If your kitchen looks dated but your cabinets are still structurally sound, a full replacement can feel like overkill, and an expensive one at that.
At McManus Kitchen and Bath, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners decide whether kitchen cabinet refacing, refinishing, or replacing is the best choice for their space and budget.
In this guide, you’ll find the most accurate kitchen cabinet refacing cost ranges, broken down by material and kitchen size, plus the pros, cons, and how to decide if refacing is right for you.
Small kitchens are usually L-Shaped or Galley style, have 10 to 15 cabinets, no island and are often found in Condos and small homes.
Mid Size Kitchens usually have a small island. They are around 12′ x 15′ and have 15 to 20 cabinets.
Large kitchens have larger islands and between 22 and 30 cabinets.
Cabinet refacing involves replacing the doors and drawer fronts, covering the cabinet boxes with a new veneer, and updating the hardware.
You also have the option of updating drawer glides, door to drawer conversions and adding cabinets to your existing layout.
It’s faster, cleaner, and less expensive than a full replacement—but it is not right for everyone.
The cost of cabinet refacing is close to the same as the cost of new cabinets. Refacing saves money because we do not have to remove countertops and appliances etc… everything remains in place.
If you plan to replace cabinets, counters, backsplash tile etc… as well as reface your cabinets then I suggest looking at new cabinets as well.
Refacing a kitchen has two main advantages over new cabinets: It’s faster and can cost less if modifications are kept to a minimum.
When we talk about the cost of a reface to new cabinets we are just comparing the cost of refacing to the cost of new cabinets. But when you get new cabinets there are other costs like new counter, plumbing costs, backsplash tile etc…
The nice thing about kitchen cabinet refacing is your cabinet, counters and appliances all stay in place.
With refacing there is very little disruption to your daily routine. All work is done in house by our team, and there is no real demo needed. Your counter tops and appliances stay in place and you can keep using your kitchen throughout the process.
When replacing cabinets you lose the use of your kitchen for the entire project and there are more people in and out of your house during the project.
There are situations when cabinet refacing is your very best option, these include:
If you are remodeling your kitchen, including countertops, flooring, tile etc… and are considering refacing instead of replacing you might want to reconsider. There are advantages to new cabinets that might make them worth the extra cost.
Most projects take 3–5 days, depending on size and complexity.
Yes—ROI can be 65–80%, especially if paired with other kitchen updates.
Yes, as long as the boxes are stable and in good condition.
It starts with clear, accurate pricing and our design and budget consult
At the end of the day, cabinet refacing offers a fresh, modern look without the full remodel cost—but it’s only the right choice if your cabinets are structurally sound, you don’t need layout changes and you don’t want to change countertops.
If you’re ready to explore your options, the next step is to schedule a design consultation. We’ll measure your space, discuss your style goals, and provide a detailed, accurate quote—so you can move forward with confidence.