Cabinet painting is one of the most profitable services a painting contractor can offer. Homeowners love it because it transforms a kitchen for a fraction of the cost of new cabinets. And for you? The margins are excellent — if you price it right.
The problem is most painters either underbid cabinet jobs (because they're harder than they look) or overbid them (because they're scared of the prep work). This guide gives you real numbers so you can land the job AND make money.
What Are Contractors Charging for Cabinet Painting in 2026?
Here's where the market sits right now:
- Per kitchen (average 10x10): $3,000 – $7,000
- Per cabinet door: $70 – $125
- Per drawer front: $30 – $110
- Per linear foot: $30 – $60
- Per square foot of cabinet surface: $5 – $11
Most contractors in mid-range markets are closing kitchen cabinet jobs in the $4,000 – $5,500 range for a standard kitchen with 20-30 doors.
If you're charging less than $3,000 for a full kitchen, you're probably leaving money on the table. If you're over $7,000, you'd better be in a high-cost market or offering spray finishes with a warranty.
How to Price Cabinet Painting Jobs: 3 Methods
Method 1: Per Door and Drawer
This is the simplest approach and works great for standard kitchens:
- Cabinet doors: $75 – $125 each (both sides)
- Drawer fronts: $35 – $75 each
- Cabinet boxes/frames: $50 – $100 each
- Add $200 – $500 for a kitchen island
Example: A kitchen with 24 doors, 8 drawers, and 16 cabinet frames:
- Doors: 24 × $100 = $2,400
- Drawers: 8 × $50 = $400
- Frames: 16 × $75 = $1,200
- Total: $4,000
Method 2: Per Linear Foot
Measure the total linear feet of cabinetry (uppers and lowers):
- $30 – $60 per linear foot depending on complexity
- A 10x10 kitchen typically has 20-25 linear feet of cabinets
Example: 22 linear feet × $45/ft = $990 — wait, that seems low. That's because linear foot pricing works better as a quick ballpark. Always cross-check against per-door pricing.
Method 3: Time + Materials + Markup
For experienced painters who track their hours:
- Estimate hours: A standard kitchen takes 25-40 hours total (prep, prime, paint, reassemble)
- Labor rate: $45 – $65/hour
- Materials: $300 – $600 (primer, paint, sandpaper, hardware)
- Markup: 20-35% for profit and overhead
Example: 30 hours × $55/hr = $1,650 labor + $450 materials = $2,100 × 1.30 markup = $2,730
See how the numbers start to line up? Most methods should land you in that $3,000 – $5,500 range for a standard kitchen.
Use our cabinet painting calculator to run these numbers for any kitchen size in seconds.
What Affects Your Price
Not every cabinet job is the same. Here's what should move your price up or down:
Charge More For:
- Dark-to-light color changes — requires extra coats and better primer ($500-$1,000 more)
- Detailed or raised-panel doors — more surfaces, more time
- Kitchens with 30+ doors — scale doesn't always save time on cabinets
- Removing and reinstalling hardware — especially if replacing hinges
- Oil-based or lacquer finishes — higher material cost, longer dry times
- Spray finishing — better result, but setup and masking take hours
Charge Less For (or Keep Standard):
- Simple slab/flat doors — fastest to prep and paint
- Same-color refreshes — less primer needed
- Client removes hardware — saves you 1-2 hours
- Small kitchens (under 15 doors) — but still maintain your minimum
The Prep Work Is Where You Make or Lose Money
Here's the truth about cabinet painting: the painting part is maybe 30% of the job. The other 70% is prep.
A typical cabinet painting workflow:
- Remove all doors, drawers, and hardware (2-3 hours)
- Label everything — seriously, label it or you'll regret it
- Clean all surfaces — TSP or degreaser (kitchens are greasy)
- Sand everything — 120-150 grit for adhesion
- Fill holes, dents, dings — wood filler, sand smooth
- Prime — bonding primer is non-negotiable on cabinets
- Sand primer — light 220 grit
- First coat of paint
- Light sand between coats
- Second coat of paint
- Reinstall everything (2-3 hours)
That's why a "simple painting job" takes 25-40 hours. If you're not accounting for all that prep in your estimate, you're working for free.
