The cost to change kitchen cabinets varies a lot. It depends on what you do. You might paint old ones, put new doors on, or buy all new cabinets. Kitchen cabinet replacement cost can range from a few hundred dollars for a small refresh to tens of thousands for a full tear-out and install.
Deciphering Kitchen Cabinet Change Options and Their Costs
Changing your kitchen cabinets doesn’t always mean getting rid of everything. There are several levels of change, each with a different price tag. Knowing your options helps you plan your budget better.
Option 1: Refinishing or Painting Cabinets
This is the cheapest way to refresh your kitchen. If your cabinet boxes are sturdy and the layout works, painting is a great choice.
Cabinet Refacing Price vs. Refinishing
Refinishing means sanding down the existing surface and applying a new coat of paint or stain. Refacing is a step up.
Refacing involves keeping the existing cabinet boxes but replacing the doors and drawer fronts. New hardware (knobs and pulls) often comes with this service.
Cabinet refacing price is much lower than buying new. You get a fresh look without the major demolition work.
- Painting: Low cost. Good for minor cosmetic changes.
- Refacing: Medium cost. A big visual change without changing the layout.
Option 2: Cabinet Refacing: A Middle Ground
Refacing is a smart move when you like the current layout but hate the look of your doors. You get new doors and drawer fronts that match the old boxes.
When getting quotes for cabinet refacing price, make sure they include new hinges and drawer slides. Old slides can make even new doors look bad if they don’t open smoothly.
Typical Costs for Refacing (Materials and Labor for a Standard Kitchen):
| Component | Estimated Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Materials (Doors/Drawer Fronts) | \$2,000 – \$6,000 | Depends on material (MDF vs. solid wood). |
| Labor | \$1,500 – \$4,000 | Includes removal of old doors and fitting new ones. |
| Total Refacing | \$3,500 – \$10,000 | Does not include countertop changes. |
Option 3: Installing New Kitchen Cabinets Cost
This is the biggest change. You remove everything and put in brand new cabinets. The installing new kitchen cabinets cost depends heavily on the type of cabinets you choose.
Stock vs. Semi-Custom vs. Custom Cabinets
The type of cabinet dictates the overall kitchen cabinet replacement cost.
Stock Cabinets
These are ready-made cabinets. They come in standard sizes and limited styles. They are the most budget-friendly option for replacement.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
These offer more choices in size, finish, and style than stock cabinets. You can often get slightly different depths or widths. The cost to install semi-custom cabinets is higher than stock but less than custom.
Custom Cabinets
These are built specifically for your space. They fit every nook perfectly. They offer the most flexibility in design and materials. The custom cabinet installation price is at the top end of the spectrum.
Fathoming the Total Kitchen Cabinet Replacement Cost
The final price for replacing cabinets involves several parts: the cabinets themselves, delivery, demo, and installation.
Factors Driving the Cost of New Cabinets
The base price of the cabinets themselves is the largest factor.
- Material: Plywood boxes are better and cost more than particleboard. Solid wood doors cost more than thermofoil or laminate doors.
- Finish: Custom stains and glazes add to the price compared to basic painted finishes.
- Features: Dovetail joints, soft-close hinges, and pull-out organizers are upgrades that increase the price.
Labor Cost for Cabinet Replacement
The labor cost for cabinet replacement is significant. This covers taking out the old units, disposing of them, prepping the space, and installing the new ones.
Professional installers charge by the hour or by the project. Be sure to ask if the quote includes connecting the cabinets to plumbing or electrical outlets (like under-cabinet lighting).
Average Cost to Replace Kitchen Cabinets (Labor Only, Mid-Range Cabinets):
| Kitchen Size | Typical Labor Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-12 linear feet) | \$1,500 – \$3,000 | Easier access, quicker install. |
| Medium (13-20 linear feet) | \$3,000 – \$6,000 | Standard suburban kitchen size. |
| Large/Complex (20+ linear feet) | \$6,000+ | May involve more complex layouts or tricky wall conditions. |
Professional Kitchen Cabinet Installation Rates
Professional kitchen cabinet installation rates vary by region. Labor is more expensive in major cities. Always get itemized quotes from several licensed contractors. A good installer ensures your cabinets are level, plumb, and secured properly, which is vital for countertop installation later.
Comparing Installation Methods: DIY vs. Professional
Can you save money by installing the cabinets yourself? Yes, but you trade time and certainty for savings.
DIY Cabinet Installation vs. Professional Cost
If you are handy, you can handle the basic installation of stock or even some semi-custom cabinets.
- Savings: You save the labor cost for cabinet replacement, potentially saving 20% to 50% of the total labor estimate.
- Risks: Cabinets must be perfectly level and square. Mistakes here affect everything that follows, especially the countertop overhang and drawer alignment. Re-doing a poorly installed cabinet costs more in time and materials later.
For custom cabinetry or complex layouts, hiring professionals is strongly advised. The custom cabinet installation price often reflects the expertise needed to fit non-standard units perfectly.
Calculating Your Kitchen Cabinet Upgrade Cost
The kitchen cabinet upgrade cost depends on where you start and where you want to end up.
