Cabinet Refinishing vs Refacing: Cost & Difference
Refinishing repaints or re-stains your existing doors and boxes and runs about $2,500–$6,500 for a standard Charlotte kitchen. Refacing keeps the cabinet boxes but replaces all the doors and drawer fronts and covers the box faces with new veneer, typically $8,000–$20,000+. Refinishing is best when you like your current doors and layout; refacing makes sense when you want a new door style without a full remodel.
| Refinishing | Refacing | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost (standard kitchen) | $2,500 – $6,500 | $8,000 – $20,000+ |
| What changes | New color/finish on existing doors & boxes | All-new doors & drawer fronts; boxes re-veneered |
| Door style | Same doors | New door style possible |
| Timeline | 3–5 days | 1–2+ weeks |
| Layout changes | No | No |
| Best when | You like your doors & layout | You want a new door style, boxes are sound |
How to choose
If you like your door style and layout and just want a fresh color or a dated finish gone, refinishing delivers nearly the same visual change as refacing for a fraction of the cost. Choose refacing when the boxes are sound but the door profile itself looks dated and you want a different style. Choose full replacement only when the boxes are beyond cabinet repair or you want to change the layout — see our refinishing vs replacement comparison.
Yes — we do refacing too
Most of this page compares the two so you can pick. To be clear about which side we work on: Carolina Renew does both. If refacing is the right call for your kitchen, we handle it end to end rather than sending you elsewhere.
- New doors and drawer fronts on your existing boxes, in a door style you choose.
- Box refacing — new veneer or laminate over the visible face frames and end panels so the boxes match the new doors.
- Doors you have already sourced — if you have picked a supplier, we measure, fit and hang them.
- Hardware and final adjustment — hinges, slides, pulls, and setting the reveals so the doors sit square.
How much of that a project needs depends on the condition of the boxes and the budget you want to work to. We look at the kitchen first and tell you which of the two routes we would take if it were ours — including when refinishing is the better spend, which is often.
Want a number for your kitchen?
Send photos and door count for a written refinishing estimate — $2,500–$6,500 for most Charlotte kitchens, 3–5 days, 6-month workmanship warranty.
Get a free cabinet estimate →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between refinishing and refacing cabinets?
Refinishing re-coats the doors and boxes you already have with new paint or stain. Refacing keeps the boxes but installs brand-new doors and drawer fronts and applies new veneer to the visible box faces, so you can change the door style.
Which is cheaper, refinishing or refacing?
Refinishing is cheaper — roughly $2,500–$6,500 for a standard kitchen versus $8,000–$20,000+ for refacing, because refacing involves all-new doors, drawer fronts, and veneer materials plus more labor.
When should I reface instead of refinish?
Reface when your cabinet boxes are structurally sound but you want a different door style or profile that paint alone can't deliver. If you're happy with the door shape and just want a new color, refinishing gives nearly the same visual change for far less.
Is refinishing or refacing better for resale?
Both modernize a kitchen for far less than replacement. Refinishing offers the strongest cost-to-impact ratio for a pre-listing refresh; refacing adds more if the existing door style looks dated.
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