Painting Prices

The average cost to paint a bedroom is $350 to $850, while a master bedroom runs $650 to $1,400.  Requires about two gallons of paint. Prices depend on the room size and whether the baseboards, trim, and ceiling are painted.

 The average cost to paint a living room is $600 to $2,000. Prices depend on the size of your living room and the height of the ceilings. Painting an attached dining room or large hallway costs $300 to $1,000 more on average.

 The average cost to paint kitchen walls is $150 to $250 since cabinets, backsplashes, and appliances occupy most of the wall space.

 The average cost to paint a bathroom is $150 to $400, whereas a large master bathroom runs $250 to $650 depending on the prep work required. Bathroom painting is more costly because of the cut in work around the tub, shower, and vanity, as well as removing towel bars and toilet paper holders. 

         Wall height

1. Total project square footage and difficulty
2. Quality of paint and materials used
3. Oil-based paints take longer to dry which increase labor time
4. Regional factors such as overhead and wages
5. Major drywall repairs or wallpaper removal
6. Changing colors between rooms
7. Total time it takes

Bathroom$50 – $170

Master Bathroom$80 – $300

Bedroom$150 – $300

Master Bedroom$300 – $600

Living Room$250 – $1,000

Kitchen$100 – $500

Open-Plan Basement$500 – $2,000 

Latex and oil-based paint are the two main types of paint to choose from.

1. Latex paint is typically used on walls and ceilings, is easier to work with, dries quickly, and provides a long-lasting finish.
2. Oil-based paint works well on trim, is more durable, has a good stain resistance, and provides better coverage. However, it's harder to clean up and takes longer to dry.

laying drop cloths

taping

damaged walls may need sanding

patching

stripping

caulking

spackling

crack repair before painting

**Plus, you may need trim and baseboard installation, window replacement, furniture moving, or wallpaper removal.

Interior paints come in five different finishes: 

flat 

eggshell

satin

semi-gloss

high gloss

High-gloss paints cost more, but are great for kitchens and bathrooms and are easier to clean. Flat or eggshell sheens are best for bedrooms, halls, and living rooms and hide flaws better than glossier paints.

 Paint primer costs $10 to $30 per gallon can on average and ensures the paint sticks the surface evenly. Most jobs require a primer, especially if the wall has been painted over, the walls had wallpaper or a textured surface, or for a more drastic color change.

• Use a latex-based primer with latex paint and oil-based primer with oil paint.
• A stain-blocking primer offers mildew resistance and blocks most stains from bleeding through the paint.
• Paint-and-primer combo products are suitable for repainting the same color, or small touch-ups.

One gallon of paint covers up to 400 square feet, which is enough to paint an average bathroom. 

A standard size room needs two to three gallon-cans of paint to cover between 800 and 1,200 square feet with two coats of paint.

*The amount of paint needed depends on how many coats you need to apply, the porousness of the wall surface, and the paint quality.

 Here are the basic steps to paint a room DIY:

1. Choose your color(s) – Home improvement stores offer samples you can take home and test.
2. Buy the materials – Each job needs sandpaper, tape, rollers, drop cloths, rags, brushes, tape, and more.
3. Buy the paint and primer – First, calculate how much paint and primer you need. The general rule is one gallon per 400 square feet of wall area.
4. Prep the walls and room – Clean the walls. Then, remove all the furniture, remove electrical outlets (turn off the electricity first), and cover everything with a drop cloth.
5. Apply painter's tape – Tape the edges of the room's corners, base, doors, and window casings to create clean lines.
6. Mix and apply each coat – Make sure the area is well ventilated, then follow the instructions on the paint can to apply multiple coats. Don't forget the primer. Touch up baseboards and trim as needed.
7. Clean up – Make sure all paint is completely dry before removing painter's tape and drop cloths.

Paint supplies cost $50 to $200 on average, depending on the complexity and size of the room. These items are also reusable for multiple projects in the future. If you hire a professional painter, they will typically bring supplies.

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO PAINT A ROOM  Item Average Cost

Scraper$6 – $20

Sandpaper$5 – $15

Patching Compound$10 – $20

Painters Tape$3 – $10

Brushes$2 – $15

Paint Roller Kit$10 – $25

Paint Tray$2 – $5

Drop Cloth$5 – $30

Ladder$80 – $300

Paint Sprayer Rental$30 – $50 per day 

Painters charge $20 to $50 per hour on average, with specialty projects like murals ranging from $70 to $100 an hour. Most professional painters charge by the project or square foot rather than hourly rates.

Painters charge $1 to $3 per square foot on average to paint the walls in a room. Costs increase for painting the ceiling, trim, baseboards, and doors.

Hiring an interior decorator costs $50 to $200 per hour for designing and overseeing the painting of a home. Interior designers help choose the perfect paint colors to create a welcoming environment.

The average cost to paint a 12x12 room is $450 to $950, depending on if you include the ceiling, doors, and trim. It takes about three gallons of paint to apply two coats to a 12x12 room.

The average cost to paint a 10x10 room is $300 to $700, depending on if you include the ceiling, doors, and trim. It takes two gallons of paint to apply two coats to a 10x10 room.

The average time it takes to paint a medium-sized bedroom is four to five hours, while a typical bathroom takes two to four hours. The time includes moving furniture, taping the edges, covering the floor, prepping the surface, and cleanup. Painting the trim adds one to two hours.

TIME IT TAKES TO PAINT A ROOMRoomHours To PaintBedroom4 – 5Master Bedroom5 – 6Bathroom2 – 3Master Bathroom3 – 4Kitchen4 – 5Living Room5 – 7Open Plan Basement6 – 12Trim & Baseboards+ 1 – 2