Refacing vs. Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

There are plenty of reasons to change your cabinets: a dated door style that drags the room down, finishes that won’t come clean, boxes that waste storage, or a layout that makes every dinner prep feel like a maze. Maybe you’re refreshing the space to sell, or you’re finally ready to give daily cooking the storage and flow it deserves. Sometimes it’s as simple as wanting the kitchen to feel brighter, calmer, and more you. 

At some point, you’ll likely face a key decision: reface your cabinets or replace them entirely.

Kitchen cabinet refacing: what to know

Cost of refacing kitchen cabinets

The cost of refacing kitchen cabinets ranges from the mid‑$4,000s for a small kitchen to $12,000–$20,000+ for larger spaces and premium veneers. Pricing is driven by the number of doors and drawers, veneer or laminate grade, door style, and add‑ons like soft‑close hinges. Real‑wood veneers, custom color matching, and pre‑work to repair boxes can raise the total.

What it accomplishes

Refacing swaps doors and drawer fronts, applies new veneer to face frames and exposed ends, and updates hinges and pulls. It delivers a big visual lift without moving cabinets, changing interior dimensions, or disrupting the layout. Because boxes stay put, refacing often pairs smoothly with keeping existing countertops and floors.

What it doesn’t solve

Refacing won’t fix a clumsy layout, tight clearances, or shallow storage. Structural issues—water damage, sagging, out‑of‑square boxes—remain and may worsen if ignored. Interior organization stays largely the same unless you add accessories, which increases cost. If you plan to move appliances, add tall storage, or resize an island, refacing won’t cover those changes.

The timeline of refacing kitchen cabinets

Typical duration: 3–10 days of onsite work once materials arrive

Best for: cosmetic upgrades on a solid foundation

Refacing works well when cabinet boxes are structurally sound—square, dry, and free of damage. It’s a smart choice for homeowners focused on style updates like door profiles, finishes, and hardware, without changing the layout or touching countertops. The faster turnaround and lower cost compared to full replacement make it especially appealing for budget-conscious refreshes.

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Kitchen cabinet replacing: what to know

Cost of replacing kitchen cabinets

If refacing kitchen cabinets doesn’t quite meet your remodeling needs, outright replacing them is the most logical next step. However, the cost of such a project is the factor most likely to hold homeowners back. 

Full replacement ranges widely: stock cabinets for a small kitchen can start around $6,000–$10,000 for boxes only, semi‑custom often lands between $12,000–$30,000+, and custom cabinetry can exceed $35,000–$60,000 depending on species, finishes, and interior features. 

Costs shift based on the square footage, cabinet grade (stock, semi‑custom, custom), wood species, finish type (paint, stain, specialty), organizational inserts, trim details, and layout changes that trigger electrical, plumbing, flooring patching, or new countertops. 

The timeline of replacing kitchen cabinets

Typical duration: 2–6 weeks of active work once cabinets are onsite, plus 2–10+ weeks of lead time for ordering and delivery

What it accomplishes

Cabinet replacement gives you full control over layout, dimensions, and storage—solving both function and aesthetics at once. You can optimize workflow and capacity with modern systems and purpose‑built inserts.

1. Taller uppers to add vertical storage
2. Deeper bases or full pull‑outs for easier access
3. Dedicated pantries, tray dividers, spice pull‑outs, and recycling centers
4. Cabinets to hide refrigerators and other appliances
5. Integrated lighting with under‑cabinet runs and interior LEDs

Special considerations

Cabinet replacement often cascades into adjacent scopes—new countertops and backsplash, appliance shifts, venting and electrical updates, and flooring infill or replacement. Plan a temporary kitchen, confirm delivery timelines to avoid extended downtime, and verify wall conditions before install. Clearances should meet code and appliance specs so doors, drawers, and traffic flow play nicely together.

Best for: full layout changes or structural issues

Replacing cabinets is the better path when boxes are damaged, poorly built, or no longer meet your storage needs. It’s ideal for projects involving layout reconfigurations, accessibility upgrades, or integrated storage systems. If you’re also planning to update countertops, flooring, or appliances, a full replacement offers a cleaner, more cohesive approach than trying to work around outdated cabinetry.

Other solutions for budget-minded homeowners

• Painting the cabinets: Paint can transform color and brightness, but pro‑level prep is real work: degreasing, sanding or scuff‑sanding, bonding primer, and sprayed, catalyzed finishes for durability. DIY can save money but often chips sooner; hiring pros narrows the gap with refacing while delivering a smoother, longer‑lasting finish.
• Changing out the cabinet hardware: New knobs, pulls, and hinges deliver a fast refresh with minimal disruption. If hole spacing changes, you may need filler and touch‑up—or new doors—to avoid visible scars.
• Adding free-standing units: A slim pantry cabinet, butcher‑block cart, or hutch can add storage and counter space without touching built‑ins. Measure clearances carefully so door swings and aisles stay comfortable.
• Adding interior organizers: Retrofit pull‑outs, tray dividers, trash/recycle centers, and corner solutions bring order to existing boxes. Install is typically quick and the daily usability boost is outsized.
• Going door-less on select uppers: Removing a few upper doors creates open shelving that lightens the look and showcases everyday dishes. It’s a low-cost change, but plan to paint or finish the cabinet interiors and commit to tidy storage to keep it feeling intentional, not cluttered. Read more about this idea here. 

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Before you touch a single hinge, our Renovation Studio gives you a clear picture of where you’re headed. Explore door styles and finishes side by side, swap hardware in a click, and preview how paint colors play with your counters and floors. Visualize storage upgrades like adding full-height uppers or trading a blind corner for pull-outs—while getting a realistic read on pricing as you go. The result is a dialed-in plan: a style you’re excited about and a clearer idea of whether refacing or replacing the kitchen cabinets better fulfills your vision and budgetary restrictions.

Let us help you find the right kitchen contractors

Once your plan is locked, Block brings the right professionals to the table—licensed, vetted contractors who match your project’s size, style, and schedule. You’ll receive side-by-side proposals with clear scopes, so it’s easy to compare apples to apples instead of decoding vague line items. Our team can help review scopes to catch common misses early, and payments move through a progress-based system that releases funds only as work gets done. 

Throughout the build, you’ll have transparency on scheduling, quick answers when questions pop up, and steady guidance if surprises arise.