Highlights
It costs an average of $250 to refinish a table, with a typical range of $150–$400.
The minimum cost to refinish a wood table is $80. The maximum cost is $700.
Your project’s cost will largely depend on table size.
The project may cost as little as $20–$120 if you do it yourself.
Even the sturdiest wooden table gets worn down by daily wear and tear. And when that happens, it's time to give it a new, fresh look by refinishing it. By refinishing, you strip down the old, worn surface of the wood and use a stain to give it a flawless surface and like-new shine.
On average, getting your table refinished will cost $250. But this varies depending on the type and size of your table. Here’s what you can expect to pay.
| Average Cost | Low End | High End |
|---|---|---|
| $250 | $80 | $700 |
How Much Does It Cost to Refinish a Table by Type?
There’s no one-price-fits all for each and every table. So, the type of furniture you have plays a big role in how much it costs to refinish it. Here are some common prices:
| Dining Room Table | Coffee Table | Side or End Table |
|---|---|---|
| $400 – $700 | $150 – $250 | $80 – $150 |
Dining Room Table
Dining room tables are typically the largest wood tables you’ll find in a home, and as a result, they’re the most expensive, at $400 to $700. This is a sizable range because dining room tables have a lot of size variation. Typically, the larger the table, the more you’ll pay.
Coffee Table
Coffee tables fall between dining room tables and side tables in terms of size. Therefore, you can expect to pay $150 to $250 to have one refinished.
Side or End Table
End tables are the smallest types of tables, typically only with enough surface area to support a lamp, a stack of to-be-read books, and a coffee mug or two. As a result, these are the least expensive to refinish, at between $80 and $150.
Table Refinishing Cost Breakdown
There are three main costs associated with a table refinishing project: There’s the cost to strip the table, the cost to stain it, and the cost to paint it (if you so choose). Here’s what each step will cost you.
Dipping and Stripping
You'll pay between $100 and $400 to dip and strip your table, which involves stripping off the old paint and finish. Typically this involves dipping the table in a vat of solvent. After a few minutes, the table is removed and then scrubbed, rinsed, and allowed to dry. This can be very hard on the furniture, so you may want to consider having it hand-stripped as an alternative.
Staining
It costs $150 to $300 to stain a table. Stain protects your furniture more so than painting, and it also preserves the wood's natural look. You'll want to use an oil-based stain for a wooden table, as they penetrate deep into the wood and leave behind a rich color.
Painting
Expect to pay about $50 to $100 for furniture paint. Like with stain, you'll want an oil-based enamel paint for a wooden table. This will give the table a smooth finish, and it will last a lot longer than other types of paints.
Cost to Refinish a Table Yourself
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A gallon of stain costs $20 to $120 and will cover about 200 square feet. So, as long as you have the tools to do the job (like brushes and a sander), it may only cost you that much to stain a table if you do it yourself.
That makes this a good project for a homeowner who likes to take on DIY projects. It's relatively straightforward, there are no major safety concerns, and you can save a few hundred dollars.
However, if you’re short on time, you can always hire a professional to do the work for you. This also ensures that you get a perfect finish. Contact a furniture refinisher near you for a quote.
Tips to Reduce the Cost of Refinishing a Table
By far the best way to cut the cost of this project is to simply do the project yourself. If you have the know-how and the tools, all you'll need to pay for is the gallon of stain or paint. You can’t dip and strip a table yourself as that requires a large vat of solvent and the equipment to do it, but you can hand-strip a table using a thick paste finish remover or liquid stripper, and then scraping off the finish with a putty knife or steel wool.
Other than that, the only way to save money is by shopping around for a stain with great value. There's a wide range of prices for a stain based on brand and quality, so you might be able to find a gallon of relatively inexpensive stain if you look hard enough.
Table Refinishing Questions and Answers
Can I refinish just the top of a table?
It's perfectly fine to just refinish the top of your table instead of all of it. In fact, that's what most people do. After all, why finish the bottom of the table that nobody ever sees? Of course, depending on how exposed the legs of your table are, you might at least consider refinishing them.
How do you refinish a table top without stripping it?
It is possible to refinish a table without stripping and sanding it by repairing small dents. You’ll use a gel stain, and then put on a wipe-on finish. The downside is this won't result in as smooth and as deep of a finish as if you had stripped the table. Also, any blemishes on your table will remain.
How do you know if you can refinish a table?
A good way to determine that a table is not worth refinishing is if it's painted. Often they are painted to cover up flaws with the wood you won't be able to fix. You want a good, solid wood table that just needs a facelift rather than a rickety wood table with a lot of problems.
