There is no doubt; your house will get a fresh look after painting. Among the reasons why people paint their house is to equate a new design, change the scope of the section by the look, brighten a dark room, or revive dirty or tired walls. A fresh coat of paint, when applied makes the surface look new.
However, that type of new beginning comes at a cost. In the United States, the average house size is around 2,300sq-ft, while the average cost to paint a house interior is between $2 and $5 per sq-ft, with the majority of house owners paying about three dollars.
This calculation brings the cost to paint exterior and interior of the house to an average of $6,900 in the United States. Regardless of who is painting your house (you or a professional), if you have proper planning in place, you can make sure the cost of painting doesn’t pass the minimum.
Are you worried about what the task might cost? Below are all you need to know about the average cost of painting a house. Both interior and exterior paint jobs will be covered.
Cost to Paint Interior of House
Typical Cost of Painting Interior Space
| Square Feet | Average Cost |
| 150 – 300 | $300 – $700 |
| 300 – 800 | $450 – $1,200 |
| 800 – 1,200 | $800 – $1,800 |
| 1,200 – 1,500 | $1,200 – $2,200 |
| 1,500 – 1,800 | $1,500 – $2,400 |
| 1,800 – 2,500 | $2,100 – $3,900 |
Cost of Painting a Room
Reports show that the average price paid for house painting per room starts from $250 to $400 with the cost of paint and supplies included. However, the more the number of rooms to be painted in a single job, the lower the cost per room cost. For instance, a paint job of 2 rooms will have a higher per room cost than a job that requires painting all the rooms in a five-bedroom house.| Factor | Average Cost | Paint and Supplies |
| Prep Work | $20 – $80 per room | $10–$50 per gallon |
| Trim and Molding | $75 – $200 per room | NA |
| Windows and Doors | $20 – $40 each | $20 – $40 each |
| Unique Textures | $2 – $4 per square foot | NA |
| Labor | $35 – $45/hour | NA |
Labor Estimates for Interior Painting
The average cost being charged by painters per hour is around $35 to $45. It is now important to ask your painters about the entire fees when requesting for an estimate because some painting contractors will charge hourly rates while some will charge based on the size of the job, apart from the cost of painting supplies. It will take approximately two hours to paint a twelve by twelve (12 by 12) room at 18mins/100sq-ft or close to an hour/coat. Add 144 sq-ft 12 by 12 to your estimates if you plan to paint the ceiling, and as well as 0.5 gallon of paint. You must also consider how long it takes for the first coat of paint of primer to dry.When calculating painting, time/room, is given as:
| Interior Painting Task | Labor Estimate |
| Prep work and masking | 30–120 minutes per room |
| Moving furniture | 60–120 minutes |
| Painting ceiling and trim | 60–120 minutes per coat |
| Painting walls | 30–60 minutes per coat |
| Painting windows | 30 minutes per window |
| Cleanup | 30–60 minutes |
| Moving furniture back in | 60–120 minutes |
Factors To Determine The Cost Of Interior Painting
Various factors determine the total cost of interior painting. Be prepared to spend a few amounts of dollars for an average 10 by 12 room if you plan to opt for a professional painter with a team. Your location will determine if this price will include the price of some painting materials or not.
This means that the cost of painting each room in a 4-bedroom house and the cost of larger popular areas (when opting for complete repaint) will be higher. Along with the size of your house, painting costs can also vary based on:
Prep Work
The cost of repair of little cracks and holes in drywall and trim, filling, priming, masking and cleanup are added to the basic cost of a painting job. Based on the type of services you demand, the average cost of preparatory work is between $20 – $80 per room.
Paint and Supplies
The quality of the paint you choose will determine the cost of paint supplies incurred, but it can range from ten dollars to fifteen dollars per gallon. The required supplies for the job will already be available with experienced painters. A gallon of paints approximates 400 square feet, and professional painters recommend at least 2 coats of paint.
Trim and Molding
If you plan to paint the trim and also mold, add $75 to $200 or more per room.
Windows
Be prepared to pay a median value of $20 – $40 per window based on the window size and the number of panes. Add one to each side of the window pane and multiply the width by the length to determine the actual price for larger windows.
To paint the mantis, mullions, and sash, add 2 square feet for each window pane, and then multiply the total square feet by $0.84/sq-ft. A 4 by 4four window with four panes will give you a total of 44 square feet by $0.84 which gives you $37.
Doors
Be prepared to pay an additional $20 to $40 per door.
Unique Textures
Painters per sq-ft can charge an extra two to four dollars for texture. This is because more time and paint are required to make sure paint enters into all the areas surrounding the texture.
