Interior
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing: Cost, Permits & Timeline
Replacing cabinet doors, drawer fronts and veneer while keeping the existing boxes. Costs roughly 40 to 60 percent of a full cabinet replacement with no plumbing or electrical work.
Model reviewed August 2026
Typical cost
$9,500
$4,500 – $20,000
per linear foot of cabinetry
$220 – $650
Permit
Rarely
$0 – $150
Timeline
3-5 days of work
3-5 days of work
Do you need a permit for kitchen cabinet refacing?
Usually no
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing is normally treated as maintenance or landscaping, so most jurisdictions do not require a permit. Exceptions show up where the work touches drainage, irrigation backflow, a right-of-way, an easement or an HOA-controlled area — confirm with your local building department before starting.
What drives the cost
- Linear feet of cabinetry and door count
- Veneer, thermofoil or solid wood fronts
- New soft-close hardware
- Adding crown molding or end panels
- Condition of the existing boxes
Permit, inspections and documents
| Permit status | rarely required |
|---|---|
| Typical permit fee | $0 – $150 |
| Licensed contractor required | Not always |
| Owner-builder allowed | Yes, on owner-occupied homes |
| Inspections | |
| Timeline | 3-5 days of work |
| DIY difficulty | 4/5 difficulty |
Documents typically required
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing cost by city
Local labor and material pricing applied to the national baseline.
| City | Typical range | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $7,100 – $31,500 | +57% |
| Los Angeles | $6,000 – $26,800 | +34% |
| Miami | $5,400 – $24,100 | +20% |
| Chicago | $5,400 – $24,200 | +21% |
| Phoenix | $4,600 – $20,400 | +2% |
| Dallas | $4,400 – $19,700 | -2% |
| Houston | $4,400 – $19,700 | -2% |
| Tampa | $4,700 – $21,100 | +5% |
| Denver | $5,100 – $22,500 | +12% |
| Orlando | $4,600 – $20,500 | +2% |
| Atlanta | $4,500 – $19,900 | -1% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $5,200 – $23,200 | +16% |
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing across the country
National pricing, state-by-state pricing, and the tools behind both.
Frequently asked questions
Is cabinet refacing worth it?
Refacing makes sense when the existing boxes are solid and the layout works. If the boxes are particleboard that has swollen from moisture, or you want to change the layout, full replacement is the better value.
How long does kitchen cabinet refacing take?
3-5 days of work. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.
What changes the price the most?
The largest cost drivers are linear feet of cabinetry and door count; veneer, thermofoil or solid wood fronts; new soft-close hardware.
Sources
Sources & verification
Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.