Furniture restoration involves cleaning and minor cosmetic repairs to restore a piece of furniture to its original condition or as close to it as possible. In some cases, restoration may involve refinishing, but the end goal is still to make the furniture look like it did when it was brand-new. Refinishing furniture involves stripping and sanding away the existing finish and then applying a new finish like polyurethane, which may make the item look quite different from the original condition.

The cost to refinish wood furniture ranges widely, depending on the size and type of furniture. Here’s what you can expect to pay to refinish the following wood furniture items:

• Table: $150–$700

• Dining chair: $100–$400

• Rocking chair: $200–$500

• Bar stool: $100–$250

• China cabinet or armoire: $500–$3,500

• Dining set: $1,000–$3,000

• Coffee table: $150–$800

• Dresser: $300–$2,000

• Bed: $350–$2,000

• Pool table: $300–$600

• Kitchen cabinets: $1,800–$5,000

Yes, you can refinish a table top only. This refinishing task is a common practice to revitalize a table without having to invest the time and expense of refinishing the entire piece, especially the bottom of the table. If the bottom half of the table is fine as-is, you can still refinish the top of the table to your liking.