Labor Cost
Professional painting labor costs an average value of $35 to $45 per hour. The estimated hours to paint a 2,400 square feet house are 8 hours and it will cost about $280 to $36o to only paint the walls with prep work, trim, ceilings and cleanup costs not included.
The task that consumes most time is the preparatory work and cleanup work. Some painting contractors charge by the hour, some charge per sqft while others charge by combining the two.
Number of Rooms or Whole House
You will receive a better and more reasonable price from painters if you are painting the whole house compared to painting 1 or 2 rooms. They will also reduce the price if you are using the same colors rather than changing the colors per room.
Additional Costs of Interior Painting
There are many expenses that homeowners forgot to consider before making an inquiry about an estimate while trying to hire a professional painting company. Don’t overlook the following costs:
Wall Repairs
Most people may unconsciously forget wall damage such as cracks, dings, holes or unfinished drywall which will require extra preparation before it can be ready for painting.
Extra cost and labor on wall sanding, mold removal, painting trim, wallpaper remover, and stain removal will be added to the general job. The materials needed to properly prep the walls for painting will cost an extra of a hundred to two hundred dollars per service.
Textured walls are also often overlooked by homeowners, and there may be a need for an extra layer of paint and extra time to have a perfect result for such surfaces, based on the size of the job.
Cleanup & Ventilation
The cost of cleaning up after the job, which may include disposal of primers, debris, finishers, and paint, may also incur an additional cost of about $50 to $100.
Tip: Ensure there is enough ventilation through windows and fans, so you don’t cause any problems in your household. Make sure you notify your painters about your kids and pets so they can prioritize ventilation as they work. Ensure your children and pets maintain a far distance from paint and supplies.
Lead-based Paint
Lead testing may be needed if your house is above 30 years. The average cost of lead testing ranges from $65 to $254, which is the lowest price for a house test sent to a laboratory.
Furniture Moving
It would be nice if you can move your furniture by yourself, as you would be charged a hundred dollars by some painters to move your furniture.
Mold Removal
Although mold can be a costly and challenging problem to fix; however, it should be done before you start painting. Don’t hesitate to have a mold inspection once you notice or suspect mold. Although a home test is possible, it won’t be as deeper as supposed. The mold removal process can incur an extra $500 or above to the original painting cost before painting.
Average Cost to Paint Exterior of House
It will cost an average of $2,500 to paint a house exterior of 2,400 sq-ft of a 2-story building with a majority of homeowners paying between the range of $1,800 and $3,200. The final cost is then set to about $0.60 – $1.60/sq-ft.
Before you can arrive at the total cost of your painting project, you have to first consider some pricing variables. Your house will also be protected from insect infestations, weather elements, corrosion, mildew, and mold when painted. Quality and the perfect paint job will increase the curb appeal of your house and can last up to a decade and more.
Cost of Painting Exterior by Square Foot
Exterior painting will cost around $0.60 to $1.60/sq-ft on average. Painting labor nationwide on average costs $30 to $40/hour apart from the cost of painting supplies, paint, equipment and location.
Request for a general quote to have an idea of how much the painting job will cost you even though painters will consider the number of stories, the square footage, and the level of prep work to be done.
The overall cost of painting your house exterior without including any additional costs for painting trim, doors, siding, and windows include:
Exterior Painting Cost
| Home Size | Square Feet | Average Costs |
| One-story | 800–1,800 | $780–$1,750 |
| Two-story | 1,800–2,400 | $1,750–$2,330 |
| Three-story | 2,400–4,500 | $2,330–$4,370 |
Additional Costs of Exterior Painting
The height of your house could also determine your extra expense. Some of the painters are OSHA certified, which implies that you can rest assured their employees can work at higher heights with no need for you to worry. A national craftsman estimator stated that surface prep and painting faces increased time difficulties.
When heights are more than eight above the ground level, then painting takes longer to finish. Productivity is also reduced when a roller pole or ladder or wand on a spray gun or when the painting is done from a scaffold. The factors below should be applied when the painting is more than 8”:
- increase the area for heights by 30 percent from 8′ to 13′ x 1.3
- increase the area for heights by 60 percent from 13′ to 17′ x 1.6
- increase the area for heights by 90 percent from 17′ to 19′ x 1.9
- increase the area for heights by 120 percent from 19′ to 21′ x 2.2
Choosing Your Paint for House Painting
Picking a particular paint can be an exciting and overwhelming task at the same time on both first-timers and DIY-ers. There are many choices available for you to choose from either for each room or collectively.
You could spend days trying to figure out which paint colors can be combined before you even think of starting the painting work itself. Based on these reasons, we have outlined some rules when it comes to choosing suitable paint.
Let us first discuss the meaning of some paint-related words:
- Hue is a general term used to denote the name of a color. Green is the hue, red is the hue, and so on.
