Should I sand my cabinets before I paint them?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 09, 2026
You should sand cabinets before beginning your how to paint kitchen cabinet project to give the new paint a good surface to grip. But you don't need to sand to bare wood. If your cabinets have a factory finish, sand lightly with 120-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge.
What happens if you don't sand cabinets before painting?
If you don't clean before sanding, contaminates (like cooking grease) will be pressed down into the wood. Contaminates will keep the soon be applied paint for sticking. You can remove the doors here in the process or wait until after you wash them down. It is totally up to you and situational dependent.
Can you paint over cabinets without sanding?
Yes, it is possible to paint cabinets without sanding.
Can you just paint over cabinets?
Wood cabinets are ideal for painting, but any surface that can be scuffed with sandpaper can be painted. Laminate cabinets require a special bonding primer. The laminate must be in good condition for best results. Choose a high-quality paint.
How much sanding is enough before painting cabinets?
Grab your orbital sander and some medium grit sandpaper. You can sand by hand if you would like, but your arms will probably get pretty tired. Painted cabinets should get a thorough sanding with 120-grit paper, but no matter the finish, do a final pass with 220-grit.
35 related questions foundWhat sandpaper should I use for cabinets?
Once your cabinets are clean and dry, use a 100 or 150-grit sandpaper to roughen up the surface of the cabinets. Cabinet paint won't adhere properly to a smooth or shiny surface. You don't need to completely remove the prior finish, just rough up the surface enough to give the primer something to stick to.
How can I sand my cabinets faster?
An orbital sander is the best way to sand cabinets quickly. I prefer 220-grit for the first sanding because it's coarse enough to dull surface gloss without causing damage or grinding down to the bare wood.
How do professionals paint kitchen cabinets?
How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets Like A Pro In 9 Steps
- Assess the condition of your kitchen cabinets. ...
- Remove and label the doors and drawer faces. ...
- Put down drop cloths. ...
- Clean the cabinets. ...
- Lightly sand your cabinets. ...
- Prime your kitchen cabinets. ...
- Inspect the primer. ...
- Paint your kitchen cabinets like a pro.
Does liquid sandpaper work on cabinets?
Wipe the cabinets down with a liquid sandpaper to get any finish/glossiness that you missed.
How do I get a smooth finish on kitchen cabinets?
How To Get A Smooth Finish When Painting Kitchen Cabinets
- Do Your Prep Work. ...
- Use A Good Primer. ...
- Use A Paint Sprayer. ...
- Choose Lacquer Paint. ...
- Purchase A High-Quality Paintbrush And Foam Roller. ...
- Apply With A Brush And Finish With A Roller. ...
- Layer Several Thin, Even Coats. ...
- Sand Lightly Between Coats.
What kind of paint do you use on cabinets?
While there are many types of paint to choose from, the best paint for kitchen cabinets is typically semi-gloss, gloss or satin. Matte is not practical in kitchens and baths where you will need durable paint you can easily clean.
What is a good color to paint kitchen cabinets?
The 7 Best Cabinet Paint Colors for a Happier Kitchen, According to Interior Designers
- White and dark gray. “It's important to keep in mind how much natural light your space gets before deciding on paint colors. ...
- Crisp white. ...
- Understated gray. ...
- Vibrant blue. ...
- White and dark gray. ...
- A slightly off-white white. ...
- Greige.
Should you sand before painting?
While sanding is not required for every paint project, rough spots on walls, whether they have been previously painted or not, need to be sanded before they are painted to ensure the paint goes on smoothly.
Should I sand wood before painting Reddit?
You don't need to sand them down to bare wood, but you do need to clean them super well and degloss them. A good pass with some 120 sandpaper after degreasing should do it. Painting cabinets is a process.
How can I paint my kitchen cabinets without brush marks?
If your cabinets are stained, apply at least two coats of quality primer. For me, there's nothing better than BIN, Zinsser's shellac-based pigmented primer. It dries fast and flat, without brush marks (unlike most oil-based primers). You can buy it at home and hardware stores, as well as online (view on Amazon).
Should I sand after Deglossing?
If the piece you are painting has any sort of finish on it that is shiny, slick, glossy, semiglossy or even satin, you need to degloss it before painting it. Keep in mind, though, that if the finish is chipping, peeling or cracking, you'll need to sand it.
How long after using liquid sandpaper Can you paint?
How Long After Using Liquid Sandpaper Can You Paint? Sandpaper with liquid is faster to apply, wait 15 minutes, and then wipe off any leftover residue once it has dried. You'll find that any varnish or glossy finish has magically peeled away, leaving you with a ready-made primer or paint.
Do you wipe off liquid sandpaper before painting?
The advantage of using liquid sandpaper instead of regular sandpaper is that it's easier to apply and safer to use. You just rub liquid sandpaper over the object you wish to paint, wait a set amount of time and wipe off. There is no physical exertion necessary and no messy dust particles to sweep away.
Is it better to roll or brush paint cabinets?
For wood, brushing is fine, but you may want to hire a professional for a good finish. Using a roller to paint cabinets is a lot faster than brush painting, however, the fabric on the roller will create a 'bobbly' texture on the surface. The texture a roller puts on cabinets makes it unsuitable for gloss paint.
Is it better to spray or brush paint kitchen cabinets?
Ideally, spray painting cabinets is the most sought after method today. The quality of finish you get from using a spray gun is second to none, and it's by far a faster and more efficient method.
Should I roll or spray cabinets?
Rollers are not as consistent. The paint is applied unevenly. So, if you want a factory-grade finish, choose to spray your kitchen cabinets instead of rolling them. In addition to providing a higher-quality final finish, spray painting is faster than using a roller.
Do you have to sand wood with the grain?
No matter what type of edge you're going for, always maintain steady pressure and sand with, not against, the grain. Don't employ sandpaper to remove things like pencil marks or dried glue, but do use it to smooth joints or filled nail holes.
How much wood can I sand off?
It is not feasible to sand down a wooden member by a whole half of an inch. If something is too long then cut off the additional half inch using a saw. If something is too thick (wide) by the half inch then rip saw off that extra thickness or use a planer to remove it.
Can you sand down painted cabinets?
If you do have brush marks from a previous paint job, then you really will want to sand with extra fine sandpaper. They also mentioned you could use a green Scotch-Brite pad to just rough up the surface. We also always use a deglosser to help prep any surface (even previously painted cabinets).
What grit sandpaper should I use before painting wood?
Sanding is critical to creating a smooth surface. For wood that is going to be painted, use 120-grit, followed by 150-grit. For closed-grain woods (such as Cherry, Pine, Maple, Birch or Alder) that will be stained with water-based products use 150-grit followed by 220-grit.