The kitchen is the heart of the house. It’s where friends and family gather and memories are made. You want such an important room to look its best for your guests and yourself.
White paint for your kitchen cabinets is a classic choice for its chic appearance and ability to brighten up a room. But you may be overwhelmed by the large variety of colors, finishes, and techniques. While I can’t help you paint, I can lead you in the right direction. Below you can find a list of the best white paint for kitchen cabinets that is sure to make your decision an easy one!
Our Top Picks
Overall Best White Paint:
INSL – X Cabinet Coat
Runner Up:
Magnolia Home Cabinet & Trim Paint
Best Paint-and-Primer in One:
Beyond Paint
Overall Best White Paint
INSL – X Cabinet Coat
At the top of our list of the best white paint for kitchen cabinets is the INSL – X Cabinet Coat. This product comes in first place for its “factory finish” results that will have your cabinets looking brand new. It also has a reasonable price for great quality.
Product Features
This satin paint finish is an excellent choice for refurbishing and refreshing your kitchen cabinets to a smooth, level white. It’s an acrylic paint that works great on various surfaces such as woodwork, metal, and furniture. It also doesn’t require a primer which eliminates a step for you!
Customers appreciate the even, satin results. They also love how durable and easy this paint is to use and clean up.
Some customers have reported that the recommended two coats isn’t always enough. So you may need to prepare yourself for a third.
Pros
- Factory finish
- Works well on different surfaces
- Easy to use and clean up
Cons
- May require multiple coats
Runner Up
Magnolia Home Cabinet & Trim Paint
Our runner up for the best white paint for kitchen cabinets is the Magnolia Home Cabinet & Trim Paint. If you know Joanna Gaines, then you know that this will be a smart choice for white paint for kitchen cabinets. You gotta trust the experts!
Product Features
This is a fast drying, acrylic paint. With a hard satin finish, it provides excellent coverage.
Customers rave about how beautiful the color is and how easily it’s applied. It’s also a tintable paint that can be customised to your liking!
The grain of salt is that some consumers describe seeing a finish with heavy brush strokes. This can be fixed by using other materials such as a roller or a high quality brush.
Pros
- Fast drying
- Great Coverage
- Easy to apply
- Tintable
Cons
- May have brush strokes
Best All in One
Beyond Paint
If you’re looking for an easy way to get your cabinets covered, look no further than Beyond Paint’s All in One Refinishing paint. This paint boasts that there’s no stripping, sanding, or priming required to get ideal results.
Product Features
This paint is labeled as a gloss, but the finish is more of an egg shell. This is nice because egg shell and satin finishes are the most popular choices for the best white paint for kitchen cabinets.
The application is smooth, so don’t be fooled by the thickness of the paint! Customers love how simple it is to use and how well it covers. It also dries pretty quickly.
The only downside is the durability isn’t outstanding. You may want to use a sealant for extra protection, which never hurts when you want long lasting results!
Pros
- All in One – eliminates part of the process
- Thick paint and smooth application
- Dries fast
Cons
- Not very durable
Behr Cabinet and Trim Enamel
Another quality option to consider is Behr Cabinet and Trim Enamel. This is a heavy-duty paint that’ll be sure to protect your cabinets against anything!
Product Features
The Behr premium enamel is the best white paint for kitchen cabinets that might receive a lot of wear and tear. It’s resistant to dirt, household chemicals, and mildew. It also provides a tack-free film that’ll block the cabinet doors from sticking.
This paint is made specifically for cabinets, and is a great choice for woodwork.
Some customers have reported that the paint doesn’t apply smoothly, however, on Behr’s website there are application instructions that can help you avoid this!
Pros
- Resists dirt, household chemicals, and mildew
- Durable
- Block Resistance
Cons
- May not apply smoothly
Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations
For our beginner painters and novice DIY fixer uppers, Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations is the best white paint for kitchen cabinets and for you!
Product Features
This paint kit is perfect for all different surfaces, from wood to metal cabinetry. It’s a great choice for beginners because it comes with a three step coating system and directions to guide you to the perfect finish! It also requires no sanding, stripping, or priming.
Customers enjoy using this kit because it makes their cabinets look brand new and it’s easy to use. They recommend this kit for DIY projects on a budget!
The only downside is that some reviewers weren’t pleased with the quality of the top coat provided. However, those that purchased a separate one were satisfied with the results.
Pros
- Multi Surface
- Contains a three step coating system and directions
- Requires no sanding, stripping, or priming
- Great budget option
Cons
- Poor quality top coat
Benjamin Moore Advance
Our final pick on our list of the best white paint for kitchen cabinets is Benjamin Moore Advance. Its durable, furniture quality finish makes it a perfect fit for cabinets that need some extra protection.
Product Features
This alkyd satin paint has great coverage and holds even after repeated washing. It’s very strong and resistant against bumps and scuffs.
This is a tinted paint, so there are many color options! White Dove is a very popular white tint that may suit your cabinets well. Customers report that even when tinted, the paint cleans up very easily.
Reviews recommend sanding first for best results, as some customers struggled with getting an even finish. However, I recommend sanding your cabinets before painting regardless – these small measures will pay off!
