Comparison: Best Wood To Paint For Cabinets (Updated | Oct 22nd)
Choosing the right wood for painted cabinets is essential for achieving a durable, professional finish. While many hardwoods can be painted, some species are better suited than others. This comparison explores popular options like maple, birch, pine, and MDF, evaluating factors such as grain tightness, porosity, and stability to help you decide which wood will hold paint best and yield long-lasting results. Whether you’re DIY-ing or working with a professional, understanding these characteristics ensures your project looks polished and stands the test of time.
Editor’s Choice
Best for a specific purpose
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Best for best overall:
Giani Nuvo Cabinet Paint -
Best for daily cleaning:
Rejuvenate Cabinet And Furniture Cleaner Removes Dirt -
Best for quick drying:
Giani Wood Look Paint Kit for Front & Interior Doors (English Oak) -
Best for scratch repair:
AstraVox Wood Touch Up Paint -
Best for multi-surface repair:
EzyAce White Touch Up Paint Pen -
Best for no sanding:
DWIL Matte Finish Furniture Paint – 5 Oz Wood Paint for Cabinets -
Best for premium performance:
Jungarian Wood Grain Furniture Paint 10.5oz with Tools – All-in-One No Need Prime No Need Varnish – Water-based & Low Odor – Outdoor & Indoor Wood Paint for Furniture and More – Teak -
Best for no primer:
DWIL Matte Finish Furniture Paint – 5 Oz Wood Paint for Cabinets -
Best for best value:
Furniture Paint All In One – 17.6 Oz Black Paint for Wood -
Best for eco-friendly choice:
Country Chic All-in-One Chalk Paint for Furniture
Product Comparison: Best Wood To Paint For Cabinets
Best overall
Giani Nuvo Cabinet Paint, Driftwood (Quart)
Giani
- Brand Name: Nuvo
- Color: Driftwood
- Product Dimension: 5.0 X 6.0 X 8.0 Inches
- Driftwood Is A Light, Neutral Grey, Satin Finish Cabinet Paint – Part Of Our Coastal Collection
Daily cleaning
Rejuvenate Cabinet And Furniture Cleaner Removes Dirt, Grime And Grease Buildup To Clean And Shine Cabinets And Furniture, 24 Ounces
Rejuvenate
- CABINET & FURNITURE CLEANER: Removes dirt, grime & grease buildup
- CLEANS & SHINES: gives your cabinets & furniture a streak-free clean
- USE ON INDOOR CABINETS & FURNITURE ONLY: Safe for use on hardwood, laminates, paneling & finished wood
- FOR DAILY CLEANING: pH balanced & gentle enough to use daily
- SAFE FOR PETS & KIDS: When used per directions on product label. For additional details, visit rejuvenateproducts.com/safe
Quick drying
Giani Wood Look Paint Kit for Front & Interior Doors (English Oak)
Giani
- Add instant curb appeal to your home in just 4 hours
- For use on exterior or interior doors
- Ideal for painted steel, aluminum and wood, the standard materials of most front and interior doors
- Simple, 3-step application and quick-dry formula allows you to paint and close your door in the same day
- Pairs well with Antique Brass, Satin Nickel, and Polished Brass door hardware
Scratch repair
AstraVox Wood Touch Up Paint, 1.5 Oz White Paint for Wood Repair Scratches, Spots and Chips, Strong Adhesion Waterproof Quick Dry for Doors Tables Furniture Kitchen Cabinets Dressers
AstraVox
- Super Strong Adsorption: White wood touch up paint adopts a high-quality water-based acrylic formula with strong adhesion. It can effectively cover defects, perfectly blend with the original surface, and easily achieve a smooth and long-lasting repair effect
- Quick Drying & Long Lasting: Our wood paint formula ensures that each coat dries quickly, allowing you to see the results faster. Once dry, our white furniture paint forms a tough, durable coating that resists daily wear and fading, eliminating the need for frequent maintenance and saving repair costs
- Wide Application: Our white wood paint is wear-resistant, and low-odor. This touch up paint pen can effectively repair scratches, chips and spots. It will restore doors, tables, chairs, furniture, dressers, cabinets, floors, etc. to their original appearance
- Easy to use: Compared with traditional paint cans, our cabinet paint is small and has a built-in small brush, which can avoid repair disasters caused by large brush heads. Just apply the white wood paint precisely on the scratches, which greatly improves the repair efficiency
- Customer Service: We believe you will like our white paint for wood, but if our white touch up paint cannot satisfy you, or you have any questions about wood paint, don't hesitate to contact us and we will give you a satisfactory answer
Multi-surface repair
EzyAce White Touch Up Paint Pen, Multi Surface Cabinet Paint for Wood Scratch Repair, 1.69Fl Oz Odorless White Paints for Wall, Fast-Drying Wood Paint for Furniture, Door, Cabinets, Bathtub, Appliance
EzyAce
- Versatile Repair Solution: EzyAce white touch up paint can effortlessly cover scratches, dents, stains, cracks, and chips on multiple surfaces, including walls, furniture, cabinets, appliances, floors, and more. Perfect for quick touch-ups at home, in offices, or in rentals!