What Paint and Primer to Use
Your materials matter on cabinets more than almost any other painting job:
- Primer: Zinsser BIN Shellac-Based or STIX Bonding Primer ($25-$40/gallon)
- Paint: Benjamin Moore Advance, Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane, or Cabinet Coat ($50-$75/gallon)
- Typical kitchen needs: 2-3 gallons primer, 2-3 gallons paint
- Total materials budget: $300 – $600
Don't cheap out on materials for cabinet jobs. Homeowners will notice if the finish isn't smooth, and you'll get callbacks if the paint chips.
How to Present Your Cabinet Painting Estimate
Cabinet painting estimates need to look professional because you're competing against kitchen remodelers and cabinet refacing companies. Your estimate should include:
- Itemized breakdown (doors, drawers, frames)
- Paint brand and color
- Number of coats
- Timeline (most kitchens take 3-5 days)
- What's included (hardware removal, cleaning, etc.)
- What's NOT included (new hardware, interior shelving, etc.)
- Warranty on your work (1-2 years is standard)
Want to create professional estimates in 60 seconds? Try SnapBid free — snap photos of the kitchen, and our AI builds the estimate for you.
Profit Margins on Cabinet Painting
Here's why cabinet painting should be in your service lineup:
- Average kitchen job: $4,000 – $5,000
- Your costs: $1,800 – $2,500 (labor + materials + overhead)
- Profit per job: $1,500 – $3,000
- Profit margin: 35-55%
Compare that to standard interior painting where margins often sit at 25-35%. Cabinet painting is more demanding, but the per-job profit makes it worth it.
Use our profit calculator to see exactly how cabinet jobs affect your bottom line.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Margins
- Not charging enough for dark-to-light — This adds 30-50% more time. Price accordingly.
- Forgetting to factor in dry time — You can't do cabinets in one day. Multiple trips = more time.
- Skipping the walk-through — Always see the kitchen in person before quoting.
- Using cheap primer — Peeling cabinets 6 months later = free redo.
- Not setting expectations on timeline — Homeowners get antsy when they can't use their kitchen.
FAQ
How long does it take to paint kitchen cabinets?
A standard kitchen with 20-30 doors typically takes 3-5 working days. That includes prep, priming, two coats of paint, dry time, and reinstallation. Larger kitchens or color changes can take up to 7 days.
Should I spray or brush kitchen cabinets?
Spraying gives a better finish and most clients prefer it. However, spraying requires more masking and setup time. If you're spraying on-site, budget an extra 3-4 hours for masking the kitchen. Some contractors take doors to their shop for spraying and brush the frames on-site.
Is cabinet painting worth adding to my services?
Absolutely. Cabinet painting jobs average $4,000 – $5,000 with profit margins of 35-55%. One cabinet job can be worth two or three room-painting jobs. Plus, happy cabinet clients often hire you for other work.
How much should I charge per cabinet door?
Most contractors charge $75 – $125 per door (both sides, including prep and two coats). Detailed or raised-panel doors should be on the higher end. Flat slab doors can be on the lower end.
What's the minimum I should charge for any cabinet job?
Set a minimum of $2,500 even for small kitchens. The setup, prep, and cleanup time is roughly the same whether it's 12 doors or 24. Your minimum protects your hourly rate.
Start Pricing Cabinet Jobs With Confidence
Cabinet painting is one of the best services you can offer as a painting contractor. The demand is high, the margins are great, and homeowners are willing to pay for quality work.
The key is pricing it right from the start. Use the per-door method for accuracy, cross-check with time-and-materials, and never forget to account for all that prep work.
Need help creating fast, accurate estimates? Our cabinet painting calculator does the math for you, and SnapBid turns photos into professional estimates in 60 seconds. Try it free with 3 estimates — no credit card required.
Check out our hourly rate calculator to make sure your base rate supports profitable cabinet work.