Estimating Your Interior Painting Cost per Sq Ft

Before you hire a painter or start getting quotes, you should calculate the actual surface area of the room(s) that you want to paint. Simply add together the length of the wall and multiply it by the width of the room, then multiply that by the height of the room. Next, subtract the area of all unpaintable areas (windows, doors and cabinets) using the same length by width method. Finally, determine if ceilings, trim and baseboards are part of the project, and add these using the same method for area. This surface area calculation will help you estimate costs, obtain accurate quotes and compare them. When you receive quotes, be sure to break the cost down and ask whether they include both the cost of labor and materials. 

The average cost of painting a single room in your home ranges from $200 to $1,000 in total, or $2 to $6 per square foot. If you want to calculate a price estimate for your project, the HomeAdvisor.com website offers a free, easy-to-use Interior Painting Cost Calculator. The price will of course depend on many factors, including: actual wall surface area (maybe you have a lot of large windows that will reduce the cost of paint), regional differences and cost of labor, wall height, and type of paint. A gallon of paint, which generally covers between 250 and 400 square feet, of typically costs between $20 and $50, depending on the quality. However, there are designer brands of paint that can cost over $100 per gallon. Keep in mind, a professional painter can usually purchase paint at about 50% of the price – so while you pay more for labor with a professional, you can actually save on the cost of materials. 

If you want to calculate how much it would cost to complete the paint project on your own, you can calculate an estimate based on the surface area, as described above. Be sure to take into account the price of primer, multiple coats of paint, tools and painting supplies. Also, consider how much time you will be spending on the project and how much your time is worth. 

In the end, while it definitely costs more to hire a professional painter than to take on the project yourself, most people without painting experience think paying more is worth it for several key reasons: 1) more professional, polished results; 2) saves time; 3) avoids risks like personal injury or damage to your home; 4) can save on cost of materials. 

It’s a good idea to get several estimates/quotes before hiring your interior painters. If you are based in Oregon in Portland, Salem, Keizer, Lebanon, Albany, Corvallis, Eugene or surrounding areas, contact Fitzpatrick Painting for a free estimate to help get you started. Interior painting is our area of expertise and we possess the essential skills that are required for surface preparation, understanding the broad range of coating varieties, and taking ultimate care of your home!