Cabinet refacing and refinishing costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
Homeowners can expect hourly labor rates to fall between $30 and $90 per hour in Portland.
The amount of cabinetry you have is the biggest cost factor for this project.
When budgeting, keep in mind that contractors must be fully licensed for any project over $1,000 in Portland.
Hiring a local cabinet resurfacing team ensures a professional-grade finish that could boost your total home value, with a project ROI as high as 75%.
If it’s time to spruce up your kitchen, the average resurfacing kitchen cabinets cost in Portland, Oregon is $7,138. Depending on the amount of cabinets and the resurfacing materials you choose, you can expect this project to cost between $5,301 and $9,435. Let’s take a look at the cost factors that will influence what you'll pay for resurfaced cabinets from local Portland contractors.
Contact Portland cabinet resurfacing pros to get a quote that’s unique to your kitchen. While your style choices can impact whether costs go up or down compared to average, the amount of cabinetry is one of the biggest factors.
The size of your kitchen—measured in linear feet or the number of cabinets—directly affects the total cost of resurfacing kitchen cabinets. Expect to pay $148 to $447 per linear foot for resurfacing kitchen cabinets in Portland. More cabinets or a larger space means more materials, labor, and time.
A small galley kitchen, about 10 linear feet, will cost less than a spacious kitchen with 30 or more linear feet of cabinetry. Here’s how size and layout can impact costs:
| Kitchen Size | Linear Feet | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 10 | $1,490–$2,900 |
| Medium | 20 | $2,995–$5,985 |
| Large | 30+ | $4,950–$9,900 |
Material selection is a major driver in the cost of resurfacing kitchen cabinets. Veneer options include wood species like oak, maple, cherry, and walnut, each with its own price point. Laminate and thermofoil are more affordable and easier to maintain. For doors and drawer fronts, options range from solid wood to MDF (medium-density fiberboard), plywood, or rigid thermofoil (RTF).
Hardware upgrades—like new handles, pulls, hinges, or soft-close mechanisms—can add to the total cost. The quality and finish of materials matter, too: matte, gloss, and custom colors will each impact your final price.
| Material Type | Description | Cost per Linear Feet |
|---|---|---|
| Wood veneer | Oak, maple, cherry, walnut | $100–$250 |
| Laminate | Durable, easy-clean surface | $50–$125 |
| Thermofoil | Vinyl-wrapped, smooth finish | $60–$125 |
| Solid wood/plywood | Classic appearance, high durability | $200–$500 |
There are three main approaches to resurfacing kitchen cabinets: cabinet refacing, painting, or refinishing. Cabinet refacing involves replacing doors and drawer fronts and covering cabinet boxes with a new veneer or laminate. Cabinet painting updates the color and finish with paint, while refinishing means sanding and applying new stain or finish to existing surfaces.
The method you choose greatly impacts the cost of resurfacing kitchen cabinets. Refacing is the most expensive because it uses new materials and hardware. Painting or refinishing cabinets is more budget-friendly but may not deliver the same dramatic transformation as refacing. Custom cabinets or unique layouts can also increase costs compared to standard or stock cabinets.
| Type of Resurfacing | Description | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Refacing | New doors, drawer fronts, and veneer on boxes | $3,850–$13,385 |
| Painting | Sanding, priming, and painting existing surfaces | $175–$3,100 |
| Refinishing | Sanding and applying new stain/clear finish | $1,900–$6,900 |
Labor costs when hiring kitchen cabinet refacers or refinishers in Portland, OR will account for the majority of your budget. That's because cabinet resurfacing specialists and general contractors need extensive skills to get this job done.
In addition, it can be a time-intensive process that requires multiple steps. For complex jobs with special finishes or the addition of styled details, the overall price can be higher. While most contractors charge a flat rate for a full project, expect hourly labor rates to fall between $30 and $90 per hour in Portland.
Cosmetic work like painting or refinishing kitchen cabinets won't require a permit in Portland. The only exception is if you complete structural work to change other facets of your kitchen. However, that permit cost would be part of the rate paid to your general contractor instead of the pro resurfacing your cabinets. If you add a pot filler or under-cabinet lighting as part of your cabinet renewal, you may need to pull plumbing or electrical permits. These permits could be as low as $20 each.
