Cabinet painting is one of the most cost-effective ways to transform a kitchen or bathroom — but the price range is genuinely wide, and that range exists for good reasons. Understanding what drives the cost will help you budget realistically and know what to look for in a quote. This guide covers the key price factors and when refinishing makes more financial sense than replacing.
A note on pricing: we don't publish fixed prices, because the accurate number for any cabinet project depends on factors that can only be assessed in person. What this guide does instead is explain exactly what those factors are — so you know what you're paying for and what a fair quote should account for. A free, on-site estimate is always the right starting point.
What drives the cost of cabinet painting
- Number of doors and drawer fronts. This is typically the biggest single factor. A small bathroom vanity with four doors is a very different scope from a full kitchen with uppers, lowers, and an island. More surfaces mean more labour, more material, and more time for the spray setup that delivers a smooth finish.
- Cabinet material and current condition. Solid wood cabinets with sound joints and a stable finish are straightforward to prepare. MDF, thermofoil, or cabinets with delaminating surfaces require extra assessment and preparation steps. Heavily worn, greasy, or previously painted doors take more work to get to a clean starting point.
- Colour change and number of coats. Going from a dark stained finish to a crisp white requires a proper bonding primer and typically more finish coats than a like-for-like colour refresh. The more dramatic the colour change, the more carefully the prep and priming need to be done.
- Repairs and prep work. Minor dents, soft edges, or hairline cracks in the frame need filling and sanding before the finish goes on. If the existing finish is glossy, it needs to be de-glossed or scuffed so the new coating bonds properly. Skipping this step is what causes cabinet paint to chip — so professional prep is where a quality job is won or lost.
- Spray application vs. brush and roller. A spray-applied finish produces the smooth, factory-like result most homeowners are after. It requires removing doors, setting up a spray area, and careful masking of everything nearby — which takes time and skill. It is the right approach for a result that looks and holds like it should.
- Hardware and reassembly. Whether new hardware is being installed or the existing hardware is going back on, reinstalling hinges and handles is part of the job and is included in a complete estimate.
Why there's no one-size-fits-all price
A small bathroom vanity and a full kitchen with an island sit at very different ends of the scale, and even two kitchens with the same number of doors can price differently once condition, colour change, and prep are factored in. That is why an honest number comes from seeing the actual cabinets rather than a figure pulled off a web page. The good news is that whatever the scope, cabinet painting consistently lands at a fraction of the cost of replacing — more on that next. You can learn more about what the process involves on our cabinet refinishing service page.
Cabinet painting vs. cabinet replacement: the value comparison
Replacing kitchen cabinetry is a major investment — you are paying for the new cabinetry itself plus installation, and often countertop replacement and any drywall or plumbing work that gets disturbed along the way. Cabinet painting delivers the visual transformation of a fresh kitchen — new colour, clean lines, updated hardware — at a fraction of that investment, and with far less disruption to your home.
The right candidates for cabinet painting are kitchens where the cabinet boxes and frames are structurally sound, the doors are flat and well-fitting, and the layout works. If the boxes are damaged, the doors are warped, or the layout genuinely does not serve the space, replacement makes more sense. A professional assessment at the time of your estimate will give you an honest answer on whether your cabinets are good candidates.
If your kitchen project also includes refreshing the walls or ceiling, that work is typically scoped separately — see our interior painting page for more on how those two scopes work together.
Want your project priced accurately?
A free, on-site estimate is the only way to get a real number for your home — clear written pricing, no pressure, same-day response.
Request Your Free EstimateWhy preparation determines the result
Cabinet painting is a precision job. The reason some painted cabinets look beautiful and hold up for years while others chip within months almost always comes down to what happened before the colour went on. Proper degreasing removes the cooking residue and oils that prevent adhesion. Sanding or chemical de-glossing gives the primer something to grip. A quality bonding primer locks everything together before the finish coats are applied. And a sprayed finish, done in the right conditions, eliminates the brush marks and roller stipple that make a painted cabinet look like a DIY project.
At Chamos Painting, preparation is the foundation of every cabinet job — it is where we spend the time that determines how the finish looks and how long it lasts. We are fully licensed and insured with WCB coverage, and every project is backed by our workmanship guarantee.
How to get your accurate number
The only accurate price for your cabinet project is the one that comes from seeing your actual cabinets. A free, on-site estimate lets us count the doors and drawers, assess the current finish condition, discuss the colour direction you have in mind, and give you a clear written number — with no pressure and no obligation. It is typically a short visit, and it removes all the guesswork.