How Much Does It Cost to Refinish Cabinets in Your Home? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $1,990 - $4,500
The average cost to refinish cabinets ranges from $1,990 to $4,500, with a national average of $3,116. Costs depend on the number and size of your cabinets.
If your cabinets need a makeover, the cost to refinish cabinets is $3,116 on average, ranging from $1,990 to $4,500. Cabinet refinishing is a budget-friendly way to get the kitchen (or bathroom) of your dreams without the hassle and expense of a complete renovation. Learn more about the price to refinish cabinets and what factors will increase or decrease your overall cost.
- Average
- $3,116
- Low end
- $700
- high end
- $7,000
Cost to Refinish vs. Reface vs. Replace Cabinets
If coming home to a kitchen you love is high on your to-do list, you’ll want to know the differences between cabinet refinishing and refacing. This way, you can budget and style your space accordingly. While the two sound similar, the pricing and the steps required vary for each. A third option, of course, is to replace your kitchen cabinets.
Cabinet Refinishing
If your cabinets are in good shape and made of sturdy wood, then refinishing is a great option. Cabinet refinishing is an affordable and relatively fast way to bring new life to your tired cabinets. The process will involve stripping, cleaning, sanding, and then painting or staining. Kitchen cabinet refinishing costs $4 to $10 per square foot if you hire a cabinet refinishing pro.
Pro tip: If your cabinets are in poor condition, have an outdated design, or are made of fiberboard or a non-wood particle board, you should consider replacing them instead of refinishing them.
Cabinet Refacing
Cabinet refacing is more labor-intensive and less affordable than cabinet refinishing. With cabinet refacing, you’ll remove all cabinet doors and drawers and replace them with brand-new ones while keeping your existing cabinet boxes. This process takes longer because you’ll need to treat the existing cabinet boxes to match the new door colors. You can expect cabinet refacing to cost between $4,300 and $10,000.
Cabinet Replacement
If your cabinets are beyond saving through refacing or refinishing, or if you’re just ready for a change in look or layout, replacement may be the best option. Installing new cabinets costs anywhere from $2,010 to $10,500 on average. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of removal and disposal of the existing cabinets. If you’re changing the layout, you may have additional costs for flooring, electrical, plumbing, drywall, tile, and other changes and repairs.
| Cabinet Refresh | Cost |
|---|---|
| Refinish | $4–$10 per square foot |
| Reface | $4,300–$10,000 |
| Replace | $2,010–$10,500 |
Factors Affecting the Cost to Refinish Cabinets
Cabinet refinishing costs depend on several factors, including the size, location, and type of cabinets—and how you choose to refinish your cabinets (with paint or stain). Below we’ll go over the methods that will factor into your total cost to refinish wood cabinets.
Cost to Refinish Cabinets by Finish
When designing your dream cabinets, you can choose from several finishing methods, including staining, painting, glazing, varnishing, and shellacking. The more complex your refinishing project gets, the more costly your overall costs will be. Here are a few finishing methods to choose from.
Staining
Staining is great for solid wood cabinets—if you have veneer cabinets, we recommend choosing another method. Staining requires stripping, cleaning, and sanding your cabinet doors and drawers before applying the stain in the color of your choice. You can expect to pay between $4 and $10 per square foot for this method. The total cost of staining kitchen cabinets will run between $1,500 and $5,000.
Painting
Painting kitchen cabinets is a fantastic way to refresh your kitchen without demolishing your space. A refinishing pro will strip, clean, sand, and paint your cabinets using professional-grade cabinet paint, ensuring it will last over time. Painting kitchen cabinets runs from $6 to $14 per square foot. You can expect to pay between $400 and $1,300 total for the cost of painting kitchen cabinets.
Glazing
If you love the rich look of antique cabinets, glazing is the perfect method to achieve it. The glazing process includes stripping, cleaning, sanding, and painting your cabinets. Once the paint is dry, a pro will apply a semi-transparent glossy solution on your cabinet doors and drawers. You can expect to pay between $10 and $25 per square foot for professional cabinet glazing.
Varnishing
Varnishing is an optimal way to enhance wood cabinets and protect them from stains and scratches. To varnish wood cabinets, you’ll strip, clean, and sand your cabinet doors and drawers. Next, you’ll apply a varnish finish over the wood—you can choose between polyurethane or conversion (fast-drying, durable finish). Varnishing extends the life of your cabinets, and you can expect to pay between $6 and $16 per square foot to have a pro tackle this project.
Shellacking
Shellacking is a semi-transparent, high-gloss finish that creates a warm-wood look. When shellacking cabinets, you’ll first strip, clean, and sand your cabinet doors and drawers. Next, you’ll apply a natural shellacking finish. For this project, you can expect to pay between $6 and $16 per square foot for professional refinishing.
| Refinish Method | Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Staining | $4–$10 |
| Painting | $6–$14 |
| Glazing | $10–$25 |
| Varnishing | $6–$16 |
| Shellacking | $6–$16 |
Size and Number of Cabinets
One of the largest cost factors is your cabinets’ size and the number of cabinets. Depending on your cabinets' finish and dimensions, you can expect to pay between $4 to $25 per square foot. More cabinets require additional time and labor for stripping, cleaning, sanding, and refinishing.
