What’s the Difference? MDF vs. Plywood

Though they may be side-by-side in the same aisle at your home improvement store, they aren't interchangeable. Determine which works better in your project by weighing these key differences.

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/mdf-vs-plywood/

As a general rule, however, MDF is the better choice for indoor
furniture or decorative use, especially if you want to cut intricately
carved trim or designs, and plan on painting the finished project.

Thanks. I was more so looking for selection of cabinet door fronts being painted MDF or painted maple. The makeup of the cabinet construction is plywood.

My own cabinets are stained so I don't have personal experience with painted cabinets - except some old ones I painted for my laundry room. I would think that the paint finish would depend on how well the factory does their job - good primer and topcoat and that this would be the same whether wood or MDF. I would ask for some touch up paint, and just be sure not to let a deep scratch or chip go too long without a fix. Both maple and MDF are pretty hard, though I have heard that there are different grades of MDF. Both wood and MDF can be damaged by water, but if the wood dries out soon enough it can be OK, but if MDF gets wet it starts to swell soon. This is mostly a concern on your sink base cabinet. With some common sense good care, and going with an American made brand with a decent reputation - and also many here like Ikea - you should be fine.

This subject has been overly discussed here but if we must let's do it again because I don't like reading incorrect informatiom.. To answer your question correctly first explain what kind of door you are talking about. Flat slab, shaker, raised panel, one piece, 5 piece? Is it factory made? Who's painting and with what?

Wellborne has 4 different lines. If you don’t know which line they put you in then they put you in the builder grade one to get a cheap price without telling you what you were really getting. That’s not honestly giving you accurate information. That would make me walk away from them regardless.

But I wouldn’t do Waypoint either unless you are in a entry level price point house. Your entry price first house? Sure. But not the move up house. It is not a mid grade line.

MDF is a better for painted finishes. 1 piece molded MDF doors look fake and cheap (this is of course subjective). The solution is to use 5 piece MDF or have the door frame in wood and the center panel MDF. My painted cabinets are wood boxes with doors that have a wood frame and MDF centers. Aside from the lack of cracks you see with wood, they look like wood.