Paint and Costs

• The recommended type of paint for kitchen cabinets is a latex-based semigloss, according to Lowe's. Before applying this paint, however, strip and apply a layer of primer to the cabinets so the new paint sticks. On average, expect to pay $15 a gallon for primer and more than $20 a gallon for a high-quality latex-based paint, as of 2011. You can also use a stain if your cabinets allow it, which costs about as much as a latex-based paint per gallon.
  
  

Supplies

• Though paints are obvious costs, there are other supplies that you need to get the job done. For stripping the current paint, use a sander with sandpaper. You also need paint thinner for shellac or varnish finishes. You must have screwdrivers to remove the cabinets from the walls and take off any attached hardware. After stripping the old color, you need additional supplies to paint the cabinets. These supplies include paint trays, paintbrushes, painter's tape, tarps and paint rollers --- all of which are additional costs if they are not on hand.
  
  

Upgrades and Accessories

• Paint and supplies are required for repainting kitchen cabinets, but if the cabinets or cabinet pieces themselves are outdated, additional required upgrades come with additional costs. You may need new handles and hinges to match the new paint or to remove outdated hardware. These are available in bulk from online warehouses, but you can also purchase them at home improvement stores ranging from 25 cents to more $4.00 per piece.
  
  

Labor

• Repainting kitchen cabinets is a DIY project but it is time-consuming. It is up to you whether the time is worth the effort or whether you should pay a professional to do the job. When kitchen cabinets are the only project under way in the kitchen, expect that your kitchen will be disassembled for at least two days. The supply costs are the only monetary costs if you choose to paint the cabinets yourself; however, if you hire professionals, you have to pay their service fees plus inflated costs for materials from the professional painters. If you have limited free time, however, this might be cost effective.