Replacing kitchen doors costs between €200 and €1,500 for an average-sized kitchen, depending on the material and size. New cabinet fronts from a made-to-measure service (such as Doors4homes or similar suppliers) cost €8–€35 per door. The carcases remain in place — you only replace the visible front panels. Compared to a complete new kitchen (€5,000–€30,000), this is the smartest way to transform your kitchen. In this article you’ll find all the options, costs and a complete step-by-step guide.
What Does Replacing Kitchen Doors Cost? DIY vs. Professional
| DIY | Kitchen Specialist | |
|---|---|---|
| **New fronts (15 doors, basic)** | €200 – €500 (materials) | €600 – €1,500 (incl. fitting) |
| **New fronts (15 doors, premium)** | €500 – €1,500 (materials) | €1,200 – €3,000 (incl. fitting) |
| **New hinges + handles** | €50 – €150 | €200 – €400 (incl. labour) |
| **DIY saving** | 50–70% | — |
Which Fronts Should You Choose?
Material Options for New Kitchen Doors
| Material | Look | Price per door | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Painted MDF** | Modern, smooth, matt or gloss | €10–€30 | Easy, careful with scratches |
| **Foil / PVC-wrapped** | Various colours, wood-effect | €8–€20 | Good durability, edge can lift |
| **Solid wood** | Warm, authentic | €25–€80 | Oil/varnish, moves with humidity |
| **Melamine (chipboard)** | Functional, budget | €5–€15 | Easy but less durable |
| **Aluminium frame + glass** | Modern, light, open | €25–€60 | Easy to clean |
Useful Online Suppliers
- Doors4homes — MDF fronts to measure, wide range of colours
- Eigenheimer.nl — Custom fronts for IKEA Metod carcases
- Various bespoke front suppliers — Wide range of PVC and MDF options
Delivery time is typically 2–4 weeks. Always provide net measurements (not including the door rebate — the actual dimension of the front panel itself).
What You’ll Need
| Material / Tool | Price |
|---|---|
| New kitchen door fronts (made to measure) | €200 – €1,500 |
| Screwdriver / drill | Already owned or borrowed |
| Hinge boring bit (Ø35 mm Forstner bit) | €8 – €15 |
| New hinges (Blum or Hettich soft-close) | €3 – €6 per hinge |
| New handles (optional) | €2 – €15 per handle |
| Spirit level | Already owned |
| Rule + pencil | Already owned |
| **Tools total** | **€8 – €30 (one-off)** |
Step-by-Step Guide: Replace Kitchen Doors in 7 Steps
Step 1: Measure All the Doors
Remove the existing doors (open the cabinet, undo the screws from the hinges on the carcase side — 2–4 screws per hinge). Measure each door individually: height × width (in millimetres). Kitchen fronts are supplied to net measurement.
Points to note:
- Doors are not always the same size — measure each one separately
- Also note the hinge position (distance from the edge in mm)
- Check the depth of the hinge cups (Ø35 mm is standard)
Step 2: Order the New Fronts
Order the fronts with the correct measurements and your chosen colour/material. Specify when ordering:
- Do you want the hinge holes pre-drilled? (Strongly recommended — saves work and ensures precision)
- Do you want handle holes drilled? (Provide the position)
- Hinge position (standard 100 mm from top/bottom edge)
Allow 2–4 weeks for delivery of bespoke orders.
Step 3: Remove All Old Doors and Hinges
Unscrew all doors from the carcase. Also remove the hinge baseplates (the cups fitted in the carcase) if you are fitting new hinges.
Tip: stick a piece of masking tape on each door with the cabinet location (e.g. “top cabinet left” or “base unit corner”) — useful if not all doors are exactly the same size.
Step 4: Fit the Hinges on the New Fronts
If the hinge holes are pre-drilled (recommended): press the hinge cup into the hole and secure with the supplied screws. If the holes are not pre-drilled: use a Forstner bit Ø35 mm in the drill. Drill to a depth of 13 mm. Position: standard 100 mm from the top/bottom edge of the front, 22 mm from the edge.
Always use soft-close hinges (Blum 110° or equivalent) — they close more quietly and last longer.
Step 5: Hang the Doors
Press the hinge cup onto the hinge baseplate already fitted to the carcase (or fit a new baseplate in the carcase). The hinge clicks into place.
Hang the doors loosely at first (only half-tighten the screws). Do this for all doors.
Step 6: Adjust the Doors
This is where the skill lies. Hinges have three adjustment options:
| Adjustment | Function | Screw |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral (left/right) | Gap between adjacent doors | Left screw |
| Depth (in/out) | Flush with carcase or slightly proud | Middle screw |
| Height (up/down) | Even gap top and bottom | Height adjustment screw on baseplate |
Adjust all doors so that:
- The gaps all round are even (2–3 mm)
- The doors sit flush with the carcase (neither proud nor sunk)
- All doors are in line when closed
Work systematically: start at one corner and work across.
Step 7: Fit the Handles
If you want new handles: drill the fixing holes at the desired position using the drill. Use a jig for consistent placement on all doors. Screw the handles in from inside using the supplied screws.
Standard positions: horizontal 160–190 mm from the corner, vertical centred on the front or 40 mm from the bottom/top edge.
Tips for Perfect Results
- Test one door first before ordering everything — this checks the measurements and quality of the supplier.
- Take photos: photograph the hinge positions on the old doors before removing everything.
- Order of work: start with the wall unit doors (easier to work with), finish with the base units.
- Clean the carcases: if the cabinet carcases look neglected, wash them before fitting the new doors.
Common Mistakes
- Giving net versus gross measurements. Always provide the net measurement of the front, not the size including overlap.
- Forgetting to order pre-drilled hinge holes. Drilling to the exact position yourself is harder than it looks — always order pre-drilled.
- Forgetting to measure the hinge position. If you leave the hinge baseplate in the carcase, the new door must be drilled at exactly the same distance.
- Removing all doors at once. Leave one door per cabinet as a reference while adjusting the others.
- Not allowing time for adjustment. Setting doors takes time — allow 5–10 minutes per door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will new fronts fit all kitchen cabinets?
Most bespoke fronts can be ordered for IKEA cabinets (Metod), Kvik, Ikano and other brands. Universal sizes are also available for custom cabinets. Always provide the net measurement — the supplier will advise how much overlap is added as standard.
Can I also replace the drawer fronts?
Yes — drawer panels are the fronts of drawers and are ordered and fitted in the same way. They are mounted using screws from inside the drawer.
How long does it take to replace kitchen doors?
An average kitchen (15 doors + 5 drawer fronts) can be replaced in 4–8 hours once the fronts have arrived. Including ordering and delivery: plan 2–4 weeks ahead.
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