Cabinet Painting vs. Replacement: Cost Comparison

One of the most common questions we receive from Des Moines homeowners is whether to paint their existing cabinets or replace them entirely. The answer depends on several factors, but in most cases, cabinet painting delivers significantly better value. In the Des Moines market, a full kitchen cabinet replacement typically costs between $15,000 and $40,000 depending on cabinet quality and kitchen size. Professional cabinet painting by TrueEdge Paint, by contrast, typically ranges from $2,500 to $6,000 for a standard kitchen — delivering a comparable visual transformation at 15–25% of the replacement cost. The key is quality execution. Cabinet painting done correctly — with proper degreasing, sanding, bonding primer, and cabinet-grade enamel — produces a finish that is virtually indistinguishable from new cabinets. The result is a kitchen that looks completely refreshed at a fraction of the cost, with the budget savings available for other improvements like new hardware, countertops, or appliances.