How Much Does It Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets in Colorado?

Freshly painted cabinets can transform your kitchen into a new and dynamic space that you'll love. So if your cabinets are detracting from your otherwise beautiful kitchen, it's time to paint! But just how much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets? 

This article provides everything you need to know about the costs involved in transforming your kitchen cabinets from sad and tired to beautiful and new. We outline a basic cost breakdown below, but it's important to know that cabinet painting pricing ultimately depends on a range of factors.

The size of your kitchen, the number of cabinets, their material and condition, the color and type of paint you choose, the painting method, and labor are the main factors that affect the final cost. 

Kitchen Cabinet Painting: Colorado Cost Breakdown

When painting your kitchen cabinets, the old adage, "you get what you pay for", couldn't be more true, and that stands for Denver and the Front Range. Cut corners and the end result will look cheap and amateurish. In general, plan on $2,500 to $6,000 for a pro to paint a full kitchen. But here's a breakdown so you'll have a better idea of the cost to have kitchen cabinets painted. 

Paint and Materials

Whether you live in Denver, Boulder, Aurora (or anywhere else in Colorado), the paint cost will depend on the amount, quality, and sheen. One gallon will cover about 12 cabinet doors. Trim and cabinet specific paints are the way to go. Most of these products are waterborne alkyds. Benjamin Moores Advance or Sherwin Williams Emerald Trim Urethane are good examples of this type of paint. Your painter can advise you on the best choice for your particular cabinets.

Waterborne Alkyd:                                    $50 to $75 per gallon

Acrylic or Latex paint:                            $35 to $55 per gallon

The average total cost for materials and paint is $200 to $700.

Labor

Labor costs depend on how much prep is required, repairs that may be needed, the room layout, and whether the cabinets will be sprayed or brushed and rolled. Labor adds up to about 90% of the total cabinet painting cost. Labor can cost between $2,000 to $7,000.

Dreaming of a New Look? Make It a Reality with Singletrack Painting!

8 Factors That Affect the Cost of Kitchen Cabinet Painting

Now that we've covered the basic cost calculations, it's important for you to know about additional factors that can affect the total cost.

Design

Labor costs increase for heavily detailed cabinets, doors, and faces with intricate carvings, inset glass, or color accents. 

Size, Layout, & Height

A larger kitchen means more cabinets. Tight layouts make it difficult for painters to access cabinet boxes. Cabinets mounted above the standard 8' room height are more difficult to access and may incur additional costs. These issues add to the overall cost. 

Cabinet Material

The type of cabinet material affects cost. Raw wood or stained cabinets require additional prep which adds to the cost. Cabinets that are already painted don't require as much intensive labor. Additional labor is required to prep some hardwoods that are less absorbent and resistant to paint. 

Condition and Prep

Costs increase for cabinet and drawer faces that are damaged or in poor shape. They'll require additional prep or repair. 

Paint Type Used

Highly durable and ideal for cabinets, waterborne alkyd paints are more expensive than latex and acrylic paints.

Color

Painting a lighter color over a dark color or choosing multiple cabinet colors will bump the cost up due to the need for more prep, primer, and paint. Investigate these inspiring cabinet color ideas!

Painting Method

Painting with a brush and roller can be less expensive than spraying. However, at Singletrack, we spray cabinets in order to achieve the smoothest finish. 

Labor

Labor costs increase for tasks like removing doors, drawers, and cabinet hardware; sanding and or stripping old paint or stain, or disconnecting and moving appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers. 

How to Calculate the Cost of Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets in Colorado

The easiest way to calculate the cost of painting your kitchen cabinets is to count the number of openings (in pro painting lingo, 'openings' are the cabinet doors and drawer faces). Then determine the size of your kitchen. The cabinet boxes are included in the calculations. Add 10% to the total for islands, wine racks, cabinet doors with glass inserts, etc. Here are some examples:

• Small Kitchen: 70 to 100 square feet with 20 openings or less. Openings cost about $190 per cabinet door and $110 per drawer face. The cost to paint 10 cabinet doors and 8 drawers would be $2,780.

• Medium Kitchen: 100 to 200 square feet with 21 to 40 openings. Openings cost about $175 per cabinet door and $100 per drawer face. The cost to paint 20 cabinet doors and 10 drawer faces would be $4,500. If the kitchen has an island, add $450.

• Large Kitchen: Over 200 square feet with over 40 openings. Openings cost about $165 per cabinet door and $95 per drawer face. The cost to paint 30 cabinet doors and 20 drawers would be $6,850. Add 10% for an island, wine rack, etc.

Notice that the larger the kitchen, the lower the cost per opening because many painters offer a volume discount. 

DIY vs. Professional Cabinet Painting: What's More Cost Effective?

Depending on the size of your kitchen and the number of openings, plan on a DIY cost of $200 to $600. This includes materials, supplies, and paint.

It's apparent that DIY is cheaper but are you aware of the hidden costs of DIY cabinet painting? Cabinet painting is one of the most difficult painting jobs you can tackle, so add in the cost of your time, stress, and frustration. Plus, there are no guarantees that the job will turn out as you'd hoped. 

Professional painters or do it yourself – unless you're a highly skilled DIYer with a lot of time on your hands, the additional cost to paint kitchen cabinets professionally will be worth it.

Get a Cabinet Painting Price Estimate Today

With so many variables to consider, getting a professional estimate is the most accurate way to know the exact price of your cabinet painting project. In addition to our expert cabinet painting, we're known for our quality services and many years of experience with interior and residential painting in the Denver metro area.

For any questions about our services or to get an estimate for your kitchen cabinet paint job, contact Singletrack Painting today. We're happy to help!

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