If it’s time to reface your kitchen in your home, you'll need to start looking for replacement cabinet doors that fit your cabinets, as well as a style that matches your aesthetic and your budget. If you’re wondering how the process of changing kitchen cabinet doors works and you’re not quite sure where to start, we’ve got you covered.
The entire process of learning how to replace kitchen cabinet doors is relatively straightforward, and can be done online in six simple steps.
Here is what you’ll need to know to make the process of replacing cabinet doors as smooth as possible and save you money too!
Step One: Choose The Right Replacement Cabinet Doors
Part of the fun of replacing cabinet doors is exploring the different styles available and finding your own personal aesthetic. Once you know what kitchen design you're trying to achieve, you must consider the style, explore wood species, and compare the different paint colors or stains available.
At CabinetDoors.com, we have hundreds of styles to choose from if you're replacing cabinet doors only. We also have over nine different wood species and 12 different Sherwin-Williams paint colors. All of our cabinet doors can either be purchased finished or unfinished.
Some of our most popular styles include:
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Glass-Ready
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Raised Panel
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Recessed Panel
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Edge Banded Slab
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Shaker Style
You can also choose between cope and stick styles and the picture-frame mitered style of cabinet door joinery. The main difference for the consumer is the angle of the joints at the 4 corners of the cabinet doors. The top and bottom rails fit flush into the sides with a cope and stick joint. A mitered joint is made by two 45° cuts to make a diagonal joint at the cabinet door corners. Both door styles come in dozens of designs, and both are more reliable in all climates across the United States.
Step Two: Inspect The Condition if Your Existing Hinges
When changing your kitchen cabinet doors, you’ll need to decide if you will reuse your existing hinges or upgrade to newer style concealed hinges. This has an impact on which measurements you need to place your order. A good practice here is to consider the condition and appearance of your existing hinges. Older styles of hinges are visible when your doors are closed. This means that they’ll need to be in good shape and you’ll want them to fit into the style of your kitchen. Modern concealed hinges, on the other hand, are hidden when the doors are closed and all you see is the surface of the door and cabinetry.
If there’s any doubt about the condition or appearance of your existing hinges, we recommend replacing them as well when you replace cabinet doors in your home. This way, you’ll ensure that you’re starting with a solid base to help your cabinet doors look great and function beautifully for a good long time. Cabinetdoors.com can even make it easier for you by providing hinge boring in your new cabinet doors and allowing you to order new hinges with your replacement cabinet doors.
Step Three: Take The Right Measurements
Now that you’ve made decisions about the type of replacement cabinet doors you want, and whether you’ll need new hinges, the next step is measuring. You’ll need to measure correctly to ensure that you order the right sized cabinet door for each cabinet opening. This step varies based on whether you have decided to reuse your old hinges or if you've decided to order doors to be used with concealed hinges.
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If you plan to reuse your existing hinges, sizing your new doors is easy. Simply measure your existing doors and order new doors of the same sizes.
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If you plan to order and install new concealed hinges (with ½ inch overlay), measure the cabinet opening size instead of the doors then apply the overlay formula to determine the finish sizes. .
Hinges designed for a ½ inch overlay (the most common) require doors to "overlay" the cabinet opening by ½ inch in each direction. That means the door will be 1 inch larger than the cabinet opening in both width and height.
For cabinets with "double doors", the door size calculation is different. For the door height, the calculation is the same as for single door cabinet openings. Simply measure the opening height and add 1 inch. The door width for a 2-door cabinet opening is calculated by measuring the full opening width, adding 1 inch, then dividing by 2. Next, you will take 1/16 inch off each width. This will give the size for each door and will allow a ⅛ inch gap between the two doors.
Step Four: Place Your Replacement Cabinet Door Order
The next step is placing your replacement cabinet door order. At CabinetDoors.com, we make it easy to order custom-made replacements for changing your kitchen cabinet doors. Here's how to place your order:
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Pick your favorite style and go to the product page
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Choose your wood species and finish
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Decide if you want your doors bored for concealed hinges
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Decide to purchase new hinges
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List the width and height for each door size
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Supply the quantity you need
If you're ordering multiple sizes, you must submit each size separately and add them to your cart. Once complete, simply place your order, and our team will take care of the rest.
Step Five: Finish Your Cabinet Doors
If you decide to order your cabinet doors unfinished, you'll need to finish them before installing them. For some DIYers, this is the fun part of replacing cabinet doors only! You should set aside at least two to four days to paint cabinet doors and let them dry before installing them. If you plan on applying a stain, you only need about two to three days to get finished results.
Don't forget to also add a clear varnish finish or sealant before changing your cabinet doors. A sealant will protect your cabinet doors from everyday wear and tear and help increase the longevity of your investment. It’s also important to check the cure time for the paint manufacturer and finishes you use to ensure cabinet doors are completely dry before installing.
Step Six: Installing Cabinet Doors
Once you're ready to install your cabinet doors, we recommend using one of our guides or free online resources. We're here to walk you through changing your kitchen cabinet doors step-by-step. For most, the process is relatively straightforward and doesn't require hiring anyone to do the installation. Here are some resources to explore:
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The Step-by-step Process of Installing Replacement Kitchen Cabinet Doors
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Cabinet Doors 101: Measure Openings, Install Hinges, Hanging and Alignment
Order Replacement Kitchen Cabinet Doors Today
Ready to start changing your kitchen cabinet doors? Check out our selection and get inspired by our most popular door styles. When you’re ready to order and install, Cabinetdoors.com has plenty of tips to help you with your replacement kitchen cabinet doors.
If you have any questions about ordering, or any other process along the way, contact us via our website or give us a call at 800-342-1010. We can’t wait to help you with replacing your cabinet doors.
FAQs About Replacing Cabinet Doors
How much does it cost to change kitchen cabinet doors?
The cost of kitchen cabinet door replacements can vary, depending on the size of your kitchen, the type of wood, and whether you decide to paint them.
Can I change the kitchen cabinet doors only?
Yes. Investing in cabinet door replacements is a cost-effective alternative to complete renovation. Replacing cabinet doors allows you to adjust the look of your kitchen in just a few days and for a fraction of the cost.
Is it cheaper to replace the cabinets or just the doors?
Replacing the cabinet doors only is cheaper. Before investing in kitchen cabinet door replacements, we recommend examining the integrity of your cabinets to ensure they don't need to be replaced.
Do all kitchen doors fit other cabinets?
No, we recommend investing in custom-made ones to ensure your new replacement cabinet doors fit your cabinets. Custom-made will ensure your new replacements accurately fit your current cabinets.