Cost of Painting vs Refacing Kitchen Cabinets

You don’t mind the layout of your kitchen. The cabinets aren’t broken, but they’re definitely showing their age. Maybe the color looks stuck in another decade, the wood designs are out of date, or you just want a cleaner, more updated look. But when you start looking into options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Should you reface? Should you paint? Is one more durable than the other? What will it cost?

You’re not alone. Most homeowners around Omaha start with the same questions when trying to update their kitchens without a full remodel. It’s smart to look at all the options before you spend thousands of dollars on a project you’ll live with every day.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve been helping Omaha homeowners update their cabinets since 1996. We’ve painted, stained, stripped, and repaired thousands of cabinets, many in kitchens just like yours. We’ve also worked with many homeowners who chose to reface and paint. We know what works, what doesn’t, and which option actually lasts longer. 

Although we only provide cabinet painting services, we’re not here to sell you on one direction. We’re here to help you choose what’s right for you and your home.

We’re going to walk through the difference between refacing and painting your cabinets. You’ll get clear, practical information about:

• How much does each option typically cost in Omaha
• How durable each one really is
• What kind of styles and colors can you expect
• Why some homeowners do both (yes, that’s a thing)
• And what’s included in our cabinet painting prices at Brush & Roll Painting

By the time you finish reading, you’ll feel confident in knowing what’s best for your kitchen, your home, and your long-term goals.

What Is Cabinet Refacing?

Refacing cabinets means replacing the cabinet doors and drawer fronts entirely, and covering the existing cabinet boxes with a new material—usually wood veneer or laminate. The inside of the cabinets stays the same, and the cabinet layout does not change.

Most refacing companies offer a variety of styles and finishes. Some specialize in custom wood, while others lean more toward modern laminates or prefinished options.

Average Cost to Reface Cabinets in Omaha

Pricing will vary depending on who you hire, what material you choose, and the size of your kitchen. But here’s a general idea:

• Small kitchens: $6,000–$10,000
• Medium kitchens: $10,000–$15,000
• Large kitchens: $15,000–$25,000+

Keep in mind: these prices usually don’t include new hardware or soft-close upgrades. Those are often an additional cost.

What Is Cabinet Painting?

Cabinet painting, or refinishing, means your current doors and drawer fronts stay in place (unless you're doing upgrades). A painter should clean, prep, sand, prime, and repaint the surfaces with a fresh color and a durable topcoat.

When done right, cabinet painting is more than a quick coat of paint. It requires detailed surface prep, proper primers, and a high-quality finish. At Brush & Roll Painting, we use a 2K polyurethane product (Milesi) that’s extremely durable, originally used on cars and floors.

Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets in Omaha

Here’s what we typically charge at Brush & Roll Painting, depending on kitchen size:

• Smaller kitchens (30 to 40 linear feet of base units and 15 to 25 doors/drawers):
  $3,800–$5,600
• Medium kitchens (40 to 60 linear feet of base units and 25 to 40 doors/drawers):
  $5,600–$8,700
• Larger kitchens (60+ linear feet and 40+ doors/drawers):
  $8,700+
  

These prices are higher than average in Omaha, and here’s why:

• We use Milesi 2K polyurethane, not your cheap paint from the hardware store. It’s tough, factory-grade, and built to handle daily kitchen use.
• We do full prep work, including degreasing, sanding, caulking, and applying the correct bonding primer.
• We remove all doors and drawers and spray them in a controlled shop environment for a smooth, furniture-quality finish.
• The end result looks and feels like new cabinets, not just painted ones.

Longevity of Refacing vs Painting Cabinets

This is one of the most common questions homeowners ask. And the answer depends on the products and processes used.

• Refacing: New doors with wood veneer or laminate boxes can hold up well, but laminate can chip or peel over time, especially around moisture.
• Painting: With high-end products like 2K poly and proper surface prep, painted cabinets can easily last 10 to 15 years or more without chipping or fading.

Cheaper paints or “one-day” services won’t last that long. So if you go the painting route, make sure the painter uses quality products and explains their prep process in detail.

What About Custom Options for Cabinets?

Refacing gives you a totally new door style. If you want a shaker instead of a raised panel, or a slab-style for a modern look, refacing might be a better fit.

But painting offers more flexibility in color. If your cabinets already have a clean style, painting them gives you a huge range of finish options: warm whites, deep navy, modern green, soft grays, or even two-tone combos. Not to mention, you can stain or tone the wood darker, if it hasn’t been painted already.

Another option is to add a glaze to the cabinets. This is an additional stain added as a dimension either along the grooves, along the faces, or both.

Can You Reface and Paint Cabinets?

Yes, and many homeowners actually do this.

Sometimes homeowners want a new door style (which requires refacing) but don’t love the limited factory-finish options. In this case, they reface with unfinished doors, then hire a painter to finish them with the color and coating of their choice.

This approach gives you:

• A brand-new cabinet look
• A fully customized finish
• Better durability with high-end coatings like 2K poly

It’s not always the cheapest route, but it offers the best of both worlds if you want something completely unique and long-lasting.

When to Reface vs When to Paint

Let’s break it down simply:

Choose refacing if:

• Your cabinet doors are damaged or outdated in style
• You want a totally new profile or design
• You don’t mind spending more for a full visual update
  
  

Choose painting if:

• You’re happy with the current door style
• The boxes and doors are in good shape
• You want to refresh the look with new color at a lower cost
  
  

Do both if:

• You want a new door style and a completely custom color
• You care more about durability and long-term performance
• You’re building a kitchen you plan to live in and enjoy for years

Cost of Refacing Cabinets vs Painting in Omaha

Here’s a quick comparison of what you might spend:

Painting is typically the more affordable choice, especially if you already like your cabinet layout and style. But refacing might be worth the extra investment if you want a more dramatic change.

How Long Does Each Project Take?

• Painting usually takes 2-3 weeks with Brush & Roll Painting. The doors and drawers are done off-site, and we try to minimize disruption to your home.
• Refacing typically takes 3 to 5 days for installation, but ordering new doors can add weeks to the project timeline depending on supplier lead times.

Cabinet Painting & Refacing in Omaha

Now that you’ve seen the pros and cons of both options, you should feel more confident in your next step. Whether you decide to paint, reface, or combine both, knowing the differences helps you avoid unexpected surprises or hidden costs down the road.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve been helping Omaha homeowners improve their kitchens since 1996. If you’re ready to talk about your cabinet project, click the button below to get a quote.

Want to plan ahead? Use our cabinet painting pricing calculator to see what your project might cost. It’s a simple way to start budgeting with realistic numbers based on your kitchen’s size and style.