Kitchen comparison
Cabinet Refacing vs Replacement: Cost Comparison
Refacing keeps the existing cabinet boxes and replaces the doors, drawer fronts and visible surfaces. Replacement takes everything out. The cost gap is large, and there is one condition that decides it before price does.
Refacing
$4,000 to $12,000
Full replacement
$8,000 to $30,000
| Feature | Refacing | Full replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Typical project cost | $4,000 to $12,000 | $8,000 to $30,000 |
| Time on site | 2 to 5 days | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Kitchen usable during work | Mostly yes | No |
| Layout can change | No | Yes |
| Fixes damaged boxes | No | Yes |
| New interior storage | Limited, drawer slides possible | Yes |
| Countertop usually reused | Yes | No |
| Lifespan of the result | As long as the boxes last | 20 to 30 years |
Refacing
- Saves 30 to 50 percent against new cabinets
- Days rather than weeks of disruption
- Countertop, plumbing and backsplash usually stay
- Much less waste to landfill
- Layout is locked in
- Does nothing for damaged or sagging boxes
- Interior storage stays as it is
- Cost per door is high if only a few doors are involved
Full replacement
- Any layout you want
- Modern interior storage and soft-close hardware
- Fixes water damage and failing boxes
- Full reset on a kitchen with a bad plan
- Two to three times the cost
- Kitchen out of use for one to three weeks
- Usually drags in countertop, backsplash and flooring
- Often needs permits if plumbing or electrical moves
The verdict
Choose refacing when the boxes are solid plywood or undamaged, the layout works, and the kitchen just looks dated. Choose replacement when boxes are swollen or sagging, when the layout is the actual complaint, or when you want drawers instead of deep cupboards. Open a cabinet and look at the bottom under the sink before deciding: that is where particleboard boxes fail first, and a soft or delaminated base means refacing is the wrong purchase.
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View on AmazonFrequently asked questions
How much does cabinet refacing cost?
About $4,000 to $12,000 for a typical kitchen in 2026, depending on the number of doors, the material chosen and whether drawer boxes and hardware are upgraded at the same time. Cost is driven by door count more than by kitchen square footage, so a kitchen with many small cabinets can cost more than a larger one with fewer, bigger doors.
Is refacing worth it or should I just replace?
Refacing is worth it when the boxes are sound and the layout is right, because you are paying only for the part you can see. It is not worth it when the boxes are failing, when you want a different layout, or when the kitchen is small enough that the saving against new cabinets is a few thousand dollars. Get quotes for both before deciding, because on a small kitchen they sometimes land closer than expected.
What is the difference between refacing and refinishing?
Refinishing means sanding and repainting or restaining the existing doors, which is the cheapest option and keeps the current door style. Refacing replaces the doors and drawer fronts entirely and applies matching veneer to the visible box faces, so the style can change. Refinishing typically runs a fraction of refacing cost but only works on doors in good structural condition.
Does refacing include new countertops?
Usually not, and that is a large part of why it costs less. Because the boxes stay in place, the existing countertop can normally remain, along with the sink, plumbing and backsplash. If you want a new countertop anyway, price the combined job against full replacement, because at that point the gap narrows.