How to measure cabinet doors without guessing
Measure the opening, fix the overlay, and record every door once. A practical door schedule that keeps you out of the reorder queue for good.
The big call
Reface or replace? Decide in one evening.
Refacing keeps the boxes and changes the face. Replacing changes everything, including the things you cannot see. Here is how to tell which one your kitchen actually needs.
Refacing
New face, same bones
New doors and drawer fronts, a new veneer or laminate on the visible frame, and new hardware. The boxes, layout, worktop and plumbing stay put.
- Fast, low dust, one trade
- Keeps the worktop and sink
- Cannot fix a bad layout
Replacing
New bones, new rules
New cabinets, new layout, new worktop, and the trades that come with them. You are buying the kitchen, not just the face of it.
- Fixes layout and storage
- Longer, dustier, more trades
- Can reset the whole room
The five checks
Tick what is true. The answer usually appears.
This is not a calculator and it does not know your kitchen. It is the same five checks a fitter does in the first ten minutes, in the order that matters.
0 of 5 checks pass
Work through the list above. Nothing is scored until you tick a box.
What actually changes
| Question | Refacing | Replacing |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | Doors, drawer fronts, frame veneer, hardware | Everything, including the boxes |
| What stays | Boxes, layout, worktop, sink, floor | Nothing you do not choose to keep |
| Best when | Boxes are sound and the layout works | The layout is wrong or the boxes are failing |
| Disruption | Days, one trade, little dust | Weeks, several trades, a unusable kitchen |
| Layout changes | Very limited | Anything you are willing to pay for |
| Cost direction | Lower, because boxes and trades are reused | Higher, because you are buying a new kitchen |
| Lifespan | As long as the boxes last | A fresh start, with a fresh warranty |
When replacing is the honest answer
The layout is the problem
If you cannot open the dishwasher and the drawer at the same time, new doors will not help. Layout is a box decision, not a face decision.
The boxes have been wet
Swollen particleboard does not dry back into shape. Once the screw holes are soft, every hinge is a temporary fix.
You want more storage, not nicer doors
Taller uppers, deeper drawers, a pull-out pantry: these need new boxes. Refacing can add a drawer bank inside an existing box, and that is about the limit.
The run is very small
With four doors, the saving from refacing can be thin once measuring, making and fitting are counted. Get both numbers before assuming.
The same kitchen, one face later
Drag the handle. The boxes, worktop and floor do not move — only the doors, the frame veneer and the hardware change.
Before After Refacing questions, answered plainly
Does refacing include new cabinet boxes?
No. Refacing keeps the existing carcasses and replaces the parts you see: doors, drawer fronts, the visible veneer on the frame faces, and usually the hardware. If a box is swollen, soft or out of square, refacing will not fix it.
Can I change the layout when I reface?
Only in small ways. You can usually swap a shelf for a drawer bank inside an existing box, or change a door to a pair of doors. You cannot move a sink, add a peninsula or change the run length without rebuilding the cabinets.
Is refacing cheaper than replacing?
Usually, because you are not paying for boxes, demolition, plumbing or a new worktop. The gap narrows when the existing boxes need repairs, when the run is small, or when you choose a premium door and a full hardware swap. Get both quoted before you decide.
How long does refacing take?
A typical kitchen is measured in days rather than weeks, because there is no demolition and no trade sequencing. The exact time depends on the number of fronts, the finish and whether the frames need re-veneering on site.
Will the new doors fit my old cabinets?
They can, if the openings are measured properly. Refacing doors are made to the actual opening and overlay, not to a nominal size. That is why the measuring stage matters more than the finish choice.
Can I reface just the doors and keep the worktop?
Yes, and that is one of the main reasons people choose it. Keeping the worktop, sink and splashback is what makes refacing quick and comparatively tidy. It also means the new door style has to work with the existing worktop colour.
What is the difference between refacing and resurfacing?
The words are often used interchangeably. Refacing usually means new doors and drawer fronts plus a new veneer or laminate on the visible frame. Resurfacing can mean a wrap or a spray finish over the existing fronts. Ask exactly what is being replaced and what is being covered.
Keep reading
All refacing guides
Refacing vs replacing cabinets: a decision checklist
A calm, ordered checklist for deciding whether to reface or replace your kitchen cabinets, with five physical checks and a clear decision table.