# Cabinet painting calculator

> 20 doors, 8 drawers: 209 sq ft to paint, 1 gallon + 1 quart of cabinet enamel, 2 coats and 1 gallon of bonding primer. Doors, drawer fronts and boxes counted into square feet: degreaser, sanding, bonding primer, cabinet enamel, rollers or a sprayer, and the days it takes.

## What to buy (20 doors, 8 drawers)

Every line shows the quantity to buy and how StudSheet got it: the spacing, the waste and the package size, so you can check it before the supply house or the quote.

| Buy | Material | How StudSheet counts it | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| **2 bottles** | TSP-substitute cleaner (TSP substitute) | Kitchen grease is the top reason cabinet paint peels: about one bottle per 150 sq ft; 209 sq ft here. | Removes kitchen grease before painting. |
| **4 packs** | Fine sanding sponges, 4-pack (220 grit) | A scuff of every surface and a light sand after the primer: a 4-pack per 60 sq ft or so. | About 220 grit: scuffs the old finish so primer grips, and smooths between coats. |
| **3 rolls** | Painter’s tape 1.41″ × 60 yd | Walls, ceiling and counters along the cabinets, and the door numbers: a roll per 100 sq ft. | Masks trim and ceilings. |
| **2** | Plastic sheeting 9×12 | Over the counters, appliances and floor. | Covers furniture. |
| **1** | Canvas drop cloth 9×12 (9×12 canvas) | Under the drying doors. | Doesn’t slide like plastic; reusable. |
| **1 gallon** | Bonding primer (bonding, stain-blocking) | 209 sq ft × 1 coat ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 0.6 gal. Oak can bleed tan through the primer: test a door, and a second coat of primer stops it. | Grips glossy or oil-based paint so latex doesn’t peel. |
| **1 gallon + 1 quart** | Cabinet and trim enamel (satin or semi-gloss, 2 coats) | 209 sq ft × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 1.19 gal (the label says up to 400 sq ft/gal). | Water-based enamel that levels out smooth and cures hard; two coats, gentle use for the first weeks. |
| **3 packs** | 4″ foam mini-roller | Foam covers wear out: a fresh pack for the primer and each coat. | Smooth finish on doors and trim. |

### In Canada (20 doors, 8 drawers)

Set to Canada, the Sheet works the job out again for Ontario: metric sizes, bag sizes, the frost depth and the code notes. It doesn't just convert feet to meters. The first lines:

- **2 bottles, TSP-substitute cleaner:** Kitchen grease is the top reason cabinet paint peels: about one bottle per 13.9 m²; 19.4 m² here.
- **4 packs, Fine sanding sponges, 4-pack:** A scuff of every surface and a light sand after the primer: a 4-pack per 5.6 m² or so.
- **3 rolls, Painter’s tape 36 mm × 55 m:** Walls, ceiling and counters along the cabinets, and the door numbers: a roll per 9.3 m².
- **2, Plastic sheeting 2.7 × 3.7 m:** Over the counters, appliances and floor.
- **1, Canvas drop cloth 2.7 × 3.7 m:** Under the drying doors.
- **1 × 3.78 L, Bonding primer:** 19.4 m² × 1 coat ÷ 32.5 m² per 3.78 L = 2.3 L. Oak can bleed tan through the primer: test a door, and a second coat of primer stops it.

## The steps, in order

> **DIY OK: you can do this yourself with standard tools.** About 33–51 hours of work for this example.

1. Label and remove: number every door and drawer (tape under the hinge), photograph the layout, and take off the doors, drawers and hardware.
2. Degrease: scrub every surface with degreaser, rinse, and let it dry. Grease is the top reason cabinet paint fails.
3. Sand: scuff everything with 220 grit, fill the holes, sand the filler smooth, then vacuum and wipe.
4. Prime: one coat of bonding primer (two over oak that bleeds through), then a light sand with 220 when it’s dry.
5. Coat 1: thin coats; roll the flats and brush the profiles, door backs first, then fronts.
6. Coat 2: after the recoat time on the can; sand lightly first if anything feels rough.
7. Harden: leave the doors flat on the pyramids overnight before they go back; the paint keeps curing for about 2 weeks, so handle them gently.
8. Rehang by number, adjust the hinges, and add the bumpers.

