Painting kitchen cabinets costs $2,000 to $6,500 for an average kitchen in 2026, by national published figures. It is the lowest cost way to change the look of a kitchen when the cabinets themselves are sound.
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 walls 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 $3 to $15 per square foot. HomeGuide says the job takes 3 to 5 days.
| 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) | $5,000 to $10,000 |
Labor is $1,600 to $5,500 of the average job and materials are $400 to $1,000. Cabinet painting is mostly prep time.
How much for 20 or 30 cabinet doors and drawers?
By the national per-piece figures, 20 cabinet doors cost $1,400 to $2,500 and 30 cabinet doors cost $2,100 to $3,750. That is 20 or 30 times the published $70 to $125 per door.
Drawer fronts are published at $30 to $110 each, so 10 drawers add $300 to $1,100. These are sums of national figures, not our quote. The cabinet frames, end panels and any island are part of the job too.
Is it cheaper to paint, reface or replace cabinets?
Painting is the cheapest of the three. National figures are $2,000 to $6,500 to paint, $5,000 to $13,000 to reface and $4,500 to $15,000 to replace.
Refacing keeps the cabinet boxes and puts on new doors and a new skin. Replacing gives you a new layout. Painting changes only the color, so it makes sense when you like the layout and the cabinets are solid.
Painting or refinishing cabinets: what is the difference in cost?
Refinishing costs $1,500 to $4,500 for an average kitchen and painting costs $2,000 to $6,500, by the national figures. Refinishing usually means stripping or sanding and then staining or clear coating, so the wood grain still shows.
Paint hides the wood and gives a solid color. If you want to keep a wood look, ask for refinishing. If you want white, grey, green or navy, you want paint.
Are 1990s oak cabinets worth painting, and can oak go white?
Yes, oak cabinets are usually worth painting, and yes, they can go white. Oak from the 1980s and 1990s is in a great many Modesto kitchens, and it is solid wood that holds paint well.
Two things to know. Oak grain shows through paint unless a grain filler is used first. And oak has tannins that can bleed through white paint as yellow stains, so a stain-blocking primer is needed. Tell your painter how smooth you want the doors.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Laminate can be painted if it is firmly stuck down, cleaned, scuffed and primed with a bonding primer. Thermofoil is riskier. If the vinyl skin is lifting or bubbling at the edges, paint will not fix it.
Peeling thermofoil doors are better replaced. The boxes can still be painted to match new doors. We look at the edges near the stove and dishwasher, where heat lifts the skin first.
Is it better to spray or brush cabinets, and are doors sprayed off site?
Spraying gives the smoothest finish on cabinet doors. Brushing and rolling with the right paint can also look very good, with a slight texture. Nationally, spray painting cabinets is published at $40 to $100 per linear foot.
Many painters take doors and drawer fronts away to spray them and paint the frames in the kitchen. Others do everything on site. Ask any painter where the doors will be finished and how the kitchen will be protected. Ask us how we would handle yours.
Can cabinets be painted without removing the doors?
They can, but the result is worse. With the doors on, paint builds up at the hinges, edges get missed and drips form. Taking the doors off and removing the hardware is the normal method.
Doors are numbered so each goes back where it came from. If your hinges are old and worn, this is a good time to replace them.
How long does cabinet painting take, and can I use my kitchen?
Cabinet painting takes 3 to 5 days by the national figure, and you can use your kitchen for most of it. The doors and drawer fronts are off, so the shelves are open, but the sink, stove and fridge usually stay in service.
Plan simple meals and clear the counters. The paint needs to dry between coats, and in Modesto's dry air that goes well in most seasons.
Will painted cabinets chip or peel?
Painted cabinets can chip where they are hit, such as around handles and on lower drawers. They should not peel. Peeling means grease was left on the surface or the wrong primer was used.
Cabinet paint is dry to the touch in hours but takes weeks to reach full hardness. Be gentle for the first few weeks. Keep some touch-up paint for small chips.
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 applied and cured in controlled conditions and is generally harder than paint applied in a home.
A well-prepared paint job with a hard-curing cabinet enamel gets close in daily use. How long it looks good depends on how hard the kitchen is used and how it is cleaned.
What kind of paint do pros use on cabinets for a smooth finish?
For a smooth finish, cabinets are painted with an enamel made for trim and cabinets, not wall paint. Waterborne alkyd and urethane-modified acrylic enamels level out as they dry, which hides brush marks, and they cure harder than wall paint.
Satin and semi-gloss are the usual sheens because they wipe clean. We do not name a brand here. Ask us what we would use on your cabinets and why.
I painted my cabinets myself and they look bad. Can a pro fix them?
Yes, in most cases. If you painted the cabinets yourself and the paint is peeling, sticky or full of brush marks, it can be sanded back, primed properly and refinished.
It costs more than painting untouched cabinets, because the failed paint has to come off first. If wall paint was used, it usually all has to be removed. We look at a door and tell you what it will take.
A free walkthrough and a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (209) 231-7078.