The finish decides more about a kitchen door than its colour. It sets which profiles you can have, how thick the door is, what the back looks like, how you sample it and what it costs. We offer seven finish families. This guide lines them up on the practical points, so you can rule some out quickly and compare the rest properly.
The seven finishes at a glance
| Finish | Board | Profiles | Colours | Back face |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painted (2Pac Poly) | 18 mm MR MDF | Plain and routed profiles | 12 standard, or any Dulux, Taubmans or Porters colour | White melamine unless double-sided |
| Unpainted (Raw) | 18 mm MR MDF | Plain and routed profiles | You paint it | White melamine both sides |
| NAVURBANâ„¢ | 18 to 23 mm MR MDF | Plain, Slim Shaker, Shaker | 46 timber looks | Matching both faces |
| Formica | 16 mm MR MDF | Plain | 7 woodgrains | Matching both faces |
| Laminex | 18 mm board | Plain | 121 across Natural, AbsoluteMatte, AbsoluteGrain | Matching, except AbsoluteMatte (white or black unless double-sided) |
| Polytec Decorative 16mm | 16 mm board | Plain | 77 across Woodmatt, Smooth and Matt | Matching both faces |
| Polytec Thermofoil | 18 to 21 mm | Plain and shaped profiles | 51 across Smooth, Matt, Woodmatt | Smooth and Matt: white or black unless double-sided |
MR MDF is moisture-resistant MDF. For every colour and profile in each family, see Profiles & Finishes.
Which finish for which job?
- You need an exact colour match: Painted (2Pac). It's the only finish that takes any paint code.
- You're happy to paint them yourself: Unpainted (Raw). Raw MDF needs prep and sanding before painting, and a routed profile can show small imperfections, so read our DIY painting guide first.
- You want a timber look: NAVURBANâ„¢, Formica, Laminex AbsoluteGrain or Polytec Woodmatt. Our timber-look kitchen doors guide compares them.
- You want super-matt and fingerprint-resistant: Laminex AbsoluteMatte.
- You want a shaped door without painting: Polytec Thermofoil, which comes in Shaker, reeded, V-groove and scalloped profiles. Our thermolaminated vs 2Pac guide compares it with painted doors.
- Flat doors on a tight budget: Formica, Laminex or Polytec Decorative 16mm.
What does each finish cost?
For a 60 × 80 cm METOD door (597 × 797 mm), as priced on our site in October 2026:
| Finish | Plain | Profiled |
|---|---|---|
| Unpainted (Raw) | $100 | $160 |
| Laminex | $160 to $190 | Plain only |
| Formica woodgrain | $190 | Plain only |
| Polytec Decorative 16mm | $190 | Plain only |
| NAVURBANâ„¢ | $255 | $370 |
| Painted (2Pac Poly) | $285 | $335 |
| Polytec Thermofoil, Smooth or Matt | $285 | $285 to $395 |
| Polytec Thermofoil, Woodmatt | $370 | $370 to $515 |
Browse them by finish: painted METOD doors, Laminex, Polytec Thermofoil and Polytec Decorative 16mm.
How do you sample each finish?
| Finish | Finish sample (80 × 160 mm) | Full-size drawer front (400 × 200 mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Painted (2Pac) | $10 | $55 white; $55 to $100 in your colour |
| Unpainted (Raw) | None | $30 |
| NAVURBANâ„¢ | $10 | $52.50 stocked; $75 made to order |
| Laminex | $10 | $50 |
| Formica | $5 for two | $40 |
| Polytec (both ranges) | Not stocked: free colour chips direct from Polytec | |
The value of finish samples comes back as a single-use discount code on a joinery order of $1,000 or more, valid for 12 months. Full-size samples are not credited. Full-size Polytec Thermofoil doors are on display at our showroom at 600 Princes Highway, Tempe. Order samples on our samples page.
What is the same across every finish?
Every finish is made to order, typically in 4 to 6 weeks, and every finish comes in custom sizes up to 1200 × 2400 mm. Our standard METOD, PAX and BESTÅ sizes use the same measurements and drilling as IKEA's, whichever finish you choose.