Painting kitchen cabinets changes a kitchen for far less than new cabinets. It works when the boxes are sound. These are the questions people ask us before they decide.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. Brooklyn labor, parking, walk-up access, building rules 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 $120 to $190 per cabinet. Spray finishing is listed at $40 to $100 per linear foot.
| 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 or more | $5,000 to $10,000 |
Many Brooklyn kitchens are galley kitchens and fall in the small row.
How much for 20 or 30 cabinet doors and drawers?
By the national per-piece figures, a door costs $70 to $125 and a drawer front $30 to $110. So 20 doors come to $1,400 to $2,500, and 30 cabinet doors come to $2,100 to $3,750. Ten drawers add $300 to $1,100. That is arithmetic on published figures, not a quote. The boxes and end panels are part of the job too.
Is it cheaper to paint, reface or replace cabinets?
Painting is the cheapest of the three. The 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 means new doors and drawer fronts with a new skin on the boxes. It makes sense when you want a different door style. Replacing makes sense when the boxes are swollen, broken or laid out badly.
Painting or refinishing cabinets: what is the difference in cost?
Refinishing is listed at $1,500 to $4,500 and painting at $2,000 to $6,500, by the national figures. Refinishing means stripping or sanding the old clear finish and staining again, so the wood grain still shows. Painting covers the grain with a solid color.
Are older oak cabinets worth painting, and can oak go white?
Yes, solid oak cabinets are worth painting if the boxes and hinges are sound. Oak can go white. The catch is the grain. Oak has open pores, and they show through paint as a texture unless the grain is filled first. Tell your painter whether you want the grain to show or not. Filling adds labor.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Laminate can be painted when it is firmly stuck down and gets a bonding primer. Thermofoil is harder. It is a thin vinyl skin, and once it starts to peel at the edges paint will not hold it. Peeling thermofoil doors are better replaced. We look at the doors before we say yes.
Spray or brush for cabinets, and are doors sprayed off site?
Spraying gives cabinet doors the smoothest finish, and a fine roller and brush can come close on the boxes. Doors and drawer fronts are normally taken off and finished flat. Ask each painter where that happens. In a Brooklyn apartment there is rarely space to spray on site, and co-op rules may not allow it.
Can cabinets be painted without removing the doors?
They can, but the result is worse. With the doors off, the edges, the hinge side and the frame behind are all coated, and the doors dry flat without runs. Painting cabinets without removing the doors leaves bare lines at the hinges and tends to glue doors to frames.
How long does cabinet painting take and can I use the kitchen?
Cabinet painting takes 3 to 5 days by the national figure. You can use the kitchen for most of it, with limits. The sink, stove and fridge stay connected. The boxes are open while the doors are away, and you should keep steam and grease down while coats dry.
Will painted cabinets chip or peel?
Painted cabinets can chip where they take knocks, such as the edges near the sink and the trash pull-out. They should not peel. Peeling means the surface was not cleaned of grease, not sanded or not primed. Small chips can be touched up if you keep the leftover paint.
How long does cabinet paint last, compared with a factory finish?
Painted kitchen cabinets last 8 to 15 years by the national figure. A factory finish is baked or cured under controlled conditions and is harder than anything applied in a home. A well prepared paint job is durable for normal use, but treat it more gently for the first few weeks while it hardens.
What kind of paint do pros use on cabinets for a smooth finish?
Pros use an enamel made for cabinets and trim, not wall paint. These level out as they dry, so brush marks flow away and the cabinet surface cures hard. Water-based enamels and hybrid enamels are the usual choices today. We do not name a brand here. Ask us what we would use on your doors and why.
I painted my cabinets myself and they look bad. Can a pro fix them?
Yes, in most cases. If you painted your cabinets yourself and the paint is sticky, streaky or peeling, the fix is to sand it back to a sound layer, prime with a bonding primer and finish again. If the old coat peels off in sheets, it all has to come off. That costs more than painting clean cabinets would have.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (917) 746-3274.