How Much Paint for Kitchen Cabinets?
Wondering how much paint for kitchen cabinets you actually need? Enter the linear feet of cabinets, the coverage on your paint can, and the number of coats — this free calculator estimates your paintable square footage and tells you instantly how many gallons of paint (and primer) to buy. Results update as you type.
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Measure cabinets in linear feet along the wall. Results update as you type.
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How to use this calculator
Measure your cabinets in linear feet along the wall at countertop height — add up each run, and count upper and lower cabinets only once, since the linear footage is the length of the cabinet run, not the number of boxes. Include peninsulas and islands only if you plan to paint them too.
Enter the coverage per gallon printed on your paint can (most cabinet paints cover 350–400 sq ft per gallon), choose 1, 2, or 3 coats — 2 thin coats over primer is the standard for cabinets — and say whether to include primer. Results recalculate instantly as you type, or press Calculate to recompute on demand.
How it works
The estimate starts with a rule of thumb used by painters and estimators: one linear foot of average kitchen cabinetry has roughly 20 sq ft of paintable surface once you count door fronts and backs, drawer fronts, face frames, and exposed side panels. So paintable area = linear feet × 20.
Then, exact paint gallons = area × coats ÷ coverage per gallon. Since paint is sold in quarts, the tool rounds up to the nearest quart: gallons to buy = ceil(exact gallons × 4) ÷ 4. If you include primer, it adds one primer coat: primer gallons = area ÷ primer coverage, rounded up to quarts the same way.
For example, 30 linear ft × 20 sq ft/ft = 600 sq ft of surface; with 2 coats and 400 sq ft/gal, that's 600 × 2 ÷ 400 = 3.0 gallons of paint to buy, plus 600 ÷ 400 = 1.5 gallons of primer for one primer coat.
This is an estimate: the 20 sq ft per linear foot rule is an average for standard cabinets, and actual coverage depends on the paint, the surface texture, and your application method. Unusual layouts (very tall uppers, deep pantry runs) may need more — always check the coverage printed on your paint can.
Frequently asked questions
How much paint do I need for kitchen cabinets?
As a rule of thumb, count about 20 square feet of paintable surface per linear foot of cabinets (doors, fronts and backs, plus the frames), multiply by the number of coats, then divide by the paint's coverage in square feet per gallon. For example, 30 linear feet gives 600 sq ft; with 2 coats and 400 sq ft per gallon, that's 1,200 ÷ 400 = 3 gallons of paint.
How do I measure the linear feet of my kitchen cabinets?
Run a tape measure along the wall where your cabinets sit, at countertop height, and add up each run — including peninsulas and islands if you plan to paint those too. Measure upper and lower cabinets only once, since the linear footage is the length of the cabinet run, not the number of boxes stacked vertically.
Do I need primer before painting kitchen cabinets?
Yes, primer is strongly recommended for cabinets — especially over stained or glossy wood, where paint adhesion is the main failure point. One coat of a bonding or shellac-based primer is usually enough. This calculator can add one primer coat's worth of primer to your shopping list; primer typically covers about 400 sq ft per gallon too.
Should I paint one or two coats on kitchen cabinets?
Two thin coats over primer is the standard for kitchen cabinets: it gives even color, better hiding, and a harder, more durable finish that stands up to daily handling. One coat is rarely enough for full coverage on cabinets, and a third coat is seldom necessary unless the paint has very poor hiding power.
Why does the calculator use 20 square feet per linear foot?
One linear foot of average kitchen cabinetry has roughly 20 square feet of paintable surface once you count the door fronts and backs, the drawer fronts, and the exposed face frames and side panels. It's a widely used estimator's rule of thumb, not a measurement of your cabinets — unusual layouts (very tall uppers, deep pantry runs) may run higher.