How much does it cost to professionally paint kitchen cabinets

Q: Is it cheaper to paint or replace kitchen cabinets?

Its always less expensive if you apply new paint instead of replacing or resurfacing. Lets look at some of the reasons you might consider repainting your kitchen cabinets. Typically homeowners consider repainting cabinets because they are outdated and ready for a new look.

Tired of staring at the same old kitchen cabinets day in and day out? Painting kitchen cabinets is an easy, cost-effective way to give your kitchen an update without installing all-new cabinetry.

Índice Show

How Much Does Painting Kitchen Cabinets Cost If You DIY?
Pros and Cons of DIY Cabinet Painting
How Much Does It Cost to Have Kitchen Cabinets Professionally Painted?
Pros and Cons of a Professional Kitchen Cabinet Paint Job
What Factors Make Up the Price?
Custom Calculators with Homewyse Lists
Unit Costs: How Pros Price
Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets - Notes and General Information
References - Kitchen Cabinet Painting
Kitchen Cabinet Painting Budget Management
Hiring Local Professionals
Make Homewyse better
How much does it cost to have kitchen cabinets re painted?
Is it cheaper to paint or replace kitchen cabinets?
Is painting kitchen cabinets worth it?
How much does it cost to paint 15 cabinets?

This May Also Interest You: How to Install Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet painting can range in price from $200 to $1,300 (CAD 255 to CAD 1,650) or more. Depending on the size and number of cabinets, you could end up paying upwards of $7,000 (CAD 8,900) for a professional job.

There are several additional factors that help determine the cost of painting kitchen cabinets, including labor, cabinet condition and materials needed. If you’re on the fence about whether you should hire a pro or DIY your kitchen cabinet paint job, keep reading for a breakdown of the price.

How Much Does Painting Kitchen Cabinets Cost If You DIY?

If you’re working with a tight budget, it’s smart to paint kitchen cabinets yourself. Kitchen cabinet painting is a relatively simple skill, but the job involves plenty of labor and tedious work. And it’s not just painting — removing and cleaning kitchen cabinets can be quite the chore as well.

When you choose to do it yourself, you take on those labor challenges, eliminating the majority of the costs associated with hiring a pro. On average, you can expect the cost of paint and materials to run between $200 and $500 (CAD 255 to CAD 640), according to The Spruce. If this is your first home reno project, you might need to purchase items like a paint sprayer.

Here’s what you’ll need to complete your cabinet painting project:

Paint and primer
Brushes and rollers
Paint trays
Painters tape
Drill or screwdriver (for removing cabinets)
Cleaning materials
Sandpaper
Plastic tarps for the ground

Pros and Cons of DIY Cabinet Painting

Pros:

Saves a significant amount of money
No need for other people to enter your home
It’s a simple project with a big impact on the look of the space

Cons:

Project can consume a lot of time and energy
DIY painted cabinets will likely start chipping faster than professionally painted ones
Any mistakes are yours to deal with
Without a paint sprayer (which can be difficult to use), you might end up with visible paint streaks.

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How to Clean Kitchen Cabinets
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How Much Does It Cost to Have Kitchen Cabinets Professionally Painted?

Despite kitchen cabinet painting being a pretty straightforward concept, the project still involves a lot of hard work that you might not be prepared to take on. If you’re unable to do the job yourself, Bob Vila says you expect to pay around $30 to $60 (CAD 40 to CAD 75) per linear foot for a professional to do it for you. This cost estimate covers materials, labor and supplies. If you have kitchen cabinets that are difficult to remove (like if they’re inset with glass, or configured in a tight or awkward layout), you can expect to pay a little extra.

Pros and Cons of a Professional Kitchen Cabinet Paint Job

Pros:

You’ll get quality results that should last for years
Professionals are less likely to make mistakes
Project may be completed quickly and efficiently
No stress or hard work for you

Cons:

May cost significantly more than DIY
You’ll have to deal with contractors being in your space

What Factors Make Up the Price?

There are plenty of factors that can cause your kitchen cabinet painting costs to fluctuate. The main ones are cabinet size, cabinet material, number of cabinets, paint type, coats of paint needed and labor.

However, painting is still preferable to replacing cabinets that are in good shape. Did you know installing new kitchen cabinets can cost as much as $38,000 (CAD 48,400), depending on the materials? So, at the end of the day — whether you choose to DIY or hire a professional — painting your cabinets is the easiest way to refresh your kitchen without breaking the bank.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.

July 2022

	Item details	Qty	Low	High
	Cabinetry Painting Cost Non-discounted retail pricing for: Exterior enamel paint. Latex based, paint and primer in one. Eggshell and semi-gloss finish options. For wood, vinyl, masonry, stucco, brick. Mildew resistant. 15 yr warranty. Quantity includes typical waste overage, material for repair and local delivery.	129 square feet	$45.39	$101.39
	Kitchen Cabinet Painting Labor, Basic Basic labor to paint kitchen cabinets with favorable site conditions. Prep up to 4 hr per 100 SF - remove or mask hardware. Mask adjacent areas. Clean, scrape, sand and repair up to 4 minor defects per 100 SF. Caulk gaps and spot prime. Roll / brush 2 coats of paint. Includes planning, equipment and material acquisition, area preparation and protection, setup and cleanup.	129 square feet	$45.39	$101.39
	Kitchen Cabinet Painting Job Supplies Cost of related materials and supplies typically required to paint kitchen cabinets including: masking tape and paper, surface repair and preparation material, primers, and cleanup supplies.	129 square feet	$45.39	$101.39
	Kitchen Cabinet Painting Equipment Allowance Job related costs of specialty equipment used for job quality and efficiency, including: 115 V high volume, low pressure paint sprayer for fine finish quality. Daily rental. Consumables extra.	129 square feet	$45.39	$101.39
	Option: Remove Finish Protect adjacent surfaces. Apply 1 layer of chemical finish remover. Scrape surface, edges and ridges. Sand or rub with steel wool to remove final residue. Dispose of job waste responsibly. For polyurethane, varnish or non-lead based paint finishes only. Does not include extra steps and extra costs required for lead based paint removal. Material cost includes dump fee.	129 square feet	$45.39	$101.39
	Cabinetry Painting Debris Disposal Costs to load and haul away old materials, installation waste and associated debris.	129 square feet	0.23625	0.26875
	Unused Minimum Labor Balance of 2 hr(s) minimum labor charge that can be applied to other tasks.


