The average cost to reface cabinets ranges widely, generally falling between \$2,400 and \$13,000. This cost depends heavily on what you choose to do: simple painting versus full replacement.
Deciding to revamp your kitchen cabinets is a big step. Cabinets take up most of the visual space in your kitchen. Fixing them up can make your whole room look brand new. But how much cash will this project take? That is the main question. This guide breaks down all the costs involved in giving your kitchen cabinets a fresh look. We will explore everything from minor touch-ups to a complete overhaul.
Factors Shaping Cabinet Redo Costs
The final price tag for your cabinet project is not fixed. Many things push the price up or pull it down. Knowing these factors helps you set a realistic budget for kitchen cabinet makeover.
The Scope of Work
The biggest factor is how much work you need done. Are you just changing the look, or are you changing the entire structure?
- Refacing vs. Replacement: Refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes but swaps out doors, drawer fronts, and the visible exterior. Replacement means ripping out the old boxes and putting in brand new ones.
- Material Quality: Solid wood costs much more than laminate or thermofoil. High-end finishes also increase the bill.
- Cabinet Complexity: Kitchens with many small, odd-shaped cabinets cost more to work on than kitchens with long, straight runs of cabinets.
Location and Labor Rates
Where you live matters a lot for labor costs. Professional services in big cities charge higher hourly rates than those in smaller towns. Travel time for specialized contractors also adds to the final price.
DIY vs. Professional Help
Doing the work yourself saves significant money on labor. However, DIY projects require time, tools, and often lead to smaller, less perfect results compared to professionals.
Methods for Updating Kitchen Cabinets: Price Comparison
There are several main paths you can take to change your cabinets. Each method has a different price tag.
Option 1: Cabinet Refinishing (The Budget Fix)
Refinishing usually means deep cleaning, sanding, and applying a fresh coat of high-quality paint or stain. This keeps your existing cabinet boxes and doors.
What is included in kitchen cabinet refinishing prices?
This typically includes surface preparation, minor repairs, and applying a new color or clear coat. It’s the best way to refresh the look without changing the style much.
| Refinishing Method | Estimated Cost Range (Total Kitchen) | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| DIY Kit Repaint | \$200 – \$600 | Lowest initial expense |
| Professional Painting | \$2,000 – \$5,000 | Durable, smooth finish |
| Professional Staining | \$2,500 – \$6,500 | Preserves wood grain |
The cost to paint kitchen cabinets professionally is often much lower than replacement. However, be sure to factor in the cost of materials if you plan to do it yourself. The DIY kitchen cabinet repaint cost only covers supplies like paint, sandpaper, and brushes.
Option 2: Cabinet Refacing (The Middle Ground)
Cabinet refacing is a popular choice. It gives the appearance of new cabinets without the high price of full replacement. You keep the structure (the carcass) but swap the visible fronts.
What is the average cost to reface cabinets?
On average, expect costs to sit in the mid-range. This involves removing all old doors and drawer fronts. New doors are installed, often along with new hardware. A thin veneer layer (like wood or laminate) is glued over the visible sides of the old boxes.
Refacing is faster than replacement. It creates less dust and waste. However, if your existing cabinet boxes are damaged or poorly built, refacing won’t hide those issues well.
Option 3: Cabinet Resurfacing (A Step Above Refinishing)
Cabinet resurfacing is similar to refacing but often involves applying a durable coating or laminate directly over the existing door and drawer faces, rather than replacing the doors entirely.
What is the cabinet resurfacing cost?
This is generally more expensive than basic painting but cheaper than full refacing. The process involves prepping the surface thoroughly and applying a tough, often factory-grade, coating or thin panels. The durability is usually better than standard paint jobs.
Option 4: Full Cabinet Replacement (The Premium Choice)
This option means tearing out everything—the boxes, the doors, the drawers—and installing entirely new units.
What is the custom kitchen cabinet replacement cost?
