Cabinet Refacing Cost
Cabinet refacing costs $120 to $250 per linear foot installed, or $2,800 to $6,000 for a standard 20–25 linear foot kitchen — roughly 40% to 60% less than replacing with new custom cabinets.
How to Read These Refacing Prices
The ranges below are budgeting estimates drawn from refacing work we quote and build in Conroe and across Montgomery County, TX. Your figure depends on door material, how many doors and drawers your kitchen has, and whether the existing boxes are sound enough to reface at all. Prices cover doors, drawer fronts, veneer, hardware and installation — countertops, backsplash, appliances and plumbing are separate trades. For an exact number on your kitchen, call (936) 237-1172 for a free in-home measurement.
What Cabinet Refacing Costs by Kitchen Size and Door Type
Linear-foot pricing, installed project totals by kitchen size, and the door materials that move the number most.
| Scope | Unit | Typical Cost | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabinet refacing — per linear foot | Per linear ft | $120–$250 | New doors, drawer fronts, matching veneer over existing boxes, new hardware, installation |
| Small kitchen (10–15 linear ft) | Installed project | $1,500–$3,700 | Galley or single-wall layouts, typically 12–18 doors and 4–6 drawer fronts |
| Standard kitchen (20–25 linear ft) | Installed project | $2,800–$6,000 | The most common Montgomery County kitchen — roughly 20–30 doors and 8–12 drawer fronts |
| Large kitchen (30–40 linear ft) | Installed project | $6,000–$10,000 | Island plus perimeter runs, often with a separate pantry or butler's pantry section |
| Rigid thermofoil (RTF) doors | Per linear ft | $100–$160 | Lowest-cost door option, factory-wrapped MDF, limited to painted-look finishes |
| Solid hardwood doors | Per linear ft | $180–$310 | Maple, oak, cherry or walnut doors with stain or paint-grade finishes |
| Refacing plus new drawer boxes | Add-on | +$120–$300 per drawer | Replaces worn or shallow drawer boxes with dovetailed boxes and soft-close undermount slides |
| Cabinet door replacement only | Per door | $60–$200 | Doors and drawer fronts swapped with no veneer work — only if existing box faces are sound |
Six Things That Move a Refacing Quote
1. Door Material and Style
This is the single largest line item, usually 50–60% of the total. Rigid thermofoil sits at the bottom of the range, paint-grade MDF and maple in the middle, and rift-sawn white oak or walnut at the top. Inset and beaded profiles cost more to fabricate than flat-panel Shaker doors.
2. Door and Drawer Count
Refacing is priced by linear foot, but the real labor driver is how many openings there are. Two kitchens of identical length can differ by 30% if one has banks of drawers and the other has large single-door cabinets.
3. Veneer Coverage and Box Condition
Exposed cabinet ends, toe kicks and open shelving all need matching veneer. Boxes with swollen particleboard, failed glue joints or water damage at the sink base cannot be refaced — that condition pushes a project toward replacement.
4. Hardware and Internal Upgrades
New pulls, soft-close hinges and undermount slides are typically included. Pull-out trash units, spice racks, lazy susans and drawer organizers are quoted on top, generally $80–$400 each installed.
5. Finish Type
Factory-finished doors arrive sealed and cure-hardened, which costs more up front but holds up better than a site-applied finish. On-site spraying costs less and allows exact color matching to trim already in the house.
6. Kitchen Access and Site Conditions
Older homes around Conroe and Montgomery often have out-of-square openings that need scribing and custom filler strips. Second-floor kitchens, tight galley layouts and occupied houses all add labor time.
Refinishing, Refacing or Replacing: Which One Your Kitchen Needs
Three different jobs at three different price points. The right answer depends on the condition of your boxes and whether the layout is staying put.
| Option | Typical Kitchen | On-site time | What stays | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refinishing | $1,800–$4,500 | 3–5 days | Boxes, doors, drawer fronts, layout | Solid wood doors in good structural shape where you only want a different color or a fresh finish |
| Refacing | $2,800–$6,000 | 3–6 days | Boxes and layout | Sound boxes with dated, damaged or laminate doors — the middle option, and the most common choice |
| Full replacement | $6,500–$32,000 | 4–8 weeks | Nothing | Water-damaged or particleboard boxes, or any project that changes the kitchen layout |
When We Tell People Not to Reface
Refacing is the wrong call in three situations, and we would rather say so at the measurement visit than halfway through a job. First, if the boxes are particleboard that has swelled from a leak, new doors on a failing carcass is money spent twice. Second, if you want the layout changed — a bigger island, a relocated sink, cabinets to the ceiling — the boxes have to come out regardless. Third, if the kitchen is a mix of original and later-added cabinets, the box depths and face-frame widths often will not line up behind a uniform door front.
If your kitchen falls into one of those, see our custom cabinet cost guide for replacement pricing, or read more about custom kitchen cabinets. If the boxes are solid and the layout works, refacing and refinishing is almost always the better value.
Cabinet Refacing Questions We Get Asked Most
Is cabinet refacing cheaper than replacing?
Yes — typically 40% to 60% less. A standard 20–25 linear foot kitchen runs $2,800–$6,000 to reface against $6,500–$32,000 to replace with new custom cabinetry. The savings come from keeping the existing boxes, which are the most labor-intensive part to build and install.
How long does cabinet refacing take?
Most kitchens are finished in three to six days on site, after a two to four week lead time while doors are fabricated. Because the boxes stay in place, the kitchen remains usable for most of the project — a meaningful difference from a full replacement, which takes the kitchen out of service for weeks.
How long does refacing last?
Quality refacing with hardwood or factory-finished doors lasts 15 to 20 years, the same as the doors on new cabinetry. The limiting factor is the condition of the original boxes, not the refacing work itself.
Can you reface laminate or particleboard cabinets?
Usually yes, provided the boxes are structurally sound and the laminate is still bonded. Veneer adheres well to clean, flat laminate surfaces. Particleboard that has swelled from a leak — most often under the sink — cannot be refaced and needs replacing.
Can you change the cabinet layout while refacing?
No. Refacing keeps the existing boxes exactly where they are. If you want to move the sink, add an island, change cabinet heights or open a wall, that is a replacement project. Refacing changes what the kitchen looks like, not how it is arranged.
Does refacing add value to a home?
It is one of the better returns in a kitchen update, largely because the cost is low relative to the visual change. It rarely returns as much as a full remodel in absolute dollars, but the percentage recovered is generally higher.
Ready to Build Your Dream Custom Cabinets?
Schedule your free in-home measurement and 3D CAD design rendering with Conroe & Montgomery's premier custom cabinet makers.