Refinishing is usually the cheapest option, refacing sits in the middle, and full replacement is the most expensive, especially with custom cabinets. Very roughly, think of refinishing as “1x,” refacing as “2–3x,” and replacing as “3–5x+” the refinishing cost for a comparable kitchen.
Typical Cost Ranges
- Refinishing (paint/stain existing doors & boxes): Often around 1,500–5,0001,500–5,000 for a typical kitchen, depending on size, prep, and finish quality.
- Refacing (new doors/fronts + veneered boxes): Commonly around 4,000–13,0004,000–13,000, with many projects falling roughly in the 4,000–9,5004,000–9,500 band.
- Replacing (new cabinets): Roughly 6,000–25,000+6,000–25,000+ depending on whether you choose stock, semi‑custom, or full custom cabinets.
Relative Cost “Multipliers”
For the same kitchen size and layout, many sources describe the relationship like this:
- Refinishing: baseline cost (1x).
- Refacing: often about 50–70% less than full replacement, or roughly 2–3x the cost of a basic refinishing job.
- Replacing: typically 30–50% more than refacing for comparable quality, and much higher for custom work.
What Drives the Differences
- Labor: Replacement involves demo, potential drywall/floor repair, and full install, so labor hours are highest; refacing is roughly half the labor of replacement; refinishing is mostly prep and spraying/painting.
- Materials: Refinishing reuses everything; refacing adds new doors, drawer fronts, veneers, and hardware; replacement adds entire cabinet boxes plus doors, often with upgraded interiors and accessories.
When Spending More Makes Sense
- Refinishing is best when boxes are solid and you mainly want a color change at minimal cost.
- Refacing is worth the extra money when the boxes are good but doors are dated or damaged and you want an almost‑new look without touching layout.
- Replacing earns its premium when boxes are failing, you need a new layout, or you’re going for a major upgrade in a high‑value home.
If you share your approximate kitchen size (in square feet or linear feet of cabinets) and whether you’d use stock or custom cabinets, rough dollar ranges tailored to your situation can be sketched out.