If your kitchen feels dated but the cabinets themselves are still solid, painting them is almost always the cheaper move. The hard part is figuring out how much cheaper — and whether it's the right call for your specific cabinets.
Here's the straight version, based on what we actually charge in New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Daytona Beach, and the surrounding area.
What new cabinets cost
A full kitchen replacement in Volusia County typically runs:
- Stock cabinets (big-box): $4,000 – $9,000 for boxes alone, plus install
- Semi-custom: $10,000 – $25,000 installed
- Custom: $25,000 – $60,000+ installed
That's just the cabinets — countertops, plumbing rework, and drywall patches add thousands more. Most kitchen-cabinet replacements end up being $15k – $40k all-in for an average-size kitchen.
What cabinet painting costs
For a comparable kitchen — say 25 linear feet of upper and lower cabinets, 30-ish doors, plus drawer fronts — professional refinishing runs:
- Spray-applied finish (in-shop): $3,500 – $6,500
- Spray-applied finish (on-site): $2,800 – $5,500
- Brush-and-roll (small jobs only): $1,500 – $3,000
So you're typically looking at 70–90% savings versus replacement. And because there's no demo or plumbing work, the timeline is days instead of weeks — usually 5 to 10 working days from start to finish.
When painting is the right call
Refinishing makes sense when:
- The boxes are solid wood, plywood, or quality MDF (not particle board that's swelling)
- The doors and drawer fronts are in decent shape — minor dings are fine
- The layout works for how you actually cook
- You want to change the color and finish, not the footprint
We do a lot of this work in coastal homes where the cabinets themselves were built well 15–20 years ago but the tones (oak, honey maple, dated cherry) feel old. A modern white, soft greige, or deep navy resets the whole room.
When it doesn't make sense
Skip the paint and go to replacement when:
- Cabinet boxes are damaged, swollen, or coming apart at the joints
- You actively dislike the layout (replacement is your chance to redesign)
- They're thermofoil and the foil is peeling — paint won't bond reliably to peeling foil
- You want a totally different door style (shaker vs. raised panel, etc.)
What changes the price
Three things drive the cost variance more than anything else:
- Door count. Each door takes the same prep, same coats, same dry time. A kitchen with 50 doors costs almost twice what a 25-door kitchen does.
- Spray vs. brush. A sprayed finish looks dramatically smoother — closer to factory — and adds longevity. It's also more labor (masking, controlled environment).
- Color change. Going lighter (especially white over dark wood) needs a stain-blocking primer plus more coats. Going darker is faster.
A note on Florida humidity
We see a lot of failed cabinet jobs from out-of-state contractors who don't account for our humidity. Coastal kitchens swing 50–80% relative humidity year-round. The product matters: we use waterborne alkyds and 2K urethanes that cure hard and resist softening when humidity spikes. Off-the-shelf wall paint on cabinets will print, peel, and chip within 18 months.
Bottom line
For most kitchens in Volusia County, painting saves $10,000 – $25,000 versus replacement and looks new for 8–12 years if it's done right. If your boxes are sound and you mostly want a different color, refinishing is the answer.
If you want a real number for your kitchen, request a free quote — we'll come look at the cabinets, count doors, and give you a written estimate.