If your kitchen layout works but the cabinets look tired, refacing gets you a near-new kitchen without the price of new cabinets. Cabinet refacing costs $4,000 to $10,000 in 2026, averaging around $7,000 — roughly 30–50% less than replacing.
What you’re paying for
Refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes and swaps everything you see: new doors and drawer fronts, a matching veneer over the box faces, and new hardware. Because the boxes and layout stay, you skip the demolition and most of the labor of a full replacement.
Reface, refinish, or replace
Three options, three budgets. Refinishing ($1,500–$4,000) just repaints existing doors. Refacing ($4,000–$10,000) adds new doors and veneer. Replacing ($8,000–$20,000+) tears it all out — worth it only if the boxes are failing or you’re changing the layout.
Material drives the price
Laminate and rigid thermofoil doors are the budget pick and surprisingly durable. Wood veneer is the mid-tier. Solid-wood doors cost the most but give you the real-wood look.
How to save on cabinet refacing
- Refinish instead of reface if the doors are in good shape.
- Keep your existing layout — moving cabinets erases the savings.
- Choose laminate or thermofoil doors for the lowest cost and easy upkeep.
- Reface only if the boxes are solid; don’t dress up cabinets that are failing.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New doors & drawer fronts | $1,500 – $5,000 | – |
| Veneer for cabinet boxes | $500 – $1,500 | – |
| Labor & installation | $1,500 – $3,500 | – |
| New hardware (hinges, pulls) | $200 – $800 | – |
| Soft-close & upgrades | $200 – $1,000 | – |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate / RTF doors | $4,000 – $7,000 | Most affordable, durable, many colors |
| Wood veneer | $5,000 – $9,000 | – |
| Solid wood doors | $7,000 – $12,000 | Real wood look, highest cost |
| Refinishing only (no new doors) | $1,500 – $4,000 | Paint or restain existing doors |
What affects the price
- Door material Laminate and rigid thermofoil are cheapest; wood veneer is mid; solid-wood doors cost the most.
- Kitchen size More cabinets and drawer fronts mean more material and labor — a big U-shaped kitchen costs well above a galley.
- Refacing vs. refinishing Refacing replaces doors and veneers the boxes; refinishing just repaints existing doors and costs far less.
- Hardware & upgrades Soft-close hinges, new pulls, and pull-out organizers add up across 20–30 doors and drawers.
- Cabinet condition Refacing only works if the boxes are structurally sound — sagging or water-damaged boxes need replacing.
Cabinet refacing cost by state
Where you live can change the price as much as the options you pick. Labor is a big part of the bill, and construction workers are paid more in some states than others. A typical cabinet refacing job costs about $4,700 to $11,700 in Hawaii (17% above the U.S. average). In Arkansas, it costs about $3,400 to $8,500 (15% below the U.S. average).
See the typical cost in all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $3,500 – $8,700 |
| Alaska | $4,600 – $11,500 |
| Arizona | $3,800 – $9,500 |
| Arkansas | $3,400 – $8,500 |
| California | $4,500 – $11,200 |
| Colorado | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Connecticut | $4,300 – $10,700 |
| Delaware | $3,900 – $9,800 |
| District of Columbia | $4,300 – $10,800 |
| Florida | $3,600 – $9,100 |
| Georgia | $3,700 – $9,200 |
| Hawaii | $4,700 – $11,700 |
| Idaho | $3,800 – $9,400 |
| Illinois | $4,600 – $11,500 |
| Indiana | $4,000 – $10,100 |
| Iowa | $3,900 – $9,700 |
| Kansas | $3,800 – $9,500 |
| Kentucky | $3,700 – $9,300 |
| Louisiana | $3,600 – $9,000 |
| Maine | $3,900 – $9,800 |
| Maryland | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Massachusetts | $4,600 – $11,500 |
| Michigan | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Minnesota | $4,400 – $10,900 |
| Mississippi | $3,500 – $8,700 |
| Missouri | $4,100 – $10,200 |
| Montana | $3,900 – $9,800 |
| Nebraska | $3,800 – $9,400 |
| Nevada | $4,100 – $10,300 |
| New Hampshire | $4,000 – $9,900 |
| New Jersey | $4,600 – $11,400 |
| New Mexico | $3,700 – $9,200 |
| New York | $4,400 – $11,000 |
| North Carolina | $3,600 – $9,000 |
| North Dakota | $4,000 – $10,100 |
| Ohio | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Oklahoma | $3,600 – $9,100 |
| Oregon | $4,400 – $11,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $4,000 – $10,100 |
| Rhode Island | $4,200 – $10,400 |
| South Carolina | $3,600 – $9,100 |
| South Dakota | $3,600 – $9,000 |
| Tennessee | $3,700 – $9,200 |
| Texas | $3,600 – $9,100 |
| Utah | $3,800 – $9,400 |
| Vermont | $3,900 – $9,700 |
| Virginia | $3,800 – $9,500 |
| Washington | $4,600 – $11,600 |
| West Virginia | $3,800 – $9,500 |
| Wisconsin | $4,200 – $10,400 |
| Wyoming | $4,000 – $9,900 |
These are numbers to plan with, not quotes. Each one is this guide's U.S. range, adjusted for what construction workers earn in that state. See every state cost guide or how we estimate.
Common questions
- Is cabinet refacing cheaper than replacing?
- Yes — refacing runs $4,000–$10,000 versus $8,000–$20,000+ to replace cabinets, so it's typically 30–50% cheaper. It keeps your existing boxes and layout, which is where most of the savings and time come from.
- What's the difference between refacing and refinishing?
- Refinishing repaints or restains your existing doors and boxes ($1,500–$4,000). Refacing goes further — new doors and drawer fronts plus a matching veneer over the boxes ($4,000–$10,000) — for a like-new look without the cost of full replacement.
- Is refacing cabinets worth it?
- If your cabinet boxes are solid and you like the layout, refacing gives a near-new kitchen for far less than new cabinets. If the boxes are failing or you want to change the layout, replacing is the better spend.
- How long does cabinet refacing take?
- Most kitchens are done in 2–4 days, versus 1–3 weeks for a full cabinet replacement — and your kitchen stays usable throughout.
- Can you reface cabinets yourself?
- DIY veneer-and-door kits exist and can cut the cost, but getting veneer flat and doors aligned is finicky. Most homeowners hire out refacing for the clean, factory-look finish.
How we estimate: These are typical U.S. prices for materials and for hiring a pro to install them. We checked them against the 2026 sources listed below (see how we get our numbers). Your price depends on where you live, the size of the job and the materials you pick. Get two or three written bids before you choose a contractor.
Sources
We checked the prices on this page against 2026 numbers from these sources:
- Cabinet Refacing Cost (2026), HomeGuide
- How Much Does It Cost to Reface Cabinets?, Angi
- Cabinet Refacing Cost, Bob Vila