IKEA Kitchen Front Replacement - FAKTUM, METOD, 2026 Costs

Replacing cabinet fronts is the cheapest way to make your IKEA kitchen look like a new installation – no demolition, no renovation, no countertop replacement. The carcasses stay, the fronts change. This accounts for 80% of the visual change at 20% of the cost of replacing the entire kitchen.

In this article, you will find four realistic scenarios for front replacement (from the simplest to the most comprehensive), a cost comparison, the specifics of FAKTUM vs. METOD, and a list of mistakes that cost customers the most money. Plus, the answer to the fundamental question: when does replacing fronts make sense, and when is it better to start a renovation from scratch?

Replacement or Renovation - When Does Replacing Just the Fronts Make Sense?

Three conditions that together signal a green light for front replacement:

1. IKEA carcasses are functional - cabinet doors don't sag, cabinet bottoms aren't swelling from water, drawer runners work. If the carcass is more than 15 years old and the kitchen was under a window next to the sink, check under the cabinets beneath the sink – that's where the board most often gets damaged by steam.
2. The kitchen layout suits you - you don't want to move cabinets, add an island, or change the sink's location. Replacing fronts is a cosmetic operation, not a reorganization.
3. The countertop is in good condition - if the countertop is scratched, burned, or warped from moisture, simply replacing the fronts will look odd (new doors, old damaged countertop).

If any of these three conditions don't apply, consider replacing the entire kitchen. In that case, custom-made fronts will go onto new IKEA carcasses (METOD is still sold, FAKTUM is not). A full guide to IKEA systems can be found in our article IKEA kitchen fronts - FAKTUM and METOD.

Four Replacement Scenarios - From Cheapest to Most Comprehensive

Scenario 1 - Fronts only is the most common choice. A kitchen typically has 12-25 fronts (doors + drawers + dishwasher), all custom-sized in one order. IKEA carcasses remain. Hinges usually do too (if functional), and installation involves replacing just the doors on the existing hinges.

Scenario 2 - Fronts + handles makes sense when the original IKEA handles are damaged, stylistically incompatible with the new front design, or simply worn out. New handles (e.g., Minimalist in deep black or gold Edge) completely change the character of the kitchen. A cost of 20 PLN/piece × number of handles is a minor budget item.

Scenario 3 - Fronts + plinths + side panels is an upgrade we often perform because IKEA plinths are standard white or silver, and side panels are often plastic imitation wood. Replacing plinths (usually 160 cm long) and side panels in the same color as the fronts gives the effect of "this is not IKEA." Most customers come to this conclusion 2-3 weeks after their initial order.

Scenario 4 - Fronts + custom carcasses is chosen when the customer has an unusual space (slope under stairs, a 47 cm niche, a small kitchen where an IKEA cabinet doesn't fit dimensionally). We make a METOD-compatible carcass to measure (MDF), into which a custom-sized front is fitted. The price of this scenario approaches that of carpenter-made furniture, but the process is standardized - configurator, sample, 7 weeks production.

FAKTUM Front Replacement - Specific Challenges

FAKTUM is an IKEA kitchen system sold until 2014. After this date, IKEA withdrew all FAKTUM fronts from its catalog and replaced them with the METOD system. For owners of old FAKTUM kitchens, this means one thing: you cannot buy a replacement from IKEA.

This is a problem, but not as big as it seems. The drilling standard for hinges is universal throughout Europe (ø 35 mm depth 13 mm, spacing 96 mm) – meaning a custom-made front from any manufacturer will hang on the same FAKTUM hinge you have in your carcass. A complete catalog of FAKTUM models (ADEL, ABSTRAKT, RUBRIK, STÅT, and others) plus three ways to find a replacement are described in a separate article: IKEA FAKTUM front replacements.

What to avoid when replacing FAKTUM: - Do not buy METOD fronts - different dimensions, different drillings, they will not fit into a FAKTUM carcass. - Do not try to drill a standard front yourself for a FAKTUM hinge - 3 mm off and the front will hang crooked. - Do not proceed without a sample - a color after 12 years of yellowing in an old kitchen will contrast differently with a new front than it appears in an online photo.

A full list of FAKTUM fronts that we produce at ogony.pl is available in the collection /collections/front-ikea-faktum.

METOD Front Replacement - Easier, but with Limitations

METOD is the current IKEA kitchen system – sold since 2014. You can still buy replacement fronts from IKEA (Veddinge, Bodbyn, Ringhult, Stensund, Lerhyttan, Sinarp, and others), so the first replacement option is simply a visit to the store.

