Updated October 2026. For owners deciding whether to update kitchen cabinets before they sell, and how much to spend. Figures are from the Cost vs. Value Report (2024 and 2025) and NAR’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report.
Yes, cabinets can boost resale value, but the small job pays and the big one doesn’t. As of October 2026, the latest Cost vs. Value Report (2025) shows a midrange minor kitchen remodel, which keeps the cabinet boxes and replaces the doors and drawer fronts, recouped 113% of its $28,458 cost at resale. A midrange major remodel with all-new cabinets recouped 51%.
Jump to: 💲 The numbers · 🏠 Why buyers care · 🪜 Best upgrades · 📸 Four-point test · 🤝 Before you list · ❓ FAQ
Cabinets and resale, in numbers
- Minor kitchen remodel, midrange: $28,458 cost, $32,141 added resale value, 113% recouped (2025 Cost vs. Value).
- Major kitchen remodel, midrange: $82,793 cost, 51% recouped; upscale: $164,104 cost, 36% recouped.
- In NAR’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, kitchen upgrades had a top Joy Score of 10 and the biggest jump in demand seen by Realtors (48%).
- The minor remodel in the report keeps the cabinet boxes and swaps the fronts and hardware, which is why it pays back.
Kitchens do a lot of the selling. Cabinets fill most of what a buyer sees in the room, they hold the storage, and they show how well the house was kept. Worn doors make an otherwise fine kitchen look dated in photos. The good news is that the fix is often cheaper than owners think.
What do the numbers say about cabinet upgrades and ROI?
The Cost vs. Value Report compares what common remodeling jobs cost with how much value they add at resale. Two years of national averages tell the same story:
| Project (national average) | 2024 cost recouped | 2025 job cost | 2025 resale value | 2025 cost recouped |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor kitchen remodel, midrange | 96% | $28,458 | $32,141 | 113% |
| Major kitchen remodel, midrange | 50% | $82,793 | $42,130 | 51% |
| Major kitchen remodel, upscale | 38% | $164,104 | $58,561 | 36% |
In the 2024 edition, homeowners who did a midrange minor kitchen remodel could recoup about 96% of the project cost at resale. In 2025 the same job came out at 113%. A full gut job with all-new cabinetry, appliances and layout changes returned only about half its cost both years.
What counts as “minor”? The report’s model is a dated 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinets. The cabinet boxes stay. The fronts are replaced with new shaker-style doors and drawer fronts and new hardware. The project also swaps the range and fridge, the laminate counters, the sink and faucet, and the flooring, then paints. So refacing the cabinets is the core of the job that pays back best.
These are national averages. Your market, your home’s price range and the condition of your kitchen move the numbers up or down.
Why do cabinets matter so much to buyers?
Because they sit at eye level and fill the frame. Scuffed edges, peeling paint, yellowed finish or a door that hangs crooked all tell a buyer there’s work to do. That can make the whole kitchen feel older than it is, even if the rest of the room is clean.
Photos make it worse. Most buyers see your kitchen online first. Glare on old gloss finishes, mismatched doors and dark corners show up fast in listing photos. A consistent door style, a fresh coat of paint or stain and modern pulls fix most of that for a fraction of a remodel.
NAR’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report backs this up from the agent side. Kitchen upgrades scored a 10 out of 10 for homeowner joy, and Realtors saw demand for kitchen upgrades rise more than for any other project (48%). Before listing, the projects Realtors recommend most are lighter ones: painting the whole home (50%), painting one room (41%) and a new roof (37%).
If you plan a bigger refresh, work with experienced custom cabinet manufacturers. They can match door profiles, wood species and finishes, so the update looks original to the home rather than pieced together.
Which cabinet upgrades add the most value?
Start with what buyers see, then what they use.
Refresh what’s already there
If the boxes are solid, reface or repaint them. New doors and drawer fronts reset the style of the room without the cost of tearing out and rebuilding. This is the move the Cost vs. Value numbers reward.
Change the hardware
New pulls and knobs are the cheapest visible change. Pick one finish and use it on every door and drawer.
Make daily use easier
Soft-close hinges, full-extension drawers and roll-out trays tell buyers the kitchen was set up for real cooking. They matter most in small kitchens where every inch counts.
