You can replace the doors and drawer fronts on an IKEA METOD kitchen while keeping suitable existing cabinets. The important decisions are compatibility, cabinet condition, materials and the full list of visible parts. Get those right before comparing prices: a door-only quote can leave out the panels and finishing details your kitchen needs.
This guide explains how to plan replacement fronts, compare your options and prepare an order that fits your kitchen.
When is replacing the fronts worthwhile?
Start with what already works. If the cabinet frames are sound, the drawers function properly and you like the layout, new fronts can change the appearance without rebuilding the entire kitchen.
Open every cupboard and drawer. Look for swollen boards near the sink, damaged hinge fixing points, loose joints and drawers that do not run correctly. A new door will not repair a damaged cabinet behind it.
Also consider how you use the room. If the sink position, storage or working space needs a substantial change, compare a larger renovation before committing to fronts. The best starting point is a kitchen you want to keep using, with an appearance you want to change.
Seven checks before ordering
1. Identify your IKEA kitchen system
Confirm the system from your order documents, kitchen plan or product labels. Do not order from a photograph alone.
METOD and the older FAKTUM system have different dimensions and are not interchangeable. IKEA explains the compatibility difference here. If you have FAKTUM, ask specifically for fronts prepared for that system. An IKEA-compatible description is not enough to establish which cabinets a product fits.
For any other system, including a kitchen bought outside Europe, ask the supplier to confirm compatibility before using a METOD size preset.
2. Make a complete parts list
Kitchen fronts include more than cupboard doors. List drawer fronts, integrated appliance fronts and the surrounding visible components too.
Walk around the kitchen from both directions. Note exposed cabinet sides, the back of an island, gaps against walls and the plinth below the cabinets. Decide which pieces should match the new doors and which can remain.
Create a numbered elevation for each run of cabinets. Give every component a position, quantity, dimensions and finish. This makes it easier to compare quotations and check the delivery.
3. Confirm dimensions, drilling and hardware
A cabinet’s nominal width does not describe every detail of its front. Confirm the required finished dimensions, hinge drilling, drawer fixing positions and clearances using the supplier’s ordering instructions.
Treat integrated appliances as separate items. Give the supplier the appliance model and installation requirements, particularly for a dishwasher. A matching colour and width do not establish that its front will open correctly.
If you plan to reuse handles, record the distance between fixing holes. If you want a different opening method, check the necessary hardware before finalising the design.
4. Choose materials in your own lighting
Compare samples beside your worktop, floor and wall finish. Check them in daylight and with the kitchen lights on. A colour that looks balanced on a screen can feel quite different across a full run of cabinets.
amadlo’s material collection includes oak and walnut veneer, painted MDF, furniture linoleum and Fenix NTM. Ask which finishes are available for your chosen front design.
| Option | Useful when you want | Check before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Wood veneer | Visible timber grain and natural variation | Grain direction, matching across adjacent fronts and an approved sample |
| Painted MDF | A coordinated colour scheme | Colour reference, profile, edge finish and care instructions |
| Furniture linoleum | A tactile, matte appearance | Available colours, edge treatment and cleaning guidance |
| Fenix NTM | A restrained matte surface | Exact décor, sample appearance and manufacturer care guidance |
5. Plan the whole composition
Choose handles, visible sides and plinths together with the doors. These details influence whether the finished kitchen feels coherent.
For a wood finish, discuss the grain direction across doors and drawers. For a two-colour kitchen, mark the colour of each item on the drawing. Avoid relying on a general instruction such as “dark lower cabinets”: islands, end panels and tall units can make that description ambiguous.
For the front profile, compare Enkel for a plain face, Molto for a rounded profile, and Delta for a fluted surface. Confirm the handle arrangement and finish options for the selected model.
Real projects can help you judge proportions. Explore Molto oak fronts on IKEA METOD cabinets and the Enkel modular-home kitchen. Use photographs to develop your brief, then samples to approve the material.
6. Compare the complete installed cost
Ask suppliers to quote the same parts list. A price for doors and drawers cannot be compared directly with a quotation that also includes panels, fillers, handles and installation.
Separate the cost of the fronts from any optional worktop or appliance changes. This helps you see what the appearance update costs and what belongs to a wider renovation.