Totals - Cost To Paint Kitchen Cabinets
Average Cost per Square Foot

Custom Calculators with Homewyse Lists

Service Professionals: create a reusable estimating app that is 100% customized to your business. Start with a template or build your own (free; Account sign up required):

For a basic project in zip code 47474 with 120 square feet, the cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets starts at $4.60 - $10.09 per square foot*. Actual costs will depend on job size, conditions, and options.

To estimate costs for your project:

1. Set Project Zip Code Enter the Zip Code for the location where labor is hired and materials purchased.

2. Specify Project Size and Options Enter the number of "square feet" required for the project.

3. Re-calculate Click the "Update" button.

NOTE: *Input the total of the finished surface area AND the area of any openings enclosed by the finished area.

Unit Costs: How Pros Price

Unlike other websites that publish pricing from unrelated jobs in the past, Homewyse creates up-to-date estimates from current Unit Costs. The Unit Cost method delivers high accuracy by using location, details and options for the unique requirements of each job. Contracting, trade, design and maintenance businesses rely on the Unit Cost method for transparency, accuracy and fair profits.

Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets - Notes and General Information

These estimates are for BASIC work performed in serviceable conditions by qualified trade professionals using MID GRADE materials. Work not mentioned on this page and/or work using master craftsman, premium materials and project supervision will result in HIGHER COSTS!

These estimates are NOT substitutes for written quotes from trade professionals. Homewyse strongly recommends that you contact reputable professionals for accurate assessments of work required and costs for your project - before making any decisions or commitments.

The cost estimate includes:

Costs for local material / equipment delivery to and service provider transportation to and from the job site.
Costs to prepare the worksite for Kitchen Cabinet Painting, including costs to protect existing structure(s), finishes, materials and components.
Labor setup time, mobilization time and minimum hourly charges that are commonly included for small Kitchen Cabinet Painting jobs.

The cost estimate does NOT include:

Costs for removing, relocating, repairing, or modifying existing framing, surfacing, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems - or bringing those systems into compliance with current building codes.
Costs for testing and remediation of hazardous materials (asbestos, lead, etc.).
General contractor overhead and markup for organizing and supervising the Kitchen Cabinet Painting. Add 13% to 22% to the total cost above if a general contractor will supervise this project.
Sales tax on materials and supplies.
Permit or inspection fees (or portion thereof) required by your local building department for your overall project.

References - Kitchen Cabinet Painting

Product and Supplies Data: Home Depot Paints, Stains and Supplies Home Depot, Jul 2022, Website
Product and Supplies Data: Lowes Paints, Stains and Supplies Lowes , Jul 2022, Website
Product and Supplies Data: Menards Paints, Stains and Supplies Menards, Jul 2022, Website
Product and Supplies Data: Here's a Painting Price List Contractor Talk, Jul 2022, Website
Interior Design: Materials and Specifications Fairchild Publications; first edition, Oct 2008, Lisa Godsey, ISBN 1563674874
Home Improvement 1-2-3: Expert Advice from The Home Depot Homer, TLC, Jul 2022, Editorial Staff, ISBN 696213273
Carpentry and Building Construction, Student Text Glencoe/McGraw-Hill; 6th edition, Jan 2003, Mark Feirer, John Feirer, ISBN 007822702X
The HUD PATH Rehab Guide Volume 5: Partitions, Ceilings, Floors, and Stairs U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research, Mar 2011, Editorial Staff
Labor Wages and Costs: CPWAR Construction Cost Book The Center for Construction Research and Training, Jul 2022, Staff
Project Spending Data: Harvard University JCHS Homeowner Expenditures Harvard University, Jul 2022, Website

Kitchen Cabinet Painting Budget Management

This infographic highlights decisions and site issues that can cause large cost variances in the typical Kitchen Cabinet Painting budget.

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How much does it cost to have kitchen cabinets re painted?

Average cost of painting kitchen cabinets professionally. The average cost of painting kitchen cabinets is $100 per drawer face and $175 per cabinet door. This usually averages out to a cost of $5,000 for a medium-sized kitchen. However, the cost commonly ranges from $3000 to $10,000.

Is it cheaper to paint or replace kitchen cabinets?

It's always less expensive if you apply new paint instead of replacing or resurfacing. Let's look at some of the reasons you might consider repainting your kitchen cabinets. Typically homeowners consider repainting cabinets because they are outdated and ready for a new look.

Is painting kitchen cabinets worth it?

Painting costs a lot less than buying new cabinets and having them installed. If you need to make an economical choice, painting is the way to go. Even if you are not forced into making the most economical decision, painting is still an attractive option because it gives you more money to spend elsewhere.

How much does it cost to paint 15 cabinets?

It costs $3 to $10 per square foot to paint kitchen cabinets, or an average of $30 to $60 per linear foot, including labor, materials, and supplies. This does depend on the condition of the cabinets and how much work is needed to remove doors and hardware.