If your kitchen, wardrobe or alcove cupboards are looking tired, replacing just the doors is one of the quickest and most affordable ways to give the room a new lease of life. The next question is whether to buy standard size doors off the shelf, or have them made to measure.
The quick answer: standard doors can work if your units are a modern, common size and you’re happy with a painted MDF or vinyl finish. If your units are older, an unusual size, out of square, or you want solid wood that will last for decades, bespoke doors are almost always the better choice, and often cost less than people expect.
Below, we compare the two side by side, explain when made to measure doors are worth it, and share what to look for in a bespoke cupboard door maker.
Standard vs bespoke cupboard doors at a glance
| Standard size doors | Bespoke (made to measure) doors | |
| Sizes | Fixed range of common sizes | Made to your exact measurements, to the millimetre |
| Fit on older or unusual units | Often won’t fit, or leaves gaps | Built to fit what you already have |
| Typical material | MDF, chipboard or vinyl wrapped board | Solid timber (Cottage Doors uses Grade A pine) |
| Repairs | Chips and peeling usually mean replacing the door | Dents and scratches can be sanded and refinished |
| Finish | Fixed colour or wrap | Paint, stain or wax in any colour, and change it later |
| Lead time | Often in stock | Made to order |
| Price | Lower for common sizes | From £41 per door at Cottage Doors |
When standard doors make sense
- Your units are a modern, standard size (for example, a recent flat pack kitchen).
- You need doors very quickly.
- You’re happy with a painted or wrapped finish and don’t mind replacing the doors again in a few years.
When bespoke doors make sense
- Your units are older, or the sizes are no longer made, such as many solid pine kitchens from the 1980s and 90s.
- Your openings are out of square, which is common in older homes and alcoves.
- You want solid wood that can be repaired, refinished and kept for decades.
- You want a particular style, such as Shaker, Victorian or tongue and groove, to suit your home.
Why made to measure doors are worth it
Kitchens: replace your doors, not your kitchen
Most kitchens don’t need ripping out. The carcasses, worktops and appliances are usually sound; it’s the doors that have dated, swollen or worn. New pine kitchen cupboard doors and drawer fronts give the room a completely fresh look for a fraction of the cost, mess and disruption of a full refit.
Wardrobes: a new look without new furniture
Fitted wardrobes are expensive and disruptive to replace, but the frames rarely wear out. Made to measure wardrobe doors can replace old or broken doors without pulling everything out, and they work well in small bedrooms and awkward rooms where standard sizes won’t fit.
Alcoves and awkward spaces
Alcoves, under stair cupboards and period homes rarely have square, standard openings. Bespoke alcove cupboard doors are built to the space you actually have, so there are no uneven gaps and no wasted storage. We can also make angled and shaped doors for under stair cupboards, where off the shelf sizes simply won’t fit.
Solid wood that lasts
Unlike MDF or vinyl wrapped doors, solid pine has no surface layer to peel or bubble near ovens and kettles. Dents and scratches can be sanded out, and you can change the colour years later simply by sanding back and refinishing. Pine also comes from managed, renewable forests.
At Cottage Doors, every door is handmade from solid Grade A pine in our Cheshire workshop, supplied sanded and ready to paint, stain or wax. See our full range of made to measure pine cupboard doors.
What to look for in a bespoke cupboard door maker
If you decide to go bespoke, choosing the right maker matters as much as choosing the right style. Here’s what to check.
- Experience. How long have they been making doors? A long track record usually means fewer surprises. Cottage Doors has been making doors in Cheshire since the 1980s, with more than 10,000 doors made by hand.
- Solid timber, not just a wood effect. Ask what the doors are actually made from and how they’re jointed. Solid wood with properly glued joints will outlast MDF or veneered board.
- Reviews and accreditation. Read Google reviews and look for trade bodies such as the Guild of Master Craftsmen.
- Clear help with measuring. A good maker will explain exactly how to measure, check your sizes before making anything, and confirm the quote in writing. See our guide to measuring for replacement cupboard doors.
- A good range of styles. Look for a choice of styles that can match an existing kitchen or suit a period home. We make five: Shaker, Victorian, raised and fielded, flat panel and tongue and groove.
- Transparent pricing and delivery. You should know the price per door and the delivery cost before you commit.
Examples of finished work. Photos of real kitchens and wardrobes tell you more than any description. Have a look through our gallery of finished projects.
Frequently asked questions
Are bespoke cupboard doors more expensive than standard ones?
Not always. Our solid pine doors start from £41 per door, and because you’re only replacing the doors, the total is usually a small fraction of a new kitchen or fitted wardrobe. See our kitchen makeover cost breakdown.
Can I put new doors on my existing kitchen units?
Yes, as long as the carcasses are in good condition. We make every door to your measurements, so it fits the units you already have.
Can bespoke doors match my existing pine kitchen?
Often, yes. We make replacement doors for solid pine kitchens from the 1980s and 90s, which the big retailers no longer stock. Send us a photo and your measurements and we’ll advise.
Do bespoke doors come painted?
Our doors are supplied sanded and ready for you to paint, stain or wax. We can also supply them with an antique pine stain and wax polish finish, ready to fit.
How do I look after solid pine doors?
Pine is easy to care for: wipe with a damp cloth and re-wax or touch up the paint as needed. Because it’s solid wood, scratches and dents can be sanded out. See our tips page for finishing and care advice.
Get a free quote
Whether it’s a full kitchen, a pair of wardrobe doors or a single alcove cupboard, we’ll make your doors to the millimetre and deliver them anywhere in the UK.
Call 07979 854600, or get a free quote online.