Do you absolutely have to sand laminate cabinets before painting them?

You don't absolutely have to, but they'll look much better if you do. Laminate is a synthetic product with a glossy surface, which makes it difficult for the paint and primer to adhere to it. Sanding eliminates the gloss, which allows the paint and primer to stick better.

What happens if you paint laminate cabinets without using a primer first?

The paint needs the primer to help it bind to the cabinets. Use a bonding primer, a stronger product than a regular primer, to ensure it sticks to the laminate. The paint may quickly flake or peel if you don't prime laminate cabinets.

How do you know if you have laminate or veneer cabinetry?

Veneer is made of pressed thin layers of wood on a plywood base. Laminate is made of layers of paper and resins made of plastic fused under high pressure. If you sand a veneer, you'll find wood underneath. If you sand a laminate, you'll find plastic.

How to Paint Laminate Cabinets for an Easy Kitchen Refresh

Working Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 16 hours
Skill Level: Intermediate
Estimated Cost: $100

Many older homes have laminate kitchen cabinets that could use a refresh. Here's how to paint laminate cabinets to bring them up to date. Or, you can change out the doors or entirely replace the cabinets. Your choice depends on how much you want to spend.

Replacing your cabinets is the most expensive option—cabinetry constitutes nearly three-quarters of the price of a new kitchen. Stock cabinets are the least costly option if cabinetry is replaced. Refacing is another option. Adding a couple of glass doors can dress up your existing laminate cabinets. Check out quality companies in your area to do the work, or save money by doing it yourself.

You can spend a bit more on real wood cabinet doors and drawers or go with premium rigid Thermofoil. Prices depend on materials, door style, and construction (frame or frameless). The least expensive option is painting laminate cabinets. Laminate isn't an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done. If you consider the paint job a temporary solution until you can invest in new cabinetry, you'll probably be more satisfied with the results. Follow these steps for how to paint laminate cabinets to get the best finish possible.

mint green kitchen cabinets — Robert Brinson

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Drill or screwdriver
Tack cloth
Paint brush
Roller brush

Materials

Fine-grit sandpaper
Primer
Laminate paint

Instructions

How to Paint Laminate Cabinets

Before you paint laminate cabinets, you'll need to complete some prep work, including sanding, repairs, and cleaning. Once your doors are ready, we'll show you how to paint laminate cabinets.

Jacob Fox

Remove Cabinets and Hardware
Preparation is the key to how to paint laminate cabinets and get the best results. Remove laminate cabinet doors from their frames and remove all hardware, including hinges.
Jacob Fox

Repair Damage
Check the laminate for damage and repair any cracked or warped laminate; you don't want to paint over the damage.

Jacob Fox
Jacob Fox

Clean and Sand Cabinet Doors
Clean the cabinet doors and sand them lightly. Use a tack cloth to make sure the doors are dust-free.

How to Use a Palm Sander
Jacob Fox

Jacob Fox

Prime Cabinets and Doors
Apply a good-quality primer. Use a high-quality paintbrush to minimize stroke marks as you cut in on cabinet edges or hard-to-reach spaces. Use a roller to get a smooth, brushstroke-free finish for the doors and any other large surfaces.
Jacob Fox

Jacob Fox

Sand Laminate Surfaces Again
Once the primer has thoroughly dried, give everything a light sanding again. Use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface, but don't sand too much. You don't want to take off all the primer you just applied. Clean off the dust with a tack cloth.
Jacob Fox

Jacob Fox

Jacob Fox

Jacob Fox

Paint Laminate Cabinets
Finally, it's time to add your paint. Pick a paint that is designed to work with laminate surfaces. It dries to the touch in one hour, features a tough, chip-resistant finish, and cleans easily with mild liquid soap. We recommend a satin finish that will hide any minor imperfections.

The 10 Best Paints for Cabinets of 2024 That Look Factory Finished

Update Laminate Cabinets with Trim

Don't love your plain flat-front doors? Turn them into paneled cabinets with wood or composite moldings. Find moldings in various widths and designs at your local hardware store, then have them miter-cut to your specifications, or do it yourself using a miter box and handsaw. Once cut to size, paint the moldings, following the instructions above. When dry, use wood glue to adhere them to the door fronts.

With the proper prep and some hard work, you can transform the look of laminate cabinets. Keep in mind that any DIY painted finish will be more susceptible to damage than factory-finish cabinetry. Eventually, you may need to invest in changing out your cabinets altogether. Follow the steps for how to paint laminate cabinets for best results. It will buy you some time and provide an updated look.

How to paint a laminate cabinet — Jacob Fox

More Ways to Update Your Kitchen

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you absolutely have to sand laminate cabinets before painting them?

You don't absolutely have to, but they'll look much better if you do. Laminate is a synthetic product with a glossy surface, which makes it difficult for the paint and primer to adhere to it. Sanding eliminates the gloss, which allows the paint and primer to stick better.
What happens if you paint laminate cabinets without using a primer first?

The paint needs the primer to help it bind to the cabinets. Use a bonding primer, a stronger product than a regular primer, to ensure it sticks to the laminate. The paint may quickly flake or peel if you don't prime laminate cabinets.
How do you know if you have laminate or veneer cabinetry?

Veneer is made of pressed thin layers of wood on a plywood base. Laminate is made of layers of paper and resins made of plastic fused under high pressure. If you sand a veneer, you'll find wood underneath. If you sand a laminate, you'll find plastic.