Painting kitchen cabinets costs $2,000 to $6,500 for an average kitchen, by national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. Bronx apartment kitchens are often small galley kitchens, so the per door figures below are the more useful ones.
Price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes. New York City labor, building rules, access and the state 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 in an average kitchen painted, by the national figures. A small kitchen of 70 to 100 square feet is listed at $1,000 to $3,500.
| Unit | National range |
|---|---|
| Per door | $70 to $125 |
| Per drawer front | $30 to $110 |
| Per cabinet | $120 to $190 |
| Per linear foot | $30 to $70 |
| Per linear foot, sprayed | $40 to $100 |
How much for 20 or 30 cabinet doors and drawers?
At the published $70 to $125 per door, 20 cabinet doors come to $1,400 to $2,500 and 30 cabinet doors come to $2,100 to $3,750. Drawer fronts are $30 to $110 each, so 10 drawers add $300 to $1,100.
That is arithmetic on national figures. It does not include the cabinet frames, end panels or any repair, which a real quote lists.
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 for refacing and $4,500 to $15,000 for full replacement.
Paint changes the color. Refacing puts new doors and veneer on the old boxes. Replacement changes the layout. If the boxes are solid and you like the layout, paint gives the most change for the money.
Painting or refinishing cabinets: what is the difference in cost?
Refinishing costs $1,500 to $4,500 and painting costs $2,000 to $6,500, by the national figures. Refinishing means stripping or sanding the wood and applying new stain and clear coat, so the grain still shows. Painting covers the wood with a solid color.
Refinishing only works on real wood in fair condition. Painting works on wood, and with the right primer on many factory surfaces too.
Are 1990s oak cabinets worth painting, and can oak go white?
Yes, solid oak cabinets are usually worth painting, and oak can go white. Oak boxes and doors are strong and take paint well.
Know one thing first: oak has deep open grain. Under white paint the grain still shows as texture unless it is filled. Grain filling is extra work. Some people like the grain showing and some want it flat, so decide before the job is priced.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Laminate can be painted if it is sound and firmly stuck down, using a bonding primer made for slick surfaces. Thermofoil is riskier.
Thermofoil is a thin vinyl skin over fiberboard. If the skin is lifting at the edges, which heat near an oven often causes, paint will not hold it down and the peeling goes on underneath. In that case new doors are the better spend. We test adhesion on the back of a door before we promise anything.
Spray or brush for cabinets, and are doors sprayed off site?
Spraying gives the smoothest finish on cabinet doors, and brushing and rolling is used on the frames when spraying indoors is not practical. Whether the doors go off site depends on the job.
In a Bronx apartment there is rarely room to set up a spray area, and buildings do not want spray in shared hallways. Taking doors and drawer fronts away to spray them, and painting the frames in place, is a common way to handle that. Ask us how we would do your kitchen.
Can cabinets be painted without removing the doors?
They can, but the result is worse. Painting cabinets without removing the doors leaves unpainted strips at the hinges, drips on the edges and paint on the hardware.
Doors off, hardware off, each piece labeled, both sides painted flat: that is how a lasting job is done.
How long does cabinet painting take and can I use the kitchen?
Cabinet painting takes 3 to 5 days, by the national figures, and you can use your kitchen for light things during most of it. The sink, fridge and stove stay in place.
The cabinet boxes will be open and empty near the fronts, and fresh paint must not be bumped. Plan simple meals. The paint is dry to the touch within hours but stays soft for a few weeks, so close doors gently at first.
Will painted cabinets chip or peel?
Painted cabinets can chip at the edges that get the most hits, but they should not peel. Peeling means the surface was not cleaned, sanded or primed properly.
Kitchen grease is the usual cause. It has to be washed off fully before sanding. A small chip years later can be touched up, so 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 figures. A factory finish is baked or cured under controlled conditions and is harder than paint applied in a home.
A well prepped paint job with a cabinet grade enamel gets close in daily use. Its advantage is that it can be touched up or repainted, which a factory finish cannot.
What kind of paint do pros use on cabinets for a smooth finish?
Pros use a hard drying enamel made for cabinets and trim, often a water based alkyd or urethane modified enamel, over a bonding primer. These level out as they dry, so cabinet doors come out smooth with few brush marks.
Ordinary wall paint stays soft and sticks to itself where a door meets the frame. We do not name one brand as the answer. Ask any painter what product they plan to use and look up its data sheet.
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 bonded but rough, it can be sanded smooth, primed and refinished.
If the paint scratches off with a fingernail, it did not bond and has to come off first, which costs more than starting from bare cabinets would have. We check a door before we price.
A free estimate with a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your job. Call or text (718) 866-3263.