Kitchen Remodeling · Comparisons

Kitchen comparisons

Cabinet refacing costs $4,000–$9,500 (about $100–$250 per linear foot) versus $4,000–$13,000 and up for full replacement, and can run as much as 78% less than replacing, per Modernize. Refacing only makes sense if the existing boxes are sound and the layout works. If either is false, refacing is money spent to keep a kitchen you already dislike.

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Refacing vs. replacing. Refacing keeps your cabinet boxes and swaps doors, drawer fronts, and veneer. Modernize puts it at $4,000–$9,500, around $6,750 nationally, or $100–$250 per linear foot, versus $4,000–$13,000-plus for replacement, and reports homeowners typically recoup roughly 70–80% of a refacing investment at sale. The decision is simple: open a cabinet, pull a drawer, look at the bottom of the sink base. Solid boxes and a layout you like means reface. Water-swollen particleboard, sagging shelves, or a layout that annoys you daily means replace.

Stock vs. semi-custom vs. custom. Fixr's per-linear-foot ranges are $100–$300 stock, $150–$650 semi-custom, $500–$1,200 custom. Stock is fine in a standard rectangular kitchen. Semi-custom buys you sizes and finishes that fit awkward walls. Full custom is worth it when your kitchen has real geometry problems — odd angles, deep soffits, unusual ceiling height — and not much otherwise.

Quartz vs. granite. Similar money ($40–$150 granite, $50–$200 quartz per square foot, per Fixr), different maintenance. Quartz does not need sealing and shrugs off stains; granite tolerates heat better and no two slabs match. NAHB rates natural stone countertops as lasting a lifetime. Neither is a mistake.

Refinishing vs. refacing. Refinishing is paint or stain on your existing doors — the cheapest option of all and the right call on solid wood doors in good shape. It does nothing for damaged doors or a dated door profile, and painted cabinets in a heavy-use kitchen will need touch-ups.

How to choose

Inspect the boxes before you choose refacing: Pull out the drawers and look at the sink base floor. Swelling, delamination, or mold there means the boxes are done and refacing is throwing money at them.
If the layout frustrates you, do not reface: Refacing locks in your current layout for another decade. Only reface a kitchen that works.
Compare per-linear-foot, not per-project: Kitchens differ in size. Ask every cabinet bid for a per-linear-foot number so you are actually comparing prices.
Get the same material quoted by two fabricators: Stone and quartz pricing varies more between fabricators than between materials. The same slab can differ by thousands installed.

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All kitchen remodeling comparisons

Quartz vs Granite

Marble vs Quartz

Cabinet Refacing vs Replacement

Stock vs Semi Custom vs Custom Cabinets

Butcher Block vs Stone Counters

Open Concept vs Closed Kitchen

DIY Kitchen Remodel vs Pro

Laminate vs Quartz Cost Value

Gas vs Induction Cooktop Kitchen

Painted vs Stained Cabinets

FAQ

Kitchen Remodeling comparisons — common questions

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Is cabinet refacing worth it?

If the boxes are sound and the layout works, yes — Modernize puts refacing at $4,000–$9,500 versus $4,000–$13,000-plus to replace, as much as 78% less, and reports homeowners recoup roughly 70–80% at resale.

How much does cabinet refacing cost per linear foot?

$100–$250 per linear foot, per Modernize, with laminate at the low end ($1,000–$3,000 total), wood veneer in the middle ($2,500–$6,500), and solid wood highest ($4,000–$9,000-plus).

Are custom cabinets worth the extra cost?

Only when the room demands it. Custom runs $500–$1,200 per linear foot versus $100–$300 for stock, per Fixr. Pay for custom to solve geometry, not to feel premium.

Quartz or granite for a busy family kitchen?

Quartz, in most cases. It needs no sealing and resists staining. Granite is the better pick if you routinely set hot pans directly on the counter.

Sources

Where these figures come from

Modernize — Cabinet Refacing Cost · retrieved 2026-07-26
Fixr — Kitchen Remodel Cost (cabinet and countertop pricing) · retrieved 2026-07-26
NAHB — Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components · retrieved 2026-07-26