. Eco-friendly – the cabinets won’t end up in the landfill but will stay being used and a few less trees will be cut down.
7. Permits – no city permits are required if you’re not doing any plumbing or electrical work.

Reasons Preventing Cabinet Refacing

• Age – if your cabinets are old and were originally made of cheap plywood, they may not be able to handle the work done to reface them. Much older cabinets, however, have better quality wood and might be perfect for the project if they haven’t sustained any damage over the years.
• Damage – if cabinets have curling or warped wood from damage and water damage, you can’t reface them.
• Kitchen layout – you can only put a new face on existing cabinets. They’re not moved, so if your basic kitchen design is annoying, it will stay annoying.
• Cabinet space – the interior of the cabinets will remain the same size.

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DIY Cabinet Refacing

1. Remove the doors and drawer fronts.
2. If they are flat and suitable for reusing: degrease old doors and drawer fronts, nail a thin layer of plywood to front if needed, apply new skin of your choice.
3. Cover (reskin) the visible front, side, and underneath portions of the cabinets with your RTF, laminate, or wood veneer.
4. Install new door hinges (if desired) and doors.
5. Install any matching molding, toe kicks, storage accessories, and drawer pulls.
6. Install the knobs or handles of your choice.

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Hiring Your Cabinet Refacing Company

In order to narrow down your list to your top three contractors to get bids from, make sure they offer all or most of what’s on the list below.

• Licensed to work in your state, holding a certified residential contractor’s license. This must be renewed every two years. A contractor must log 14 hours of continuing education each year to maintain the license.
• Bonded and insured — should have a general liability policy.
• Has ethical hiring practices — provides worker’s compensation insurance.
• Offers a warranty on products — cabinets should have at least a one-year warranty.
• Offers a warranty on work.
• Look for years in business to assess the contractor’s level of experience and knowledge.
• Make sure the bid is detailed and includes a start and end date and all cleanup work.

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