How much does cabinet refacing cost?
Cabinet refacing cost in 2026 runs roughly $4,000–$10,000 for a typical kitchen, according to industry cost data from sources like HomeGuide and Angi — often about half the cost of full cabinet replacement. The number of cabinets, door style, and material drive the range. Refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes and replaces only the visible surfaces (doors, drawer fronts, and a matching veneer), so it delivers a new-kitchen look for far less — provided the boxes are sound, which matters especially in humid Florida.
Key takeaways
- Cabinet refacing runs about $4,000–$10,000 for a typical kitchen — roughly half of new cabinets.
- It keeps the existing boxes and replaces doors, drawer fronts, veneer, and hardware.
- Reface when boxes are sound and the layout works; replace when they're damaged or you're reconfiguring.
- In Florida, the existing boxes must be dry and sound — refacing won't fix water damage.
- Choose moisture-resistant veneers and finishes for humid kitchens.
Table of contents
- What refacing costs
- Refacing vs. replacing
- When refacing is the right call
- The Florida humidity factor
- What refacing includes
- Where to start
- FAQ
What refacing costs
Cabinet refacing is priced mainly by the number of cabinets and the materials. Here's the 2026 picture from HomeGuide's cabinet refacing cost data:
| Approach | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate / rigid thermofoil refacing | ~$4,000–$7,000 | Most economical |
| Wood veneer refacing | ~$6,000–$10,000 | Real-wood look, higher cost |
| Cabinet refinishing (paint only) | ~$2,000–$5,000 | Repaint existing, cheapest |
| Full cabinet replacement | ~$8,000–$20,000+ | For comparison |
A worked example: refacing an average Orlando kitchen with new doors, drawer fronts, and matching veneer lands in the mid-four-figure to five-figure range depending on material — roughly half what new cabinets would cost. If you only want a color change and the doors are fine, refinishing (repainting) is cheaper still; if you need a new layout, you're into full replacement or a remodel.
Refacing vs. replacing
The core decision is refacing versus replacing. Refacing keeps the existing cabinet boxes (the carcasses bolted to the wall) and swaps the visible parts — doors, drawer fronts, and a veneer over the exposed box faces — plus new hardware. It's cheaper (about half), faster, and far less disruptive than tearing out cabinets. Replacement removes everything and starts fresh, which costs more and takes longer but lets you change the layout, box sizes, and configuration.
So it comes down to whether your boxes and layout work for you. If the bones are good and you just want a fresh look, refacing delivers most of the visual payoff for half the cost. If the layout is wrong or the boxes are failing, refacing can't fix that — replacement (or a fuller remodel) is the answer.
When refacing is the right call
Refacing shines in specific situations: the cabinet boxes are structurally sound, the layout works for how you use the kitchen, and you mainly want an updated look — new door style, color, and hardware. It's ideal for dated-but-solid cabinets, and it pairs naturally with new quartz countertops and paint for a full kitchen refresh at a fraction of a gut renovation.
It's the wrong call when boxes are damaged, water-warped, or moldy, when you want to change the layout (move cabinets, add an island, alter sizes), or when the cabinets are low-quality particleboard already failing. In those cases, refacing puts a nice face on a failing structure — money better spent on replacement. A good contractor will tell you honestly which situation you're in.
The Florida humidity factor
Here's the Florida-specific caution. Refacing only works if the existing boxes are dry and sound — and in humid Florida, cabinet boxes (especially particleboard ones under sinks) can swell, warp, or harbor moisture damage over time. Refacing over a water-damaged or swollen box just hides a problem that will keep getting worse behind the pretty new doors.
So before refacing, have the boxes inspected for moisture damage, particularly around the sink and dishwasher where leaks happen. If they're sound, choose moisture-resistant veneers and finishes that handle humidity well. If a box is compromised, address that first (repair or replace the affected boxes) rather than refacing over it. The same humidity that drives so many Florida home decisions — from flooring to bathroom waterproofing — applies to whether your cabinet boxes are worth refacing.
What refacing includes
A standard refacing project covers:
- New doors and drawer fronts in your chosen style and color
- Veneer or laminate applied over the visible faces of the existing boxes, matched to the new doors
- New hardware and hinges (handles, knobs, soft-close hinges)
- Sometimes new drawer boxes or organizational add-ons as upgrades
What it doesn't include is changing the layout, box sizes, or the cabinet interiors' structure — those stay. When comparing quotes, confirm the material (laminate vs. wood veneer), whether hardware and hinges are included, and whether the contractor inspects the boxes first. A quote that skips the box inspection in Florida is skipping the step that determines whether refacing will last.
Where to start
Start by assessing whether your cabinet boxes are sound and your layout works — that decides reface vs. replace. Our remodeling directory and Orlando city page list local contractors, with more across the full directory. Have the boxes checked for moisture damage first, choose humidity-resistant materials, and pair refacing with quartz countertops for a full kitchen refresh at far less than a gut remodel.
FAQ
How much does cabinet refacing cost in 2026? Industry cost data puts cabinet refacing around $4,000–$10,000 for a typical kitchen, often roughly half the cost of full replacement. The number of cabinets, door style, and material (laminate vs. wood veneer) drive the range.
Is cabinet refacing cheaper than replacing? Usually, yes — refacing often costs about half of new cabinets because it keeps the existing boxes and replaces only the visible surfaces (doors, drawer fronts, and veneer). It's also faster and less disruptive.
When should I reface vs. replace cabinets? Reface when the cabinet boxes are structurally sound and the layout works — you just want a new look. Replace when boxes are damaged, water-warped, or you're changing the layout, which refacing can't address.
Does cabinet refacing hold up in Florida humidity? It can, with the right materials. Quality veneers and moisture-resistant finishes handle humidity well, but the existing boxes must be sound and dry first. Refacing over water-damaged or swollen boxes won't last.
What does cabinet refacing include? New doors and drawer fronts, a matching veneer or laminate over the visible cabinet boxes, and usually new hardware and hinges. The interior boxes and layout stay; only the look changes.