That's our range to reface 30 linear feet of kitchen cabinets, about what a typical 150–200 sq ft kitchen has, with a typical cost of about $9,000 ($165–$435 per linear foot). Replacing the same run with new stock cabinets typically costs about $12,000 installed, so refacing typically saves about 25%. Painting the cabinets you have costs far less.
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][3][4][5]. Planning numbers, not quotes.
Cabinet cost by option: paint, reface or replace
There are three ways to change how your cabinets look, and they differ mainly in how much of the old cabinet stays. Painting keeps everything. Refacing keeps the boxes and swaps the parts you see. Replacement starts over, which is the only option if you want a new layout. We price each per linear foot of cabinets (uppers and lowers counted separately), then multiply by our 30 ft reference kitchen.
| Option | Per linear ft Estimate | 30 linear ft Estimate | Typical Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint or refinish the existing cabinets Same boxes and doors, cleaned, sanded and recoated. Layout and counters stay. | $55 – $145 | $1,700 – $4,400 | $2,000 |
| Reface New veneer on the cabinet boxes plus new doors, drawer fronts and hardware. Boxes, layout and counters stay. | $165 – $435 | $5,000 – $13,100 | $9,000 |
| Replace with stock cabinets Tear out and install new factory-made cabinets in standard sizes. | $175 – $590 | $5,300 – $17,700 | $12,000 |
| Replace with semi-custom cabinets Standard boxes with more sizes, finishes and options. One source only. | $340 – $865 | $10,200 – $26,000 | $18,000 |
| Replace with custom cabinets Built to order for your room, in any size, wood or finish. | $640 – $1,415 | $19,200 – $42,500 | $30,800 |
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][3][4][5]. For each tier we pooled the low, midpoint and high figure each source publishes for a comparable scope (a single benchmark figure counts once), then used the median as Typical and the middle half of the pooled figures as Low–High. Where a source gives a whole-kitchen total, we divided it by 30 linear ft, which is about what HomeGuide's and Angi's own per-foot and total refacing figures imply. Replacement rows add HomeGuide's $50–$300 per foot installation labor (midpoint for Typical) to the blended cabinet price. The semi-custom row rests on one source (HomeGuide), so treat it as rougher. See How we build our ranges.
What the sources say Sourced
HomeGuide puts cabinet refacing at $150 to $450 per linear foot, or $5,000 – $13,000 for an average 100–200 sq ft kitchen, with labor making up 50% to 70% of the price.[1] Angi's average refacing job is $7,234, with most between $4,484 and $10,590.[3] For new cabinets, HomeGuide lists $150 to $500 per linear foot installed[2], and Angi's kitchen guide puts stock cabinets at $100–$300 and custom at $500–$1,200 per linear foot.[4]
Reface or replace? How to decide
Refacing makes sense when the cabinet boxes are sound and you like the layout. It's mostly a carpentry job done in place, so the kitchen keeps working while it's underway. HomeGuide and Angi both put a typical refacing job at 2 to 5 days.[1][3] Replacement makes sense when the boxes are damaged, the layout doesn't work or you're replacing the counters anyway, since stone tops usually have to come off to change the boxes underneath.
- Check the boxes first. Open every sink base and look for swollen particleboard, delamination or soft spots from old leaks. Veneer can't fix a box that's falling apart.
- Count what's staying. If you're keeping your counters, refacing avoids the cost and risk of pulling them. If you're changing counters anyway, the gap between refacing and replacing narrows.
- Look at the layout. Refacing can add a few things, like crown molding, new drawer boxes, pull-outs or glass doors, but it can't move the sink or add an island. That's a replacement job, and usually a full remodel. See our kitchen remodel cost guide.
- Compare per foot. Get refacing and replacement bids priced per linear foot for the same run, and check what each includes: hinges, drawer slides, end panels, crown and removal.
Line-item breakdown: refacing 30 linear ft Estimate
Here's how we'd build a bid for wood-veneer refacing of a 30 ft kitchen: new veneer on the boxes, new Shaker-style doors and drawer fronts, new hinges and pulls. Use it to check that a refacing bid covers the end panels, fillers and toe kicks as well as the doors.
| Line item | How we priced it | Amount Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Wood-veneer refacing materials: veneer, new doors and drawer fronts Materials | Midpoint of HomeGuide's refacing materials range for a typical kitchen[1] | $4,000 |
| Remove doors, prep boxes, apply veneer, hang new doors and fronts (2 carpenters, about 3½ days) Labor | 56 hrs × $29.12/hr median wage for carpenters[7] × 1.7 labor burden | $2,770 |
| Pulls and knobs, 30 pieces, installed Installed price | 30 × our blended typical of $33 per piece from HomeGuide's and Angi's hardware ranges[1][3] | $990 |
| Fillers, end panels, toe kick and adhesive Materials | Our allowance | $300 |
| Floor and counter protection, cleanup Labor | 4 hrs × $22.66/hr median wage for construction laborers[7] × 1.7 labor burden | $150 |
| Overhead & profit Our assumption | 20% on the labor and materials lines above. Installed prices, supplier prices and fees already include the seller's margin, so we don't mark them up again. | $1,450 |
| Line-item total | Before contingency and regional adjustment | $9,700 |
Estimate Our line-item build comes to $9,700, about 7% above our blended typical of $9,000 for refacing 30 linear ft. The materials line uses HomeGuide's midpoint, which spans laminate to solid wood; thermofoil or laminate fronts bring it down, solid wood pushes it up. Crown molding, glass inserts and pull-outs are extra. Method: How we build our ranges.
