PAINTING
How to Estimate Cabinet Painting
Contractor method for estimating cabinet painting by door count and finish.
Cabinet painting bids fail on the finish and the prep. The door count is easy math; basic, standard and premium are very different prices, and the prep and removal grow the quote.
THE SHORT ANSWER
How do you estimate cabinet painting?
Count the doors, choose the finish (basic $60, standard $85, premium $130/door), then add prep (~$12) and removal (~$10). A 14-door standard kitchen with prep runs about $1,358.
Count the doors and drawers
Count every door and drawer front. A standard kitchen has 10-16 doors. Confirm the material — wood paints differently than laminate.
- Count doors and drawer fronts
- Note the cabinet material
- Check the current finish and condition
- Count doors that need hardware removal
Pick the finish
A basic finish runs ~$60/door, standard ~$85 and premium ~$130. Premium includes sanding and premium paint.
Price prep and removal
Prep adds ~$12/door and remove/rehang ~$10/door. Use the Cabinet Painting Cost Calculator to build the quote, then add hardware replacement.
Check the total
Your total should land within 10% of the calculator output before markup. Confirm whether the client wants the boxes painted or just the fronts.