Cabinet Painting vs Refacing vs Replacing: The Complete Guide

Your kitchen cabinets are dated and you want a fresh look. Cabinet painting, refacing, and full replacement are three completely different investments with very different outcomes. Here's the honest breakdown from a professional painting contractor.

Cabinet Painting: Best Value, Fastest Turnaround

Cabinet painting costs $900-$4,500 for a full kitchen and takes 3-5 days. The result is a factory-smooth, hard-enamel finish in any color you choose. We remove all doors, sand, prime with shellac or bonding primer, and apply two coats of Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane - the hardest, most chip-resistant cabinet paint available. Best for: cabinet boxes in good structural condition, homeowners who want maximum value, anyone not planning to move within 2-3 years.

Cabinet Refacing: New Look, Original Boxes

Refacing costs $4,000-$14,000 and involves applying new veneer to cabinet boxes and replacing doors and drawer fronts. The result looks like new cabinets but preserves the original box structure and layout. Best for: homeowners who like their cabinet layout but want a truly different door style, those who want new hardware and hinges included in the project.

Full Cabinet Replacement: Maximum Investment, Maximum Change

New cabinets cost $12,000-$30,000+ for materials and installation. This is the only option that allows a completely different kitchen layout. Best for: homeowners doing a full kitchen renovation, those who need more storage, kitchens with water-damaged or structurally failing cabinet boxes.

The Honest Recommendation

If your cabinet boxes are solid - no soft spots, no water damage, no warped frames - cabinet painting delivers 80% of the visual transformation of new cabinets at 20% of the cost. Our painted cabinets carry a 2-year warranty and last 7-10+ years with proper cleaning. The only caveat: if you have laminate cabinets (Thermofoil), painting requires a specific bonding process that we assess in person.