Cabinet resurfacers in Portland, Oregon need to be licensed through the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) the same way as other contractors performing residential or commercial work in the city. In Portland, a handyman rule applies that dictates that any job exceeding $1,000 in value requires a license. To obtain a two-year license, contractors pay $400 in fees and up to $100 in exam costs.
Cabinet resurfacing contractors in Portland must be bonded for a minimum of $25,000. Most contractors in the city are also required to carry liability insurance totaling $100,000 to $500,000. For commercial work, insurance requirements can go up to $2 million. Overall, most contractors handling cabinet resurfacing for residential kitchens are paying $20 to $100 in insurance premiums monthly.
In most cases, cabinet refurbishing is exempt from Portland's Construction Excise Tax (CET) because it will not meet the valuation threshold of $100,000. No sales taxes will apply for materials purchased by your contractor for this project unless they are purchased out of state.
Tipping is not required for this project. In cases where a single contractor is performing the work alone, it's generally not necessary at all to provide a tip. However, homeowners who feel compelled to tip individual workers who have done incredible work should consider tipping $20 to $45 per worker at the end.
While resurfacing your cabinets in Portland costs 30% to 50% less compared to replacing them, ROI is still as high as 75%. For homeowners seeking to sell their homes, refreshed cabinets can make an older kitchen more desirable to buyers without necessarily requiring you to invest the time and money for new cabinets.
When considering the pros and cons of refacing kitchen cabinets, keep in mind that Portland homeowners who skip replacement cabinets avoid the hassles of the city's strict permit processes for major home renovations.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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I saw Don Pierik's Custom Solutions, Inc. truck in our SE Portland neighborhood and called him for an estimate for our kitchen remodel. We hired Don based on his recommendation to reface our existing cabinets which is a very affordable alternative to installing new cabinets. We chose to use...
I saw Don Pierik's Custom Solutions, Inc. truck in our SE Portland neighborhood and called him for an estimate for our kitchen remodel. We hired Don based on his recommendation to reface our existing cabinets which is a very affordable alternative to installing new cabinets. We chose to...
Awesome company. They redid my shower to include replacing an old window and refinishing an old cast iron bath tub. I would highly recommend.
BAM Contractors LLCNorthern Pacific MC Refinishing recently completed refinishing all of our hardwood floors and we could not be happier. The company owner Alex was awesome to work with. The price was very competitive, the work was excellent and the project was completed on time. I am more than happy to...
Northern Pacific MC RefinishingWe have worked with Pacific Sky Remodeling on numerous occasions, for full exterior repaint, interior repaint and cabinet painting. They are honest and hardworking. They do a great job and we trust them implicitly to produce great results, quickly and affordably.
Pacific Sky Remodeling LLCCZ Becker recently refinished the oak floors in our LR & DR. The floor was in need of attention for over 20 years as when we bought the house there were gouges and stains and even an area where the boards buckled slightly due to previous moisture. He was prompt and thorough in the bid...
Mike did a fantastic job refinishing part of our kitchen floor after a mini remodel. It’s so hard to match floor stain perfectly but he did a great job and no one will ever be able to notice the subtle difference. His price was also more than fair; I received two other bids.
BISHOP HARDWOODS NORTHWEST LLCIn a condo where nothing seems to be standard size, Burt was always able to come up with a solution. The work was unavoidably slowed down because of mold in the walls, but the end result is safe and attractive showers and good looking cabinetry. In addition LCR installed new windows and...
Left Coast RemodelersScott and Diego are great. We had them repaint the cabinets and paint the interior which is 2000 sq ft. They did high quality work and completed it within our tight timeline. Definitely recommend this company
4 Seasons Contractors, LLCWe had a total Kitchen remodel and all our floors redone from carpet to hardwood. The work was fantastic and the finished product is totally amazing. The cabinets were hand picked by the contractor and we couldn't have asked for a better outcome.. We love our new kitchen and hardwood...
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