Cabinet Paint Calculator
Estimates cabinet coating requirements by counting cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and cabinet box face frames, factoring in 1 coat bonding primer and 2 coats urethane enamel.
Formula
Total Area = (Doors × 6 sq ft) + (Drawers × 2 sq ft) + (Box Frames ~40 sq ft)
1. Doors Area = Doors × 6 sq ft (front + back) 2. Drawers Area = Drawers × 2 sq ft (front face) 3. Boxes Area = Include Boxes ? (Doors × 2.5 sq ft) : 0 4. Total Surface Area = Doors + Drawers + Boxes 5. Enamel Gallons = (Total Area × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft/gal) × (1 + Waste %) 6. Primer Gallons = (Total Area × 1 coat ÷ 300 sq ft/gal) × (1 + Waste %)
Inputs
- Number of Cabinet Doors
- Number of Drawer Fronts
- Paint Cabinet Box Carcasses / Face Frames?
- Coating System
Worked example
Refinishing an average-sized kitchen cabinet suite with 1 coat bonding primer and 2 coats urethane enamel.
Outcome: Total surface area is 169 sq ft. Primer demand (1 coat) is 0.65 gallons (1 gallon purchased). Topcoat enamel demand (2 coats) is 1.11 gallons (2 gallons purchased).
What is the best paint for kitchen cabinets?
Waterborne alkyd or acrylic-urethane enamel (such as Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane) provides factory-grade hardness and chip resistance without the harsh odor of oil paint.