Pros
- Durable
- Many color options
- Easy clean-up
Cons
- You may need to take extra measures for a smooth finish
The Best Primers for Your Kitchen Cabinets
One of the key steps when using white paint for kitchen cabinets is to choose a primer that’ll make sure your paint job looks professional. Lucky for you I have two excellent options here to simplify your search!
INSL – X Stix
One of our top pick primers is the INSL – X Stix acrylic primer. Its ability to stick to difficult surfaces makes it an excellent choice for your cabinets.
Product Features
This product provides a quality base coat in preparation for white paint for kitchen cabinets. It goes on smooth and bonds perfectly to hard to coat surfaces.
Customers insist this primer has maximum coverage and works great on tile. Their only complaint is that the price doesn’t seem fit for the quality.
Pros
- Strong adhesion to difficult surfaces
- Great coverage
- Smooth finish
Cons
- Expensive
Zinsser Smart Prime
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option that still gets the job done, then the Zinsser Smart Prime primer is perfect for you!
Product Features
This is an oil paint primer with a matte finish. It blocks stains and sticks to all interior and exterior surfaces. Customers consider this a quality product that works great on wood and covers up unwanted spots.
Some consumer reviews state that this primer occasionally peels. However, numerous reviews commend this primer’s ability to bond to their cabinets.
Pros
- Budget friendly
- Blocks stains
- Great on wood
Cons
- Could peel
Buyer’s Guide for the Best White Paint for Kitchen Cabinets
Types of Kitchen Cabinet Paint
Before you begin painting your cabinets, be sure to learn about the different types of paint and how they’ll affect your experience. You want to choose the best white paint for kitchen cabinets, and there are three popular types below.
Oil Based
Oil based paint used to be the popular choice for white paint for kitchen cabinets. In it, color pigments are suspended in oil and can be modified with solvents.
Oil based paints are extremely durable. This used to make them a great choice for cabinets, trim, and finishing. However, today the cons outweigh the pros.
This type of paint is very high in Volatile Organic Compounds, which are harmful and dangerous to breathe. Oil based paints are also just really messy and a hassle to clean.
Water based (Latex Enamel)
Water based latex enamel paint is a newer type of cabinet paint. It’s considered much safer for the environment and for people. It’s also very easy to use!
It’s not as strong and durable as oil based paint, and doesn’t achieve the same sleek finish. It also dries very quickly. This is nice for getting the paint job finished faster, but it affects the overall quality. This can be combatted by using a roller!
Hybrid (Acrylic Alkyd)
Hybrid paints are the best of both worlds! They provide the protection and quality finish of oil based paints while still being easy to clean up.
The pigment is carried by an oil molecule surrounded by water, so when the water evaporates it leaves behind that sleek oil finish.
This is a great choice for cabinets because it combines the best qualities of both paints and is still a safe and easy paint to use! I highly suggest hybrid paints as the best white paint for kitchen cabinets.
Things to Consider
When choosing which option is the best white paint for kitchen cabinets in your home, it’s important to consider these key factors:
Lighting
Different types of artificial lighting can affect the look of your paint job. Incandescent, fluorescent, and LED lighting all have different colors and intensities. For white cabinets, this will be important if you want your cabinets to actually appear white in interior lighting.
Natural light of course will vary depending on the time of day. I recommend testing your paint samples in the lighting in your kitchen before you begin painting!
Sheen
Sheen is the shininess of the finish. Depending on which sheen of white paint for kitchen cabinets you choose, the reflection of light will change.
Satin and matte are both very popular choices for kitchen cabinets. Satin is more reflective and adds depth to the color. Matte sheen tends to be softer.
Material
The material of your kitchen cabinets is important to note when choosing your paint type. Some paints bond well to wood, while others may be better suited to metal, aluminium, or other materials.
Make sure to choose a paint that compliments the cabinets in your kitchen!
Time
Painting your kitchen cabinets is no simple task. Be aware that it will take more than a day!
Paints and primers will dry at different speeds. When choosing which paint is right for you, consider the amount of time it will take for your primer or paint to dry. You’ll most likely need to paint multiple coats of white paint for your kitchen cabinets.
White Paint for Kitchen Cabinets FAQ
What do you have to do before painting your kitchen cabinets?
Before painting your cabinets you should definitely do some prep work. Assess the state of your cabinets – are they worn or stained? This will determine what kind of paint or primer will be right for you.
I highly recommend emptying your cabinets and removing the doors and hinges. This will make everything easier.
Clean the cabinets! remove dirt and grime before applying fresh paint.
Finally, I suggest sanding your cabinets so that the primer and paint will bond evenly to the base and leave a smooth finish.
How long does it take painted cabinets to cure?
Even if your cabinets feel dry after 24 hours, its best not to start using them right away. It can take up to 15 or 20 days for the cabinets to really be ready for use. If you want to have the best white paint for your kitchen cabinets, you’ll need some patience!
The Best White Paint for Kitchen Cabinets
Each of these paints and primers above will give your kitchen cabinets the transformation necessary to liven up your kitchen. After exploring these options, I have no doubt you will find the best white paint for your kitchen cabinets!