The 10 by 10 kitchen is the industry’s standard pricing unit. It describes a notional L-shaped kitchen with roughly 20 linear feet of cabinetry, and it exists so that quotes can be compared. Almost no real kitchen is exactly this, but it is a useful reference point.
For a 10 by 10, refacing typically runs $9,000 to $18,000, against $18,000 to $35,000 for full replacement of comparable quality. The gap is the saving, and whether it is available to you depends entirely on the condition of your existing boxes.
What refacing includes
New doors and drawer fronts in your chosen style and finish. New veneer or laminate applied to every visible face of the existing cabinet boxes, including the end panels and the face frames, so that no original finish remains visible. New hinges and drawer runners, usually soft-close. New handles.
What it does not include is any change to the layout, the boxes, or the positions of anything. A refaced kitchen has exactly the cabinets it had before, wearing new clothes.
Most refacing projects are paired with new countertops, since replacing the counters at the same time is efficient and since old laminate counters against new doors undermines the effect entirely. That typically adds $3,000 to $7,000 for a 10 by 10.
What moves the price
- Door material and finish. Thermofoil at the bottom of the range, painted solid wood in the middle, veneered hardwood at the top.
- Number of doors and drawers. Priced per unit, so a kitchen with many small doors costs more than one with few large ones at the same linear footage.
- Whether drawer boxes are replaced. New fronts on old boxes is cheaper. New drawer boxes with soft-close undermount runners costs more and feels entirely different in use.
- Condition of the boxes. Any repair needed before refacing is additional.
Mistakes we see most often
- Refacing without replacing the counters, which leaves the single most dated element in place.
- Refacing boxes with a failed sink base.
- Assuming refacing can fix a layout problem. It cannot; nothing moves.
- Comparing a refacing quote to a replacement quote without checking the door material in each.
What this means in the Capital Region
For a typical Capital Region kitchen from the 1980s or 1990s, refacing is frequently the right economic answer. The boxes in those kitchens are usually sound plywood, the layouts were designed for broadly how people still cook, and the saving against replacement is real.
For kitchens in the older city housing of Troy, Albany, Cohoes and Schenectady, refacing is often not available, because the cabinetry is site-built with non-standard openings that stock replacement doors will not fit. In those kitchens the realistic choices are restoration of the original joinery or full replacement.
Want this priced for your own home? Jeffrey Mason will walk the project and give you a free written estimate. No obligation, no sales rep. Call (518) 308-6427.
Frequently asked questions
What does a 10x10 kitchen mean?
A notional L-shaped kitchen with about 20 linear feet of cabinetry, used across the industry as a pricing reference so quotes can be compared. Very few real kitchens match it exactly.
How much cheaper is refacing than replacing?
Typically 40 to 55 percent less for comparable quality. For a 10 by 10, roughly $9,000 to $18,000 against $18,000 to $35,000.
How long does refacing take?
Four to eight days on site for a 10 by 10, after two to four weeks of lead time for the doors. The kitchen stays usable for most of it, which is a significant advantage over replacement.
Can I reface if my cabinets are particle board?
It depends on the condition rather than the material. Good quality particle board carcasses that are square, dry and sound reface perfectly well. Any swelling, particularly at the sink base, rules it out.
Related guides
- Average Cost for New Kitchen Cabinets in 2026
- Average Kitchen Remodel Cost: What Homeowners Pay in 2026
- 12x12 Kitchen Remodel Cost: What to Budget
- Cost to Replace Kitchen Cabinets and Countertops Together
- Full Kitchen Remodel Cost: Complete Pricing Breakdown
- Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel Cost: Combined Project Pricing in 2025