Sell smarter
List your home on the MLS from $99
A flat fee instead of a percentage, and $0 to Beycome at closing. You stay in control of your sale.
Sell your home →Buy smarter
Get up to 2% back at closing
On homes listed by other agents, Beycome credits you up to 2% of the price at closing (1% kept, $1,499 minimum; not on FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers).
Buy a home →Add light where people work
Under-cabinet lighting makes counters look bigger and brighter. It shows well in photos and during showings.
Fix layout friction
Move the trash pull-out near the sink, free up the drawer next to the range, and organize dead corners. Buyers may not notice these in photos, but they feel them on a tour.
Shopping for materials? Our guide to choosing materials for a kitchen remodel covers wood, paint and finishes. If you have plain contractor cabinets, read what to do with builder-grade kitchen cabinets.
Do your cabinets really need an upgrade?
Run this four-point check in daylight before you call a contractor:
- Finish: are there signs of yellowing, peeling or patchy touch-ups?
- Fit: do doors hang unevenly or not close, and do drawers stick?
- Function: are there deep shelves you can’t reach, wasted corners or no place for the trash?
- Photos: do test shots show glare, dated colors or doors that don’t match?
If two or more are true, an upgrade is likely worth it. Don’t patch problems one by one. Set a tight scope that fixes finish, function and flow together. If only one is true, a deep clean, new hardware and better staging may be enough. Our tips on quick kitchen updates that boost home value list more low-cost fixes.
What should you do before you list?
Time the work so it’s finished before photos. A half-done kitchen photographs worse than an old one. Then stage the room: clear the counters, leave one or two items out, and turn on every light.
Take your listing photos with care. Our real estate photo tips cover angles and lighting, and virtual staging can help if the room is empty. For the rest of the house, read what to do with your stuff when staging for resale and flooring options that raise resale value.
When the kitchen is ready, put it in front of buyers. A flat fee MLS listing with Beycome starts at $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing, and includes the maximum photos the MLS allows, so the kitchen gets the space it deserves. Want help pricing the update into your list price? Our guide to selling your home faster covers it. Building or selling a new home? See how to sell new construction.
On the other side of the deal? First-time buyers can use our tips for choosing the right property, and Beycome’s buyer program credits part of the buyer-agent commission back at closing on homes listed by other agents.
Frequently asked questions about cabinets and resale value
Do new kitchen cabinets increase home value?
They can, but full replacement rarely pays for itself. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, a midrange minor remodel with new cabinet fronts recouped 113%, while a major remodel with new cabinets recouped 51%.
Is refacing cabinets worth it before selling?
Often, yes, if the boxes are in good shape. Refacing changes the look buyers see in photos for much less than new cabinets.
Should I paint my kitchen cabinets before I sell?
If the finish is worn or dated, a professional paint job in a neutral color is one of the cheapest visible updates. Do it well, since brush marks and chips look worse than old paint.
Do custom cabinets add more value than stock cabinets?
Not by themselves. Buyers pay for a kitchen that looks fresh and works well. Custom work makes sense when it matches the home’s style and price range.
How much does a minor kitchen remodel cost?
The national average midrange minor kitchen remodel cost $28,458 in the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. Your price depends on your area, materials and kitchen size.
What do Realtors recommend fixing before listing?
In NAR’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, the top picks were painting the whole home (50%), painting one interior room (41%) and new roofing (37%).
Remodeling figures are national averages from the Cost vs. Value Report (2024 and 2025) and NAR’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report; local results vary. Beycome prices as of October 2026 and subject to change. “$0 at closing” means no Beycome fee at closing; other closing costs still apply. Buyer credit: Beycome keeps 1% of the price (minimum $1,499) and credits the rest of the buyer-agent commission at closing, lender approval required; it doesn’t apply to FSBO homes or homes listed by Beycome sellers. General information, not financial advice.
Sources
- Cost vs. Value Report 2025, national averages, read October 27, 2026.
- Cost vs. Value Report 2024, national averages, read October 27, 2026.
- Cost vs. Value, minor kitchen remodel (midrange) project description, read October 27, 2026.
- NAR, 2025 Remodeling Impact Report news release, read October 27, 2026.
- Beycome, listing package features, October 2026.
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