A replacement cabinet door typically costs $30-$500 before installation, with many standard-size doors priced around $75-$200. The final cabinet door cost depends on dimensions, material, finish, custom machining, shipping, and whether a contractor installs and aligns it.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock door, materials only | $30 | $85 | $180 | Common sizes and basic finishes |
| Custom door, materials only | $100 | $225 | $500+ | Made to order, wood species and profile affect price |
| Installed replacement door | $75 | $150 | $300+ | Includes basic fitting and alignment |
| 20-door kitchen refresh | $1,500 | $3,500 | $7,000+ | Door style, finish, hardware, and labor vary |
Typical prices for standard and custom cabinet doors
For a common 15-by-30-inch door, a stock MDF or paint-grade door often costs $30-$100, while a basic solid-wood door commonly runs $75-$200. Premium hardwood, specialty profiles, glazing, and factory-applied finishes can push a custom door to $200-$500 or more. These are door-only prices; hinges, shipping, and installation may be separate.
A practical installed budget is $75-$250 per door for many straightforward replacements. That estimate assumes a standard overlay door, accessible cabinets, no cabinet-box repairs, and ordinary U.S. labor rates. A single unusual door may cost more per unit because custom shops and installers can apply minimum charges.
Assumptions: one standard-size door, midrange materials, normal access, and no cabinet-frame modification.
What wood, finishing, and installation add to the quote
Quotes usually separate the door itself from the finish, hardware, and labor. Some sellers include a basic finish in the listed price; others supply unfinished doors and charge separately for paint or stain. Confirm whether the quote includes hinges, drilling, delivery, and removal of old doors.
| Quote component | Typical price | What changes the charge | Usually included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door material | $30-$250 per door | MDF, veneer, solid wood, profile | Door panel only |
| Paint or stain finish | $20-$100 per door | Color matching, sheen, coating quality | Surface preparation and finish coats |
| Hinges and drilling | $8-$35 per door | Soft-close hardware, hinge type, bore pattern | Hardware may be an add-on |
| Installation labor | $40-$100 per door | Door count, alignment, site access | Mounting and basic adjustment |
| Delivery or old-door disposal | $25-$150 per job | Distance, order size, haul-away | Often separate from product price |
Finishing and labor can equal or exceed the price of a basic door. A labor estimate may follow ; a carpenter or cabinet installer commonly charges about $50-$100 per hour, sometimes with a $100-$250 minimum visit fee.
How door size, wood species, and profile shift prices
Dimensions affect both material use and whether a ready-made size is available. Standard doors around 12-by-24 to 18-by-30 inches are more likely to fit stock pricing. Doors wider than 24 inches, taller than 36 inches, or made for unusual corner cabinets may require custom production and cost 20%-60% more than a similar stock door.
Material and construction also matter. MDF is often the lowest-cost choice for painted doors, while maple and birch are common midrange woods. Oak, cherry, walnut, and specialty grain matching can add 25%-100% over basic paint-grade material. A simple slab or shaker profile generally costs less than raised panels, routed details, or glass inserts.
Custom sizing and premium wood are the largest product-price jumps. A single replacement must also match the existing cabinet’s overlay, hinge position, thickness, and finish; mismatches can create extra machining or refinishing charges.
How many labor hours does replacing cabinet doors take?
A contractor may spend 20-45 minutes measuring, mounting, and adjusting each straightforward replacement door. A kitchen with 20 doors can require roughly 7-15 labor hours, including setup and cleanup, with additional time for hinge changes, leveling, or correcting uneven cabinet boxes. DIY installation avoids labor charges but requires accurate measurements and careful hinge alignment.
Labor tends to be cheaper per door when several doors are installed in one visit. Small jobs may still carry a minimum service charge, while a full kitchen order can spread travel and setup costs across more units. Ask whether the quote covers removal, hardware installation, and final adjustment.
Three replacement-door budgets for real kitchen scopes
A basic update using stock paint-grade MDF illustrates the lower end; a custom hardwood order with matching finish and installation sits higher. The examples below exclude cabinet-box repairs and major layout changes.
| Project | Door specification | Labor assumption | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| One pantry door | 18-by-30-inch stock MDF, $55 | 1 hour at $75, basic hinges $15 | $145 |
| 10-door cabinet run | Shaker maple, $125 each; finish $45 each | 7 hours at $75, hardware $180 | $2,330 |
| 20-door kitchen | Custom cherry, $220 each; finish $70 each | 12 hours at $85, hinges $400 | $7,020 |
These totals show why the door count and finish specification should appear clearly in every estimate. For a kitchen-wide order, verify whether measurement, delivery, tax, and disposal are included before comparing the total.
When refinishing beats buying new cabinet doors
If the doors are solid, structurally sound, and still fit, repainting or refinishing may cost less than replacement. Professional painting often runs $50-$150 per door, depending on cleaning, sanding, repairs, and spray finishing. Replacing doors is more useful when panels are warped, damaged, hard to clean, or incompatible with the desired style.
Keep the existing doors when a finish change is the main goal and the underlying material is in good condition. Replacement can make more sense for widespread damage or when new hinges and door dimensions are needed. Refacing the cabinet boxes at the same time adds scope, so request it as a separate line item.
Regional labor and delivery can change the installed price
Labor and delivery vary across the country. High-cost metro areas may run 15%-30% above the national middle for installation, while lower-cost rural markets can be 10%-20% below it. Remote delivery, stair carries, and limited installer availability may narrow or reverse that gap. Material prices can also vary with local suppliers and shipping distance.
Compare quotes using the same door count, dimensions, material, finish, and hardware. A low product price may exclude freight or fitting, while a higher installed quote may include measuring and adjustments. For a custom order, confirm the return policy because made-to-size doors are often nonreturnable.
Cut the cabinet-door bill with measured scope and simpler finishes
Measure each opening and existing door carefully, recording height, width, thickness, overlay, and hinge locations. A measurement error can lead to remake charges or a door that does not align. If the cabinet boxes are level and the current hinge pattern works, reusing compatible hardware can avoid unnecessary upgrades.
Use standard dimensions, a simple profile, and one consistent finish to keep custom charges down. Get at least three written quotes with materials, finishing, hinges, labor, delivery, and disposal itemized. Ordering all doors together can reduce per-door shipping and setup costs, but replacing only damaged doors may be cheaper when the existing style remains available.