Painting kitchen cabinets costs $2,000 to $6,500 for an average kitchen in 2026, by national published figures. It is the cheapest way to change how a kitchen looks, but only if the cabinet boxes are sound and the prep is done properly.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Local labor, paint prices and the condition of your own surfaces move the number up or down. Last checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets?
It costs $2,000 to $6,500 to have the cabinets painted in an average kitchen, by the national figures. That is $30 to $70 per linear foot, or $120 to $190 per cabinet.
| Kitchen size | National range |
|---|---|
| Small (70 to 100 sq ft) | $1,000 to $3,500 |
| Average (100 to 200 sq ft) | $2,000 to $6,500 |
| Large (200 sq ft or more) | $5,000 to $10,000 |
Most of the price is labor. HomeGuide puts labor at $1,600 to $5,500 and materials at $400 to $1,000. Spray finishing is listed at $40 to $100 per linear foot.
How much does it cost for 20 or 30 cabinet doors and drawers?
The national figure is $70 to $125 per door and $30 to $110 per drawer front. For 20 doors that is $1,400 to $2,500. For 30 doors it is $2,100 to $3,750.
Add the drawers on top. Ten drawer fronts at $30 to $110 each come to $300 to $1,100. This is arithmetic on published national figures, not a quote, and it does not include the cabinet frames and end panels. We count doors, drawers and boxes during the estimate.
Is it cheaper to paint, reface or replace cabinets?
Painting is the cheapest of the three. By the national figures, painting costs $2,000 to $6,500, refacing costs $5,000 to $13,000 and full replacement costs $4,500 to $15,000.
| Option | National range | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Painting | $2,000 to $6,500 | Same doors and boxes, new color |
| Refinishing | $1,500 to $4,500 | Same doors and boxes, new stain or clear coat |
| Replace doors only | $2,200 to $6,600 | New doors on old boxes |
| Refacing | $5,000 to $13,000 | New doors and new veneer on the boxes |
| Full replacement | $4,500 to $15,000 | New cabinets and a new layout if wanted |
Paint changes the color. It does not fix a poor layout, sagging shelves or water-damaged boxes.
Painting or refinishing cabinets: what is the difference in cost?
Refinishing costs $1,500 to $4,500 on average and painting costs $2,000 to $6,500, by the national figures. Refinishing means stripping or sanding back the old finish and applying new stain or clear coat, so the wood grain still shows. Painting covers the grain with a solid color.
Refinishing suits solid wood doors in good shape. Painting suits doors with a worn or dated finish, and it is the usual choice when the goal is white, grey, green or navy.
Are 1990s oak cabinets worth painting, and can oak go white?
Yes, in most cases. Oak cabinets from the 1980s and 1990s are usually solid and well built, which makes them good candidates for paint, and they can go white.
Oak has open grain. Painted without extra steps, the grain pattern shows through the paint as fine lines. Some people like that. If you want a smooth look, the grain is filled before priming, which adds labor. Oak also bleeds tannin, so a stain-blocking primer is needed under white or it can yellow in patches.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Laminate can be painted if it is firmly bonded and a bonding primer is used. Thermofoil is riskier. Thermofoil is a thin vinyl skin over fiberboard. If the skin is peeling or lifting at the edges, paint will not hold it down.
Sound thermofoil can be painted with the right primer, but the result is less durable than paint on wood. Where the skin has failed, new doors are the better answer. We check each door before we recommend anything.
Spray or brush for cabinets, and are doors sprayed off site?
Spraying gives the smoothest finish on cabinet doors, and brushing and rolling with a fine roller is used on the boxes in many kitchens. Doors and drawer fronts are normally removed and sprayed flat, either in a shop or in a masked-off area such as a garage.
Methods differ from one painter to the next. Ask where the doors will be finished, how they are labeled so they go back in the same place, and how the boxes inside your kitchen will be done.
Can cabinets be painted without removing the doors?
They can, but the result is poorer. With the doors off, the edges, hinge sides and frames are all coated properly and the doors dry flat without runs. Painted in place, doors stick to frames, hinges get painted and edges are missed.
Taking the doors and drawer fronts off, removing the hardware and numbering each piece is the normal way to get a finish that lasts.
How long does cabinet painting take, and can I use the kitchen?
Cabinet painting takes 3 to 5 days by the published national figure, and yes, you can use your kitchen for most of that time. The doors and drawers are away being finished, and the boxes are painted in place.
Expect open shelves, some masking and the smell of primer for a few days. The sink, fridge and stove normally stay usable outside working hours. Our own schedule depends on the number of doors and the finish chosen, so ask us for the plan for your kitchen.
Will painted cabinets chip or peel?
Painted cabinets can chip where they are hit, mostly on lower door edges and around handles. They should not peel. Peeling means the prep was wrong: grease was left on, the old finish was not sanded, or no bonding primer was used.
Kitchen cabinets carry years of cooking grease and hand oils. Degreasing, sanding, priming and using a hard enamel made for cabinets is what keeps the finish on. Small chips can be touched up.
How long does cabinet paint last compared with a factory finish?
Painted kitchen cabinets last 8 to 15 years, by the national published figure. A factory finish is sprayed and baked on in controlled conditions, so it is usually harder than anything applied on site.
A good site-applied enamel comes close in normal use. How long it lasts depends on prep, the product and how hard the kitchen is used. Paint takes several weeks to reach full hardness, so be gentle with it at first.
What kind of paint do pros use on cabinets for a smooth finish?
Pros use hard-drying enamels made for cabinets and trim, not wall paint, to get a smooth finish on cabinets. The common types are waterborne alkyd enamels, urethane-modified acrylics and sprayed lacquers or conversion coatings.
These level out as they dry, so brush marks and roller texture fade, and they cure harder than wall paint. A smooth result also needs a primer that is sanded flat between coats. We do not name one brand as best. Ask which product a painter plans to use and why.
I painted my cabinets myself and they look bad. Can a pro fix them?
Yes. If you painted your cabinets yourself and the finish is sticky, streaky or peeling, it can usually be fixed. The cost depends on what is underneath.
If the paint is well stuck but rough, it can be sanded smooth, primed and refinished. If it is peeling or was put over grease with no primer, it has to be stripped or sanded back to a sound surface first, which costs more than painting untouched cabinets. HomeGuide publishes no figure for this, so it is priced after we see the doors.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (313) 251-3869.