Grace Woodwork
What Kitchen Cabinet Painting Costs
National cost guides put professional kitchen cabinet painting anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a small job to several thousand for a full kitchen. Here is what they publish, what moves the number, and how we price a kitchen.
Published cabinet painting prices
These are national figures from cost guides that survey contractors across the United States. They are not East Texas prices and they are not our prices. They are useful for knowing whether a quote is in the normal range.
Grace Woodwork quotes every kitchen after seeing it, because the same size kitchen can take twice as long when the cabinets are greasy, damaged or covered in a glossy old finish. Read the table as a guide to the national market, checked October 2026.
| Source | Whole kitchen | Per linear foot | Per door |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomeGuide | $2,000 to $6,500 (small kitchen $1,000 to $3,500) | $30 to $70 | not listed |
| Fixr | $2,500 to $6,500, average $4,000 | about $30 to $70 | $70 to $125 (drawer fronts $30 to $110) |
| Angi | stock cabinets $900 to $2,000; custom $2,500 to $7,000 | $30 to $60 | $100 to $250 |
| Forbes Home | about $600 to $1,200 for 20 linear feet | $30 to $60 | not listed |
| Bob Vila (citing Angi and HomeAdvisor) | typical $422 to $1,415, average about $895 | not listed | not listed |
The low averages and the high whole-kitchen ranges come from different samples and methods, so compare like with like.
What moves the price up or down
How many cabinets
Linear feet of uppers and lowers, plus doors and drawer fronts, set the base of every quote.
Prep
Grease, damage, peeling finish and old glossy coats all add hours before any paint goes on. Angi says labor is 70 to 80 percent of the bill.
Repairs
Loose hinges, split doors and sagging shelves fixed first.
Inside the boxes
Painting the interiors takes much longer than the outside; most kitchens skip it.
Finish and color
Two-tone kitchens, glazes and big color changes over dark wood need more coats.
Height and access
Tall cabinets reaching a high ceiling, and crowded kitchens, take longer.
Painting compared with the alternatives
Painting is usually the least expensive way to change how a kitchen looks, because nothing is built or replaced. Refacing costs more because it adds new doors, drawer fronts and facing; replacing the cabinets costs the most, with tear-out on top. Our guide what cabinet refacing is compares all three with published ranges.
Doing it yourself costs less in money and more in time. HomeGuide puts DIY materials at roughly $200 to $600 and estimates 30 to 60 hours for about 200 square feet of cabinets. The difference between a finish that lasts and one that chips is almost always in the cleaning, sanding and priming, so if you paint them yourself, do not cut the prep.
How we price a kitchen
- Photos firstA wide picture of each wall of cabinets and a close one of a door tells us a lot.
- A look in personWe check the material, the existing finish and any damage.
- A written priceWhat is painted, what is not, the color and sheen, and any repairs, before work starts.
Ready to see what yours would cost? See our cabinet painting service or send a photo.
Common questions
How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets?
National guides publish a wide range. HomeGuide lists about $2,000 to $6,500 for a whole kitchen and Fixr about $2,500 to $6,500, while Bob Vila, citing Angi and HomeAdvisor, reports a typical range of roughly $422 to $1,415. The size of the kitchen and how much prep it needs explain most of the gap.
How much does cabinet painting cost per door?
Fixr lists about $70 to $125 per door and $30 to $110 per drawer front; Angi lists about $100 to $250 per door. Per-door prices usually include the matching part of the face frame and boxes, but check what each quote covers.
How much is cabinet painting per linear foot?
HomeGuide gives about $30 to $70 per linear foot of cabinets, and Forbes Home and Angi about $30 to $60. Measure the length of your upper and lower runs to estimate.
Is cabinet painting worth it?
When the cabinet boxes are sound and you like the layout, painting usually costs a fraction of replacing them, and published guides say a professional finish lasts about 8 to 15 years with care. When the boxes are water-damaged or the layout does not work, the money is better spent on new cabinets.
How much paint do I need to paint cabinets?
It depends on the size of the kitchen and the paint. Paint makers list coverage on the can and the data sheet. For a quote from us, we work out the materials; you do not need to.
Send a photo and we will tell you what it needs.
A phone picture is plenty. You will hear what the piece needs, what it will cost and roughly how long it will take before anything starts.
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