How much paint for kitchen cabinets?
Quick Answer
An average kitchen with 20–25 linear feet of cabinets needs approximately 1 quart of primer and 1–1.5 quarts of paint per coat. For two coats (recommended), plan on 1 gallon of paint total. Larger kitchens (30+ linear feet) may need 1.5–2 gallons.
Quick Reference Table
| Kitchen size | Paint needed (2 coats) |
|---|---|
| Small (10–15 lin ft of cabinets) | 1 qt primer + 1 qt paint |
| Medium (20–25 lin ft) | 1 qt primer + 1 gal paint |
| Large (30+ lin ft) | 1 gal primer + 1.5 gal paint |
| Upper cabinets only | 1 qt primer + 1 qt paint |
| Lower cabinets only | 1 qt primer + 1 qt paint |
How to Calculate It Yourself
- 1
Remove all doors and drawers. Count total pieces: doors + drawer fronts + face frames.
- 2
Estimate paintable area: each standard door ≈ 5 sq ft; drawer front ≈ 2 sq ft.
- 3
Total area = (# doors × 5) + (# drawer fronts × 2) + face frame area.
- 4
One quart covers ~100 sq ft per coat. Divide total area by 100 for quarts needed.
- 5
Multiply by 2 for two coats (always use 2 coats on cabinets).
Pro Tip
Use a cabinet-specific paint (Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane or Benjamin Moore Advance) rather than regular latex wall paint. Cabinet paints cure harder and resist grease, moisture, and chipping far better.
Need an exact number for your specific dimensions?
Use the Paint Calculator →