Painting kitchen cabinets can be a cost-effective way to breathe new life into your kitchen. It’s much more budget-friendly than replacing the doors and/or remodeling the space altogether.
However, the cost to paint kitchen cabinets is not set in stone. It can vary, depending on the number of cabinets, the job’s difficulty, the quality of the paint, and more. You also have the power to control the cost by deciding whether to do the job yourself or hire professional painting contractors to save you the hassle and worry.
Considering all these items, we’ll discuss how much it costs to paint kitchen cabinets in the greater Washington DC area (on average) in the sections below.
Average Cost of Painting Kitchen Cabinets
The average cost of painting kitchen cabinets is around $775, according to research conducted by Forbes.
Understand that there’s a significant range of costs around that number. If you paint the kitchen cabinets yourself, the average price could drop to around $200 to $350 for the project. If you aren’t sure about your painting ability, hiring a professional contractor could cost around $1,000-$2,000.
Regardless of your route, it’s much more cost-effective to paint (or repaint) kitchen cabinets than replace them – which can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $25,000 depending on the extent of the remodel.
How To Know Exactly How Much Painting Kitchen Cabinets Costs
Most people find it’s worth getting a quote from professional painters in Washington, DC. Then, you can compare that against the DIY costs, time, and effort to decide whether hiring professionals makes sense.
Factors That Affect Cost
Several factors can affect the cost of painting your kitchen cabinets. The size of the kitchen and the number of cabinets/drawers affect the cost, but to what extent? Let’s break it down below.
Cabinet Material
Different materials require different preparation methods and, therefore, more labor costs. Traditional wood cabinets are usually easy and straightforward to sand and paint, but metal or laminate finishes could require special primer, preparation, and paint, driving up the cost.
Cabinet Design
If the kitchen cabinets have intricate designs, that could once again increase the labor costs and drive up the price of the painting job. Examples of these designs include anything from ornate moldings to raised panels and other small details that take more time and precision to paint.
Type of Paint
This shouldn’t surprise you, but high-end paints with special finishes come at a higher price point. That can add up when you multiply it across the entire project. However, the quality of the paint is nothing to skimp on. Certain paints offer more protection against moisture, stains, etc – which can be seen as an investment despite a higher upfront cost.
Labor Costs
If you are doing the painting yourself, this category will only cost you your time. Hiring professional painters can cost around $100 per drawer and $150-$175 overall per kitchen cabinet, which also factors in the materials.
However, you need to consider that you are also getting expertise in labor costs. DIY painting can save on labor costs, but you may achieve a different finish than what professionals provide.
Location
Like most services and commodities, the price depends on your location. The cost of living – and labor rates – varies depending on your city, state, and overall region.
As mentioned before, the best way to know how much it costs to paint kitchen cabinets in the Washington, DC, area is to get a no-obligation estimate and then decide.
What Is the Cost Difference Between Painting and Replacing Kitchen Cabinets?
The average cost of painting kitchen cabinets is around $700 to $800. Smaller DIY projects can be done for $200-$400 while using professional painters for larger jobs can cost over $1,000.
However, both are much more cost-effective than replacing kitchen cabinets, which carries a price tag of $3,000 to $25,000, depending on the extent of the remodel.
How Much Does It Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Per Door?
There are plenty of variables involved, but paying professional painters can cost between $100 and $175 per door.
It doesn’t hurt to get a quote from a kitchen cabinet painting contractor, as sometimes it isn’t as expensive as you might think. Once you have the quote, you can decide whether or not it makes sense to proceed.
Will Painting Kitchen Cabinets Significantly Improve Appearance?
When done right, painting your kitchen cabinets can completely transform and improve the space. It’s also one of the highest ROI projects you can do for your home.
On top of appearances, your kitchen cabinets will be better protected against moisture, heat, and stains with a fresh coat of paint. This leads to increased durability and overall peace of mind.