Painting vs Replacing Cabinets: A Clear Guide for Cost

Staring at worn kitchen cabinets can feel like looking at a bad haircut you can’t unsee. You know something has to change, but you don’t want to spend money twice.

The real debate is painting vs replacing cabinets, and most homeowners are weighing four things: cost, time, mess, and how long the results will hold up. Some want a quick refresh before listing a home, others want a long-term fix that won’t chip the first time a kid swings a backpack.

This guide (with help from Dr. Cabinet as a real-world point of reference) gives you a simple, step-by-step way to choose without regret, even if you’ve never tackled a remodel.

Painting vs Replacing Cabinets, what changes, what stays, and what it costs in 2026

Cabinet painting means your existing cabinet boxes stay on the wall. Doors and drawer fronts get cleaned, prepped, primed, and painted, usually with a sprayed finish for a smoother look. If the boxes are solid, this can make an older kitchen look fresh without tearing the room apart.

Cabinet replacement is the full reset. Old boxes come out, new boxes go in, and that often triggers other work like drywall repair, flooring patches, backsplash changes, and sometimes plumbing or electrical updates.

In 2026, typical US cost ranges usually land here:

• Professional cabinet painting: about $2,000 to $6,500 for many kitchens, or around $95 to $155 per door or drawer front for piece pricing.
• DIY cabinet painting supplies: about $200 to $800 if you already own basics like sanders and decent brushes, more if you don’t.
• Full cabinet replacement: commonly $12,000 to $30,000+, with size, materials, and layout changes pushing it higher.

Don’t forget the add-ons that sneak into both paths:

• Repairs (loose panels, damaged frames, rot spots): roughly $50 to $200 per cabinet for smaller fixes.
• New hardware (pulls, knobs, hinges): around $100 to $1,000, depending on how many pieces you need and what quality you choose.

Timeline matters too. A pro paint job is often 3 to 5 days once work starts. Replacement tends to stretch into weeks, because ordering, delivery windows, demolition, and install schedules rarely line up perfectly. Many homeowners who hire Dr. Cabinet for painting choose it because the kitchen stays mostly usable during the work.

Side by side comparison, budget, timeline, mess, and how long each option lasts

Here’s the simplest way to compare Painting vs Replacing Cabinets when you’re trying to decide fast:

• Budget: Painting usually costs thousands less, replacement is a major remodel line item.
• Timeline: Painting is often done in days, replacement can take weeks.
• Mess and disruption: Painting is mostly sanding dust, masking, and curing time; replacement is demolition, hauling, and more trades in your home.
• How long it lasts: Quality painted cabinets often look good for 8 to 10 years with proper prep (expect occasional touch-ups near handles). New cabinets can last 20+ years, depending on materials and care.
• What changes: Painting changes color and sheen; replacement can change layout, storage, and function.

Where the money really goes, doors, labor, repairs, and hardware

Piece pricing is why per-door numbers matter. A kitchen with 25 fronts priced at $95 to $155 each can swing by $1,500 or more before prep and repairs even enter the chat.

Condition changes quotes quickly. Warped doors may need replacement, loose hinges add labor, and swollen or peeling edges can mean extra sanding, filling, or bonding primer. Hardware is another hidden driver. Swapping dated pulls for modern ones, plus adding soft-close hinges, can make painted cabinets feel newer without the price of new boxes.

Quick example with round numbers: say you have 20 doors and 10 drawer fronts. At $120 per piece, that’s $3,600 for piece-based pricing. Add $400 for minor repairs (a few cabinets at $100 each) and $300 for new pulls, and you’re around $4,300, before taxes and any specialty finish upgrades.

How to decide if you should paint or replace your cabinets

This five-minute checklist keeps you from picking the wrong fix for the wrong problem. Think of cabinets like a house foundation: if the base is weak, the prettiest finish won’t save it. If the base is sound, a new surface can go a long way. When Dr. Cabinet does on-site estimates, most of the decision comes down to box condition and what you want to change.