## Tools (13)

Must-have tools first, then the ones that help and the ones to rent for the day.

| Tool | Need | Why |
|---|---|---|
| **Screwdriver set** | **Must have** | Doors, hinges and hardware off |
| **Cordless drill/driver** | **Must have** | Hinge screws, and new pull holes if the pulls change |
| **Shop vac** | **Must have** | Sanding dust off every surface before primer |
| **Random orbit sander** | Good to have | Flat door panels and frames go faster |
| **Paint tray** | **Must have** | For the foam roller |
| **2″ angled trim brush** | **Must have** | Profiles, edges and corners the roller misses |
| **Sawhorses** | **Must have** | A drying table for the doors |
| **Putty knife** | **Must have** | Filler in holes and dings |
| **N95 dust masks** | **Must have** | Sanding dust |
| **Safety glasses** | **Must have** | Degreaser and sanding |
| **Work gloves** | **Must have** | Degreaser |
| **Work light** | Good to have | A raking light shows drips and missed spots |
| **Step ladder (6 ft)** | **Must have** | The upper cabinets |

## Mistakes and how the math works

### Mistakes that cost a callback or a second trip

- **Skipping degreaser:** Paint over kitchen grease peels in sheets. Degrease first, even if it looks clean.
- **No primer over stain:** Enamel straight over stained or varnished wood peels and lets tannins bleed through. Bonding primer first.
- **Thick coats:** Thick coats sag, stay soft and stick. Two or three thin coats.
- **Rehanging too soon:** Doors rehung on soft paint stick and dent. Overnight at least, and gentle use for 2 weeks.
- **Painting thermofoil:** Paint doesn’t hold on vinyl-wrapped doors; the wrap also peels on its own.
- **Mixing up the doors:** Doors are fitted to their openings. Number each one under the hinge.

### What the calculator assumes

- A door is about 15″ × 30″: 3.1 sq ft a side, +15% for edges and profiles = 3.6 sq ft, both sides painted.
- A drawer front is about 15″ × 6″: 0.72 sq ft with its edges.
- Face frames and the outside of the boxes: about 2.5 sq ft per foot of cabinet run (uppers and lowers added); an exposed end 4.5 sq ft.
- Primer: one coat; enamel: 2 coats, both at 350 sq ft/gal.

## Code, permits and safety

The Sheet sets its code notes for the job's state or province. These are New Jersey's and Ontario's; the [code reference](https://studsheet.com/codes) has more. Always confirm with your building department.

- **Permits:** a job like this usually needs none, but towns set their own rules. Ask your building department if you're not sure.

## Questions

### What materials do I need to paint kitchen cabinets?

For the worked example, a 20 doors, 8 drawers, the Sheet counts 8 lines with waste included, starting with tSP-substitute cleaner (2 bottles), fine sanding sponges, 4-pack (4 packs), painter’s tape 1.41″ × 60 yd (3 rolls), plastic sheeting 9×12 (2). Each line's math is in the table above. Put in your own sizes in the [cabinet paint calculator](https://app.studsheet.com/p/cabinets) and every line is counted again.

### How long does it take to paint kitchen cabinets, and can I do it myself?

About 33 to 51 hours for the worked example, in 8 steps. StudSheet stamps it **DIY OK**: you can do this.

### What tools do I need to paint kitchen cabinets?

13 in all. The must-haves start with screwdriver set, cordless drill/driver, shop vac, paint tray, 2″ angled trim brush, sawhorses. On the Sheet you mark each one as owned, to buy or to rent.

## Ask about it

Stuck while you paint kitchen cabinets? Ask in the [Cabinet painting group](https://studsheet.com/forum/cabinet-painting) of the StudSheet community with this Sheet attached. Homeowners who've done it and verified pros answer, and anyone can read it.

## More painting Sheets

- **[Painting for contractors](https://studsheet.com/trades/painting)**: run this takeoff at your own prices, send the estimate, and get it signed and the deposit paid.
- **[Paint a room](https://studsheet.com/sheets/paint)** (14′ × 12′ room): Prep, primer, paint and supplies — walls, ceiling, trim and doors.
- **[Paint the outside of a house](https://studsheet.com/sheets/extpaint)** (40′ × 25′ house, 2 stories): Siding, trim, doors and shutters: gallons, primer, caulk and ladders, with lead-safe rules for older homes.
- **[Stain or seal a deck or fence](https://studsheet.com/sheets/stain)** (16′ × 12′ deck): Cleaner, brightener or stripper, stain or sealer by the gallon for your deck, railings, stairs and fence — first and second coats counted the way the cans say.
- **[All 45 Sheets](https://studsheet.com/sheets)**, across 16 trades.
- **[Code reference](https://studsheet.com/codes):** frost depths, guard heights, stairs, retaining walls.