“How much does it cost to paint a room?” is one of the most common questions homeowners ask, and the answer depends on a lot more than just the color. Room size, ceiling height, prep work, paint quality, and whether you’re hiring a pro or doing it yourself all change the number.
In this guide, I’ll break down real interior painting costs per room by size, cover what drives costs up (and what doesn’t matter as much as you’d think), compare DIY vs professional pricing, and give you a framework for estimating a full interior paint job. Use our paint calculator to figure out how much paint you’ll need, or the painting estimate calculator to build a complete bid.
Interior Painting Cost by Room (2026 Averages)
These ranges include labor and materials for a professional painter. Two coats of quality latex paint on walls, standard 8-foot ceilings, moderate prep work.
| Room Type | Size (sq ft) | Average Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | 40-70 sq ft | $200-$500 | Small space but lots of cutting in |
| Bedroom (small) | 100-120 sq ft | $300-$500 | Standard 10x12 room |
| Bedroom (master) | 150-250 sq ft | $400-$700 | Walk-in closet may add cost |
| Living room | 200-350 sq ft | $500-$1,000 | Open floor plans on the higher end |
| Kitchen | 100-200 sq ft | $400-$800 | Cabinets not included, lots of cutting in |
| Dining room | 120-180 sq ft | $350-$600 | Chair rail or wainscoting adds labor |
| Hallway | Varies | $250-$500 | Long, narrow, high walls |
| Stairwell | Varies | $400-$800 | Heights and angles are tough |
What Those Numbers Include
A professional interior paint estimate typically covers:
- Light prep: filling small nail holes, sanding rough spots, taping trim
- Primer: if needed for stain coverage or color change
- Two coats of wall paint
- Cut-in work: edges along ceiling, trim, corners
- Cleanup: drop cloths, tape removal, touch-ups
Not usually included: heavy prep (wallpaper removal, skim coating, major drywall repair), ceiling painting, trim/baseboard painting, or moving furniture.
What Drives Interior Painting Costs Up
Ceiling Height
Standard 8-foot ceilings are priced at base rates. Every extra foot of ceiling height adds more wall area and makes the job harder:
| Ceiling Height | Cost Impact |
|---|---|
| 8 feet | Base rate |
| 9 feet | +10-15% |
| 10 feet | +15-25% |
| 12+ feet (vaulted) | +25-40% |
At 10+ feet, painters need extension poles or scaffolding. Vaulted ceilings with peaks are some of the most labor-intensive painting work in a house.
Prep Work
Prep is where the real variable costs live. Light prep (nail holes, quick sand, tape) is included in most quotes. Heavy prep is extra:
| Prep Task | Additional Cost |
|---|---|
| Wallpaper removal | $1-$3/sq ft |
| Skim coat (textured to smooth) | $1.50-$3/sq ft |
| Drywall repair (small patches) | $50-$150 per patch |
| Lead paint testing/containment | $200-$500+ |
| Mold remediation (before paint) | $500-$3,000+ |
Here’s the honest truth from 20+ years of remodeling: prep work is where most DIYers underestimate and most shady contractors cut corners. Good prep is what makes a paint job look professional. Skipping it shows.
Paint Quality
Paint comes in three general pricing tiers:
| Tier | Price per Gallon | Coverage | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builder grade | $20-$30 | 300-350 sq ft | 3-5 years |
| Mid-range | $35-$55 | 350-400 sq ft | 5-10 years |
| Premium | $55-$80+ | 350-400 sq ft | 10-15 years |
Premium paint covers better (sometimes one coat does the job), lasts longer, and cleans easier. For most homeowners, mid-range paint like Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint or Benjamin Moore Regal is the sweet spot between cost and quality.
Number of Colors
Every color change adds time. A single color for the whole house is the most efficient. Different colors in every room means more setup, more cutting in, more cleanup between colors, and more cans of paint to buy.
DIY vs Professional: The Real Cost Comparison
DIY Cost Per Room
For a standard 12x14 bedroom with 8-foot ceilings:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Paint (2 gallons, mid-range) | $80-$110 |
| Primer (1 gallon, if needed) | $25-$35 |
| Tape, drop cloths, supplies | $20-$40 |
| Roller covers, brushes, tray | $15-$30 |
| Total materials | $140-$215 |
Professional Cost for Same Room
$350-$550 (labor + materials included)
So Is DIY Worth It?