- Value refers to light or dark. For instance, light yellow refers to value and hue.
- Saturation describes the dominance of hue. For instance, you begin to get the pink color as you are removing a red portion from paint.
- Intensity references a color’s brilliance. The intensity of combined colors is generally lower compared to that of natural pure colors known as the ROY-G-BIV. An increased dominant of the hue means an increased intensity of the color.
Major Types of Paint Available For House Painting
If you are not certain of which paint is perfect for your painting project, then conduct research. Both the type of paint color is equally important and can have a great effect on how your room will look like and the impressions you get from it. Continue reading to have more idea about each type of paint and prevent time and money waste event before it happens.
Oil-Based Paints
You can use oil-based paints on almost all kind of surfaces and is highly commended for its durability and quality finish. You have to be careful because oil paint gives out strong fumes that can be consuming and you cannot wash off the paint with water.
You can only make use of solvents such as turpentine to wash brushes, and any other materials that have paint dripped on them if you opt for oil paint.
With oil-based paints, you stand to gain:
- attractive gloss,
- good for rooms with high moisture such as kitchen or bathroom,
- longer dry duration which makes it perfect for making fixes,
- good leveling i.e., brush strokes fill themselves in to provide a smooth finish, and
- hard and durable finish
Water-Based Paints
Most of the wall paint in circulation today is water-based because it is easy to use. If your wall has an oil-based paint on it before, you will have to be careful while using water-based paint, as it may not stick. Sherwin Williams suggests that you should wash the walls and then rough the entire wall using a medium to smooth grit sandpaper to clean, dry and dull the wall, thereby preventing it from peeling off the fresh coat.
Some paint manufacturing companies are producing waterborne alkyds or waterborne enamels for such situations when you prefer water-based paint, but for some reason, you have to go with oil-based paint.
Although these paints are similar to oil-based paint in look and behavior, as they also have quality leveling for a smooth finish.
With oil-based paints, you stand to gain:
- mildew growth not required,
- pre-treatment not required,
- low VOCs i.e., levels of toxic emissions are low,
- can be easily cleaned up with water,
- dries faster,
- produces an elastic and flexible finish that cannot crack,
- applicable on almost all surfaces, and
- not affected by the elements
Latex-Based Paint
Most people often confused latex-based and water-based paints to be the same. The two terms are often used interchangeably, leading to great confusion. There are some latex-based paints which are also water-based. However, there are also latex-based paints that use chemicals, meaning that there is a difference between latex-based paints and water-based paints.
Check carefully the container of the paint you are about to purchase to avoid unsatisfying results. Decide on the type of paint you need to buy before you proceed.
As we’ve discussed above, water-based paints can be used perfectly for different reasons. Some homeowners choose water-based paints mainly because they feel it is the most environmentally friendly paint type. Even though latex-based paint uses chemicals, it can still be the perfect paint for your project.
Latex-based paint produces the quality finish, and it also dries quicker compared to oil-based paint. You just have to be sure of what you are buying. If what you want to buy is an undiluted water-based paint, then read the label on the container carefully to make sure you are on the right path.
The type of latex-paint being discussed here is designed for painting the floor. There is no need for perimeter and you can easily clean off the paint using soap and water. This paint is the most convenient to use when you decide to paint the floor. Latex-based paint can dry quicker and also work perfectly when you are planning to paint concrete.
Paint Finishes
There are varieties of paints with each paint manufacturer and the high-quality ones cost more; however, they provide better coverage with lesser odor. Each type of paint is produced with different kind of finishes which include:
- Flat or Matte: The paint is completely matte and there is no reflection or sheen, making cleaning of the paint difficult.
- Eggshell: This paint contains little sheen, but has more lusters compared to flat. It is greatly used for hiding imperfections or errors on the walls.
- Satin: This is the most popular paint. Although it contains low luster; however, it is easier to clean, compared to flat or eggshell.
- Semi-gloss: This type of paint finish is mostly used in kitchen areas and other highly-used areas due to its ease of cleaning. It also has a little glossy finish that is reflective.
- High gloss: This paint reflects a lot. It is normally used for moldings, doors, and trim.
There are many different brands of paint with each brand having its price range and colors. Normally, each paint brands will provide both high and middle-quality range paint with many colors and finishes available for homeowners to choose from.
The Amount Interior Painter Makes Per Hour
To finish their work on new condos, homes, and apartments, construction companies partner with in-house or interior painting companies. Interior painting contractors also handle condos and apartment painting for new house occupants and also offer full remodeling service for homeowners.
Professional painting companies remove wall-stains, fill the cracks and holes, use sanders to smooth rough walls and wire brushes as well as select and mix paints of different colors (depending on the client’s preference).
