Benjamin Moore Advance typically costs about $65-$90 per gallon, with a quart commonly priced at $25-$35; local dealer prices vary. A professional cabinet or trim repaint often runs $500-$2,500 or more, depending on surface area, prep, labor, and the number of coats.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance paint, gallon | $65 | $78 | $90 | Retail estimate; color and dealer affect price |
| Advance paint, quart | $25 | $30 | $35 | Useful for small projects or touch-ups |
| Paint materials for cabinets | $150 | $350 | $700 | Primer, paint, abrasives, masking, and supplies |
| Professional cabinet painting | $500 | $1,500 | $2,500+ | Scope and local labor rates drive total |
What a gallon of Advance covers and costs
Advance is a waterborne alkyd enamel commonly chosen for cabinets, doors, and trim where a smooth, durable finish is wanted. One gallon generally covers about 400-500 square feet per coat on a properly prepared surface. Porous, rough, or heavily colored surfaces may use more.
For most projects, budget $65-$90 per gallon and plan for two finish coats. A gallon may cover a modest kitchen’s cabinet faces for one coat, but doors, drawer fronts, frames, and interiors increase the area. Many cabinet jobs need 1-3 gallons, depending on kitchen size and whether both sides are painted.
Assumptions: U.S. dealer pricing, standard white or readily available color, and typical coverage on a smooth, primed surface.
How primer, sanding, and labor shape the quote
Paint is only one part of a cabinet or trim estimate. Professional pricing often includes cleaning, sanding, masking, repairs, primer, finish coats, and reinstallation. DIY material budgets are lower, but preparation and drying time are substantial.
| Quote component | Typical range | Pricing basis | What changes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance paint | $65-$90 | Per gallon | Dealer, sheen, and color |
| Primer and abrasives | $40-$150 | Per project | Surface condition and adhesion needs |
| Labor | $35-$75 | Per hour | Region, finish quality, and access |
| Masking and supplies | $30-$120 | Per project | Room size and protection required |
| Door removal or repairs | $50-$400 | Per job | Hardware, damage, and complexity |
A 20-hour job at $50-$75 per hour represents $1,000-$1,500 in labor before materials or business overhead.
Cabinet size, surface condition, and sheen change paint needs
Kitchen size is a useful starting point, but the number of doors and drawer fronts is often more informative. A small kitchen with 20-25 fronts may need around 1-2 gallons for two coats; a larger kitchen with 40 or more fronts may use 2-3 gallons. These are planning estimates, not guarantees.
Dark-to-light color changes, bare wood, glossy finishes, and damaged edges can require extra primer or sanding. A smooth, sound surface may need less prep than peeling or greasy cabinets. Advance is sold in multiple sheens; the selected finish can affect availability and dealer price, though labor and prep usually matter more than a small per-gallon difference.
Each additional gallon adds roughly $65-$90 before primer and supplies. Ask the painter to specify whether the estimate covers cabinet interiors, both sides of doors, and replacement of hardware.
Professional Advance painting takes more time than rolling walls
Cabinet painting involves detailed work that is not captured by paint coverage alone. A crew may remove and label doors, clean and sand them, apply primer if needed, and spray or brush multiple finish coats. A typical kitchen can take several working days, with additional drying or curing time before normal use.
Labor commonly accounts for the largest share of a professional quote. Regional hourly rates, shop spraying, site protection, and the finish standard all influence the total. Spraying may produce a more uniform result but can add setup and masking costs. Ask whether the quote includes door transport, hardware handling, and reinstallation.
Three cabinet sizes show how quotes can differ
| Example scope | Paint estimate | Labor estimate | Likely total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small vanity, 8 fronts, two coats | 1 gallon, $65-$90 | 8-12 hours, $280-$900 | $400-$1,100 |
| Average kitchen, 25 fronts, prep and two coats | 2 gallons, $130-$180 | 20-35 hours, $700-$2,625 | $1,000-$3,200 |
| Large kitchen, 40+ fronts, repairs and detailed masking | 3 gallons, $195-$270 | 35-55 hours, $1,225-$4,125 | $1,700-$5,000+ |
Totals include typical project supplies and labor allowances, but not major carpentry, new hardware, or extensive interior painting. Quotes differ because some contractors price by door or drawer front rather than hours.
Dealer location and job access can shift the price
Benjamin Moore paint is sold through independent retailers, so shelf prices and promotions vary. Urban markets and high-cost coastal areas may have contractor labor rates about 10%-30% above national midrange estimates. Rural projects can also cost more when travel or minimum service charges apply; lower local wages do not always mean a lower total.
For professional work, stairs, limited parking, occupied kitchens, and difficult door removal can raise labor by roughly 5%-20%. Obtain at least two written quotes with matching scope rather than comparing a paint-only price with a complete refinishing bid.
How to lower the Advance project budget without cutting prep
Measure the scope before buying paint, and confirm coverage with the dealer or painter. A quart can be economical for a small vanity or touch-up, but multiple quarts may cost more than a gallon. Avoid buying extra gallons until the color and quantity are confirmed, while keeping enough from the same batch for the planned coats.
The safest savings come from limiting scope, not skipping cleaning, sanding, or suitable primer. Painting cabinet exteriors only, keeping the existing color family, removing hardware yourself when agreed, and scheduling flexible work can reduce charges. Compare quotes for identical door counts, coat numbers, interiors, repairs, and finish methods.
Advance versus cheaper paint for cabinets and trim
Standard wall paint may cost less per gallon, but it is not always a comparable choice for frequently handled doors and cabinetry. Advance’s enamel formulation is intended for trim and similar surfaces, while other cabinet coatings may require different primers, application methods, or equipment. Compare the complete system price rather than the can price alone.
For a small, lightly used project, another quality trim enamel may reduce material spending by around $10-$25 per gallon. On a professional cabinet job, that difference is usually modest beside labor. The better comparison is the product specified, number of coats, surface preparation, expected curing time, and any workmanship warranty.