This is the most expensive route. Costs vary dramatically based on whether you choose stock cabinets (pre-made sizes), semi-custom, or fully custom units.
- Stock Cabinets: Cheapest, limited sizes.
- Semi-Custom: More options for size and finish.
- Custom Cabinets: Built specifically for your space. This offers the best fit and look but requires the largest financial commitment.
If you are investing in custom pieces, the full kitchen cabinet remodel cost will also include demolition, disposal fees, and possibly new installation labor if the contractor specializes only in installation.
Deciphering Cabinet Restoration Expenses
Sometimes, cabinets are structurally sound but look old or damaged. Cabinet restoration expenses focus on repairing and preserving existing materials rather than changing their style completely.
Repairing Wear and Tear
Restoration covers things like:
- Fixing loose hinges or wobbly doors.
- Patching deep scratches or water damage on wood surfaces.
- Reapplying wood veneer where it has peeled.
If your cabinets are solid wood but the finish is worn down, restoration can bring them back to life beautifully, often costing less than a full paint job.
Hardware Upgrades
New hardware (knobs and pulls) can dramatically update the look without touching the cabinet surface itself. This is often the first step people take in a budget makeover.
- Cost of New Hardware: A basic set might cost \$3–\$5 per piece. High-end, designer hardware can run \$15–\$30 per piece or more. For an average kitchen (30–40 pieces), this adds \$120 to \$1,200 to your project budget.
Professional Painting vs. DIY: A Cost Breakdown
Choosing who does the painting greatly affects your final bill.
Professional Kitchen Cabinet Spraying Price
Professionals almost always use HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) sprayers. This yields the smoothest, most factory-like finish.
A professional job involves:
1. Removing all doors and hardware.
2. Thoroughly cleaning and degreasing surfaces.
3. Sanding every surface down.
4. Applying primer.
5. Spraying several even topcoats.
6. Reinstalling hardware and doors.
The professional kitchen cabinet spraying price reflects the high skill level needed to achieve a flawless, durable finish that won’t chip easily. They also charge for the time spent masking off the rest of your kitchen to protect floors and countertops.
DIY Kitchen Cabinet Repaint Cost
If you decide to tackle this yourself, the main costs are materials.
- Paint/Primer: High-quality cabinet paint (like alkyd or specific cabinet enamels) is crucial for durability. Expect to spend \$50–\$80 per gallon. You might need 2–3 gallons.
- Supplies: Sandpaper, tack cloths, painter’s tape, drop cloths, and brushes/rollers.
- Time Investment: This is not a weekend project. A DIY job can take a week or more of consistent evenings and weekends, especially factoring in drying times between coats.
While the DIY kitchen cabinet repaint cost is low initially, factor in the frustration and potential for a less-than-perfect result if you lack experience with proper prep work.
Cabinet Resurfacing Cost Deep Dive
Resurfacing sits between painting and refacing. It is popular because it can cover minor imperfections in the underlying wood better than paint can.
Laminate vs. Thermofoil
- Laminate: Thin sheets of durable plastic bonded to the cabinet face. Good for modern looks.
- Thermofoil: Vinyl material heated and vacuum-pressed onto the cabinet fronts.
The cabinet resurfacing cost depends heavily on the material used and whether the existing doors can be covered or if new doors must be ordered to fit the resurfacing material.
When Replacement Becomes Necessary
There are times when patching or painting simply won’t work. You need a custom kitchen cabinet replacement cost estimate if:
- Structural Failure: The boxes are sagging, warped, or falling apart due to water damage.
- Layout Issues: Your current layout doesn’t work for modern appliances or workflow needs (e.g., you need a pantry that isn’t there).
- Outdated Construction: Old cabinets might lack modern features like soft-close drawers or adequate support.
A full kitchen cabinet remodel cost includes the price of the new cabinets themselves, which can range from \$4,000 for basic stock units to over \$25,000 for high-end custom work. Installation adds another significant layer to this total.