Use this quick test before you get quotes (Painting vs Replacing Cabinets decisions get easier when you answer these honestly):

• Press on the cabinet box sides. Do they feel stiff, or do they flex?
• Check under the sink and near the dishwasher. Any swelling, soft spots, or peeling seams?
• Smell the cabinet base. A musty odor can point to long-term moisture.
• Look at door alignment. Are doors square, or are they twisted and fighting the hinges?
• Open drawers fully. Do they slide smoothly, or sag and scrape?
• Ask what you’re trying to change:
  • Want a new color or cleaner style? Painting fits.
  • Need more storage, better workflow, or appliance moves? Replacement fits.

Be clear about your goal. If you want your kitchen to work better, paint won’t fix a bad layout. If you like the layout and hate the look, replacement can be overkill.

Choose painting when the cabinet boxes are solid and you want a fast, affordable upgrade

Painting is a strong fit when:

• The boxes are sturdy and well-attached to the wall.
• Doors are still square, even if the finish is dated.
• You like your layout and storage is “good enough.”
• You want a color change (white, greige, deep green, almost-black).
• You’re selling soon and want the kitchen to photograph better.
• You want less disruption and fewer trades in the house.

A 2026 trend that’s helping painted cabinets hold up longer is 2K finishes (two-part coatings that cure harder than standard paint). Applied correctly, they resist chips and scuffs better. If you’re comparing bids, ask Dr. Cabinet what coating system is included and what cure time they recommend before heavy use.

Choose replacement when there is damage, poor layout, or you need more function

Replacement makes more sense when:

• You have swollen particleboard, especially at the toe-kick or sink base.
• There’s major water damage or repeated leaks.
• You notice a mold smell that keeps coming back.
• Frames are cracked, shelves sag badly, or boxes pull away from the wall.
• The kitchen workflow is rough (tight corners, no landing space, bad triangle).
• You need more storage, better drawer banks, or pantry solutions.
• You want to move appliances or change the layout.

Painting vs Replacing Cabinets becomes a clear choice here, because paint can’t solve structural failure. Also plan for a longer timeline and higher total cost, plus extra work that comes with demolition.

Getting the best results, prep, paint quality, and hiring tips (so you do not redo it later)

The best project is the one you only do once. Whether you’re hiring Dr. Cabinet or another local pro, ask for a written scope that spells out prep steps, products, and what happens if they find damage mid-job. This is where Painting vs Replacing Cabinets choices can get expensive if details are vague.

If you paint, the prep and products matter more than the color

A long-lasting cabinet paint job usually comes down to a few unglamorous steps:

• Clean and degrease first, especially near the stove.
• Sand or degloss so primer bonds well.
• Use the right primer (stain-blocking for tannins, bonding for slick surfaces).
• Spraying often looks smoother than brushing, but technique matters either way.
• Respect cure time. Cabinets can feel dry in a day but still be soft underneath.
• Avoid bargain paint that stays rubbery and chips near handles.

If odor is a concern, ask about low-VOC options. Pro-grade coatings can last longer, but only if prep is done right.

If you replace, avoid surprise costs and design regrets

Replacement goes best when you plan before the first cabinet comes off the wall:

• Measure carefully, then re-check before ordering.
• Ask about lead times and what happens if parts arrive damaged.
• Decide if you’re keeping the layout or changing it, changes add cost fast.
• Consider a middle option: refacing (keeping boxes, replacing doors) if boxes are solid.
• Confirm what’s included: demo, disposal, permits, and who fixes drywall.
• Watch for backsplash or flooring gaps once old cabinets come out.

Conclusion

If your cabinet boxes are strong and your layout works, painting can be the cleanest path to a better-looking kitchen for far less money. If boxes are swollen, smelly, or falling apart, replacement is usually the smarter long-term call, even with the bigger bill. The choice in Painting vs Replacing Cabinets gets much easier when you start with cabinet condition, then match it to your goal and budget.

For a clear next step, do a quick box inspection today and price out both paths, a quote from Dr. Cabinet can help you see the real numbers before you commit.