How much does it cost to paint a room? The average price of painting a room can vary from $2 to $6 per square foot, depending on the brand and type of paint you choose and the size of the room. The average cost of painting a room is $950 to $2,700, but it can be as little as $350 or as high as $4,800. On average, a 12x12 foot room can range from $250 to $1,000 once you factor in additional costs for upgraded paint, baseboards, ceiling painting, and trim work.
A fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to instantly transform a room. Painting a room can change the whole vibe, whether you’re adding a new color or renewing old, chipped, or scratched paint.
Standard Services | Quantity | Low | High | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
What you can expect | |||||
Range per sq ft floor: | $2.88 | $6.07 | |||
Range for this type of project: | $346 | $729 | |||
Estimate: $537 | |||||
Room Painting Cost | 128 square feet | $95 | $128 | ||
Cost of wall and trim paint for interior surfaces. This latex-based coating is both paint and primer in one. Finish options include flat, satin, and eggshell. Rate includes local delivery, and standard excess for perfect coverage and ongoing touch-ups. | |||||
Basic Labor for Room Painting | 8 hours | $244 | $594 | ||
Labor costs for complete project under standard conditions. This will start with a full assessment of the space. The layout will be planned, appropriate equipment acquired, materials transported, and all preparation, painting and cleanup carried out. Preparation will require up to 3 hours per 100 SF, and involves cleaning, scraping, sanding and patching up to 4 defects per 100 SF. Walls will be spot-primed, and all gaps caulked. Two complete coats of paint will ensure a perfect finish. Up to 2 doors and door trim included per room | |||||
Job Supplies for Room Painting | 128 square feet | $7 | $7 | ||
All of the supplies and materials necessary for the flawless execution of a painting job, such as masking tape and paper, materials to prepare and repair the surface, primers, and cleanup supplies. | |||||
Optional Services | |||||
Priming of Surface Labor (Optional) | 1 hour | $39 | $94 | ||
Full, separate coat of primer can optionally be applied prior to paint, either rolled or brushed. |
cost to paint rooms | |
National Avg. Materials Cost per sq ft floor | $0.85 |
National Avg. Cost (labor and materials) for 120 sq ft floor | $528.81 |
National Cost Range (labor and materials) for 120 sq ft floor | $340.39 - $717.22 |
The typical cost for residential interior painting ranges between $950 and $2,700. Interior painting cost will increase if drywall or plaster walls needs to be repaired prior to painting. Find out how much your painting project might average based on your location with our painting cost calculator. This painting cost estimate often includes:
In addition to the paint cost for materials, it’s important to factor in the cost of labor when you’re budgeting for your painting project. The national average for interior painting is $1 to $3 per square foot for labor. The cost to paint a 20x20-foot room ranges anywhere from $800 and $2,400, including materials and labor. For a one-room painting project, you can expect to pay between $175 and $675 for materials and labor, but if your project is smaller, your painter may charge you by the hour. For hourly rates, expect anywhere from $20 to $55 per hour.
The price ranges above are explained by a few main factors:
Sq Ft Floor | Average Cost | Lowest Cost | Highest Cost |
500 | $2,000 | $1,000 | $3,000 |
1000 | $4,000 | $2,000 | $6,000 |
1500 | $6,000 | $3,000 | $9,000 |
2000 | $8,000 | $4,000 | $12,000 |
3000 | $12,000 | $6,000 | $18,000 |
4000 | $16,000 | $8,000 | $24,000 |
When planning your painting project, square footage is the most important factor. When you ask painters, “How much does it cost to paint a 12x12 room?” they’ll also want to know the ceiling height and the number and size of any windows in the room. These factors impact the actual space to be painted. One gallon of paint will normally cover about 400 square feet, so if you’re planning on painting as a DIY project, this should give you a good idea of how much paint you’ll need.
Room Size | Average Cost | Lowest Cost | Highest Cost |
10x10 | $400 | $200 | $600 |
10x12 | $525 | $300 | $750 |
12x12 | $650 | $400 | $900 |
20x20 | $850 | $500 | $1,200 |
Professional interior painters will often get questions like “How much does it cost to paint a room?” To a homeowner, this sounds like a reasonable query, but a pro has to consider a lot of different factors before giving an estimate. Here are some of the main considerations:
Bedrooms are simple rooms to paint. The average cost to paint a secondary bedroom is between $375 and $875, with a master bedroom averaging $675 to $1,425. The price range accounts for the room's size and the painting of any trim, ceilings, or baseboards.
Bathrooms are complex to paint, requiring painters to take extra time for prep work and cutting around tiles, showers, bathtubs, and cabinetry. On average, a standard-size bathroom will cost you between $175 to $425, while you can expect a more spacious master bathroom to cost $275 to $675.
When researching the cost to paint a room, you might notice that kitchens tend to be on the lower end of the spectrum. This is for a few reasons: while kitchens are often some of the larger rooms in our homes, they also have many areas that don’t need to be painted, like cabinets, appliances, and backsplashes. The average cost to paint a kitchen is $175 to $275.
Living rooms can be on the higher end for interior painting costs. Living rooms are often one of the largest rooms in a home and sometimes have higher ceilings. These two factors bring the average cost of painting a living room to $650 to $2,000. If you want to add an attached hallway or dining area, plan for an additional $175 to $275.
Interior Cost Paint By Room | Average Cost | Lowest Cost | Highest Cost |
Bedroom | $625 | $375 | $875 |
Bathroom | $300 | $175 | $425 |
Kitchen | $225 | $175 | $275 |
Living room | $1,325 | $650 | $2,000 |
The paint cost for a home's interior can range from $1,000 to over $10,000. Below is an example of the average cost to paint the interior of a home based on square footage:
Whole House Painting | Average Cost | Lowest Cost | Highest Cost |
1500 square foot | $6,000 | $3,000 | $9,000 |
2000 square foot | $8,000 | $4,000 | $12,000 |
2500 square foot | $10,000 | $5,000 | $15,000 |
Due to the added surface area, textured walls may increase the average cost to paint a room by up to 50%. While a gallon of paint generally covers 400 square feet of surface area, you may only get around 225 - 250 square feet of surface area on a textured wall.
Choosing the right type of paint finish will dramatically determine how your room looks once it's painted. Here's a breakdown of the average cost of paint per gallon, based on paint type:
Paint Cost | Average Cost | Lowest Cost | Highest Cost |
Latex | $45 | $20 | $70 |
Oil | $45 | $20 | $70 |
High-gloss | $70 | $20 | $120 |
Eggshell | $32 | $24 | $40 |
Semi-gloss | $45 | $33 | $56 |
Satin | $36 | $29 | $42 |
Flat | $34 | $27 | $40 |
Matte | $38 | $25 | $50 |
Factor in the value of your time when researching how much to paint a room. Painting can be a great DIY project, but there’s no doubt it’s time-consuming. Some people find painting soothing and satisfying; others shiver with dread over the thought of it. Painting a room yourself will definitely cost less, but paying a pro might be a better overall value to you if you loathe the task of painting. You can always start on your own, and if you find you just don’t have the time or painting isn’t your thing, a pro will be happy to take over for you.
How long does it take to paint a room?
How much will my painting costs vary based on location?
Does it cost more to paint accent walls?
Does the price of the paint I choose matter?
Do I have to prime before painting?
How much does one gallon of paint cover?
What are some pros of latex-based paints?
What are some pros of oil-based paints?
How do I save money on my painting project?
How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a home?
Is painting textured walls more expensive?