Cabinets guide

Cabinets: install new or refinish what you have

Published by Clear House · Updated October 13, 2026

Short answer

Refinishing or painting existing cabinets usually costs much less than replacing them. Clear House's U.S. planning ranges are $3,000–$8,000 for cabinet painting or refinishing and $5,000–$20,000 for cabinet installation. Your price depends on the number of cabinets, materials and your area.

If your cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works, refinishing may be enough. Clear House lets you plan either project and request a quote from one local pro where one covers your ZIP code.

Key points

Clear House planning ranges come from a rules-based calculator that uses U.S. planning rates, not local bids. They exclude permits, taxes and hidden damage, and they are not quotes.
Cabinet grade (stock, semi-custom, custom) is the biggest price lever for new cabinets.
New cabinets often mean new countertops too.

Is there a Clear House pro for cabinets near you?

Enter your ZIP code to check live. Anyone in the U.S. can plan a project and see a ballpark, even where no pro is available yet.

Or start planning now

What affects the cost of cabinet work

Number of cabinets and linear feet.
Stock, semi-custom or custom cabinets.
Refinishing method: painting, staining or refacing.
Hardware, soft-close hinges and organizers.
Whether countertops must be removed and replaced.

How to plan it

Check the cabinet boxes for water damage or sagging shelves.
Decide whether the layout works for you.
If refinishing, choose color and finish; if replacing, choose door style and grade.
Plan countertop work at the same time if cabinets change.

Questions to ask a contractor

What finish or paint product do you use on cabinets, and how is it cured?
Are doors finished on site or in a shop?
What is included: hardware, removal, disposal, adjustments?
What warranty covers the finish or the cabinets?
What is the payment schedule?

How Clear House helps with cabinet work

Clear House is a planning app and marketplace. It does not do the work itself. You choose the project, answer a few short questions and add a photo if you have one. Clear House then shows a planning ballpark so you have a starting budget before anyone visits your home.

Photo previews are not offered for this kind of project yet, so the planning steps focus on scope and budget.

When you are ready, Clear House checks whether a reviewed independent pro covers your ZIP code and this trade. If one does, you send your project to that one pro, who can review it and send a quote in the app. You are not obligated to accept a quote, and your request is not sent to a crowd of contractors. If no pro covers your area yet, you can join the waitlist and Clear House emails you when one is available.

Common questions

Is painting cabinets worth it?

If the boxes are in good shape and you like the layout, painting or refinishing can update the look for less than new cabinets.

Ready to plan?

Free to plan. See a ballpark before anyone visits. Your project goes to one pro at a time, only where a pro covers your area.

Start a project

Sources

U.S. Federal Trade Commission — How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam — Advice on licenses, insurance, written estimates, contracts and down payments.

Clear House is a marketplace, not a contractor. Costs on this page are published averages or planning ranges, not quotes, and your price will differ. Always confirm licensing, insurance and permits with the pro you hire.