Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets White: 6 Tips to Save Money

When considering brightening your kitchen, homeowners often contemplate painting their cabinets white. One crucial factor in this decision is understanding the cost to paint kitchen cabinets white.

The price to paint your kitchen cabinets white ranges from $500 to $10,000. It depends on different factors. The cost of your painting project depends on whether you do it yourself or hire a professional. While that’s the main factor, several other things will determine the cost of your project.  

Painting your kitchen cabinets white is a great way to make your kitchen livelier. But, it can also be quite costly. It’s important to know your budget and stick to it. This is because you may have other remodeling projects planned. In this article, we’ll look at how to save money and how much to budget for your cabinet design project. 

What is the Cost to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets White? 

Cost To Paint Kitchen Cabinets White

The cost to paint cabinets white can vary depending on various factors, such as the cabinets’ size, the existing paint’s condition, and the type of paint used. On average, kitchen cabinet painting costs $1,500 to $3,500 for professional kitchen cabinet painting services. DIY options, however, can be more cost-effective.

The average cost of painting your kitchen cabinets white depends on several key factors. The biggest one is who will be doing the painting. Repainting your kitchen cabinets yourself is much cheaper than hiring a pro. If you don’t know how to paint, you could damage your cabinets instead of improving them. 

Your kitchen is one of your home’s most valuable and important rooms. Messing up the cabinets when trying to improve them will result in one of two things. If this happens, your home’s value will decrease. You will also need to buy new cabinets.  

If this is the case, attempting to paint your kitchen cabinets won’t pay off in the long run. 

Factors That Affect the Cost of Painting Your Cabinets White

If you don’t know about home improvement, you may wonder why painting kitchen cabinets is expensive. Here are some main factors in how professional paint companies charge for kitchen cabinet painting jobs. Knowing how painting contractors charge will help you know the main areas you can save money.  

Painting Method 

Whether you hire a pro or do the job yourself, your painting method will factor in the total cost of materials. In general, you have two painting options: 

Spray Painting 

Using a paint sprayer is faster and more efficient than painting by hand. You must buy or rent a sprayer if you do the work yourself. This could cost several hundred dollars extra for your project. There’s also a bit of a learning curve with spray paint, which could offset the time you save by using a sprayer. 

When spray painting cabinets, prep work is critical to avoid paint overspray. Cover countertops and other cabinet materials with plastic you don’t want to paint. It also works great if you intend to remove kitchen cabinet doors.

When you use it, a spray painter will do the best paint job and smoother finish. It’s the preferred method by professionals, but they charge a hefty fee for it. 

Brush Painting 

If you’re uncomfortable using a sprayer or don’t want to splurge on renting one, your other option is to use a brush or roller. A paint roller will cover more cabinet surfaces than a brush, but it won’t get to all the corners and crevices. Therefore, it’s best to use a brush and a roller if you plan to paint your cabinets by hand. 

Paint Finish

The paint finish also matters when painting kitchen cabinets. A semi-gloss or satin finish gives the cabinets a modern look and is durable and easier to clean. It’s best to use high-quality paint for the job because lower quality paints can flake off over time, making your kitchen look dingy and outdated.

If you’re not experienced, kitchen cabinet painting might take longer than spray painting. The only downside is the risk of showing brush strokes if you rush things. Professionals who paint by hand will charge more for labor costs than spray painters. 

Types of Paint You Use

The type of cabinet paint you use for your DIY project will impact the cost. If you’re doing the job yourself, paint and primer will be the main cost factors determining your spending. High-quality paint is important to breathe new life into your new white kitchen cabinets. 

There’s a wide price disparity when it comes to kitchen cabinet paints. The best paint can cost up to $50 per gallon, while cheaper paints can cost as little as $15 or $20 per gallon. If you need 10 gallons of paint and opt for a high-quality variety, you’re looking at $500 in paint alone. But, the best way to ensure a quality end product is to splurge on good paint at the beginning.  

If you hire a pro to paint, these paint costs will be even higher. You’ll get charged the cost of the gallon of paint plus a slight upcharge. It’s like having a mechanic buy a car part for you and install it. You pay the cost of the part plus a “convenience fee” for buying it from the mechanic. 

Material Costs 

Paint and primer are costly but not the only things you’ll need. Here are some things you’ll need to add to your shopping list if you’re painting your cabinets. 

• Painter tape – $5 per roll 
• Paint rollers – $5 to $15 per roller 
• Paint brushes – $3 to $10 per brush 
• Type of paint – latex paints and matte paints don’t cost as much as oil-based paints, but they aren’t as good either. 
• Plastic wrap and cardboard to protect your kitchen appliances and floors – $20 to $50
• Putty knife – $$5 to $10

Number of Cabinets 

The number of cabinets will determine how long the job takes and how much paint you need. Larger kitchens can cost double or triple what small kitchens do, especially when you hire a pro. If you do the job yourself, you can save money using less paint and primer. But be careful not to use so little that the cabinets look bad. 

Current Condition of the Cabinets 

If you have old cabinets that are beat up, it will be more expensive to paint them white. Preparing your cabinets for painting requires more work, which leads to a higher cost. Before painting, fix scratches, cracks, and other defects to ensure a smooth surface. This means more time for sanding and spackling and the materials involved. 

Size of Your Kitchen 

Larger kitchens will have more cabinets, so they’ll cost more to paint white. If your kitchen is bigger, more prep work and safety measures will be involved. It will take your painting company longer to prepare and finish the job than with small kitchens.  

