Is It Worth Replacing Cabinet Doors On Old Cabinets?
Is it worth replacing cabinet doors on old cabinets? Sometimes, but refacing may give you better results. Learn when each option makes sense.
At A Glance
Can You Save Money By Replacing Only Your Cabinet Doors?
Replacing only your cabinet doors can save money. However, this option only works if your existing cabinet boxes are in good condition and the new doors match or complement them. You may need to consider refacing or remodelling instead. Refacing includes updating the visible parts of the cabinet boxes to match a different door colour or style. Remodelling allows you to improve the layout and add more storage.
Replacing cabinet doors can seem like an affordable way to update your kitchen. But if you’re buying new doors, should you replace the cabinets too? Will the new doors match your old cabinets? Will you regret keeping the old cabinets in a few years?
At Cutting Edge Doors & Woodworking in Saskatchewan, we make custom cabinet doors for customers across Western Canada. Some customers have replaced their doors while keeping or changing their existing cabinet boxes. Although we rarely see their finished kitchens, we’ve learned what homeowners need to consider before starting these projects.
Replacing only your cabinet doors may be worthwhile if your cabinet boxes are in good condition. In this article, you’ll learn:
What Does Replacing Cabinet Doors Mean?
Replacing cabinet doors means removing your existing doors and installing new ones without changing the cabinet boxes.
People often confuse replacing cabinet doors with refacing cabinets, but they aren’t the same thing. Refacing projects include replacing the doors and updating the visible parts of your cabinet boxes. Depending on your kitchen, you may need to paint exposed surfaces, replace drawer fronts, or install new end gables and fillers.
For example, imagine you want to replace your raised panel oak doors with white shaker doors. You could install the new doors without changing anything else, but the exposed oak surfaces would remain visible. You’ll need to paint or cover those surfaces so everything matches. At that point, you’re refacing your cabinets.
Because refacing requires more materials and labour, it usually costs more than replacing only the doors.
When Can You Get Away With Only Replacing Cabinet Doors?
Replacing only your cabinet doors works best when the new doors match your existing cabinets. However, you can get good results if the cabinet doors cover most of the cabinet boxes.
Your New Cabinet Doors Match Your Existing Cabinets
You may only need new cabinet doors if you’re happy with your kitchen’s current colour and style. For example, you could replace damaged white shaker doors with new ones that look similar. This would allow you to keep the existing cabinet boxes.
However, matching an existing finish is harder than you might expect.
At Cutting Edge, we estimate that about half of our colour-matching requests take several attempts before we’re happy with the result. Even then, the new doors won’t match the existing finish perfectly. Matching is difficult because the existing cabinets have aged. Also, the company that finished the original parts may have used a different type of finish. Finally, new and old finishes age differently, making colour differences more noticeable over time.
For this reason, we recommend ordering a finished sample. Once you have it, compare it with your existing cabinets in different lighting before placing your order. This will help you decide whether the colours match closely enough.
You Can Hide The Exposed Cabinet Surfaces
Replacing only the doors can also work if your kitchen design hides most of the cabinet boxes.
For example, full-overlay doors cover most of the cabinet front, so you see less of the existing boxes. You can also install matching end gables and fillers to hide exposed sides and gaps. Together, these changes can hide most of the original cabinets.
One of our customers took this approach further. Instead of replacing their face frame cabinets, they modified the existing boxes to make the kitchen look frameless. This gave them a new look without replacing the cabinets. However, this approach doesn’t work for every kitchen. Some cabinets have wide frames or exposed sides that new doors won’t cover. Changing the boxes can also affect how the new doors and hinges fit. Plus, not every homeowner is comfortable making drastic modifications.
Before replacing your cabinet doors, check how much of the existing cabinetry will remain visible. If you can’t hide those surfaces, you may need to update them to achieve the appearance you want.
Is It Worth Replacing Cabinet Doors Without Refacing Cabinets?
Replacing only your cabinet doors can save money, but it isn’t always the best choice. Most homeowners want to improve how their kitchen looks, how it works, or both. However, new doors alone may not give you the results you want.
You Want To Improve Your Kitchen’s Appearance
Although new doors can make a noticeable difference, they won’t hide worn cabinet edges or finishes that don’t match. For example, replacing dark oak doors with white shaker doors could brighten your kitchen, but the exposed oak surfaces would remain visible.
If you don’t want a two-tone kitchen, you’ll need to update those surfaces as well. This makes refacing a better option when you want a completely different colour or style without replacing your cabinets.
However, if your existing boxes already match or complement your new doors, replacing the doors alone may give you the results you want.
You Want To Improve Your Kitchen’s Functionality
Although replacing cabinet doors will make your kitchen look better, the cabinet boxes will remain the same size and in the same locations. You could improve storage by adding pull-out shelves or organizers, but these changes go beyond a simple door replacement.
If you need larger cabinets, more drawers, or a different layout, you may need to alter or replace some of the boxes. In these situations, a kitchen remodel may be more worthwhile than replacing the doors.
You Want To Keep Your Kitchen Renovation Affordable
Replacing only cabinet doors generally costs less than refacing or replacing cabinets because you need fewer materials and less labour. However, the cheapest project isn’t always the best value. For example, if your new doors don’t match the existing boxes, you may end up paying to update those surfaces later. You could also discover that your existing cabinets are deteriorating and need replacement sooner than expected.
To avoid these problems, check your cabinet boxes for water damage, loose joints, worn hinge mounting points, and other signs of wear before ordering new doors.
If your boxes are in good condition, keeping them can reduce renovation costs and waste. However, if they’re damaged or don’t meet your needs, replacing them may make more sense.
Which Kitchen Update Makes The Most Sense?
Ultimately, the best option depends on your budget, the condition of your existing cabinets, and the changes you want to make.
| Your Situation | Cutting Edge’s Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Your cabinet boxes are in good condition, and your new doors will match or complement them | Replace cabinet doors |
| Your cabinet boxes are solid, but you want a different colour or style | Reface cabinets and replace cabinet doors |
| You need better storage, but your layout works | Add storage accessories or alter cabinets to improve storage |
| Your kitchen layout doesn’t work for you | Remodel or consider a new kitchen |
| Your cabinet boxes have serious damage or weak construction | Replace damaged cabinets or consider a new kitchen |
Should You Replace Your Cabinet Doors Or Reface Your Cabinets?
Replacing only your cabinet doors can be worthwhile if your cabinet boxes are in good condition and the new doors match or complement their appearance. However, remodelling may be the better choice if your kitchen needs more storage or a new layout. Before spending money on new doors, make sure your existing cabinets can support the changes you want.
At Cutting Edge Doors & Woodworking, we manufacture custom cabinet doors for homeowners and contractors completing replacement and refacing projects. While we don’t provide complete kitchen renovations, our experience can help you understand what to consider when ordering doors for existing cabinets. Your next step is to discover the common problems you might face when replacing cabinet doors on old cabinet boxes so you can avoid unexpected costs and make an informed decision.