- Fast-Drying & Odorless: Our advanced formula allows the touch up paint pen to dry quickly to prevent dust buildup. There is almost no pungent odor when using an appliance paint white for a comfortable, hassle-free application—perfect for indoor use.
- Waterproof & Durable: This white paint for wall is waterproof and long-lasting, adheres firmly to wood and walls, resisting flaking and wear—ideal for both indoor and outdoor touch-ups.
- Classic Matte White + DIY Flexibility: Semi gloss white is the most versatile shade for homes, rentals, and renovations. Easily mix with other colors to create custom hues of furniture paint for a personalized finish.
- Precision Application: Our cabinet paint features a built-in fine-tip brush designed to effortlessly reach tight corners and small imperfections. Enjoy natural-looking wood scratch repair without wasted paint or over-application—just smooth, even coverage every time.
- Leak-Proof & Portable: The secure screw-cap design prevents internal porcelain paint leaks and drying out, while the compact size fits easily in drawers, toolboxes, or bags for on-the-go repairs.
- Usage Tips: Clean the repair area before applying the bathtub paint and allow sufficient drying time between coats. Avoid using damp conditions to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the repair. (Recommend against using it on surfaces requiring extensive maintenance.)
No sanding
DWIL Matte Finish Furniture Paint – 5 Oz Wood Paint for Cabinets, Doors, Tables, and Dressers Refinishing – Water-Based, Non-Toxic & Odorless, Easy to Apply(Black)-Trial Pack
DWIL
- 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐓:Save time with our wood paint kit, including all the necessary tools for your painting needs
- 𝐍𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐃:Our wood furniture paint sticks well to wood without a primer, forming a protective film. No varnish needed for low traffic areas, but add a coat for high traffic spots
- 𝐍𝐎 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃:Our advanced acrylic furniture paint eliminates the need for time-consuming sanding. Apply directly to your furniture hassle-free
- 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆:Our matte furniture paint dries quickly, allowing for multiple coats in a day, so you can finish your project sooner
- 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘:Simply clean, wait for drying, and start painting. Even beginners can easily use our wood paint for furniture remodeling
- 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄:Update chairs, tables, dressers, and cabinets with our modern matte furniture paint, providing both style and protection. For glass, ceramics, or metal, use a primer for better adhesion
- 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄:Store our paint for months without waste. Stir for 1-2 minutes if stratification occurs when reopening
- 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊: Palm-sized is perfect for testing paint colors and texture on small surfaces before making a larger purchase
Premium performance
Jungarian Wood Grain Furniture Paint 10.5oz with Tools – All-in-One No Need Prime No Need Varnish – Water-based & Low Odor – Outdoor & Indoor Wood Paint for Furniture and More – Teak
Jungarian
- 【3 IN 1 – One Step Grain Paint】 JUNGARIAN Wood Grain Furniture Paint=Base-coat + Wood Stain + Sealer in one! Traditional wood stain need to be paired with a base-coat and varnish. Our wood grain furniture paint requires only one step, paint and wait for it to dry, your furniture will look brand new in just a few hours! Save money and save on construction steps
- 【Highlights Wood Grain】 Traditional furniture paint offer good performance, but cover the wood grain completely. Ordinary wood stains only accentuate the wood grain without providing good performance. Our wood grain paint combines the best of both worlds, with excellent wood grain highlighting and excellent coverage to ensure even colour penetration. It also offers excellent performance, durability and hardness. The semi-matte finish gives the home a premium look
- 【Excellent Performance】 Compared with wood stain, wood grain paint is fast film formation, thick film, scratch resistant, waterproof and easy to fix the colour after painting. After curing the paint film, the colour will not be removed by washing. We have done experiments: put the painted boards into high temperature water to boil still does not lose colour. In addition to this superior performance, it can also protect the wood to prevent cracks and splits
- 【Safe and Easy to Use】This wood paint for furniture is formulated as a water-based paint, and the high quality emulsion makes it ultra low VOC, allowing you to work anywhere without worrying about unpleasant odours, and indoor use is not a concern. High density paint film, can be kept clean by gently scrubbing with a soft cloth. Ideal for use on all wood projects: furniture, cabinets, dresser, doors, trim, floors, toys and more
- 【Indoor and Outdoor Universal】JUNGARIAN wood grain paint has strong adhesion and is suitable for all kinds of wood substrates. It is UV and water resistant and can be used outdoors for at least 5-10 years. Durable and not easy to peel and crack, it is a good helper for home decoration or home painting
- 【DIY Freedom with Tools Included】 Includes a full set of tools to make your DIY projects easier. Our experts are here if you have questions before purchasing
No primer
DWIL Matte Finish Furniture Paint – 5 Oz Wood Paint for Cabinets, Doors, Tables, and Dressers Refinishing – Water-Based, Non-Toxic & Odorless, Easy to Apply(White)-Trial Pack
DWIL
- 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐓:Save time with our wood paint kit, including all the necessary tools for your painting needs
- 𝐍𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐃:Our wood furniture paint sticks well to wood without a primer, forming a protective film. No varnish needed for low traffic areas, but add a coat for high traffic spots
- 𝐍𝐎 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃:Our advanced acrylic furniture paint eliminates the need for time-consuming sanding. Apply directly to your furniture hassle-free
- 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆:Our matte furniture paint dries quickly, allowing for multiple coats in a day, so you can finish your project sooner
- 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘:Simply clean, wait for drying, and start painting. Even beginners can easily use our wood paint for furniture remodeling
- 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄:Update chairs, tables, dressers, and cabinets with our modern matte furniture paint, providing both style and protection. For glass, ceramics, or metal, use a primer for better adhesion
- 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐄:Store our paint for months without waste. Stir for 1-2 minutes if stratification occurs when reopening
- 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊: Palm-sized is perfect for testing paint colors and texture on small surfaces before making a larger purchase
Best value
Furniture Paint All In One – 17.6 Oz Black Paint for Wood, Cabinet, Doors, Tables & Dressers, Matte Finish Black Touch Up Coating No Sanding, Easy Application – Water-Based, Non-Toxic, Low Odor
Meuvcol
- ✅ All-in-One Black Furniture Paint – No Sanding or Priming Required: Upgrade old furniture with ease! This all-in-one furniture paint applies directly to wood, cabinets, dressers, and tables—no sanding, no primer, no prep needed. Perfect paint for wood furniture and quick DIY transformations.