Limitations of the IKEA catalog: - Color palette - a dozen standard shades (white, beige, gray, several wood tones). No Farrow & Ball, no NCS, no custom. - Dimensions - only standard METOD dimensions (60×80, 60×100, 60×140 cm and 80 cm width). Non-standard dimensions (slope, niche, island for a 90 cm countertop) require a custom manufacturer. - One material per design - e.g., Stensund only in lacquer, Sinarp only in veneered oak. You cannot mix "Stensund design in veneer." - Lack of premium designs - Linea, Vienna, Display cabinet with glass - these are not found at IKEA.

Therefore, METOD customers usually come to us for two scenarios: a non-standard color (Hague Blue, All White, any RAL) or an unusual dimension/design. IKEA stores cover standard white kitchens; we cover kitchens with character.

What Counts in the Quote - What You Won't See in the Price List

The price per front (from the ogony.pl configurator or the IKEA price list) is not everything. In a real quote for front replacement, there's also:

• Dishwasher front is a standard front per m², but without drillings (depends on the dishwasher model) - we ask the customer to check the mounting type. Sometimes a dishwasher front costs as much as two regular doors.
• Cargo front (pull-out corner cabinet) has different dimensions and different drillings than doors - usually 30×70 or 30×80 cm.
• Corner doors in FAKTUM have special dimensions (30×70 cm in a set of 2 pieces for 90-degree corners), in METOD often a 60×80 cm single piece.
• 160 cm plinth is a long element, sometimes exceeding parcel transport limits. Requires a separate decision on courier shipping.
• Island side panels over 88 cm high are two glued panels (619+394 mm for METOD), counted as two elements.
• Double-sided lacquer is a 20% surcharge - only sensible for fronts visible from both sides (open shelves, glass doors, island panels).
• Front sample the cost of the sample, deducted from the order - effectively free if you order production.

The configurator on ogony.pl calculates the exact price for each front after entering dimensions and material. There are no hidden surcharges - if the dimension is standard and the material is lacquer, the price is final.

Mistakes That Cost Money During Replacement

Four common mistakes we see customers make when trying to organize replacements themselves.

1. Confusing the IKEA system. A customer orders 18 METOD fronts (60×80 cm), receives them, tries to install them, and it turns out they have a FAKTUM kitchen (60×70 cm). The front won't fit. Loss: 18 fronts for return or disposal. Prevention: three tests from our article on IKEA systems (kitchen year, hinge, dimensions).

2. No sample before a large order. The color "All White" Farrow & Ball looks different in a bright kitchen with natural light than in a dark, north-facing kitchen with neon. The color "Hague Blue" looks different next to a wooden countertop than next to a black composite countertop. Loss: the entire order is not satisfying. Prevention: a front sample before a large order - the amount is deducted from the final quote. Order a front sample.

3. Measurement without considering the gap. The customer measures the visible gap between the fronts and enters that dimension into the order. The front arrives 4 mm too narrow. The IKEA standard is a 3-4 mm gap between fronts - measure the front itself, not the gap. Prevention: remove one front and measure the physical element from edge to edge.

4. Unordered plinth or side panels. The customer orders only door and drawer fronts. After installation, it turns out that the new white doors next to the old yellowed plinth look terrible. Plinths and panels are a second order, another 7 weeks of production, another shipment. Prevention: plan the replacement comprehensively - doors + plinths + panels in one quote.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my IKEA hinges and just replace the fronts? Yes, if the hinges are in good condition. The drilling standard for hinges is the same (ø 35 mm depth 13 mm, spacing 96 mm) for both old IKEA fronts and new custom-made fronts. You just need to replace the front itself.

How much does it cost to replace fronts in an average IKEA kitchen? The price depends on the number of fronts (usually 12-25 in an average kitchen), dimensions, material, and design. The configurator on ogony.pl calculates the exact price for each front after entering dimensions. We do not hardcode amounts in articles because prices change - the current rate is always in the configurator.

Is installation included in the price? Normally no - the customer installs it themselves or hires a local carpenter (the IKEA instructions are simple, installing a door takes 5-10 minutes per piece). In the Tri-City area, we organize an installation team on request, with an additional fee to be determined.

What is the lead time for replacement? 7 weeks production from receipt of payment. Plus 1-2 weeks for measurement, sample, and customer decision. Realistically, from the first email to ready fronts at your place - 7-9 weeks.

Can I replace fronts in stages? Yes, but with two caveats: (1) if you replace them months apart, the color of fronts from two orders may differ slightly (lacquer ages, batches change) - therefore, we encourage a comprehensive order, (2) we recommend ordering plinths and panels together with the fronts so that everything has the same color.

What about the warranty on the fronts? Standard manufacturer's warranty for material and finish defects. If the front arrives with a factory defect (scratch, lacquer stain, incorrect geometry) - we replace it. User exploitation (water damage, impact) is not covered by the warranty.

Do you ship to the entire EU? Yes. International shipping is approximately 99 EUR, with English-language customer service. We most often serve customers from Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom.