Before you price new cabinets, open a few doors and drawers. Look under the sink. Check the edges of the doors and the joints in the cabinet boxes. A kitchen can look dated while the cabinets themselves are still worth keeping.
Then consider what you want to change. If it's the color or a worn finish, painting may do the job. If you're frustrated with the storage, door style, or layout, write those things down too. They belong in the decision before you spend money on a new finish.
When the existing cabinets are worth painting
Painting is worth pricing when the boxes are sound, the doors are in good condition, and the kitchen works for you. It can cost less than replacement because you're keeping the existing cabinetry. How much less depends on the repairs and finish work involved.
Solid wood and plywood aren't the only materials to consider. Sound MDF components may be suitable, and intact laminate can be painted with appropriate preparation and compatible products. Benjamin Moore's laminate painting guide describes that process. The condition of the surface matters as much as its name.
Be specific about what you'd like the finished kitchen to look like. Keeping the same doors means keeping their shape and detailing. If those are what you dislike, a color change may not be enough.
Damage doesn't always mean replacing everything
Swollen, crumbling material under the sink needs repair or replacement, and the leak needs fixing. Paint won't restore it. But damage to one cabinet doesn't, by itself, tell you what to do with the rest of the kitchen.
The same applies to peeling thermofoil or laminate. Painting over a loose surface won't secure the layer underneath. Have the affected doors assessed; replacement doors may be an option if the boxes are still sound.
Full replacement is worth considering when damage is widespread, the cabinets are coming apart, or the existing layout prevents the changes you want. Get a repair or partial-replacement price alongside it when the damage is limited.
There is a middle option
You may be able to keep the boxes and replace the doors and drawer fronts. Refacing can also cover the exposed box surfaces to coordinate with new fronts. Another approach is to paint the retained boxes to match replacement doors.
These are different scopes of work, so ask what the price includes. Our kitchen remodeling page covers options beyond painting alone.
What you're paying for in a cabinet paint job
The work starts before the finish coat. Doors and removable drawer fronts come off, hardware is organized, and the surfaces are cleaned to remove grease and other residue. Repairs, sanding, and dust removal follow as required by the surface and coating system.
Primer needs to suit the existing finish and the paint going over it. A glossy laminate surface and bare wood may need different preparation. The finish itself should be intended for cabinets or similar frequently handled surfaces, with the specified drying time between coats.
Ask whether the quote includes both sides of the doors, the drawer fronts, exposed ends, and cabinet interiors. "Paint the cabinets" can leave room for very different expectations.
Plan for some disruption
Don't assume you'll have unrestricted use of the kitchen throughout the work. Ask when surfaces will be masked, where doors will be painted, and when you can put things back.
Dry to the touch doesn't mean fully hardened. Follow the product's care instructions for returning cabinets to use and cleaning them. For example, Benjamin Moore advises keeping newly painted cabinets away from heavy abrasion and cleaning for at least five to seven days; the product you use may give its own timeline.
If the layout works and you're happy with the doors, start with a painting estimate. If either needs changing, compare those options before choosing a color. See our cabinet painting service or ask us to take a look.