Professional cabinet painting has little in common with rolling paint on a wall. The doors and drawer fronts are removed and labeled, everything is degreased and sanded, a bonding primer goes on, and two or more coats of a hard cabinet-grade finish are sprayed — the doors usually in a shop or a spray booth, the frames in place behind masking. The preparation is most of the work and nearly all of the difference between a finish that lasts and one that chips within a year.

  • Doors and drawer fronts removed and sprayed off site or in a booth
  • Degreasing, sanding and repairs before any coating
  • Bonding primer matched to the cabinet material
  • Cabinet-grade enamel or conversion varnish topcoats
  • Frames sprayed or finely finished in place; hardware reinstalled

What it costs

Fixr's 2026 data puts professional kitchen cabinet painting at about $4,000 on average, with most homeowners paying $2,500 to $6,500. The number of doors and drawers sets the base price. Oak with open grain costs more if you want the grain filled for a smooth look. Two-tone schemes, interior painting and repairs add to it. A quote far below that range usually means brushed and rolled paint with minimal preparation.

Which cabinets cannot be painted well

Solid wood, wood veneer and MDF all take paint well when prepared properly. Thermofoil — the vinyl skin heat-wrapped over many builder-grade doors — is the problem: paint does not bond reliably to intact thermofoil, and if the skin is already peeling the door should be replaced. Laminate can be painted with a specialized bonding primer, with less certain durability. Cabinets with water-swollen or crumbling substrate are not worth painting at all.

Wood moves, and paint shows it

Charlotte's humid summers and dry, heated winters make wood swell and shrink through the year. On a five-piece wood door, the center panel floats in its frame, and seasonal movement can open hairline cracks in the paint where the pieces meet. It is normal and not a defect in the paint. If a flawless, seamless painted look matters to you, new doors in MDF, which is dimensionally stable, are the better base — which is how many painted kitchens are built.

Common cabinet painting situations in Charlotte

  • Orange-toned oak or dated cherry cabinets in a sound kitchen
  • A previous paint job that is chipping or sticky
  • Wanting white, navy, green or two-tone cabinets without a remodel
  • Preparing a house for sale
  • Yellowed finish around handles and near the range

Keep in mind: Painting over old paint without sanding, degreasing and priming is the usual reason painted cabinets fail. Paint also does not change the door style — a raised-panel door painted white is still a raised-panel door.

Cabinet Painting FAQs

Can I paint over already painted cabinets?

Yes, if the existing paint is sound. It still has to be cleaned of grease, scuff-sanded and primed with a bonding primer so the new coat adheres. If the old paint is peeling, sticky or was applied over a glossy finish without preparation, it should be stripped or sanded back first, or the failure will telegraph through.

How long do painted cabinets last?

A properly prepared, sprayed finish in a quality cabinet coating commonly holds up eight to ten years or more of normal kitchen use, with occasional touch-ups at high-wear edges. Brushed wall paint over unprepared cabinets may last a year or two.

How long does cabinet painting take?

Usually about a week for an average kitchen. Doors are away being sprayed for several days while the frames are done on site. The kitchen remains usable for most of that time, though without doors.

This content is reviewed by the Charlotte Cabinet Refacing editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Cabinet Refacing. Read our editorial standards.