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How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets?

Painting kitchen cabinets costs $1,390 to $4,000 for most kitchens in 2026. What changes your price is below.

Thumbtack's March 2026 data puts most jobs at $1,390 to $3,353, about $2,164. Fixr puts the average higher at $4,000, with most kitchens at $2,500 to $6,500 and $30 to $70 per linear foot. Painting costs far less than refacing or new cabinets.

Painting kitchen cabinets costs $1,390 to $4,000 for most kitchens in 2026

Estimate the cost to paint kitchen cabinets

Pick what you need and add your ZIP. The price updates as you go. Got a price already? Check it in the last step.

1Which one do you need?
2Finish
3What is your ZIP?
Local prices not added yet.
4Got a price?
Optional. We check it.

Is this price fair?

A fair price is $1,400 to $4,000.

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Low$2,700High
Your estimateUS average
$1,400to$4,000

Middle of the range: $2,700

$0$2,700$5,400
Normal range Middle

What you are paying for

Typical kitchenUS range for this job.$1,400 to $4,000
Brushed and rolledFinish.Base price
US averageLocal prices not added yet.US price
Middle of rangeHalfway between low and high.$2,700
How we calculate this

    Prices are for the United States in 2026 from published cost guides, checked September 2026. This is an estimate, not a quote.

    Middle $2,700$1,400 to $4,000

    How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets by kitchen size?

    Thumbtack typical range$1,390 to $3,353, about $2,164 (Mar 2026).
    Fixr typical range$2,500 to $6,500, average $4,000 (Jan 2026).
    Per linear foot$30 to $70.
    Per square foot$3 to $10.
    Spray in place, one Phoenix shop$38 per linear foot.
    Refacing instead$5,000 to $10,000 (Always Do Better).
    New cabinets instead$8,000 to $13,000 or more.

    What pushes a quote up

    Kitchen sizeMore doors and drawers mean more hours.
    PrepDegreasing, sanding and priming are most of the work.
    Paint typeHard wearing enamels cost more.
    Spray or brushSpraying looks smoother; setup costs more.
    Island and trimAdd to the total.

    Kitchen cabinet painting cost by region

    Lower cost states$1,100 to $3,200. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia and most rural areas.
    Average cost states$1,390 to $4,000. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and most mid size cities.
    Higher cost states$1,800 to $5,200. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington, plus big metros such as Chicago, Denver and Washington DC.

    These rows are our estimate. We took the typical national range and adjusted it for local labor costs, which run about 20 percent lower in the cheapest states and about 30 percent higher in the dearest ones. Painters in big cities charge more per hour.

    Paint, reface or replace?

    Painting keeps your cabinet boxes and doors and changes the color. Refacing adds new doors and drawer fronts. Replacing swaps everything. If the boxes are solid and you like the layout, painting gives the biggest change per dollar.

    Most of the price is prep, not paint. Cabinets must be cleaned of grease, sanded and primed, or the new paint will peel.

    Ask how the doors are done

    Some painters spray the boxes in place and take the doors to a shop. This gives a smoother finish and keeps your kitchen usable sooner.

    Why this costs more in 2026

    Quality paint and primer cost more in 2026, and good cabinet painters are busy.

    Two costs moved in 2026. Diesel passed $6 a gallon on September 11 (CBS 8 reporting AAA), and building inputs rose 4.8 percent in a year (Roofing Contractor). Ask if your price can change before work starts.

    How to judge the quote in your hand

    Ways to pay less