How much does cabinet refacing cost vs replacement in 2026?
Cabinet refacing costs $13,000 to $26,000 in Sherwood Park and Strathcona County. A full replacement with new cabinets costs $20,000 to $40,000 or more once demolition and countertop refitting are included. The low end of replacement overlaps with the high end of refacing, so the real difference shows up in time, disruption, and what happens to your countertops.
| Refacing vs replacing | Cabinet refacing | New cabinets |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 price | $13,000 to $26,000 | $20,000 to $40,000+ |
| Cabinet boxes | Kept and covered | Torn out and rebuilt |
| Countertops | Stay in place | Removed and refitted or replaced |
| Plumbing and electrical | Untouched | Disconnected and reconnected |
| Timeline | Set at the quote | About 4 to 8 weeks of construction |
| Layout changes | Not possible | Possible |
Edmonton has no separate published refacing figure. Cabinet Refinishing Sherwood Park uses the Sherwood Park range as the starting point for Edmonton kitchens and confirms the price at the quote. New cabinets in the Edmonton region start around $15,000 for smaller jobs, but a full replacement with demolition is usually $20,000 and up.
What cabinet refacing keeps and what it replaces
Cabinet refacing is a partial renovation. New doors and drawer fronts go onto your existing cabinet boxes, so the structure of the kitchen stays put. Refacing keeps:
- The boxes: the frames and shelves already fixed to your walls and floor.
- The layout: the sink, stove, fridge, and dishwasher stay in the same spots.
- The countertops: nothing is lifted, cut, or refitted.
- The plumbing: no water lines or drains are moved.
That is where refacing saves money. A replacement pays for demolition, disposal, new boxes, installation, and countertop work before the new doors go on. Refacing pays mainly for the new fronts and the labour to fit them. Read more on kitchen cabinet refacing, including door styles.
When replacing kitchen cabinets is the better call
Refacing is not always the right answer. New cabinets make more sense in these cases:
You want a different layout
Moving the sink to an island, adding a pantry wall, or opening a wall changes where cabinets sit. Refacing cannot move a box, so a layout change means replacement.
The boxes are water damaged
Sink bases and cabinets beside dishwashers take the most water. If the box material has swollen, softened, or delaminated, new doors will not fix it and may not hang straight. Damaged boxes are a reason to replace, at least for the affected cabinets.
The boxes are failing structurally
Sagging shelves, loose face frames, or boxes pulling away from the wall point to replacement. Solid wood boxes from 1980s and 1990s homes are usually sound. Particleboard boxes that have been wet are a different story.
Key takeaway: Refacing is cheaper than replacement when the cabinet boxes are sound and the layout works. Replace when you need a new layout or the boxes are damaged.
Two cheaper options than refacing
Refacing and replacement both change the doors. If you like your door style and only want a new look, two options cost less than either one.
Cabinet painting: $2,800 to $6,000
Cabinet painting puts a new colour on your existing doors and boxes. Doors are sprayed in the shop and boxes are finished on site. Most Sherwood Park kitchens take 3 to 4 days. Painting saves roughly 50 to 70% compared with new cabinets. See kitchen cabinet painting for colours and island accents.
Cabinet refinishing: $5,500 to $14,000
Cabinet refinishing strips the old finish, grain-fills, primes, sprays a new finish, and adds a clear coat. It suits oak and wood kitchens with a worn or chipped finish, and takes about 5 to 7 days. Refinishing saves roughly 60 to 70% compared with new cabinets. Read about cabinet refinishing and stain-to-paint conversions.
For a breakdown by door count, see the cost to paint kitchen cabinets in Edmonton and Sherwood Park.
Best option for your cabinets by condition
Match the condition of your kitchen to the option below. The prices are 2026 Sherwood Park ranges.
| Cabinet condition | Best option | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Sound boxes, doors you like, dated colour | Cabinet painting | $2,800 to $6,000 |
| Sound wood boxes, worn or chipped finish | Cabinet refinishing | $5,500 to $14,000 |
| Dark stain you want changed to white or grey | Refinishing with stain-to-paint conversion | $5,500 to $14,000 |
| Sound boxes, door style you want gone | Cabinet refacing | $13,000 to $26,000 |
| Peeling or damaged thermofoil doors | Cabinet refacing | $13,000 to $26,000 |
| Water-damaged boxes or a new layout | New cabinets | $20,000 to $40,000+ |
Laminate and melamine doors can often be painted with a bonding primer. Thermofoil that is peeling, bubbling, or yellowed near the stove or dishwasher is usually refaced instead. The guide on what kitchen cabinets cannot be painted covers each material.
How to decide between refacing and replacing
Start by checking three things in your own kitchen: open the sink base and look for swelling, press on the shelves for sag, and decide whether the current layout works for how you cook. If all three pass, refacing, refinishing, or painting will cost less than replacement.
Cabinet Refinishing Sherwood Park offers a free in-home visit or a photo-based estimate. The written estimate covers prep, product, and labour with no hidden fees, so you can put it beside a replacement quote and compare line by line.