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Cabinet refacing vs. full replacement: a cost breakdown

By Urban Grain · February 2025 · 5 min read

One of the most common questions we get from Denver homeowners: "My kitchen feels dated, but the layout works fine and the boxes seem solid — do I really need to replace everything?" Often the answer is no. Cabinet refacing can deliver a dramatic transformation at 30–50% of the cost of a full replacement.

What is refacing?

Refacing means replacing the visible surfaces of your cabinetry — the doors, drawer fronts, and the face of the cabinet boxes — while keeping the existing box structure in place. New hinges, pulls, and hardware complete the update. Done well, a refaced kitchen looks brand new.

When refacing makes sense

  • Your cabinet boxes are structurally sound — no water damage, warping, or failed joints
  • You're happy with the layout — no walls moving, no new cabinets being added
  • You want a significant visual change without a full renovation timeline
  • You're working with a tighter budget and want maximum visual impact per dollar

When full replacement makes more sense

  • The boxes have water damage or structural issues
  • You want to change the layout — add an island, remove upper cabinets, go to ceiling height
  • The interior storage is inadequate and you want to redesign the configuration
  • You want a material change that refacing can't deliver — like solid walnut drawer boxes

Cost comparison (Denver Metro, 2025)

A mid-size kitchen (roughly 25–30 linear feet of cabinetry) in the Denver Metro typically runs:

  • Refacing: $8,000–$15,000 depending on door style, species, and hardware
  • Full custom replacement: $25,000–$60,000+ depending on scope, species, and complexity

The real question isn't "refacing or replacement" — it's "what do I actually want to change?" If the answer is just the look, refacing is almost always the smarter investment. If the answer involves the layout, the storage, or the materials throughout, it's worth doing it right with a full build.

What to look for in a refacing job

The quality of a refacing job depends almost entirely on the quality of the new doors and the veneer applied to the box faces. Ask your builder whether the doors are solid wood or MDF, how the veneer is bonded to the existing boxes, and whether the interior of the cabinets is refinished. A quality refacing job is indistinguishable from new cabinetry.