What Color You’re Changing From 

If you’re going from darker color to white, you’ll need more coats of paint than going from lighter color to white. You may need more fresh paint if your old paint is a different color. This will increase the project’s cost. 

Additionally, you’ll need to use more coats of paint if you’re painting oak cabinets or maple cabinets white. Additional sanding and prep work will also be involved with unpainted wood cabinets. 

Laminate Cabinets

When painting laminate cabinets, preparation is key. Here are some specific tips for painting laminate cabinets:

• Clean thoroughly – Use TSP cleaner to degrease and degloss the laminate surfaces so the paint adheres well. Rinse and let dry completely.
• Sand lightly – Use 220 grit sandpaper to scuff up the shiny laminate just enough to help the paint grab on. Don’t sand too aggressively.
• Prime – Use a bonding primer for slick surfaces like laminate and melamine. The primer creates a grip for the paint.
• Choose paint wisely – Use a cabinet/trim paint formulated for hard wear and flexibility. An alkyd or acrylic latex paint will adhere best.
• Apply in thin coats – Thin layers of paint build evenly and avoid drips. Allow proper drying time between coats, according to the manufacturer.
• Caulk first – Use paintable caulk to fill any cracks and gaps for a smooth finish. Let the caulk dry completely before painting.
• Handle doors carefully – Detach doors and other removable parts to paint separately for best results. Use caution when removing hinge screws.
• Check adhesion – After the top coat dries, test adhesion on a low visibility spot by applying painter’s tape and peeling it off. The paint should stay intact.
• Add protective top coat – For added durability, apply a clear polyurethane over the finished painted surface. This adds a protective barrier.

Complexity 

The more complex and timely your project is, the higher the labor cost. Basic, plain cabinets don’t take nearly as long to paint as custom ones with many nooks and crannies. If your cabinets are complicated, professional painters will take longer to paint them.

Money Savers

You can save money doing some of the prep work yourself. Cleaning cabinet drawer fronts, doors, and boxes, removing cabinet pulls and door handles, and making minor repairs can reduce the cost of painting cabinets.

If you’re handy, you can do minor cabinet repairs and prep, like applying wood putty and sanding.

Additional Costs to Consider 

Besides these costs you’ll always incur, there are a few more to consider.

Appliance Removal 

Depending on your age or physical condition, you may need to hire professionals to remove your appliances. Plumbers and electricians will disconnect your dishwasher, stove plumbing, and electrical lines. 

Hiring a professional painter means they can work around appliances without you moving them. You’ll have to remove them yourself or hire someone if they can’t. Most kitchen cabinet painters won’t go near electrical, water, and gas connections. 

Adding Protection 

Unless you plan to remodel your entire kitchen, from the floors to the ceiling, you’ll want to cover them with protective cardboard or plastic. The time and material necessary to do this aren’t overwhelming, but it could add several hundred dollars to your project. 

If you don’t do the job yourself and hire a company, they won’t charge for materials, but they will charge for time. 

Costs Involved With Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets 

Depending on who you hire for your painting process, they’ll charge by the hour or per linear foot. While the individual costs might vary, they will always be higher if you have a large kitchen with many cabinets and far less if you have a small kitchen.  

As a rule of thumb, a painting contractor will charge around $90 per hour to paint kitchen cabinets. If they charge per square foot, the National average cost is anywhere from $5 to $10. So, if you have 200 square feet of cabinets and your professional cabinet painter charges $10 per foot, you’re looking at a bill of $2,000.  

Average Cost per Cabinet Doors and Drawer Faces 

Refacing cabinet doors and drawer fronts are smaller than the cabinet bodies, so painting them should be cheaper. Painting these components is complex and tedious, so painters charge a flat rate based on time and paint needed. 

You can expect to pay between $50 and $100 per cabinet door and $20 to $50 per drawer face. These prices vary according to the size of the cabinets and how difficult they are to paint.  

Cabinet Boxes 

The cabinet boxes are much quicker and easier to paint. They will charge a flat rate for the box or per linear foot, depending on who you hire. 

Tips on How to Save Money on Your Painting Project 

The best way to save money on your kitchen cabinet painting project is to do the work yourself. Painting your kitchen cabinets white yourself will save thousands of dollars and could take the cost from $4,000 to $10,000, down to $500 to $1,000. If you plan to do the work yourself, here are a few tips and tricks to save money. 

• Take an accurate calculation as to how much paint you’ll need. It’s always better to purchase less paint than too much because you can always return to the store and buy more. 
• See several companies offering free cost estimates to know how much money you’ll save. It will also help you shop for the best rate if you hire someone. 
• You can use old rags, towels, and tarps around the house rather than buying plastic and cardboard to protect your floors and appliances. 
• Use your tape if you have any rather than buying a special painter’s tape. 
• While choosing high-quality paint is important, it’s more important that you don’t go broke. Buy a paint that’s a happy medium rather than the most expensive option available. 
• If you hire a pro, remove your appliances, cabinet doors, and cabinet hardware, and cover your floors to save some money on labor costs.  

Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets White FAQs

Final Thoughts 

Regarding how much money painting kitchen cabinets white will cost, it’s much cheaper to do the work yourself. You can save thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars, if you paint cabinets yourself.

But it’s only worth your time and labor if you do the job and use the right paint and primer suitable for your square footage. Otherwise, you’ll be doing more harm than good.