Cabinet Refacing: Everything You Need to Know

Cabinet refacing gives cabinets a whole new look without having to replace them

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 5 days - 4 wks, 2 days
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $2,000-15,000

You can dramatically change the look of your kitchen with cabinet refacing. This process gives you a significant kitchen remodeling at a fraction of the cost. Often, cabinets in good structural shape are demolished and replaced simply because the homeowner is tired of their look. This practice is similar to getting rid of a perfect car just because you don't like its color. 

Cabinet refacing replaces the cabinet "skins" by removing the doors and drawer fronts and applying a new veneer over the existing surface of the cabinet body or boxes.

Purchase new drawers and doors through a cabinetry or home improvement store in the size and veneer you want. Replace the hardware, such as the hinges, handles, and drawer pulls, to freshen the kitchen's look. You can hire someone to do it for you, or you can save money and do it yourself by purchasing a veneer kit and placing a special order for doors and fronts.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Screwdrivers (for pulls, knobs, slides)
  • Veneer edge trimmer (usually comes in veneer kit)
  • Laminate trimmer (usually comes in veneer kit)
  • Sandpaper or sanding blocks (usually comes in veneer kit)

Materials

  • 1 Cabinet refacing kit or veneer materials
  • Cabinet hardware: Pulls, knobs, slides, catches
  • Doors and drawer fronts
  • Hinges
  • Accessories: Lighting, molding, glass panels, or drawer accessories

Instructions

Illustration explaining how cabinet refacing works

The Spruce / Adrian Mangel

Before You Begin

Not every cabinet is a good candidate for refacing. However, in many cases, older cabinet boxes are sturdier than newer factory-manufactured boxes and will successfully accept new veneer and doors. Before refacing, ensure your current cabinets have the following elements:

  • Sturdy box construction made of plywood or MDF panels that are smooth and in good condition. New veneers require smooth, solid surfaces to adhere properly. 
  • Face frames of solid hardwood. Good hardwood face frames will accept veneers and can solidly anchor new doors. 
  • Internal hardware (drawer tracks, interior storage elements) that are in good shape. If the drawers do not operate smoothly or the cabinets lack shelving or storage accessories, the refacing expense may not be worth it. 

If you plan to resurface yourself, you can expect the process to take about a week when using a veneer kit for this purpose. A veneer kit contains wood veneers and application materials; however, you might consider special-ordering cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Some options for buying refacing materials include Facelifters (Home Depot), Cabinet Doors Depot, and Wise Wood Veneers.

How to Reface Cabinets 

Many home improvement companies and interior design firms specialize in performing cabinet refacing, or you can do it yourself for a fraction of the cost.

Modern kitchen with wood tone cabinets
Adrianna Williams/ Getty Images
  1. Remove Doors and Hardware

    Remove the cabinet doors, drawers, and their fronts. Keep the rest of the drawer boxes intact. If the slides and tracks need replacement, remove the old slides and tracks.

  2. Reface the Body (Cabinet Boxes)

    Reface the cabinet box fronts with a natural wood veneer or rigid thermofoil (RTF), a melamine-based product.

  3. Reface the Cabinet Sides

    Reface the cabinet sides with wood veneer or laminate.

  4. Put On the Hinges

    • Replace the hinges. If the old hinges are in good condition, reuse them. Otherwise, add new door hinges.
    • If internal hardware, like drawer tracks or slides, needs replacement, change this out.
  5. Install New Doors and Drawer Fronts

    Install the new doors and drawer fronts. 

  6. Install New Hardware

    Add new external hardware and fixtures. Knobs and drawer pulls are an inexpensive way to give cabinets a new look and feel.

    Tip

    You can reuse existing hardware, but if you are going for a new look, this is the most budget-friendly way to do it.

  7. Add Additional Accessories

    Consider adding optional accessories to dress up the cabinets, such as crown molding, glass panels, lighting, or storage accessories like wine and spice racks. These should be the finishing touches after all the other changes are complete.

Cabinet Refacing Costs

Refacing cabinets costs less than replacing your kitchen with custom cabinets, but don't rush to cabinet refacing on the assumption that it is a dirt-cheap alternative to new cabinets. Generally, refacing performed by an installation specialist costs 30 to 50% less than custom cabinet replacement.

