How Much Does It Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets in Washington, DC? [2026 Data]

The cost to paint cabinets in Washington, D.C., is $864, although costs range from  $448 to $1,348 depending on the size of your kitchen, the type of cabinets, and even the type and color of paint you choose. Owners of historical homes, which are prevalent in Washington, D.C., will need to factor in permit costs for any cabinet alterations.

Kitchen Cabinet Painting Cost Factors 

Kitchen cabinet painting costs in Washington, D.C., depend heavily on your kitchen size since you’ll need more paint for more cabinets. The cabinet material can also influence cost, and different paint types and colors come with varying prices to consider.

Kitchen Size

On average, painting kitchen cabinets costs between $5.50 and $11 per square foot, or between $30 and $60 per linear foot. This price includes all the supplies, materials, and labor you'll need to get the job done. Here’s a breakdown of the cost to paint cabinets based on kitchen size:

Cabinet Material

Kitchen cabinets come in a variety of materials, with some requiring a slightly different approach to achieve a smooth, uniform coat of paint. Here’s a look at the individual costs for each type of cabinet material:

Type of Paint

There are many different types of paint available, with per-gallon rates ranging anywhere from $20 to $80. A gallon of paint costs $15 to $60 for a standard brand or $50 to $100 for a designer brand. Each gallon covers between 350 and 400 square feet. There are slight cost differences between the different types of paint per gallon.

You can also choose between the different types of paint finishes, commonly known as sheens. The shinier the paint, the more you’ll pay. Pros recommend semi-gloss and high-gloss, the two highest sheens available, for kitchen cabinets since they’re the most durable options and the easiest to clean.

Painting Method

Even when you hire an interior painting pro to paint your kitchen cabinets, you’ll still have to account for how a chosen painting method will impact the cost. You can hire a pro to paint with a brush, roller, or sprayer.

Hiring a pro to brush paint can save you money on paint costs, but you’ll spend more on labor since brush painting takes more time and energy. On the other hand, spray painting can save you money on labor since it takes less time. However, you’ll likely end up spending more on high-quality paint. 

Paint Color

If you're planning to switch from a darker color to a lighter color for your kitchen cabinets, your best option is to sand or strip off the existing paint. However, if you're short on time or your cabinets are already in good condition, budgeting $45 per gallon for a good primer is essential to ensure proper coverage.

Kitchen Layout and Cabinet Composition 

Some contractors might charge a different way based on the specific sections of your cabinets. For example, you could expect to pay $100 per cabinet door. For drawers, it might be closer to $25 per drawer. And if you're looking to paint an entire cabinet, the cost can range from $75 to $150 per cabinet.

Your unique kitchen layout can also affect how much you pay to paint your kitchen cabinets. Complex kitchen layouts with tight, hard-to-reach spaces can make the job tedious, which can also raise the price. 

Prep

While you can do the following steps yourself, it can be a lot of work. If you’re willing to spend a bit more and hire a professional cabinet painter, you could save yourself some time and energy. 

• Stripping: Sandpaper costs $5 to $10, and a chemical stripper ranges from $7 to $50

• Removing appliances, doors, and drawers: All you need is a screwdriver

• Site prep: Drop cloths and cleaning agents cost under $20

Repairs

While you’re refreshing the look of your kitchen cabinets, you’ll also want to budget for the cost of repairing the cabinets if needed, which falls between $140 and $500. This will cover basic repairs such as broken hardware, loose hinges, scratches, and peeling paint. 

Hardware

The cost to install new cabinet hardware is less than $100 in most cases, but costs can go as high as $1,000 or more for designer or antique varieties. If your hardware is in good shape, this isn’t a necessary cost. 

However, selecting new cabinet hardware can modernize your cabinets and beautifully complement your new paint color, so it may be worth the extra investment if you’re going for a brand-new look.

Interior Painting Pro Costs

Painting cabinets is a painstakingly time-consuming project for DIYing. Stripping existing stain or paint, sanding the cabinets, and priming and painting the cabinets smoothly can take 20 to 40 hours that could be better spent with your family. Not to mention, even tiny mistakes can become huge eyesores in what’s meant to be your dream kitchen.

Instead, let a cabinet refinishing pro in Washington, D.C., handle the hassle of disassembling, prepping, painting, and reassembling your kitchen cabinets.

Labor

In Washington, D.C., expect to pay $55 to $120 per hour, per worker for painting kitchen cabinets. However, because this can be a time-consuming project, most cabinet refinishing pros charge per square foot, per linear foot, or per cabinet face/drawer rather than by the hour.

Permits

In Washington, D.C., most painting and cabinet refinishing projects won’t require a permit unless you live in a historic district, such as Georgetown or Mount Pleasant. If you do live in a designated historic district, permit costs start at $36.30. 

Your contractor will apply for the appropriate permits from the Department of Buildings (DOB), and permits for historical homes will also need approval from the Historic Preservation Office (HPO).

Does Painting Kitchen Cabinets Increase Home Value?

With expert application, painted cabinets can increase home value by $2,000, and a minor kitchen remodel—including refinished cabinets—can offer a return on your investment of 80% in this market. But a novice, splotchy paint job can actually hurt resale value, so be sure to leave this project to the pros to get the most bang for your buck.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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