You’ll save $150-$350 per room on a straightforward repaint. But here’s what the math doesn’t capture:
- Time. A pro crew paints a bedroom in 3-4 hours. Most homeowners take a full weekend.
- Quality. Clean lines, even coverage, no drips. That comes from doing this every day, not once every few years.
- Prep skills. Knowing what to fix and how to fix it before paint goes on is the difference between a job that lasts and one that peels.
For one or two rooms, DIY makes sense if you have the time and patience. For a whole house, hiring a pro is almost always the better investment.
How Much to Paint an Entire House Interior
Here’s the math most homeowners want: what does it cost to paint everything?
| House Size | Number of Rooms | Professional Cost | DIY Cost (materials) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 5-6 rooms | $2,000-$4,000 | $500-$800 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 7-9 rooms | $3,000-$6,000 | $700-$1,100 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 9-12 rooms | $4,000-$8,000 | $900-$1,400 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 11-15 rooms | $5,000-$10,000 | $1,100-$1,700 |
| 3,000+ sq ft | 14-18 rooms | $6,000-$12,000+ | $1,300-$2,000+ |
These include walls only, standard ceilings, light prep. Add 15-25% for ceilings. Add 20-30% for trim and baseboards.
How Contractors Price Full Interior Jobs
Most painting contractors price by the square foot of wall area, not by the room. The per-room numbers above are averages. The actual estimate depends on:
- Total paintable square footage
- Number of colors
- Ceiling height
- Prep requirements
- Access (is the house furnished or empty?)
An empty house with one color and 8-foot ceilings is the cheapest scenario. A furnished home with 10 colors, 10-foot ceilings, and wallpaper removal is the most expensive. For a deeper dive on pricing, check out painting labor cost per square foot.
Tips for Getting Accurate Painting Estimates
Get at least three bids. Compare scope, not just price. Make sure every bid covers the same prep, same number of coats, and same areas.
Ask what’s included. Does the bid include primer? Moving furniture? Ceiling? Trim? The cheapest bid often leaves things out.
Specify the paint. Ask what brand and product line the painter plans to use. “Contractor grade” on a $5,000 job is a red flag.
Check for prep detail. A good painter’s estimate will list specific prep tasks. A vague “includes prep” could mean anything from sanding a couple spots to doing nothing.
Timing matters. Late fall and winter are the slow season for interior painters. You’ll often get better rates and faster scheduling.
FAQs
How much does it cost to paint a 12x12 room?
A 12x12 room with 8-foot ceilings typically costs $300-$500 professionally, or $100-$180 in materials for DIY. Add 20-30% for ceiling and trim painting.
How much does a painter charge per room?
Professional painters charge $300-$1,000 per room depending on size, ceiling height, and prep work. The average bedroom is $350-$550. Living rooms and kitchens run $500-$1,000.
Is it worth it to hire a painter or DIY?
For one or two rooms, DIY saves $150-$350 per room if you have the time. For a whole house, hiring a pro saves you a week or more of work and delivers better results. The bigger the job, the more sense it makes to hire out.
How long does it take to paint a room professionally?
A two-person crew can paint a standard bedroom (walls only, light prep) in 3-4 hours. Larger rooms, heavy prep, or multiple colors add time. A full house interior takes a crew 3-7 days depending on size.
How much paint do I need per room?
A standard 12x14 bedroom with 8-foot ceilings needs about 2 gallons for two coats on the walls. Use our paint calculator for exact quantities based on your room dimensions.
For exterior projects, our guide on exterior house painting cost estimates covers prep work, per-square-foot pricing, and when repainting makes sense vs re-siding. If you’re bidding exterior work and need to calculate square footage from wall measurements, how to estimate paint for a house exterior walks through the surface area method with texture waste factors. And if you need to figure out exactly how many gallons to buy, the how much paint do I need guide walks through the coverage math.
Building painting estimates for clients? Try EstimationPro free to generate professional, detailed estimates with accurate labor rates, material costs, and markup in minutes.
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