- ✅ Safe Water-Based Cabinet Paint – Low Odor, Family Friendly：Formulated as a water-based cabinet paint, this low-VOC, low-odor paint is ideal for indoor projects. Enjoy a healthier painting experience without strong fumes—great for kitchens, bedrooms, and dressers.
- ✅ Durable Matte Finish – Long-Lasting Black Paint For Wood：Our advanced wood paint forms a high-density matte finish that resists peeling, scratching, and fading. This black furniture paint covers stains and wear, giving cabinets, doors, and dressers a professional look.
- ✅ Fast Drying, Easy to Clean – Wood Paint for Furniture：This liquid wood paint no sanding and dries in just 1-2 hours, so you can apply multiple coats in a single day. Once cured, the wood furniture paint is washable and easy to maintain, keeping surfaces fresh and clean.
- ✅ Complete DIY Kit – Paint for Cabinets, Dressers & Doors：Each set includes 17.6oz of black cabinet paint plus tools, making it simple for beginners or pros. Everything you need to start transforming cabinets, tables, and wardrobes is included.
- ✅ Versatile Use – No Prep Furniture Paint for Home Projects：Perfect paint for furniture without sanding, whether updating kitchen cabinets, bedroom dressers, wardrobes, bed frame or dining tables. Works indoors or outdoors on wood. For metal, glass, or ceramic, apply primer first for best adhesion.
Eco-friendly choice
Country Chic All-in-One Chalk Paint for Furniture, Cabinets, Home Decor, Eco-Friendly, Matte Finish, Built-In Primer & Top Coat for Wood, Metal – Sage Advice (sage Green) – 8 oz (237 ml)
Country Chic Paint
- All-in-One Formula: This furniture paint includes a built-in primer and top coat, providing seamless application on wood, metal, laminate, and more surfaces for a hassle-free painting experience.
- Durable & Long-Lasting: Backed by 80 years of experience, our paint delivers a tough, long-lasting finish with excellent adhesion. It provides vibrant, full coverage with minimal prep, ensuring a reliable surface that withstands everyday wear and tear.
- Quick-Drying, Chalky Matte Finish – Dries within 30 minutes to a chalky matte finish that’s easy to distress if desired, yet highly durable. The self-leveling formula ensures a flawlessly smooth finish, making it perfect for blending colors and achieving a custom look.
- Perfect for Furniture Transformations – Ideal for giving a fresh, new look to furniture, cabinets, upholstery, and creative crafts. Whether tackling large furniture pieces or small DIY projects, our paint delivers consistent, professional results every time.
- Eco-Friendly & Safe: Certified Green Wise Gold, no harsh chemicals such as phthalates, formaldehyde, heavy metals, or solvents; ultra-low VOC including pigments; low odor; certified safe as per European Toy Safety Standards
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Buying Guide
FAQs
What type of wood is best for painting cabinets?
Hardwoods like maple or oak are ideal for painting cabinets due to their smooth surfaces and minimal grain.
Can I use pre-painted wood for cabinet refinishing?
Yes, but ensure the surface is thoroughly cleaned and sanded to remove existing paint for better adhesion.
Do I need to prime wood before painting cabinets?
Priming is recommended, especially for porous woods, to ensure even coverage and durability.
Which wood grain patterns show through paint the most?
Open-grain woods like walnut or mahogany may show texture more prominently under paint.
Is MDF a good option for painted cabinets?
Yes, MDF has a smooth surface that accepts paint well and minimizes wood grain visibility.
What wood type is easiest to repaint for cabinet updates?
Plywood or MDF is easiest to repaint due to their uniform, sandable surfaces.
Can softwoods like pine be used for painted cabinets?
Yes, but pine may require additional sanding and priming to avoid a blotchy finish.
Are there wood types to avoid when painting cabinets?
Avoid highly resinous woods like cedar or teak, as they can resist paint adhesion.
