14 Best White Kitchen Cabinet Paint Colors

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Choosing a white paint for kitchen cabinets sounds simple until you’re staring at 200 nearly identical swatches. The best white paint colors for kitchen cabinets are Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17), Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008), and Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (OC-65). White Dove suits most kitchens with its soft warm undertone; Alabaster adds cozy warmth for traditional spaces; Chantilly Lace delivers a crisp modern look. All three pair beautifully with popular countertops and hardware finishes.

Our Top 3 Picks at a Glance

Paint	Code	Undertone	LRV	Best For
Benjamin Moore White Dove	OC-17	Warm greige	85.38	Most kitchens; the safest all-rounder
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster	SW 7008	Warm beige	82	Traditional, farmhouse, cozy kitchens
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace	OC-65	Cool, barely blue	92.2	Modern, minimalist, bright kitchens

LRV (Light Reflectance Value) runs 0–100; higher numbers reflect more light. Manufacturer-published values.

The 10 Best White Paints for Kitchen Cabinets — Reviewed in Detail

1. Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17)

White Dove is the most specified white for kitchen cabinets in North America, and for good reason. Its undertone is a soft warm greige — a whisper of gray and beige that keeps it from looking stark or yellow. With an LRV of 85.38, it reflects plenty of light while still feeling creamy.

Best kitchen styles: Transitional, traditional, farmhouse, coastal. It bridges warm wood floors and cool marble effortlessly.
Hardware pairings: Brushed brass or champagne bronze for warmth; polished nickel for a classic look; matte black for contrast.
Price: Available in Benjamin Moore Advance (the go-to cabinet paint), roughly $78–$89 per gallon. Expect to use one gallon for an average-size kitchen’s cabinet boxes plus two for doors and drawer fronts, depending on color change. Related: Free Kitchen Cabinet Paint Calculator.

2. Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008)

Alabaster is a warm, creamy white with a distinct beige undertone and an LRV of 82 — noticeably warmer and slightly darker than White Dove. It was Sherwin-Williams’ Color of the Year for good reason: it makes kitchens feel inviting rather than clinical.

Best kitchen styles: Farmhouse, traditional, Tuscan, cottage. Shines alongside warm wood tones, butcher block, and oil-rubbed bronze.
Hardware pairings: Oil-rubbed bronze, aged brass, black. Avoid chrome, which can clash with its warmth.
Price: Available in Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel (excellent for cabinets), typically $85–$115 per gallon depending on sales.

3. Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (OC-65)

The crispest white on this list. Chantilly Lace has an LRV of 92.2 — one of the brightest whites Benjamin Moore makes — with only the faintest cool undertone. It reads as pure, clean white in most lighting, which is exactly what modern kitchens need.

Best kitchen styles: Modern, Scandinavian, minimalist, contemporary. Pairs with flat-panel or slab cabinet doors.
Hardware pairings: Matte black, brushed stainless, polished chrome.
Price: In Benjamin Moore Advance, roughly $78–$89 per gallon. Note: very bright whites show every imperfection, so surface prep matters more here.

4. Sherwin-Williams Pure White (SW 7005)

Pure White sits between Alabaster and Extra White: a warm-leaning neutral white (LRV 84) with just a touch of yellow that keeps it soft without going creamy. Designers love it for trim and cabinets in open-plan homes because it doesn’t fight with either warm or cool palettes.

Best kitchen styles: Transitional, contemporary, open-concept spaces.
Hardware pairings: Satin nickel, champagne bronze, matte black.
Price: In Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, typically $85–$115 per gallon.

5. Benjamin Moore Simply White (OC-117)

Simply White is a warm, cheerful white (LRV 91.7) with a noticeable yellow undertone. In bright, sun-filled kitchens it’s luminous and fresh; in north-facing rooms the yellow can intensify, so test it in your actual lighting.

Best kitchen styles: Coastal, cottage, cheerful traditional kitchens with lots of natural light.
Hardware pairings: Polished nickel, brass, glass knobs.
Price: In Benjamin Moore Advance, roughly $78–$89 per gallon.

6. Sherwin-Williams Snowbound (SW 7004)

Snowbound is a cool-leaning white (LRV 83) with a soft gray undertone — no yellow, no cream. It’s the answer for anyone who finds Alabaster too warm but Chantilly Lace too stark. It looks particularly good next to gray countertops and stainless appliances.

Best kitchen styles: Transitional, modern farmhouse, gray-and-white kitchens.
Hardware pairings: Brushed nickel, stainless steel, matte black.
Price: In Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, typically $85–$115 per gallon.

7. Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White (OC-149)

A designer favorite for trim and cabinets, Decorator’s White is a cool white with a whisper of gray (LRV in the low 80s). It has slightly more body than Chantilly Lace, which helps it cover better in fewer coats.

