Painting kitchen cabinets can boost a home’s value and could be more affordable than replacing them and done in less time than you think. The goal is to assure that the paint will last and not chip or peel. This DIY project provides the biggest bang for your buck.

When deciding to paint the kitchen cabinets in your home, a few questions will arise: What paint should I use? What is the cost? How do I prepare cabinets prior to painting? What is the best way to paint kitchen cabinets?

Let’s tackle these frequently asked questions:

What is the cost of painting cabinets?

The cost of the project depends on:

The size of the kitchen - how many cabinets are in your kitchen?
The type of paint and primer - $100 to $300
The method used for paint - paint sprayer or foam brush with a high quality paint brush for the nooks and crannies - $100 to $500
The cost of supplies/disposables - tape, drop clothes, paint trays, respirator mask, gloves - $50 to $100
The cost of tools used to remove doors and hardware - screwdriver and drill (most likely already in your tool box) - zero dollars
The cost of tools used to repair damaged doors or cabinet frames - putty knife and wood filler - $20
Your time or hired contractor/labor

What type of cabinets can be painted?

Can be applied to wood, melanin, or MDF

Can I paint the cabinets without removing them from the walls?

At the very least, remove the drawers, doors, and hardware. The cabinet boxes can be painted while still attached to the walls.

Step 1 - Disassemble and Find a Work and Drying Area

Find a flat surface in your home to have enough space to work. Empty the cabinets and remove all doors, drawers, hinges, handles and knobs. Label your doors and drawers to know where they go after painting. Make sure the work area is large enough to let everything dry for long periods of time.

Step 2 - Prepare the doors and cabinets

Clean and dry the cabinets, drawers and doors. Use a gentle grease remover like Krud Kutter or TSP (trisodium phosphate) and sponge to clean. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe them clean and dry. Make repairs to damages with the wood filler and putty knife. After allowing them to dry, it’s time to roughen the doors and cabinets. Protect yourself and wear a respirator to protect your lungs from exposure during sanding and painting. Using a 100- to 150- grit sandpaper, lightly scuff-sand the surfaces just enough so that the primer has a surface to stick to and remove any gloss. If the current finish is matte, give them a light sanding. Glossy surfaces should be completely dulled. Clean away any dust with a slightly damp cloth

Step 3 - Mask and Protect Your Kitchen

Tape a drop cloth over the countertops, surrounding walls and work area while painting. It’s always best to cover anything you don’t intend to paint.

Step 4 - Prime Time!

Selecting a high-quality primer will lay the foundation for a stellar paint job. Use a paint sprayer or foam brush to apply the primer and use a small paint brush to handle any details.

We recommend using Fresh Start High-Hiding All-Purpose Primer or Kelly-Moore Kel-Bond Adhesion Plus.

Fresh Start High-Hiding All-Purpose Primer

This acrylic primer offers maximum hide, seals and suppresses stains, and provides a mildew-resistant coating for wood and other surfaces. And if your kitchen cabinets are a darker color, it is the go-to primer for drastic paint color changes.

Kelly-Moore Kel-Bond High Performance Adhesion Plus

This acrylic primer is a high performance, interior and exterior binding primer which provides maximum adhesion to hard, dense and glossy surfaces.

After you’re done, grab a refreshment and take a break: the primer must dry at least 24 hours before moving on to Step 5.

Step 5 - Sand Again

Once the primer is completely dry (at least 24 hours in a well-ventilated area) and cured, it’s time to sand once again. Using a fine, 220-grit paper, sand all surfaces lightly, focusing on the inside corners and anywhere two flat areas meet. Make sure the surface is as even as possible—this ensures your paint will go on smoothly. Wipe away any dust with a slightly damp cloth or tack cloth, then let dry.

Step 6 - Paint

Now that the cabinets and doors are primed and ready, start painting. We suggest painting the doors horizontally on a flat surface one side at a time waiting until each coat is completely dry before painting the other side. Using this method will allow the paint to self-level as it dries giving you a smooth finish. Paint the cabinet boxes.

Step 7 - Sand Again

Sand a third and final time with 220-grit sandpaper. Gently wipe off any dust.

Step 8 - Apply a second coat

A second coat gives you complete coverage and allows the finish to cure evenly.

Step 9 - Allow Cabinets to Dry

The longer the paint dries, the more durable its finish will be, and the less likely it will stick during reinstallation. At minimum, let the cabinets dry in a well-ventilated area for at least 24 hours—however, two or three days is even better.

Once everything is fully dry, you can begin assembling the cabinets. Install the hardware, hinges, handles and knobs in your repainted cabinets.

Your newly refreshed kitchen is ready to be enjoyed.

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How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets?