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.
Verified 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 permitted and inspected work in nearly every jurisdiction. Typical fees run $0 to $150, and homeowners can usually pull an owner-builder permit on a home they own and occupy.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Miami | $5,300 – $23,600 | +18% |
| Tampa | $4,700 – $20,800 | +4% |
| Orlando | $4,600 – $20,400 | +2% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $5,100 – $22,800 | +14% |
| Jacksonville | $4,300 – $19,200 | -4% |
| West Palm Beach | $5,000 – $22,400 | +12% |
| St. Petersburg | $4,600 – $20,600 | +3% |
| Fort Myers | $4,900 – $21,800 | +9% |
| Cape Coral | $4,800 – $21,400 | +7% |
| Sarasota | $4,900 – $21,600 | +8% |
| Naples | $5,600 – $24,800 | +24% |
| Port St. Lucie | $4,600 – $20,400 | +2% |
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.
Sources
Sources & verification
Last verified August 2026. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing — they are not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.