Short answer: Yes, painting is almost always cheaper than replacing. You reuse the cabinet boxes, avoid demolition and new-materials costs, and still get a fresh, modern look.
Replacement makes financial sense only when the cabinets are structurally failing, the layout needs to change, or you’re going for a full kitchen overhaul.
Quick Comparison: Cost of Painting Cabinets vs Replacing
| Decision point | Paint Cabinets (Wichita, KS) | Replace Cabinets (Wichita, KS) |
| Typical cost | $900–$3,600 (about $3–$12/sq ft) | $3,200–$20,000 (about 20 linear ft) |
| What you’re paying for | Prep, primer/paint, pro labor | Demo/disposal, stock or custom boxes, hardware, install |
| Project length & disruption | Days; minimal kitchen downtime | Weeks; demolition + install disrupts daily use |
| Layout & storage | Unchanged | Can redesign layout, add storage features |
| Best when… | Boxes are solid, you like the layout, you want a budget-friendly refresh | Boxes are damaged, layout is changing, you want a full style reset |
| Environmental impact | Reuses existing boxes; less waste | More waste (can donate old boxes) |
| Resale angle | Great facelift for sound cabinets | Bigger impact if current cabinets are outdated or failing |
Cost Analysis: Painting vs. Replacing Cabinets in Wichita, KS
The Cost of Painting Cabinets
- Price range: $3–$12 per sq ft
- Typical kitchen (≈300 sq ft of cabinet surface): $900–$3,600
- Breakdown
- Preparation (clean/sand): $150–$500
- Primer & cabinet-grade paint: $200–$600
- Professional labor: $600–$2,400 (≈20–40 hours at $30–$60/hr)
Total: $900–$3,600 for professional cabinet painting in Wichita, KS.
The Cost of Replacing Cabinets
- Typical kitchen (≈20 linear ft): $3,200–$20,000
- Breakdown
- Demolition & disposal: $300–$800
- Stock cabinets: $160–$380/lf (≈$3,200–$7,600 total)
- Custom cabinets: $700–$1,000/lf (≈$14,000–$20,000 total)
- Hardware & installation: $200–$500 for hardware; $2,000–$5,000 for installation
Total: $3,200–$20,000 to replace kitchen cabinets in Wichita, KS.
If your existing cabinets are structurally sound, no warping, rot, or loose joints. Painting kitchen cabinets is the quickest way to modernize without demolition.
Solid cabinet boxes and smooth existing cabinet surfaces take paint beautifully after thorough preparation (clean, sand, prime).
Keep your current cabinet layout, swap in a fresh color, and you’ve got a like-new look at a fraction of the cost of painting cabinets vs replacing.
Painting also works well on solid wood or quality veneers and lets you refresh cabinet doors and drawer fronts without sending usable materials to the landfill.
When Cabinet Replacement Makes More Sense
Choose cabinet replacement when the existing cabinet structure is failing. Think water damage, swollen particleboard, sagging shelves, or broken frames.
Replacement also fits if you’re reworking the kitchen footprint, adding pull-out shelves, or going for custom designs that your old cabinets can’t support.
Yes, it’s a bigger investment and a longer timeline, but brand-new cabinets give you new cabinet boxes, fresh cabinet doors, upgraded storage, and a true reset in style and function. Especially helpful if you’re preparing a dated kitchen for sale.
Just remember potential hidden costs (electrical, drywall, and flooring patches) that often ride along with a full replacement.
Factors to Consider Before You Decide
- Condition. If your current cabinets are sound, paint is an easy win. If there’s rot, warping, or loose frames, replacement is safer long-term.
- Budget. As a rule, painting comes in 60–70% less than new cabinetry. If you’re between the two, refacing kitchen cabinets, new doors and drawer fronts, plus a matching veneer on the boxes, can look new for less than full replacement. (Keep “cabinet refacing cost” in mind when you compare.)
- Kitchen size & scope. The size of your kitchen and how many openings you have affect both paint and replacement pricing. More doors = more labor.
- Timeline & disruption. Painting wraps in days; cabinet replacement can take weeks and may involve demo, dust, and temporary loss of the kitchen.
- Aesthetics & function. Painting changes color and sheen; replacement changes everything. Materials, storage features, and layout flow.
- Durability & maintenance. A pro paint job on quality boxes stands up well and is easy to touch up. New cabinets can deliver heavier-duty hardware and finishes right out of the box.
- Sustainability. Painting and cabinet refacing reuse what you have; replacement creates more waste unless you donate the old set.
Hire Roll Call Painting for Professional Kitchen Cabinet Painting
A cleaner, sharper kitchen, no remodel. We pair you with a designer to nail the palette, then we handle the details: meticulous prep, bonding primer, cabinet-grade coatings.
It’s backed by a 3-year warranty and satisfaction guarantee. Book a free in-person estimate in Wichita: (316)-800-6994
FAQs
Is it better to repaint or replace kitchen cabinets?
Repaint if the boxes are sturdy and you like the layout. Replace if there’s structural damage or you’re changing the kitchen’s design.
What’s the least expensive way to redo kitchen cabinets?
Painting. You reuse the boxes and still get a fresh, updated look.
Is professional painting worth it?
Yes. Pros deliver smoother, more durable finishes thanks to proper prep, primers, and cabinet-grade coatings.
Is it cheaper to buy new doors or paint?
Painting is generally cheaper than buying and installing new doors.
What’s the average cost to paint kitchen cabinets?
In Wichita, most kitchens fall between $900 and $3,600, depending on size, condition, and materials.