Location
When you think of cabinet refinishing, you might automatically picture kitchen cabinets. But bathrooms and home offices are also popular options for cabinet refinishing. Due to its size, you can expect kitchen cabinet refinishing costs to be higher than other rooms. See the table below for the average cost for these locations.
| Cabinet Location | Average Cost (Including Labor) |
|---|---|
| Kitchen | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Bathroom | $200–$2,000 |
| Home office | $500–$2,000 |
Type of Cabinet Material
Solid wood cabinets work best for staining, whereas laminate cabinets perform better with paint. So, if you try to stain laminate cabinets, you’ll need to use a special gel stain, wait for it to dry, and then add a clear coat finish, adding more labor costs to your total.
Prep
Before refinishing your cabinets, you’ll have to prepare them for staining or painting. Prep includes taping off your floors and counters and adding drop cloths to protect your space. Next comes stripping paint or stain from your cabinet doors and drawers, cleaning, sanding, repairing and patching holes and cracks, and fixing minor breakages. The cost of repairing your cabinets usually isn’t in the overall refinishing price—so you can expect to pay an average of $300 for cabinet repairs.
Labor
A cabinet refinishing pro will generally charge between $35 and $75 per hour, with an average price of $55 per hour for labor. This typically comes out to $1,800 to $5,000 per project.
Additional Costs to Refinish Cabinets
Like most home renovation projects, you’ll need to budget extra for repairs and custom add-ons. Consider also tackling another project at the same time in your kitchen or bathroom if the space is going to be under construction. Here are a few additional costs to account for during your cabinet refinishing project.
Cabinet Repairs
As stated above, part of the preparation phase includes cabinet repairs, such as patching holes, repairing knicks, and fixing split wood. Again, refinishing pros typically don’t include repairs in the cost of refinishing cabinets, so you’ll need to budget an extra $300 for this service.
Custom Cabinet Finishes
Another fun part of the refinishing process is adding custom add-ons to your cabinets. These customizations run the gamut from adding under-cabinet lighting, which costs between $230 to $300 per light, to adding custom carvings or finishings (all of which can add up to $5,000).
Additional Kitchen or Bathroom Updates
While your kitchen or bathroom is out of order during cabinet refinishing, it’s a good time to make other updates to your space. We recommend:
Hiring a local painting pro
Replacing your faucet
Switching out cabinet hinges
Updating appliances
Cost to Refinish Cabinets Yourself
If you’re handy, have power tool experience, and are willing to dedicate your time, you can refinish your kitchen cabinets on your own. By DIYing this project, you’ll save anywhere from $35 to $75 per hour in labor costs and up to $500 to $1,000 per project. You’ll need two to three days to complete this project. In addition, because painting or staining requires precision, you’ll need to allow yourself enough time to work on each cabinet.
DIY Costs vs. Hiring a Pro
If you take on cabinet refinishing yourself, you’ll save on labor. Expect to spend anywhere from $100 to $500 on tools and supplies, including an orbital sander and a shop vac.
If you hire a cabinet refinishing pro in your area, you can expect to spend between $4 and $10 per square foot or around $2,700. When hiring a pro, you won't need to gather all the tools, supplies, and materials, and you won't have to worry about details like properly ventilating your space or learning refinishing techniques.
How to Save on the Cost to Refinish Cabinets
Cabinet refinishing doesn't have to break the bank. You can save on costs by thoughtfully choosing your finishes and prioritizing your customizations.
Here are a few ways to save on cabinet refinishing:
Get quotes from at least three local cabinet refinishing pros.
Ask pros for a discount or lower prices on finishes and hardware if you can bundle extra work around your home.
Perform the prep work yourself, like removing cabinet doors, drawers, and hardware.
Don’t add any ornate customization to your cabinets.
Choose cabinet paint that resists dirt, grime, and chipping—this way, you’re less likely to find yourself paying for repairs down the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cabinet refinishing takes an average of two to three days. The process includes setting up and removing cabinet doors, drawers, and hardware, followed by cleaning, stripping, and sanding cabinets. You or your pro will have to address issues like chips, stains, or splits before applying paint or stain. Then the final stage includes painting or staining, reassembling cabinets, and cleaning up.
Cabinet refinishing is much less expensive than replacing your cabinets. You can expect to pay between $1,990 and $4,500 to refinish your cabinets. In comparison, you will spend an average of $1,860 to $9,400 on the cost of installing kitchen cabinets, but it can cost $30,000 or more if you choose custom cabinets and more expensive materials.
If you hire a professional to repaint your kitchen cabinets, the average cost is $840. The price can range anywhere from $300 to $7,200, depending on the size of your kitchen and the finishing options you choose. Also, you can expect to pay $20 to $50 per hour for labor.
Professionally painted cabinets should last anywhere from eight to 10 years. However, your painted kitchen cabinets require maintenance and upkeep—paint attracts dirt, grime, and dust. So you’ll need to clean your cabinets regularly and fix any damage immediately.
Ultimately, whether it’s better to hand paint or spray paint your cabinets comes down to preference. Spray painting provides a smooth finish that rarely needs touch-ups once it dries. On the other hand, hand painting comes with visible brush strokes and less uniformity. The difference is whether you prefer a sleek, clean look or a hand-finished, crafted look.