Kitchen Remodel Budget Workbook
Price your cabinet choice inside a whole-kitchen budget: line items for cabinets, counters and hardware, allowance tracking and a contingency row, for Excel and Google Sheets.
Get the templateWhat drives the cost up or down
Door and veneer material
Angi lists refacing materials per linear foot from $50–$125 for laminate and $60–$125 for thermofoil up to $100–$250 for wood veneer and $200–$500 for solid wood or plywood.[3] Sourced The door style matters too: flat slab and simple Shaker doors cost less than raised panels or inset designs.
Ceiling-height and specialty cabinets
HomeGuide notes that ceiling-height cabinets add about 10% and that frameless boxes cost 20% to 50% more.[2] Sourced Corner units, appliance garages and tall pantries add parts and labor in both refacing and replacement.
Removal and disposal
Replacement adds tear-out. Our blended typical is about $16 per linear foot[2], before any wall repair or flooring patching where the old boxes sat. Estimate
Contingency Estimate
Refacing has few surprises. Replacement can reveal uneven floors, out-of-plumb walls or old leaks. We suggest 10% for refacing and 10–15% for replacement. That's our guidance; see our contingency guide.
Regional cost differences
Refacing is mostly labor, so local wages move the price. Our interior cost index for each Census division is applied here to our typical 30 ft refacing job.
| Region (Census division) | Our cost index Estimate | Typical refacing, 30 linear ft Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New England CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | 1.04 4% above U.S. | $9,400 |
| Middle Atlantic NJ, NY, PA | 1.13 13% above U.S. | $10,200 |
| South Atlantic DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | 0.98 2% below U.S. | $8,800 |
| U.S. average | 1.00 | $9,000 |
| East North Central IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $8,600 |
| East South Central AL, KY, MS, TN | 0.90 10% below U.S. | $8,100 |
| West North Central IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD | 1.02 2% above U.S. | $9,200 |
| West South Central AR, LA, OK, TX | 0.89 11% below U.S. | $8,000 |
| Mountain AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $8,600 |
| Pacific AK, CA, HI, OR, WA | 1.07 7% above U.S. | $9,600 |
Estimate Derived, not published. Our interior index divides each division's 2025 Cost vs. Value average for four interior projects (three bathroom remodels and a basement remodel) by the national average and averages the four ratios.[6] The typical column multiplies our national typical by the index. See How we build our ranges.
Want more local detail? On our local cost pages, the same 30 ft refacing job runs from about $7,900 in Oklahoma City, OK to about $10,500 in New York, NY, typical.
Costs in your city
Our local cost pages adjust these national ranges for 25 metro areas using local construction wages, and add each area's housing age, climate zone and permit office: Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Kansas City, Louisville, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Tampa, Washington. See all local costs →
Cabinet refacing FAQ
Is refacing cabinets cheaper than replacing them?
Usually. By our ranges, refacing 30 linear feet typically costs about $9,000, while new stock cabinets typically cost about $12,000 installed and custom about $30,800.[1][2][3][4] The savings shrink if your boxes need repairs or you're replacing the counters anyway.
How long does cabinet refacing take?
HomeGuide and Angi both put a typical refacing job at 2 to 5 days.[1][3] HomeGuide puts new cabinet installation at 2 to 5 days for a small kitchen and 10 to 14 days for a large one.[2]
How long does refacing last?
HomeGuide says wood veneer refacing lasts 15 to 30 years[1], while Angi puts refacing at 10 to 20 years.[3] The boxes underneath are the limit: refacing doesn't restore water-damaged particleboard.
Is painting cabinets worth it instead of refacing?
If you like the door style and the finish is just worn or dated, painting is the cheapest option, typically about $2,000 for 30 linear feet by our range.[1][3][5] Painting can't change the door style, and a sprayed, cured finish holds up much better than brushed paint.
Does refacing add value when I sell?
HomeGuide estimates refacing returns 60% to 75% of its cost at resale.[1] Like most kitchen updates, it's more about making the kitchen look current than about recovering every dollar.
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Related cost guides
Sources
- HomeGuide, “How much does cabinet refacing cost?” (updated Apr 6, 2023). homeguide.com/costs/cabinet-refacing-cost (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- HomeGuide: “How much do kitchen cabinets cost?” (updated Apr 5, 2023), homeguide.com/costs/kitchen-cabinets-cost; “How much does it cost to install cabinets?” (updated Apr 6, 2023), homeguide.com/costs/cabinet-installation-cost (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Angi, cabinet refacing cost guide (updated Aug 31, 2026). angi.com/articles/how-much-does-cabinet-refacing-cost.htm (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Angi, “How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? [2026 Data]” (updated Sep 4, 2026). angi.com/articles/how-much-should-kitchen-remodel-cost.htm (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- HomeGuide, “How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?” (updated Aug 28, 2023). homeguide.com/costs/cost-to-paint-interior-of-house (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: national averages and regional pages (New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, East North Central, East South Central, West North Central, West South Central, Mountain, Pacific) (accessed Oct 8, 2026). © 2025 Zonda Media. We quote a few national figures and use the regional figures only to derive our own cost index. States per division from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census Regions and Divisions.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national median hourly wages by occupation, retrieved through the BLS Public Data API. bls.gov/oes (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
Quoted figures are labeled Sourced. Everything labeled Estimate is our own arithmetic on these sources, explained in How we build our ranges. Planning numbers only, not quotes. Get itemized local bids before you commit.