Home Painting Cost Estimator
Estimate interior or exterior house painting cost from area, coats, your paint price per gallon, and an optional pro labor rate.
Get gallons and total.
Home Painting Cost depends on whether you are painting interior or exterior, the total area, paint quality, and whether you hire professionals or DIY.
Interior painting costs:
DIY costs:
- Paint: $25-50 per gallon (covers 350-400 sq ft per coat)
- Primer: $15-30 per gallon (if needed)
- Supplies (tape, rollers, brushes, drop cloths): $50-100 per room
- Total DIY: approximately $0.50-1.50 per square foot
Professional costs:
- Labor: $2-6 per square foot (varies by region)
- Paint included: some painters include paint, others charge separately
- Typical room (12×12, 8ft ceiling): $300-800 professional, $80-150 DIY
- Whole house interior (1,500 sq ft): $3,000-8,000 professional, $500-1,500 DIY
Exterior painting costs:
DIY costs:
- Exterior paint: $30-70 per gallon (covers 250-400 sq ft per coat)
- Primer, caulk, supplies: $100-300
- Total DIY: approximately $0.75-2.00 per square foot
Professional costs:
- Labor + materials: $2-6 per square foot
- Typical 1,500 sq ft home exterior: $3,000-8,000
- Two-story homes cost 20-50% more due to ladder/scaffolding needs
Factors that increase cost:
- High ceilings (above 9 feet) add 20-30%
- Extensive trim and detail work adds 15-25%
- Dark-to-light color changes may need extra coats
- Lead paint abatement (pre-1978 homes) adds significant cost
- Wallpaper removal before painting adds $1-3 per square foot
Paint quality tiers:
- Economy ($20-30/gallon): fewer solids, less coverage, shorter lifespan
- Mid-range ($30-50/gallon): good coverage, 5-7 year lifespan
- Premium ($50-80/gallon): excellent coverage, 10-15 year lifespan, better washability
These price ranges are rough national figures that shift with brand, region, and year. Enter your own paint price (and a labor rate if hiring out) in the calculator for a number that matches your quotes.
Number of coats: Most jobs need 2 coats of paint. Add a primer coat if painting over dark colors, new drywall, or stained surfaces.
Coverage formula:
Gallons = (Wall Area × Number of Coats) / Coverage per Gallon
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.
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