Repainting a room can breathe new life into your home, but understanding the costs involved is crucial. According to our recent expert painter survey, the average cost to repaint a room in 2024 is $624. This figure encompasses labor, paint, and materials when hiring a professional painter to tackle your walls across the United States.
Adding the ceiling and baseboards to the painting project increases the total cost, ranging from $731 to $923. This expanded scope includes painting window trim and door casings within the room.
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Several key factors influence the price range for repainting a room:
- Room Size/Total Square Footage
- Ceiling Height
- Prep Work Required
- Local Painter Labor Rates
- Number of Paint Coats Needed
- Quality of Interior Paint
Keep in mind that most rooms require at least two coats of interior paint, regardless of whether you’re making a dramatic color change.
Higher ceilings also increase the overall surface area to be painted, making the project 10% to 40% more expensive.
Most room painting projects involve preparation work such as patching holes, sanding, caulking, priming, moving furniture, and covering surfaces.
Read on to discover why offering to purchase paint materials might not save you money when hiring a professional painter.
First, let’s break down the costs associated with painting small, medium, and large rooms.
Room Painting Costs by Size or Square Footage
As mentioned earlier, the size of the room is the primary factor determining the total cost of painting interior walls.
Smaller rooms are naturally less expensive to paint. These typically include rooms under 150 square feet, such as guest bedrooms, powder rooms, walk-in closets, offices, mudrooms, or laundry rooms.
Painting a small 12×12 room, such as a bedroom or bathroom, averages around $468.
Medium-sized rooms, ranging from 154 to 266 square feet (or 12×18 on average), are more expensive due to increased labor and material requirements.
Painting a medium-sized room like a dining room, kitchen, hallway, or primary bedroom typically costs between $524 and $672.
Larger rooms exceeding 224 square feet with 9-foot or higher ceilings are the most expensive to paint. These rooms include stairway foyers, living rooms, family rooms, and finished basements.
Painting larger rooms like living rooms or family rooms averages around $724.
How to Avoid Saving Money When House Painting
As a homeowner, you can cut costs by handling the prep work yourself, such as moving furniture before the painters arrive.
However, offering to buy the paint yourself might not result in significant savings when working with a professional painting contractor.
This is primarily because you’ll be paying full retail price for the paint, whereas contractors receive discounted rates.
Additionally, buying the wrong type or insufficient quantity of paint can delay the project.
Even with accurate paint material estimates, unforeseen issues can arise, necessitating an extra gallon.
Painters often dislike waiting while you purchase more paint, considering that the average cost of a three-person paint crew is $198 per hour.
The same principle applies to other home improvement projects like flooring, roofing, and remodeling.
Learn more about how much the average painter charges per hour in our recent post.
Room Painting Labor Costs Explained
Labor costs for room painting range from $312 to $436 for 1 to 2 days of work.
Experienced painters command higher daily rates but work faster and deliver superior results.
Seasoned professional painters are more likely to complete the job in a single day, regardless of room size. Learn more about the average amount that painters cost per day.
Local labor rates for room repainting projects are significantly influenced by the cost of living in your area.
Small painting companies in cities or states with high business operation costs due to licensing requirements often charge more per room.
For instance, running a painting business in California is significantly more expensive, leading to higher painting costs compared to national averages.
The Price of Paint Gallons and Types
The cost of two gallons of paint ranges from $96 to $148, depending on the paint quality.
Higher-quality paints offer better coverage and a more durable finish due to their thicker consistency and higher solids content.
Improved coverage reduces the number of coats needed.
For major color changes, budget for at least 3 to 5 gallons at an average price of $64 per can.
Each additional accent wall or paint color typically requires an extra gallon or two.
Additional factors affecting material costs include paint sheen.
Generally, glossier paints are more expensive per gallon. Matte or eggshell sheens typically cost less than satin, semi-gloss, or high-gloss options.
Furthermore, specialty paints for finishes like kitchen cabinets can cost 50% more than standard paint.
Finally, oil-based paints and primers are more expensive than latex-based alternatives.
Oil-based paints require special supplies like mineral spirits, ventilation fans, and natural bristle brushes, adding to the overall cost.
What will it cost to paint your house this year? Find out in our exterior painting price guide.
DIY Interior Painting Cost Considerations
The average cost to DIY paint a room is approximately $412, assuming you already own the necessary equipment.
Purchasing new equipment raises the DIY project cost to $736.
Equipment such as ladders, paint rollers, drop cloths, brushes, and sandpaper can be expensive.
However, some equipment can be reused for future projects if properly cleaned and maintained.
DIY project costs may also increase due to the need for more paint to ensure proper coverage and touch-ups.
Painting walls is not easy for the average homeowner.
But if you enjoy painting and have the right equipment, it can save you hundreds of dollars.
Find out what it costs to paint your kitchen cabinets on average.
Price to Paint a Room FAQs
Below are answers to common questions from homeowners regarding room painting costs.
We cover everything from small bedrooms to larger great rooms, providing a comprehensive guide to getting a good price for painting your home.
How many gallons of paint do I need to paint a room?
On average, one gallon of interior paint covers 350-400 square feet. Most standard rooms require at least two coats for proper coverage. Generally, you’ll need 2 to 3 gallons to paint the walls of a standard room.
Painting the trim and ceilings will require at least 4 to 6 gallons of paint. Consider purchasing a gallon or two of flat ceiling paint and an extra gallon or quart for the trim.
Trim is measured in linear feet. One gallon of paint typically covers 650 to 800 linear feet of trim. For smaller rooms, a quart of trim paint might suffice.
What’s the cost to paint a room per square foot?
According to Improovy’s expert interior painters, the average cost to paint a room is $2.75 per square foot. Painting everything, including walls, trim, and ceilings, increases the cost to around $4.69 per square foot.
Factors like vaulted ceilings, extensive prep work, and local labor rates can increase the cost per square foot.
When painting a room or your entire house, getting quotes from multiple contractors is always a good idea.
How much does a handyman charge to paint a room?
A handyman typically possesses less skill than a professional painter, resulting in lower rates.
Hiring a handyman to paint a room costs $466 on average.
However, the job may take longer, and unexpected charges can arise.
The quality of the work may also be lower, requiring touch-ups later on.
How do I avoid surprise charges during my room painting project?
Always obtain a written estimate from any painting contractor you hire.
The estimate should detail the prep work involved, the specific type of paint being used, and a workmanship warranty or guarantee.
Disclose any hidden wall damage or hard-to-reach areas beforehand so the painter can factor them into the original budget.
Most painters dislike adding unexpected costs, so clear communication is essential.
References – Room Painting Cost Guide
- Home Improvement Spending Data: Harvard University JCHS Homeowner Expenditures Harvard University, December 2023, Website
- Labor Wages and Costs: Occupational Employment and Wage StatisticsUS Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2023, