Cabinet Painting and Refinishing Cost
The cheapest way to change the look, if the prep is done right.
Painting or refinishing keeps your cabinets, doors, and layout and changes only the finish. It is usually the least expensive way to update a kitchen, but it is also where shortcuts show most quickly. A finish that chips around handles within a year is not a bargain.
Typical costs
| Approach | Typical range, medium kitchen |
|---|---|
| Professional painting (doors sprayed off-site or on-site) | About $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Professional brush-and-roll painting | About $2,000 to $5,000 |
| Restaining or refinishing wood (strip and refinish) | About $3,000 to $8,000 or more |
| DIY painting (supplies and tools) | Often a few hundred dollars, more with a sprayer |
Estimates only. Broad typical ranges based on published contractor and industry cost guides; actual prices vary widely by location, materials, and scope. Get written quotes.
Per-door pricing is also common, with each door and drawer front counted separately and frames priced by the foot. Ask how a quote is calculated so you can compare.
What a durable paint job involves
- Remove doors, drawer fronts, and hardware, labeling everything.
- Degrease thoroughly. Kitchen grease is the main reason paint fails to stick.
- Scuff-sand existing finishes so primer can bond.
- Fill and repair dings, old hardware holes if you are changing hardware, and open grain if you want a smooth look on oak.
- Prime with a bonding primer suited to the existing finish.
- Apply finish coats of a cabinet-grade paint (often a waterborne alkyd, urethane, or conversion varnish for pros). Spraying gives the smoothest result.
- Allow cure time before heavy use. Many cabinet paints feel dry in hours but take much longer to fully harden.
When painting is a good idea
- The boxes and doors are solid, and you like the layout and door style.
- Doors are solid wood or good-quality MDF. Thermofoil and some laminates do not take paint well without special preparation.
- You are fine with the existing door profile. Paint will not turn a raised-panel door into a flat Shaker door.
Paint vs. stain
Painted cabinets show chips and wear at edges over time, but they are easy to touch up. Stained wood hides small dings better and can be refreshed. Going from dark stain to a lighter stain usually requires stripping, which costs more than painting. Oak's open grain will show through paint unless it is filled, which adds labor.
DIY or hire a pro?
DIY can save a lot of money if you have time and patience, a place to lay out doors while they dry, and the discipline to do the prep. Pros bring spray equipment, faster-curing products, and experience with leveling and drip-free edges. If you hire, ask whether doors are sprayed off-site, what product is used, how many coats, and what the warranty covers.
Common reasons paint jobs fail
- Skipping degreasing or sanding.
- Using wall paint instead of a cabinet-grade product.
- Rehanging doors before the finish has cured, which causes sticking and peeling at bumpers.
- Painting over water-damaged or swelling particleboard.
Frequently asked questions
Is painting cabinets worth it?
For solid cabinets with a layout and door style you like, painting is often the most cost-effective update. It will not fix layout problems or damaged boxes.
How long does a professional cabinet paint job last?
With good prep and a cabinet-grade finish, it can last many years with occasional touch-ups. Poor prep can lead to chipping within months.
Can you paint thermofoil or laminate cabinets?
It is possible with special primers, but results are mixed and peeling thermofoil cannot be fixed with paint. Many pros recommend refacing or replacing thermofoil doors instead.
How long will my kitchen be out of use?
Many jobs take several days to a week or more, depending on whether doors are sprayed off-site and how long the finish needs to cure. Ask for a schedule.
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