You can charge between $4,000 and $11,000 or more to paint the interior of a 2,300 square foot home. For the exterior of a 2,500 square foot home, expect to charge $4,000 on average. Several factors go into estimating the cost of a painting project, including labor, the type of wall being painted, method of painting, the cost of materials, and more.
On This Page:
- How to Estimate a Painting Project
- How Much to Charge Per Square Foot
- How Much to Markup a Painting Project
- Amount a Painter Should Charge Per Day
- How Much to Charge to Paint Home Interior
- Table of Costs to Charge per Square Foot
- How to Calculate How Much Paint You Need
- Amount to Charge to Paint Trim
How to Estimate a Painting Project
To estimate a painting project, you’ll first need to calculate how much paint to use. Measure the area of the walls and subtract space taken up by windows and doors. You will need to purchase up to 50 percent more paint for textured walls, stucco or brick. You may also need to factor in the cost of:
- Labor
- Materials
- Transportation
- Type of paint
- Liability insurance
- Painting license
How Much to Charge for Painting Per Square Foot
You can charge from $2 to $6 per square foot on average for most interior painting jobs. Exterior jobs typically range from $0.50 to $4.50 per square foot. Taller buildings, difficult-to-reach areas, or switching between paint colors frequently add to this price.
How Much Markup Should a Painter Charge?
A markup of at least 20 percent is reasonable for most services. However, choosing a profit margin is entirely up to you and your businesses’ needs. Some companies charge as much as a 50 percent markup. It may take time to find a percentage that works well for your business.
How to Find Painting Customers
It’s important to market your services to new customers using tools like email, social media and word of mouth. Or, sign up for a matching service like Angi Leads (formerly HomeAdvisor Pro) to find leads, earn ratings and reviews, and grow your business.
How Much Do Painters Charge Per Hour
Per hour pricing for interior projects ranges from $20 to $50. Exterior projects are similar and range from $25 to $75 per hour. Depending on the complexity of the painting project and the size of the home, you may need to hire additional laborers. A 2,500 square foot home can require anywhere from three to five painters to complete.
Exterior projects tend to be more expensive due to:
- More textured surfaces like brick and stucco that require paint
- Need for additional supplies like tall ladders, pressure washers and special exterior paint
- The use of a *sprayer to paint, which can waste paint in some cases
*Exterior projects can also be completed using rollers and brushes, which can lower the cost.
How Much Should a Painter Charge Per Day
Interior painters charging by the day can expect from $160 to $400 or more for 8 hours of labor.
Exterior painting projects can earn $200 to $600 or more for a day of labor.
How Much to Charge to Paint Interior House
Homeowners report paying from $1,710 to $4,000 on average for their interior painting projects. If the home is larger than 2,500 square feet, you will likely need to charge more. Here is a table to help you estimate how much to charge to paint different rooms in a house.
| Interior Rooms | Estimated Price to Paint | Approx. Sq. Ft. |
|---|---|---|
| Small Closet | $16-$48 | 8 |
| Small Bathroom | $120-$360 | 60 |
| Large Bathroom | $168-$504 | 84 |
| Small Bedroom | $200-$600 | 100 |
| Medium Bedroom | $336-$1,008 | 168 |
| Large Master Bedroom | $448-$1,344 | 224 |
| Mid-Size Living Room | $640-$1,920 | 320 |
| Two Car Garage | $800-$2,400 | 400 |
How Much to Charge Per Square Foot Painting
Once you’ve calculated the paintable area in a space, these charts can help you quote a project.
What to Charge for Interior Painting Projects
| Paintable Interior Area* in Square Feet | Estimated Price to Charge |
|---|---|
| 100 | $200-$600 |
| 200 | $400-$1,200 |
| 500 | $1,000-$3,000 |
| 1,000 | $2,000-$6,000 |
| 2,000 | $4,000-$12,000 |
| 3,000 | $6,000-$18,000 |
| 4,000 | $8,000-$24,000 |
| 5,000 | $10,000-$30,000 |
What to Charge for Exterior Painting Jobs
| Paintable Exterior Area* in Square Feet | Average Price to Charge |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $500-$4,500 |
| 1,500 | $750-$6,750 |
| 2,000 | $1,000-$9,000 |
| 2,500 | $1,250-$11,250 |
| 3,000 | $1,500-$13,500 |
| 3,500 | $1,750-$15,750 |
| 4,000 | $2,000-$18,000 |
| 5,000 | $2,500-$22,500 |
| 6,000 | $3,000-$27,000 |
*Does not reflect a home’s total square footage
How to Calculate How Much Paint You Need
Use our paint calculator to estimate how much paint you’ll need. Or, follow these steps to do it by hand:
- Find the area of a room
- Add together the length of all walls in the space
- Multiply the sum by the height of the walls
- Subtract the area of doors and windows
- Divide the total paintable area by the paint coverage
- This is usually about 350 square feet per gallon
If the walls are textured, expect to use more paint.
How Much to Charge to Paint Trim
Painting 500 linear feet of trim totals $500 to $1,500 on average. Detailed work, like scrollwork, molding, trim around sidelights or windows can greatly increase the price.
Find how much to charge to paint trim by first calculating the total area of the project:
- Measure the length of the trim in feet
- Multiple the length by the width of the trim
- Divide the paintable area by the gallon coverage
Once you’ve found the area, multiply it by your cost of painting per square foot. Because trim requires more detail work, you may decide to charge a bit over your usual price per square foot.
If you charge by the hour, your rates will run from $20 to $75 on average for this project.
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