Painters are classified into the same category as construction and maintenance workers, and they earn above $18/hour as reported by the USDL (United States Department of Labor).
Pro Tips to Paint A House
Here are some tips you should always keep in mind when you’re getting ready to begin your house painting project:
Decide on whether you’d like to tackle the task or hire professional painters
If you have the time and money, you could always handle the task of painting your home yourself or with the help of some friends or family members. If not, then hiring professional painters maybe your best option so you don’t have to worry about it, letting the pros handle it while you sit back and relax.
Come up with a budget ahead of time
It could be tempting to go with certain colors or certain services, but no one knows your finances better than you. Make sure you have a budget in mind to work with before you begin and don’t stray from it if your ultimate goal is to save money on your project.
If you’re going with a professional, make sure to get more than one estimate
Your ultimate goal here is to save money for this project, so try to find more than one business in your locality that provides house painting services, and try to get estimates from each of them. You can then decide which one to go with based on the estimate that works best for your budget.
FAQ's
How do I obtain an estimate for my painting project?
You will be offered a free professional on-site painting estimate by most professional painting companies. Click here for a free in-home painting estimate or call us. About $4,000 is being charged by professional painters for a paint job to be done on the exterior of a 2,500sq-ft 2-story home.
Painting the interior of the same size of the building (2500sq-ft 2-story home) will cost about $5,500. Hourly rates may vary from $20 to $60; however, the most common rate in the cities is around $40.
What amount does it cost to paint the exterior of a house?
Each state will give you a variety of prices on its quote. The first estimates you received from painting companies are majorly based on the size of your room.
The cost of labor and painting materials in your area, as well as the number of levels with accessibility, all contributes to variations on the price given.
The median cost of painting the exterior of a two-story home that falls within 1,500 and 3,000sq-ft lies between $3,000 and $4,500+. You need to obtain a quote from the professional painters nearest to you in order to find out how much your paint job will cost you in your area.
What amount does it cost to paint the interior of a house?
The size of an average home in the U.S is about 2,300sq-ft, while painting cost starts from $2 to $5/sq-ft on average, with $3 being the most paid rate by homeowners. This brings the average cost of painting a home interior to $6,900 in the United States.
The complexity of the painting, the extra preparatory work and repairs, your location, the paint’s quality, and many more can cause a great difference in the costs.
What prep work should I do for the house painters?
There is only very little thing you can do to get ready for our painters once you are through with your research on interior house painters and arrange for a painting service with our company.
We only expect you to remove any valuable items from the room to be painted or away from any cabinets. When needed, our crew of painters will move aside any furniture that is blocking them from working and also remove any attachments from the walls.
How long do you have to work before completing the interior or exterior painting of a home or office?
The time taken to complete your painting project will be determined by the scope of project, whether it is an interior or exterior painting job. At the start of the project, we will provide you with an estimated working duration when you expect your painting job to be completed.
How many coats of paint do you need to paint the exterior of a house?
This will be determined by the current exterior color of the house, whether you are using a primer, and what your choice of the final color is. The situation of the siding also affects this. You might need between one to three coats.
How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House?
In the United States, the average home size is around 2,300sq-ft, while the average cost of painting an interior is between $2 and $5 per sq-ft, with the majority of homeowners paying about three dollars.
What is the Cost of Painting Home Interior?
Generally, it will cost an average of $1.50/sq-ft to paint the interior of a house based on different factors. It will cost around $1,500 to $2,400 to paint the interior of a 1,500 sq-ft home. The cost is from $2,100 to $3,900 and more to paint an average room of 2,500 sq-ft
What is the Estimates for Interior Painting?
The average cost being charged by painters per hour is around $35 to $45. It is now important to ask your painters about the entire fees when requesting for an estimate because some painting contractors will charge hourly rates while some will charge based on the size of the job, apart from the cost of painting supplies.
What is the Average Cost of painting a House Exterior?
It will cost an average of $2,500 to paint a house exterior of 2,400 sq-ft of a 2-story building with a majority of homeowners paying between the range of $1,800 and $3,200. The final cost is then set to about $0.60 – $1.60/sq-ft.
What is the Amount Interior Painter Makes Per Hour?
Conclusion
When it comes to home improvement projects, it is advisable to be in control in term of having in-depth knowledge about how much it will cost. You will be saving your precious time and money in the future if you can handle many tasks at a go.
Ensure you check molding and baseboards to see if there is a need to replace them before you conclude that the job is completed. You won’t have to face this problem again once you fix it before you start painting on the walls but rather contribute to the new look you just give to your house interior.
However, the post has handled all you need to know as far as the cost of painting your house is concerned. Use the size of your home to do a rough calculation to help you prepare a budget for your home improvement.