Hidden Costs to Keep in Your Budget
When budgeting for any cabinet redo, always keep a buffer for unexpected expenses.
Hardware and Fixtures
We mentioned hardware, but don’t forget about sinks, faucets, or lighting if your project expands slightly. Even choosing higher-end cabinet pulls can add hundreds to the total.
Countertop Disruption
If you are painting or refacing, the contractor may need to temporarily remove your countertops to work around them cleanly. If they have to disconnect and reconnect plumbing or electrical lines related to the counter, that adds cost.
Surface Prep and Disposal
If your existing cabinets have many layers of old, chipped paint, removing all that requires extra labor time, which increases cabinet restoration expenses. Proper disposal of old doors and materials also costs money.
Determining Your Project Path
To help you decide which path fits your wallet and your vision, ask yourself these key questions:
1. How is the Existing Cabinet Box Quality?
If the boxes are sturdy, well-built, and structurally sound, refacing or painting is viable. If the boxes are particleboard that is swelling or collapsing, replacement is safer.
2. What Look Are You Aiming For?
- Want a simple refresh? Painting or staining is likely enough.
- Want a style change (e.g., from raised panel to shaker)? Refacing or replacement is required, as painting won’t change the door profile.
- Want a completely new layout? Replacement is the only answer.
3. How Long Do You Plan to Stay in the Home?
If you plan to sell within five years, a mid-range update like quality refacing offers a great return on investment. If you are staying long-term, investing in custom replacement might be worthwhile for your daily enjoyment.
Cost Summary Table: Redo Options Compared
This table provides a general guide. Always get multiple local quotes for accuracy.
| Project Type | Typical Cost Range (Mid-Sized Kitchen) | Time to Complete | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY Paint Refresh | \$200 – \$800 | 1–3 Weeks | Tightest budgets, structurally sound cabinets. |
| Professional Painting | \$2,000 – \$5,000 | 3–7 Days | Changing color while keeping door style. |
| Cabinet Refacing | \$4,500 – \$10,000 | 1–2 Weeks | Updating style (new doors) without box replacement. |
| Cabinet Resurfacing | \$5,000 – \$12,000 | 1–2 Weeks | Better durability than paint; covers minor flaws. |
| Full Replacement (Stock) | \$7,000 – \$15,000 | 2–4 Weeks | Poor existing boxes, desire for new layout. |
| Full Replacement (Custom) | \$15,000+ | 4–8 Weeks | Highest quality, perfect fit, specific needs. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much more does it cost to paint cabinets versus refinishing them?
Painting is a type of refinishing. When people ask this, they often mean the difference between DIY painting and professional spraying. Professional spraying usually costs between \$2,000 and \$5,000, while DIY materials cost under \$800. The difference is the high cost of professional labor and specialized equipment leading to a superior finish.
Can I save money by only replacing the doors instead of refacing the whole kitchen?
Yes, this is sometimes called “door replacement.” If your existing cabinet boxes are in perfect shape and match the new door style you want (e.g., both are shaker style), you can save money by just ordering new doors. However, matching the wood tone or ensuring the new doors fit perfectly onto old hinge mechanisms can be tricky, often pushing the final costs closer to the average cost to reface cabinets.
Does cabinet resurfacing cost include new hardware?
Usually, no. Hardware is almost always a separate line item. While some contractors might offer basic pulls in their lowest-tier package, anything fancy will increase the cabinet resurfacing cost. Always confirm what is included in the initial quote.
Is the full kitchen cabinet remodel cost worth it?
If your goal is to increase home value significantly, a high-quality replacement that improves layout and function usually provides the best return. If you simply want a cosmetic update for a few years, painting or refacing is a much better value proposition.
What determines the cabinet restoration expenses for older, damaged wood cabinets?
Restoration costs are driven by the extent of the damage. Simple surface scratches are cheap to fix. Significant water damage, woodworm, or structural warping requires specialized carpentry, which drives the restoration expenses up significantly, sometimes making replacement more economical.