Costs for professional refacing start at $90 per linear foot of cabinetry for a laminate finish and can be as much as $455 per foot for a real wood veneer.

Cost savings are somewhat more for the DIYer able to perform the refacing. Expect to spend $30 to $100 for a single door, plus the costs of hardware and tools, from $4,300 to $10,000, depending on the size of your kitchen, according to HomeAdvisor.

Cabinet Refacing Pros & Cons

The advantages and limitations of cabinet refacing should be carefully considered when weighing options for your kitchen remodel.

Pros
  • Retains the kitchen layout: Perfect if your current kitchen layout meets your needs.

  • Many style options: Dozens of different veneer options exist, including laminate and natural wood. 

  • Cost savings: Pay about half the cost of new custom cabinets.

  • Ecofriendly option: Keeps old cabinet boxes away from the landfill; many cabinet boxes are made of MDF, which contains formaldehyde, a hazardous chemical; prevents trees from being cut down to construct new cabinet boxes.

Cons
  • May need finishing: Wood veneers may require additional steps for staining and varnishing. 

  • Can't change layout much: A footprint change is rarely possible and you might not be able to add countertop space. 

  • Box interiors do not change: If current cabinets lack shelves or other storage features, updating cabinet boxes may involve significant extra expense; dingy interiors will need repainting.

  • DIY can be challenging: Veneering is not easy; requires patient, skilled DIYers; (However, installing cabinet doors and drawer fronts is fairly easy).

  • Costs add up: The cost for a veneer kit, new doors, drawer fronts, hinges, hardware, and interior storage accessories add up; savings may be negligible compared to new off-the-shelf stock cabinets. 

When to Call a Professional

If you do not have time or the inclination to do this work yourself, you can expect a cabinet refacing professional will need about three days to perform this service, depending on the size of your kitchen. Here's a typical work plan you can expect from a professional team:

  • Day 1: Remove hardware, doors, and drawer fronts. Begin veneering. Clean up at the end of the day.
  • Day 2: Continue veneering. Clean up at the end of the day.
  • Day 3: Finish veneering. Install new doors and drawer fronts. Install hardware. Make final adjustments.

An online search will give you the names of many firms that perform cabinet refacing services. Cabinet refacing contractors tend to be local firms specializing in these services, not national franchises. You can also discuss your needs with a consultant at a big-box home improvement retailer, who can arrange for assistance from one of their affiliated installation vendors.

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Alternatives to Cabinet Refacing

If a complete kitchen remodel or refacing is too pricey for your budget, a less expensive option is cabinet refinishing. Refinishing involves painting or staining the cabinets. Cabinet refinishing can be up to 70% cheaper than a complete cabinet replacement. 

If painting sounds like too much work, you can replace the door and drawer pulls for a fast and easy look update.

Cabinet painting is also the most eco-friendly option for the environment. Instead of removing old doors or throwing away an entire kitchen’s set of cabinets, you rejuvenate the ones you have.

Is Cabinet Refacing Right for Me?

Cabinet refacing can be a good, cost-saving option for kitchen remodeling if the existing cabinets are well-constructed, in good shape, and where a radically different look is desired. It is also a good choice when the current kitchen layout works well.

If existing cabinets have structural problems, the hardware is in poor condition, or internal storage features are lacking, you may be better off installing all-new cabinets. 

FAQ
  • Is cabinet refacing worth the money?

    If your kitchen layout is fine the way it is and your cabinet boxes are in good shape, refacing may be worthwhile. You can get an upgraded look in a shorter timeframe and at a lower cost.

  • Is painting or refacing cabinets cheaper?

    Painting cabinets is typically considerably cheaper than refacing. It's an excellent way to refresh the look of your kitchen, but you won't get to upgrade your door style. 

  • How long does cabinet refacing last?

    Properly applied veneers can last for 15 to 20 years on average. However, peeling or chipping can occur and are often difficult to repair.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. 2022 Cost of Cabinet Refacing. HomeAdvisor.

  2. Liang, Weihui et al. Long-Term Formaldehyde Emissions From Medium-Density Fiberboard In A Full-Scale Experimental Room: Emission Characteristics And The Effects Of Temperature And HumidityEnvironmental Science & Technology, vol. 49, no. 17, 2015, pp. 10349-10356. American Chemical Society (ACS), doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b02217.