Cost guide
How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets in Ottawa?
A clear, sourced look at what cabinet painting costs in Ottawa, what drives your number, spray vs brush, and whether painting or replacing is the smarter move for your kitchen.
Short answer. Cabinet painting in Ottawa typically runs $3,000 to $8,000 for most kitchens, with a small kitchen closer to $3,500 and a large kitchen with an island landing around $8,000 to $10,000. That is a fraction of the $15,000 or more a full cabinet replacement can cost. Industry cost guides put the Canadian average in a similar band. Your real number depends on the number of doors and drawers, the cabinet material, the condition, and whether the doors are sprayed for a factory-smooth finish.
The $3,000 to $8,000 range above is the typical Ottawa market range Ottawa Luxe Painting publishes on its cabinet refinishing page. It is a frame, not a quote. We price from your actual kitchen.
What drives cabinet painting cost
Door and drawer count. This is the biggest single driver. More doors and drawers means more surfaces to clean, sand, prime, and coat. Published guides often express cabinet cost per door for exactly this reason.
Finish method: spray vs brush. Spraying doors (ideally off the cabinet) gives the smoothest, most furniture-like finish, but it takes more masking and setup. Brush-and-roll is quicker and lower cost but leaves more texture. The method you choose moves the price.
Cabinet material. Solid wood and MDF take paint well. Laminate and thermofoil need specific priming to bond, which adds a step.
Condition and prep. Grease, existing finish, and any damage all change how much cleaning, sanding, and repair the job needs before a coat goes on.
Colour and coats. A big colour change, or a very light final colour over a dark base, can add a coat.
Ottawa cabinet painting cost, at a glance
| Kitchen | Typical range (Ottawa market) |
|---|---|
| Small kitchen | around $3,500 |
| Most kitchens | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Large kitchen with island | $8,000 to $10,000 |
| Full cabinet replacement (for comparison) | $15,000 and up |
Sources: the typical Ottawa ranges are the figures Ottawa Luxe Painting publishes on its cabinet refinishing page. For a national cross-check, HomeStars, “Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets in Canada: A 2026 Guide” (homestars.com/kitchen/price-guides/cost-to-paint-kitchen-cabinets), puts most Canadian cabinet painting jobs in a comparable band, with cost commonly expressed per door or drawer. These are market ranges, not a fixed quote.
Paint or replace? The honest comparison
| Paint / refinish | Replace | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Ottawa cost | $3,000 to $8,000 | $15,000 and up |
| Timeline | Days, not weeks | Weeks (order, demo, install) |
| Kitchen usable during work | Mostly, with some access limits | Often not, during install |
| Best when | Cabinet boxes and layout are sound and you want a new colour or finish | Boxes are damaged or failing, or you want a new layout |
If the cabinet boxes are solid and you like your layout, painting is the high-return move: a new colour and a smooth finish for a fraction of replacement. If the boxes are failing or you want to change the kitchen’s layout, replacement is the honest answer, and we will tell you so. Cabinets are one part of a wider refresh, so see everything we do on our house painting page.
Why we do not quote cabinets over the phone
Two kitchens with the same footprint can price differently based on door count, material, and condition. We look at the actual cabinets, confirm the finish method you want, and give you a free, written, itemized estimate. A few photos with your request help us give a faster, more accurate number.
Want a real cabinet number? These ranges are a starting frame. For a price on your actual kitchen, get a free, itemized estimate.
Cabinet painting cost in Ottawa: common questions
Most kitchens run $3,000 to $8,000, with a small kitchen closer to $3,500 and a large kitchen with an island around $8,000 to $10,000. The number depends mostly on the door and drawer count, the material, the condition, and whether the doors are sprayed. We quote from your actual kitchen.
Yes, usually by a wide margin. Painting typically runs $3,000 to $8,000 versus $15,000 or more to replace, and it is faster and less disruptive, as long as your cabinet boxes are sound.
Spraying doors gives the smoothest, most factory-like finish and is what most homeowners want for cabinets. Brush-and-roll costs less and is quicker but leaves more texture. We talk through the trade-off during your estimate.
Yes, with the right preparation. Laminate and thermofoil need a specific bonding primer so the finish adheres and lasts. We confirm the material and the right products before we start.
Most kitchens take several working days once prep starts, depending on door count and the finish method. We give you a realistic timeline with your estimate.