Cost Breakdown
Total Estimated Cost
$207.93
12,800+ estimates calculated this month
Painting Estimate Guide
How to estimate painting jobs — pricing, production rates, and template essentials.
How to Estimate a Painting Job
Painting estimates are based on square footage of paintable surface area, not floor area. Walls, ceilings, and trim are estimated separately.
- Wall area formula: (Room perimeter × ceiling height) – doors – windows
- Ceiling area: Room length × width
- Trim/baseboard: Room perimeter in linear feet
- Labor production rate: 100–150 sq ft/hr for rolling walls, 50–80 sq ft/hr for cutting in
The #1 estimating mistake is measuring floor area instead of wall area. A 12×12 room has 384 sq ft of walls (not 144 sq ft).
Key Takeaways
- Estimate by wall area, not floor area
- Rolling production: 100–150 sq ft/hr
- Cutting in: 50–80 sq ft/hr (slower, more precise)
Painting Estimate Pricing in 2026
Professional painters charge $2–$6 per square foot of wall area for interior painting, including labor and materials.
- Interior walls (per room): $350–$800 per room (standard bedroom, 2 coats)
- Interior trim/doors: $3–$8 per linear foot of trim, $75–$200 per door
- Ceiling painting: $1–$3/sq ft
- Exterior painting: $1.50–$4.00/sq ft
- Cabinet painting: $3,000–$7,000 for a full kitchen
Prep work (patching, caulking, sanding, priming) accounts for 50–70% of total labor time on repaints.
Key Takeaways
- Interior painting: $2–$6/sq ft of wall area
- Cabinets: $3,000–$7,000 per kitchen
- Prep = 50–70% of total labor time
What to Include in a Painting Estimate Template
A professional painting estimate should itemize rooms individually with separate lines for walls, ceilings, trim, and prep work.
- Room-by-room breakdown: Square footage, number of coats, color
- Prep work detail: Patching holes, caulking, sanding, priming
- Paint brand/product: Specify the exact product (affects price and quality expectations)
- Exclusions: Moving furniture, wallpaper removal, lead paint abatement
- Timeline: Start/end dates, hours per day on site
Key Takeaways
- Itemize rooms individually with sq ft
- Specify paint brand/product in estimate
- Detail prep work separately (major cost factor)
How to Use This Calculator
Enter room dimensions
Input the length, width, and ceiling height of the room you plan to paint. Add the number of doors and windows so the calculator can subtract those areas.
Adjust settings like coats and paint quality
Choose how many coats of paint you need and select a paint quality tier. Adjust the labor rate to match your local market.
Review paint and labor breakdown
See exactly how many gallons of paint you need, estimated labor hours, and a full cost breakdown for materials and supplies.
Get total estimate
Review the total estimated cost combining paint, labor, and supplies. Use this figure for budgeting or comparing contractor bids.
Painting Estimate Formulas
Wall Area = 2 x (Length + Width) x Height - (Doors x 20 sq ft) - (Windows x 15 sq ft)
Paint Needed = (Wall Area x Coats) / Coverage RateWhere:
- Coverage Rate
- = 350-400 sq ft per gallon depending on paint type and surface texture
- Labor Rate
- = $25-$50 per hour depending on region and painter experience
- Production Rate
- = 150-200 sq ft per hour for a typical interior wall
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to paint a room?
How many gallons of paint do I need?
How long does it take to paint a room?
Should I include primer in my estimate?
What's the labor cost for painting?
Why Contractors Choose EstimationPro AI
Estimates in 60 Seconds
AI generates detailed, line-item estimates from basic project details. No more hours on spreadsheets.
Accurate Pricing Data
Built on real contractor pricing and industry cost databases, updated for 2026 market conditions.
Professional Proposals
Send polished PDF estimates with your branding. Clients see a professional contractor they can trust.
Get Paid Faster
Built-in invoicing and Stripe payments. Collect deposits and progress payments directly from estimates.
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