Kitchens · LA County

Cabinet Painting vs Replacement: Which Makes Sense?

Painting cabinets costs $2,000 to $6,500, takes days, and keeps your kitchen usable. Replacing runs $12,000 to $35,000, takes three to four weeks, and usually snowballs into a full renovation. Paint when the boxes are structurally sound and you just want a new look.

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The real cost gap

Option	Cost	Timeline
Painting	$2,000–$6,500	Days
Refacing	$4,000–$9,000	~1 week
Replacement	$12,000–$35,000	3–4 weeks

Why replacement snowballs

New cabinets rarely stop at cabinets. They trigger countertops ($2,000–$8,000), backsplash ($1,000–$3,000), plus plumbing and flooring patches. Many "replacement" jobs become $25,000 to $30,000 renovations once everything is connected.

How to decide

Paint when the boxes are structurally sound and you want a new look
Replace when the cabinets are failing or the layout has to change
Reface sits in the middle at $4,000 to $9,000

Painted cabinets need touch-ups every five to eight years, which is a fraction of the cost and disruption of replacing them.

Answers

Cabinet Painting vs Replacing — FAQ

Is it cheaper to paint or replace kitchen cabinets?

Painting is far cheaper at $2,000 to $6,500 versus $12,000 to $35,000 to replace. Replacement also usually snowballs into countertops, backsplash and other work, often reaching $25,000 to $30,000.

When should I replace cabinets instead of painting?

Replace when the cabinet boxes are failing structurally or the kitchen layout has to change. If the boxes are sound and you just want a new look, painting makes more sense.

How long do painted cabinets last?

Painted cabinets typically need touch-ups every five to eight years, which is minor compared with the cost of replacement.

What is cabinet refacing?

Refacing replaces the doors and drawer fronts and re-skins the boxes. It sits between painting and full replacement at $4,000 to $9,000.