Good candidates
Wood and wood-veneer cabinets that are sturdy and laid out well are the best fit for paint. Cabinets with water damage, broken boxes or peeling laminate may be better replaced. Older kitchens in the village sometimes have solid wood cabinets that only need a new color to feel current.
Step by step
Doors and drawer fronts are usually removed and labeled, then cleaned, sanded, primed and finished in a work area. The cabinet boxes are painted in place with the room protected. Hardware comes off and goes back on at the end, and hinges are adjusted so doors hang straight.
- Remove and number doors and drawers
- Degrease thoroughly
- Sand and prime with a bonding primer
- Finish with a cabinet-grade enamel
- Reinstall, adjust and let cure
Why degreasing matters most
Kitchen cabinets carry years of cooking grease, often invisible. Paint will not bond to it. A thorough degreasing and sanding step is what separates a cabinet job that lasts from one that peels within months.
Time without your kitchen
Expect limited use of the kitchen for several days, longer if doors go off site. Paint can feel dry in hours but needs longer to cure hard. Ask the painter for a schedule and care instructions.
Pricing details
Count your doors and drawer fronts, decide whether cabinet interiors are included, and say if you plan new hardware. Some painters price per door and drawer, others by the kitchen. Ask each painter to explain their method.
Color, hardware and small updates
White and soft neutral colors are common choices, and two-tone kitchens with darker lower cabinets are popular too. New pulls and hinges can change the look as much as the paint, so decide on hardware before work starts, since new pulls may need new holes. Some homeowners also add crown molding, new end panels or open shelves at the same time. Ask the painter which of these they can handle and which need a carpenter.
Typical cabinet painting costs
Published ranges from Fixr.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| National average range | $2,500 to $6,500 |
| Small kitchen | $1,000 to $3,500 |
| Per door | $70 to $125 |
| Per drawer front | $30 to $110 |
| New hinges and pulls | $100 to $1,000 or more |
National ranges from the published sources below, shown as a guide only. They are not quotes, and older homes in the lower Hudson Valley often cost more to paint.
Sources: Fixr, painting kitchen cabinets
Questions homeowners ask
Can laminate cabinets be painted?
Sometimes, with special primers, but results vary. A painter can test an area and tell you whether it is worth doing.
Do painters paint the inside of the cabinets?
Only if you ask. Painting the interiors adds time and cost, so decide before the estimate.
How soon can I use the kitchen again?
Usually within a few days, but go easy on doors until the paint has fully cured. The painter can tell you the cure time for the product they use.
Is spraying better than brushing for cabinets?
Spraying gives a very smooth finish on doors, while brushing with a self-leveling enamel can also look good. Many painters spray doors off site and brush the boxes. Ask to see samples of each.
Other services
House painting
Full repaints for historic and newer homes alike.
Exterior house painting
Siding, porches, sashes and trim on older homes.
Interior painting
Plaster walls, ceilings, trim and doors.
Deck and fence staining
Clean and stain decks, porches, rails and fences.
Wallpaper removal
Strip old paper and prepare walls for paint.
Trim and siding painting
Sills, sashes, brackets, fascia and siding sections.