Refinish vs. Reface vs. Replace Cabinets: Cost & When to Choose Each
Updated May 2026
Refinish your cabinets (~$3,100) when the boxes and doors are solid and you want a new color or finish. Reface ($4,000–$9,000) when the boxes are sound but you want new door styles. Replace ($8,000–$30,000+) when boxes are failing or you want a new layout. Refinishing and refacing both keep your existing boxes and cost 30–50% less than replacement.
The three paths, side by side
All three change how a kitchen looks. The difference is how much they keep and how much they cost. Refinishing keeps your doors and boxes; refacing keeps the boxes and replaces the fronts; replacing starts over.
- Refinish — ~$3,100, 3–5 days, keeps doors and boxes
- Reface — $4,000–$9,000, 3–5 days, new fronts on existing boxes
- Replace / custom — $8,000–$30,000+, 4–8 weeks, all new
How to tell if your boxes are worth keeping
The deciding factor is the condition of the cabinet boxes. Solid plywood or hardwood boxes — common in South Florida homes from the 1980s through the 2000s — are usually worth keeping. Particleboard boxes that are swollen, sagging, or water-damaged are not.
If the boxes are sound and you like the layout, refinishing or refacing is the better value. If the boxes are failing or you want to change the layout, replacing is the honest answer.
| Option | Typical cost | Timeline | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refinish | ~$3,100 average | 3–5 days | Boxes and doors are solid wood and in good shape; you want a new color or fresh finish |
| Reface | $4,000–$9,000 | 3–5 days | Boxes are sound but you want new door styles and fronts without changing the layout |
| Replace / custom | $8,000–$30,000+ | 4–8 weeks | Boxes are failing, or you want a new layout, materials, or built-to-order cabinetry |
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Refinishing is cheaper (around $3,100) because it reuses your existing doors. Refacing ($4,000–$9,000) adds the cost of new doors and fronts, but lets you change the door style.
Refinishing and refacing typically cost 30–50% less than replacement, and finish in days instead of weeks because there's no demolition.