Best kitchen styles: Classic, preppy, blue-and-white kitchens.
Hardware pairings: Polished nickel, chrome, navy or black accents.
Price: In Benjamin Moore Advance, roughly $78–$89 per gallon.

8. Sherwin-Williams Extra White (SW 7006)

Extra White (LRV 86) is Sherwin-Williams’ truest, brightest white — cooler and cleaner than Pure White. On cabinets it gives a sharp, contemporary look. Like all bright whites, it demands careful prep because it highlights flaws.

Best kitchen styles: Ultra-modern, high-contrast kitchens, commercial-style spaces.
Hardware pairings: Matte black, chrome, stainless.
Price: In Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, typically $85–$115 per gallon.

9. Farrow & Ball All White (No. 2005)

All White is Farrow & Ball’s softest white — warm without visible yellow, with the brand’s signature chalky depth. It looks expensive because the pigment load is high. The trade-off is price and availability: you’ll pay roughly double what domestic brands cost.

Best kitchen styles: High-end traditional, English country, boutique kitchens.
Hardware pairings: Unlacquered brass, aged bronze.
Price: Around $110–$130 per gallon; use Farrow & Ball’s own cabinet-grade finishes for best results.

10. Behr Ultra Pure White

The budget pick that performs better than its price suggests. Ultra Pure White is a neutral, stark white with no strong undertone. Pair it with Behr’s Alkyd Semi-Gloss Enamel (made for cabinets and trim) rather than wall paint. Related: How to Pick a Ceiling Paint Color.

Best kitchen styles: Rental refreshes, budget renovations, any style where you want a clean neutral.
Hardware pairings: Any — its neutrality is forgiving.
Price: Roughly $35–$55 per gallon depending on the product line, widely available at Home Depot.

Warm vs Cool Whites: How to Choose

The single biggest decision is undertone temperature. Here’s a practical framework:

• Choose warm whites (White Dove, Alabaster, Simply White, Pure White) if your kitchen has warm wood floors, beige tile, brass fixtures, or north-facing light that needs warming up. Warm whites hide yellowing better over time.
• Choose cool whites (Chantilly Lace, Snowbound, Extra White, Decorator’s White) if you have gray countertops, stainless appliances, concrete or white tile, or abundant warm southern light to balance.
• When in doubt, go neutral-warm. Warm-leaning whites like White Dove and Pure White are the most forgiving across lighting conditions — the reason they dominate designer specifications.

Always paint large test swatches on the cabinet doors themselves (not just the wall) and observe them morning, midday, and evening before committing. Undertones shift dramatically under different bulbs — test under your actual kitchen lighting.

Pairing White Cabinets with Countertops

• White marble or quartz with gray veining (e.g., Calacatta-style): pair with White Dove, Snowbound, or Decorator’s White — the gray undertones harmonize.
• Butcher block / warm wood: pair with Alabaster, Simply White, or White Dove for a cohesive warm kitchen.
• Black granite or soapstone: any white works; Chantilly Lace or Extra White maximizes the high-contrast drama.
• Gray quartz: lean cool — Snowbound, Chantilly Lace, or Pure White.

The Best Paint Finish for Kitchen Cabinets

Color is only half the decision. For cabinets, satin is the sweet spot for most kitchens: it has a soft sheen that resists moisture and wipes clean without highlighting every brush mark. Semi-gloss is more durable and scrubbable — a good call for families with young kids — but it shows imperfections more readily. Avoid flat and eggshell on cabinets; they don’t stand up to grease and repeated cleaning. Use a cabinet-specific enamel (Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel), not standard wall paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular white paint color for kitchen cabinets?

Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17) is the most widely specified white for kitchen cabinets by designers. Its warm greige undertone works in nearly any lighting and alongside both warm and cool materials, making it the safest choice if you can only pick one.

Should kitchen cabinets be warm white or cool white?

Match the white to your fixed elements: warm whites suit wood floors, beige stone, and brass; cool whites suit gray counters, stainless steel, and abundant natural light. If your kitchen mixes warm and cool elements, a neutral-warm white like White Dove or Pure White bridges both.

Do white kitchen cabinets show dirt more than colored cabinets?

Yes, white shows grease, fingerprints, and splatters more visibly — but it also shows you where to clean. A quality satin or semi-gloss enamel wipes down easily with a damp cloth, so maintenance is straightforward. Dark cabinets hide grime but show dust and scratches instead.

How many coats of paint do white kitchen cabinets need?

Plan on one coat of quality bonding primer plus two coats of cabinet enamel. Going from dark cabinets to white may need a second primer coat or a third topcoat for full, even coverage — bright whites have less hiding power than mid-tone colors.

Will white cabinets go out of style?

White kitchen cabinets have been the dominant choice for over two decades and remain the top resale-safe option. While colored cabinets trend in cycles, white endures because it maximizes light, suits every architecture, and appeals to the broadest range of buyers.

By Ella Knight

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