New kitchen cabinets in Houston typically run $20K–$60K installed. A professional cabinet paint job runs $2,800–$6,500 — 70–80% less, and usually a fraction of the disruption. Here's the honest comparison.
When painting wins
If your cabinet boxes are in good shape and the layout still works for you, painting is almost always the right call. We strip, sand, prime, and spray with pre-cat lacquer or alkyd enamel for a factory-smooth finish that doesn't chip in a year.
When replacement wins
If the boxes are particle-board that's swelled from a leak, the layout is wrong, or you're combining the project with a structural change (knocking down a wall), replacement makes sense. Don't paint cabinets that are physically failing.
What about refacing?
Refacing — new doors over old boxes — costs $7K–$15K and looks like new cabinets only if the new doors match the look you want. For most Houston kitchens, painting delivers a similar visual result for half the price.
Will painted cabinets hold up?
Yes, when sprayed with pre-cat lacquer or alkyd enamel — not wall paint. Cheap cabinet jobs use latex wall paint that chips off the magnet strip in six months. That's why pro cabinet painting in Houston costs what it costs.