House Painting Cost Calculator
Estimate interior and exterior house painting costs.
Enter wall area, coats, paint price, and labor rate for a full project breakdown.
House painting cost depends on the total paintable surface area, the number of coats needed, paint quality, and labor rates. This calculator estimates the full project cost from the wall area you measure, the coats you plan, and your own paint and labor rates. It works for interior or exterior work; the labor table below covers both.
Basic Formula:
Total Cost = (Paint Cost) + (Labor Cost) + (Supplies Cost)
Where:
- Paint Cost = (Total wall area / Coverage per gallon) × Coats × Price per gallon
- Labor Cost = Total wall area × Labor rate per sq ft
- Supplies Cost = Tape, drop cloths, primer, brushes, rollers — typically 10–15% of paint cost
Estimating wall area from room dimensions: Quick estimate: Perimeter × ceiling height = gross wall area. Subtract about 15% for windows and doors. A 12×12 room with 8-foot ceilings works out at 48 ft of perimeter × 8 ft = 384 sq ft gross, or roughly 325 sq ft once you take out a door and a couple of windows.
Paint coverage per gallon:
| Paint Quality | Coverage (sq ft/gallon) | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 250 – 300 | $20 – $30 |
| Standard | 300 – 400 | $30 – $50 |
| Premium | 350 – 400 | $50 – $80 |
| Ultra-Premium | 400 – 450 | $80 – $120 |
Labor cost per square foot (US averages, 2025):
| Project Type | Cost per Sq Ft |
|---|---|
| Interior walls only | $1.50 – $3.00 |
| Interior with trim | $2.50 – $4.00 |
| Exterior (1-story) | $1.50 – $3.50 |
| Exterior (2-story) | $2.50 – $5.00 |
| Exterior (3-story) | $4.00 – $7.00 |
Cost by room (US averages):
| Room | Typical Cost (DIY, Do It Yourself) | Typical Cost (Professional) |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | $150 – $300 | $400 – $800 |
| Living room | $200 – $400 | $600 – $1,200 |
| Kitchen | $150 – $350 | $500 – $1,000 |
| Bathroom | $100 – $200 | $300 – $600 |
| Hallway | $100 – $250 | $300 – $700 |
Factors that increase cost:
- Dark-to-light color changes (extra coats or primer needed)
- High ceilings (above 8 ft — requires scaffolding or extension tools)
- Textured walls (use more paint, harder to cover evenly)
- Lead paint removal (in homes built before 1978)
- Extensive wall repair (patching holes, skim coating)
Number of coats:
- Same or similar color: 1–2 coats
- Dramatic color change: 2–3 coats (plus primer)
- New drywall: 1 primer coat + 2 finish coats
Tips to reduce cost:
- Buy paint during sales (holiday weekends often have 30–40% off).
- Do your own prep work (cleaning, taping, moving furniture) to reduce labor hours.
- Choose lighter colors that cover in fewer coats.
- Get at least 3 quotes from professional painters.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
SuperGlobalCalculator is independently built and maintained. See how we build and verify our calculators.