7. Agree delivery and installation details
Confirm the production estimate, delivery destination, packaging and installation responsibility before ordering. Ask how to check the goods on arrival and how the parts are labelled.
Do not arrange the final installation around a generic website lead time. Get a date or agreed delivery window for your particular order, then coordinate the installer. Keep the approved drawing and parts schedule available during fitting.
Compare your renovation options
| Route | A good fit when | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement fronts from IKEA’s range | You want a finish available in the current range for your system | Confirm system, sizes and matching finishing parts |
| Custom fronts for IKEA cabinets | You want a particular material, colour or design while retaining the cabinets | Specify every visible part and confirm preparation for your system |
| A complete new kitchen | Cabinets need replacing or the layout needs substantial changes | Include removal, installation and any connected work in the comparison |
There is no single route that suits every kitchen. Judge the options against the condition of your cabinets, the changes you need and the complete project budget.
What determines the cost?
The cost of IKEA replacement kitchen doors depends on the number and sizes of components, material, profile, finish, drilling and additional panels. Delivery and fitting also affect the total.
A dated price example for one door
amadlo’s published replacement guide records a configurator example checked on 24 September 2026: one Molto left door for IKEA METOD, in white painted MDF, with the 60 × 80 cm size option and a white painted profile handle, was €225.06 including estimated VAT. The recorded VAT was €39.06 at 21%, with no discount applied.
This is a historical example for one door. It is not a current quote or a whole-kitchen price, and delivery and the destination-specific final total were not checked in that example. Check today’s configuration before ordering. The nominal size option also needs to be distinguished from the front’s exact manufactured dimensions.
For a useful comparison, calculate:
Project total = doors + drawer and appliance fronts + panels and fillers + plinths + handles or hardware + delivery + installation + applicable taxes.
As an illustrative ordering exercise, a kitchen might require eight doors, six drawer fronts, one appliance front, two end panels and a plinth. That is a parts-list example, not a priced amadlo package. A quotation should identify those components separately so you can check both scope and cost.
Use the amadlo configurator to explore the selected components, then confirm the complete scope and delivery arrangements for your project. A fixed price per metre would hide too much variation to be a reliable estimate for every kitchen.
For the detailed online ordering process, see how to buy made-to-measure kitchen doors online.
Questions to ask your supplier
Before approving an order, get clear answers to these questions:
- Which IKEA system are these fronts prepared for?
- What dimensions, drilling and hardware information do you need?
- Does the quote include every visible panel, filler and plinth?
- Can I approve a material sample before production?
- Who checks the appliance fronts and installation requirements?
- What production and delivery window applies to my order?
- Who installs the fronts, and what documentation will they receive?
Pause if compatibility is described only as “standard IKEA,” or if the supplier cannot explain what the quoted price includes. Resolving those points before production is easier than correcting an incomplete order.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace just the doors on my IKEA kitchen?
Yes, where the cabinets and fittings are suitable to retain. First identify your system, inspect the cabinet condition and check whether drawer fronts, appliance fronts or surrounding panels also need changing.
Will METOD fronts fit FAKTUM cabinets?
No. The systems are not interchangeable. Request fronts specified for your actual kitchen system and confirm dimensions and drilling before ordering.
Can I keep my existing hinges and drawers?
Potentially, if they are in good condition and compatible with the new fronts. Confirm the hardware and fixing details with your supplier rather than assuming every existing fitting can be reused.
Can I install the replacement fronts myself?
That depends on your experience, the components and the installation instructions. Straightforward door replacement and fitting an integrated appliance front are different tasks. If you are unsure about adjustment, clearances or appliance fixings, arrange an experienced installer.
Do I have to replace the worktop?
Not necessarily. Assess its condition and the planned work separately. Ask the installer whether any panel changes require access around or beneath the existing worktop.
Plan your replacement fronts with amadlo
amadlo makes custom fronts for IKEA METOD kitchens in Latvia. Start with your kitchen system, a drawing or component list, photographs and your preferred material. Include your delivery location so the project can be assessed as a complete order.
Explore amadlo fronts for IKEA cabinets or open the configurator to start planning your new kitchen appearance.