How much do replacement kitchen unit doors cost? What you can expect to pay

If you love the layout of your kitchen, but want a refresh, then replacement kitchen unit door costs are a nailed-on consideration. Andy Simms of MyBuilder says, "Changing your doors can bring new life into your kitchen space, giving it a fresh updated look,” He adds, "Whilst also being cost-effective - and without having to remodel the whole room.”

While adding new doors can be a lesser part of designing a kitchen, they will still have a big impact on how your kitchen looks. A new colour on doors can instantly change the appearance of a space. And add in new decoration and you could have the feel of a new kitchen for less.

Penelope Jacobs

Penelope Jacobs is a kitchen design expert with over 15 years worth of experience in the field. Penelope works closely with clients to make their visions come to life at a price that suits their budget. Penelope also provides expert kitchen design comments for MyJobQuote and has been featured in a range of top publications. 

Why update kitchen unit doors?

Kitchen doors are the face of a kitchen, they are the visual elements that bring a kitchen to life. Their colour and style helps determine the sense of style and overall appeal of a kitchen.

But there will be times when change is needed as Penelope Jacobs, Kitchen design expert for MyJobQuote shares, “There are several reasons why you should consider replacing your kitchen cabinet doors.”

Here she list the reasons why you should consider replacing:

• Update your kitchen aesthetic
• Save money on a full kitchen refurb
• Less upheaval than a full renovation
• Refreshes your kitchen on a budget
• Get your home ready to put on the market
• Reduces the amount of waste that is generated by a full refurbishment

How much do replacement kitchen unit doors cost?

There is no definitive price for replacement kitchen doors as there are many different elements to factor in when buying them as Jacobs shares, “The cost to replace your kitchen cabinet doors will depend on the quality, size, style and number of doors that you are changing.”

You can pick up off the shelf ready-to-fit kitchen doors at reasonable prices from several widely known hardware and home improvement retailers. B&Q stocks over 2,000 kitchen cupboard doors and related products. Prices start at under £20 per door, although higher-end options are available.

You can also get premium off-the-shelf doors from providers such as Moderne, Kitchen Door Workshop and Lark & Larks.

However, if you are looking for something more robust or bespoke like real wood doors you can easily be spending £100-£200 per door.

To help save money you can shop around for end of line deals, or go down the second hand kitchen route.

Try these kitchen doors to replace your old ones

Andy Simms

With almost a decade of experience on the front line in construction as a multi-trader, Andy is uniquely placed in the construction industry to help bridge the gap between tradespeople and product managers with his role at MyBuilder.com.

6 factors that affect replacement kitchen doors cost

Defining the costs of replacement kitchen doors is not a simple, straightforward exercise. There are a host of factors that will determine the price you pay. These will include the following.

1. Door style

There are hundreds of different door styles to choose from, with shaker and slab style doors, like this WTC Dove Grey Gloss Vogue Lacquered Finish door from B&Q, being popular choices. Kitchen doors which are more decorative are typically more expensive than flat slab doors. The finish can also add to the cost, for example a door with real wood veneer is often more expensive than laminate or paint.

2. Size of the door

Kitchen cabinet doors come in a wide variety of sizes commonly ranging from a slim and svelte 150mm to a more robust 600mm. These are typically taller kitchen doors, so it makes sense that large doors contain more material and will affect the cost you can expect to pay.

When replacing kitchen unit doors, the new doors will need to fit the existing units. Take the time to measure each unit, as it’s possible that their material will have warped or twisted through ongoing exposure to moisture, heat or load.

Identify whether the hinges on your kitchen units are inset (the door sits flush inside the cabinet) or overlay (the door closes over the cabinet). This will affect the required dimensions of the new doors.

Aesthetically, new kitchen unit doors can be quite distinct from the old ones. For instance, you might replace a raised panel door with a shaker door or glass insert alternative.

3. Number of doors

The more doors you need, or want, will affect the overall price you’ll pay for replacement doors. A typical 8 cabinet kitchen, like this Ashmead Midnight Blue from B&Q, will have around 10-16 doors. So don’t forget this when looking at replacement doors.

4. Material

Cheaper kitchen doors are commonly made from MDF and painted or lacquered to keep cost down. Real wood veneer is more expensive while solid wood doors are the most expensive. But the cost will vary depending on the type of wood.

Clive Holland, DIY expert and presenter at Fix Radio says: “There are so many options available with the most po,pular refurbishment right now being wrapping [with adhesive vinyl].”

Even within these categories of kitchen unit door material, prices can vary greatly depending on type and quality, so it’s well worth shopping around.

Holland is a strong advocate of vinyl-wrapping, rather than fully replacing, kitchen doors. “The vinyls come in various finishes such as high gloss, matte wood effect, patterned textured carbon fibre, metallic pearlescent and glitter, and the choice of colours is huge,” he says.

“The average basic cost of vinyl wrapping, say, 12 doors and 3 door fronts would be around £1,600, and that gets you a durable, versatile material that keeps out moisture, is easy to clean, never needs repainting, and is scratch and chip-resistant.”

Expert commentary by:

Expert commentary by:

Clive Holland

Clive Holland is the former host of Cowboy Trap on the BBC. Now a broadcaster on Fix Radio, the UK’s only national radio station for builders and tradespeople, Holland is one of the UK’s leading property and DIY experts.

5. Additional fittings

Handles and hinges are often forgotten when purchasing replacement doors. Cost will vary depending on quality and whether they are soft close or not. You can buy a 10 pack like these Amerdeco Full Overlay Soft Close Cabinet Hinges from Amazon for around £20.

Handles will also vary in price, depending on quality and style. At the lower end of the scale expect to pay around £3-£6 a handle.

6. Labour costs

You can forget about labour costs if you DIY it, check out our Replacing kitchen doors - a DIY guide if you want to do it. But, it's not a job for every DIYer and Simms suggests hiring a pro “For the best results, it’s always recommended to hire a reliable tradesperson. While handymen can often do the job at a lower cost, the finish might not be as good compared to an expert carpenter, joiner or specialist kitchen fitter.”

He adds, “The challenge with fitting new doors yourself is measuring, aligning the hinges and handling the doors. So while hiring an expert comes at a higher price than DIY, their skill and attention to detail will ensure the perfect kitchen door fit.”

The average cost of having kitchen doors replaced by a joiner is around £131.10 per door.

Where to buy kitchen cabinet doors

A hardware store like B&Q is an obvious choice, but there are still plenty of other places you can find what you need. Check your local area for specialist kitchen suppliers, you might be able to get a better deal on new replacement doors.

Look online for out of the area suppliers, but remember to check any delivery charges. Alternatively, if you are happy to look for used replacement doors – you’ll typically get a better quality door for less – try Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.

FAQs

How long does it take to fit kitchen doors?

This will depend if it's a straight like–for–like replacement using the current hinges and hardware. Or, if you are adding new hinges and handles, the size of the door and skill level. If it’s a straightforward swap then a pro will get it done in 10-15 minutes per door. It may take a DIYer a little longer.

If you need to remove the old doors and hinges, replace the hinges, handles and drill new holes, each door will typically take around 20-30 minutes.

Is it better to paint or replace kitchen doors?

This is a subjective decision, but if your doors are looking tatty and tired and the laminate or current finish is starting to lift off the wood core of the doors then it's a good idea to replace them.

If your current kitchen doors are still in good condition, but the colour has faded or the door is scratched, you should consider painting. Check out our painting kitchen cabinets guide to get a great finish.

When replacing kitchen doors you might want to think about handleless kitchens and the benefits they bring. Alternatively, it might be a good time to find out How much does a new kitchen cost to weigh up the difference in price. If short on funds then check out our Cheap Kitchens: How to Create Your Dream Kitchen on a Budget guide.