How Much Does It Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets?
Tired of staring at the same old kitchen cabinets day in and day out? Painting kitchen cabinets is an easy, cost-effective way to give your kitchen an update without installing all-new cabinetry.
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Cabinet painting costs $775 (CAD 1,054) on average, according to Forbes, although you could pay as little as $200 (CAD 272) to repaint a small kitchen. Depending on the size and number of cabinets, you could end up paying upwards of $2,500 (CAD 3,398) for a professional job.
There are several additional factors that help determine the cost of painting kitchen cabinets, including labor, cabinet condition and materials needed. If you’re on the fence about whether you should hire a pro or DIY your kitchen cabinet paint job, keep reading for a breakdown of the price.
How Much Does Painting Kitchen Cabinets Cost If You DIY?
If you’re working with a tight budget, it’s smart to paint kitchen cabinets yourself. Kitchen cabinet painting is a relatively simple skill, but the job involves plenty of labor and tedious work. And it’s not just painting — removing and cleaning kitchen cabinets can be quite the chore as well.
When you choose to do it yourself, you take on those labor challenges, eliminating the majority of the costs associated with hiring a pro. On average, you can expect the cost of paint and materials to run between $200 and $600 (CAD 272 and CAD 816), according to Forbes. If this is your first home reno project, you might need to purchase items like a paint sprayer.
Here’s what you’ll need to complete your cabinet painting project:
- Paint and primer
- Brushes and rollers
- Paint trays
- Painters tape
- Drill or screwdriver (for removing cabinets)
- Cleaning materials
- Sandpaper
- Plastic tarps for the ground
Pros and Cons of DIY Cabinet Painting
Pros:
- Saves a significant amount of money
- No need for other people to enter your home
- It’s a simple project with a big impact on the look of the space
Cons:
- Project can consume a lot of time and energy
- DIY painted cabinets will likely start chipping faster than professionally painted ones
- Any mistakes are yours to deal with
- Without a paint sprayer (which can be difficult to use), you might end up with visible paint streaks
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How Much Does It Cost to Have Kitchen Cabinets Professionally Painted?
Despite kitchen cabinet painting being a pretty straightforward concept, the project still involves a lot of hard work that you might not be prepared to take on. If you’re unable to do the job yourself, Forbes says you expect to pay around $30 to $60 (CAD 41 to CAD 82) per linear foot for a professional to do it for you. This cost estimate covers materials, labor and supplies. If you have kitchen cabinets that are difficult to remove (for example, if they’re inset with glass or configured in a tight or awkward layout), you can expect to pay a little extra.
Pros and Cons of a Professional Kitchen Cabinet Paint Job
Pros:
- You’ll get quality results that should last for years
- Professionals are less likely to make mistakes
- Project may be completed quickly and efficiently
- No stress or hard work for you
Cons:
- May cost significantly more than DIY
- You’ll have to deal with contractors being in your space
What Factors Make Up the Price?
There are plenty of factors that can cause your kitchen cabinet painting costs to vary. The main ones are cabinet size, cabinet material, number of cabinets, paint type, coats of paint needed and labor.
However, painting is still preferable to replacing cabinets that are in good shape. Did you know installing new kitchen cabinets can cost as much as $36,000 (CAD 48,937), depending on the materials? (Pricing from HomeGuide.) So, at the end of the day — whether you choose to DIY or hire a professional — painting your cabinets is the easiest way to refresh your kitchen without breaking the bank.
All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.
