Cabinet door cost per square foot commonly ranges from $25 to $150, depending on material, construction, finish, and whether the doors are stock or custom. For a typical kitchen order, homeowners may pay about $800-$2,500 for replacement doors before installation, with unusual sizes, premium wood, and new hardware raising the quote.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock or basic MDF doors | $25/sq ft | $40/sq ft | $65/sq ft | Standard sizes and simple finishes |
| Paint-grade custom doors | $45/sq ft | $75/sq ft | $110/sq ft | Made to order; finish may cost extra |
| Solid-wood custom doors | $65/sq ft | $105/sq ft | $150/sq ft | Species, profile, and finish affect price |
| Typical 20-door order | $800 | $1,600 | $3,000 | About 30-40 sq ft of door surface |
What cabinet doors cost per square foot at common quality levels
Square-foot rates help compare materials, but many cabinet shops price each door by its dimensions and profile. A basic 12-by-18-inch door has 1.5 square feet of face area, so a $40-per-square-foot rate implies about $60 before any minimum charge, hinge drilling, or finishing.
For a standard kitchen order, a practical planning range is $40-$100 per square foot, or roughly $1,200-$2,500 for 30-35 square feet. These figures assume replacement doors only, standard access, and midrange materials; installation and tax may be separate.
Stock thermofoil or basic MDF often lands near the low end. Shaker-style paint-grade MDF or maple doors commonly fall in the middle. Custom solid cherry, walnut, inset construction, glazing, or a specialty finish can reach or exceed the high end. Small orders may also carry a shop minimum that makes the effective rate higher.
Assumptions: typical U.S. pricing, standard overlay doors, ordinary kitchen access, and no cabinet-box repairs.
How wood, finish, and shop labor shape each door quote
A door quote combines the door blank, machining, finish work, and shop handling. Ask whether the quoted square footage uses one face or both faces; cabinet doors are usually priced by the finished door, not by multiplying the face area by two.
| Quote component | Typical range | What it covers | Price effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door material | $15-$65/sq ft | MDF, veneer, or solid wood | Species and panel construction |
| Cutting and profiling | $10-$30/sq ft | Rails, stiles, and edge shaping | More detail raises machining time |
| Paint or clear finish | $15-$40/sq ft | Prep, coating, and curing | Color match or extra coats add cost |
| Shop labor | $60-$110/hour | Measuring, machining, and handling | Minimum charges apply to small runs |
Finishing and custom machining can cost as much as the raw door material. Labor estimates may use ; for example, 6-10 shop hours at $60-$110 per hour represents $360-$1,100 before material and finish charges.
Which door sizes and profiles push the square-foot rate higher
Size affects both material use and shop efficiency. A door under 1 square foot may still be billed at a minimum per-door rate, while oversized doors can require special handling or thicker stock. Doors wider than about 24 inches or taller than 42 inches may need construction details that reduce warping, especially in solid wood.
Profile complexity and nonstandard dimensions matter more than area alone. A flat slab is generally less expensive than a raised-panel or beaded design. Arched tops, applied molding, glass openings, and matching an existing custom profile can add approximately 10%-35% to the door price. A 3/4-inch solid-wood door may also cost more than a 1/2-inch MDF panel of the same face area.
Measurements should include width, height, thickness, hinge-bore locations, and overlay style. If several doors differ by even 1/8 inch, each may need separate fabrication, so a dimensioned list can prevent rework and revised quotes.
Can refacing or repainting cost less than new cabinet doors?
Replacing doors is not always the lowest-cost route. Repainting existing doors may cost about $30-$80 per door when the doors are sound and the finish can be prepared properly. New replacement doors often run $40-$150 per square foot, while cabinet refacing that includes new door fronts and veneer on cabinet boxes commonly totals $4,000-$10,000 for a typical kitchen.
Repair or repainting makes more financial sense when the existing doors are structurally sound and the style is acceptable. New doors are more suitable when panels are swollen, cracked, badly warped, or incompatible with the desired layout. Refacing may be less disruptive than full cabinet replacement, but it does not correct damaged cabinet boxes or poor storage design.
How many labor hours does a cabinet-door order require?
Installing replacement doors on an existing kitchen commonly takes a crew of one or two installers about 4-10 hours, depending on the number of doors, hinge adjustments, and whether old hardware can be reused. At $50-$100 per hour, installation labor may range from $200-$1,000, with many contractors charging a minimum visit fee.
For a 20-door kitchen, budget roughly $300-$800 for straightforward hanging and alignment. New concealed hinges, uneven cabinet faces, or drilling new mounting holes can extend the job. Confirm whether the installer includes hinge adjustment and removal of old doors in the labor quote.
What removal, hinges, and delivery add to a door budget
New hinges typically cost $5-$20 each, or about $10-$40 per door for a pair, before installation. Knobs and pulls can add $3-$25 per door. Delivery may be included locally or cost $50-$200; crating or long-distance freight for custom doors can be higher.
Allow another $150-$600 for common hardware, delivery, and disposal on a medium-size order. Old-door removal and disposal may cost $50-$200 if not included. Painting cabinet frames, repairing hinge plates, or adjusting damaged boxes is separate work and can add several hundred dollars or more.
Where can homeowners trim cabinet-door costs without downgrading?
Keeping the existing cabinet boxes, layout, and hinge locations avoids expenses unrelated to the doors. Standard sizes, a simple Shaker or slab profile, and a readily available paint-grade material can reduce custom machining. Reusing serviceable hinges and handles also limits hardware charges.
Compare quotes using the same door count, dimensions, material, finish, hinge drilling, delivery, and installation scope. Ask for both a per-door price and the assumed square-foot rate, then check minimum order fees. Ordering all doors together can reduce repeat setup charges, while accurate measurements and labeling help avoid costly remakes.
Skipping premium clear coats or specialty colors can lower finishing costs, but the finish should still suit the kitchen’s humidity and cleaning needs. If only a few doors are damaged, replacing those units may be cheaper than a full set, provided the shop can match the existing color and profile.