How to Price a Painting Job: A Contractor's Guide to Accurate Estimates
Painting is one of the most underpriced trades in construction. Most painters charge too little because they estimate too fast — a rough number in their head, a quick text to the client, and a job that ends up costing them money. Here's how to price painting jobs correctly, every time.
The Two Big Variables: Square Footage and Surface Type
Before anything else, you need two numbers:
- Paintable square footage — walls, ceilings, trim (measured separately)
- Surface condition and prep required — bare drywall, existing paint, damaged surfaces, exterior wood
These two factors determine how much paint you need and how long it takes.
Measuring Interior Square Footage
For walls: perimeter of room × ceiling height, minus doors (20 sq ft each) and windows (15 sq ft each).
For ceilings: just length × width.
For trim: measure total linear feet, then multiply by 0.5 to get approximate square footage.
Example — 12×14 bedroom with 9-ft ceilings:
- Walls: (12+14+12+14) × 9 = 468 sq ft − 1 door − 2 windows = 468 − 20 − 30 = 418 sq ft
- Ceiling: 12 × 14 = 168 sq ft
- Total paintable: ~586 sq ft
Measuring Exterior Square Footage
- Calculate the perimeter of the house × wall height
- Add gable ends (triangle area = base × height ÷ 2)
- Subtract large openings (garage doors, large windows)
- Add 10% for soffits, fascia, and trim
Coverage Rates and Paint Quantity
One gallon of paint covers approximately 350–400 sq ft per coat on smooth surfaces, less on rough or porous surfaces.
For a two-coat job:
- 586 sq ft ÷ 375 sq ft/gal = ~1.6 gallons per coat
- × 2 coats = 3.2 gallons (round up to 4)
Always buy slightly more than you need — leftover paint is fine, running short mid-job is not.
Current paint pricing (retail):
- Economy interior latex: $35–$50/gallon
- Mid-grade (Behr, Glidden): $55–$75/gallon
- Premium (Sherwin-Williams Duration, Benjamin Moore Aura): $75–$95/gallon
- Exterior paint: add $10–$20/gallon
Price paint at retail rates, not your contractor account price. Your supplier discount is your margin.
Labor: The Heart of a Painting Estimate
Painting labor is all about square feet per hour. Average production rates:
| Task | Sq Ft Per Hour (per painter) |
|---|---|
| Roll walls (smooth, 1 coat) | 150–200 |
| Roll walls (textured) | 100–150 |
| Cut in edges | 100–150 lin ft |
| Spray exterior | 300–500 |
| Prime bare drywall | 200–250 |
| Brush/roll trim | 50–75 lin ft/hr |
Example — 586 sq ft interior (walls + ceiling):
- Rolling: 586 ÷ 175 sq ft/hr × 2 coats = ~6.7 hours
- Cut-in: (perimeter + ceiling edge) ÷ 125 = ~4 hours
- Trim: 60 lin ft ÷ 60 = 1 hour
- Prep and masking: 1.5 hours
- Total: ~13 hours
At $55–$70/hour, that's $715–$910 in labor for one painter. For a 2-painter crew, cut time in half but keep the total labor cost the same.
Full Painting Estimate Example
| Line Item | Qty | Unit | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prep (patch, sand, mask) | 1.5 | hr | $65 | $97 |
| Prime bare surfaces | 150 | sq ft | $0.35 | $53 |
| Cut-in — walls & ceiling | 4 | hr | $65 | $260 |
| Roll walls (2 coats) | 5 | hr | $65 | $325 |
| Roll ceiling (2 coats) | 2 | hr | $65 | $130 |
| Brush trim (2 coats) | 1 | hr | $65 | $65 |
| Paint — interior (4 gal @ $75) | 4 | gal | $75 | $300 |
| Primer (1 gal @ $45) | 1 | gal | $45 | $45 |
| Supplies (brushes, tape, plastic) | 1 | lot | $35 | $35 |
| Subtotal | $1,310 | |||
| Overhead & profit (20%) | $262 | |||
| Total | $1,572 |
Exterior Painting: What Changes
Exterior jobs add:
- Power washing: $0.10–$0.20/sq ft
- Scraping and prep: often the most labor-intensive part
- Primer: almost always required on bare wood or weathered surfaces
- Caulking: windows, door frames, siding seams — price per linear foot
- Scaffolding or lift rental: two-story homes add significant cost
Exterior paint jobs typically run $1.50–$4.50/sq ft of paintable surface all-in, depending on prep condition and number of stories.
Pricing Tips That Win More Jobs
Don't underprice prep. Prep is 30–40% of a painting job. If you bid it cheap to win, you'll lose money every time.
Charge separately for colors. Dark colors often need 3 coats where light colors need 2. Note this upfront.
Use a scope statement. Spell out exactly what's included: which rooms, how many coats, whether trim is painted, what's excluded. Avoids disputes every time.
Send it fast. Homeowners getting multiple quotes often pick the first professional estimate they receive. Speed is an edge.
Bid.Fast lets you record a voice walkthrough — rooms, surfaces, any prep issues — and get a complete itemized painting estimate in 90 seconds. No spreadsheets, no guessing.
Bid.Fast is a voice-to-estimate app built for painting contractors. Walk the job, record your notes, and get a complete itemized estimate in 90 seconds. Start free →