The 50% Rule: Is Cabinet Refacing Right for Your Kitchen?

The 50% Rule: Is Cabinet Refacing Right for Your Kitchen?

Cabinet refacing has a simple industry rule attached to it: if the cost of refacing your cabinets exceeds 50% of the cost of replacing them, replace them. The rule exists because refacing is only a bargain when the existing boxes are worth saving.

The decision hinges on the condition of the cabinet boxes — the structure behind the doors. If the boxes are solid, properly hung, and laid out well, new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware transform the kitchen for a fraction of replacement cost. If the boxes are failing, warped, or poorly arranged, refacing is polishing a structure that's about to fail.

The Hickory market data in the guide shows the same math in practice: homeowners who check the 50% rule before they commit — and inspect the boxes honestly — make the decision that costs less over ten years, whether that's a refresh or a full replacement.