Small Upgrade Example: Refacing
If you start with 15 linear feet of existing cabinets in good shape:
- Materials (New doors, hardware): \$4,000
- Labor (Refacing): \$2,500
- Total Upgrade Cost: \$6,500
Major Upgrade Example: Full Replacement with Semi-Custom
If you replace 15 linear feet of old cabinets with mid-range, semi-custom units:
- Demolition and Disposal: \$700
- New Semi-Custom Cabinets (Materials): \$8,000
- Installation Labor (Cost to install semi-custom cabinets): \$4,500
- Total Upgrade Cost: \$13,200
High-End Upgrade Example: Full Replacement with Custom
If you choose premium wood, high-end features, and full custom builds:
- Demolition and Disposal: \$1,000
- New Custom Cabinets (Materials): \$15,000+
- Installation Labor (Custom cabinet installation price): \$7,000+
- Total Upgrade Cost: \$23,000+
Hidden Costs When Changing Cabinets
When budgeting for your change, remember these items often get overlooked:
1. Countertop Adjustments
If you change the height of your base cabinets (rare, but possible with custom builds) or if you simply remove the old cabinets, your old countertops might not fit the new ones perfectly. If you are keeping existing countertops, you may need to pay extra for a stone fabricator to remove them carefully and then re-template and reinstall them onto the new base cabinets. This adds to the overall kitchen cabinet replacement cost.
2. Sink and Plumbing Rerouting
Removing old sinks and garbage disposals and reinstalling them takes time. Plumbers might need to adjust drain lines or supply lines to fit the new sink cabinet base.
3. Wall and Floor Repair
Removing old upper cabinets often reveals unpainted or damaged drywall above where the cabinets sat. Base cabinets hide the original flooring. New cabinets might not sit in the exact same spots, meaning floor patching or tile work is required.
4. Permits and Inspections
Depending on your location and the scope of the work (especially if moving gas lines or major plumbing), you might need permits. This adds administrative fees and inspection costs.
Selecting Cabinet Vendors: Stock, Semi-Custom, and Custom Details
Choosing the right vendor impacts the average cost to replace kitchen cabinets.
Stock Cabinets: Speed and Simplicity
Stock cabinets are great if you have a standard kitchen size. They ship fast. Because they are mass-produced, quality can vary. Look closely at drawer construction (dovetail is best) even in stock lines.
Semi-Custom Cabinets: Finding the Balance
These cabinets allow you to choose different door styles, depths, and widths in 3-inch increments. This flexibility helps you maximize space without paying the full price of custom work. This is often where the best value lies for many homeowners. The cost to install semi-custom cabinets generally includes more precise measurement and fitting than basic stock units.
Custom Cabinets: Bespoke Solutions
If you have an oddly shaped kitchen, need very specific storage solutions (like a built-in spice rack or a specific microwave drawer size), custom is the way to go. The custom cabinet installation price includes the time the cabinet maker spends designing, building, and fine-tuning the installation on site.
The Installation Process: What Professionals Do
When you hire professionals for professional kitchen cabinet installation rates, you are paying for precision. Here is a general step-by-step process:
- Layout Verification: Installers confirm all measurements on site. They mark the cabinet location on the walls.
- Hanging Uppers First: Upper cabinets usually go up first. They must be anchored securely into wall studs, as they bear significant weight. Getting these level is crucial.
- Installing Base Cabinets: Base cabinets follow. They are leveled individually, then secured to each other, and finally anchored to the wall studs. Shims are used extensively here to ensure everything is perfectly flat for the countertop.
- Filler Strips and Trim: Pieces are added to cover any gaps between the cabinets and the walls, giving a built-in look.
- Hardware Installation: Door hinges (if not pre-installed) and drawer slides are finalized, and doors are adjusted for perfect alignment.
If you choose to manage the project yourself, mastering step 3—leveling and squaring the base cabinets—is the hardest part of the DIY cabinet installation vs professional cost equation.
Budget Planning for Kitchen Cabinet Changes
To manage your project, break down where your money goes. A good rule of thumb for a full replacement project:
- Cabinets (Materials): 40% – 50% of the total budget.
- Labor (Demo/Install): 25% – 35% of the total budget.
- Contingency/Finishing (Paint/Flooring/Plumbing): 15% – 25% of the total budget.
If you are only refacing, the material cost (doors) will be the dominant factor, possibly hitting 60% of the refacing total.
For example, a \$15,000 full replacement project might break down like this:
- Cabinets: \$6,500
- Labor: \$4,500
- Contingency/Finishing: \$4,000
Always keep a 10% contingency fund for unexpected issues revealed once the old cabinets are removed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to replace kitchen cabinets?
If you are only replacing the boxes (no countertop changes), the installation labor usually takes 2 to 4 days for a standard kitchen. If you include demolition and waiting time for custom items, the whole process can take 2 to 6 weeks. Refacing is generally faster, often taking only 1 to 3 days of labor once the new doors arrive.
Is cabinet refacing cheaper than buying new cabinets?
Yes, generally, cabinet refacing price is significantly lower than the kitchen cabinet replacement cost. Refacing typically costs 40% to 60% less than buying all new cabinets, depending on the material chosen for the new doors.
What is the most expensive part of installing new kitchen cabinets?
The most expensive part is usually the cabinets themselves (materials). However, if you opt for highly complex layouts or premium finishes, the custom cabinet installation price (labor) can sometimes rival the material cost.
Does the cost to install semi-custom cabinets include the removal of old cabinets?
Not always. When getting quotes for the cost to install semi-custom cabinets, you must ask if demolition, haul-away, and disposal are included in the installation labor fee. Often, these are listed separately under “site prep.”
What is a reasonable labor cost for cabinet replacement?
The labor cost for cabinet replacement averages between \$50 and \$100 per cabinet box installed, or it may be quoted as a flat project fee based on the linear footage of the kitchen. For high-end work, rates can exceed \$100 per box.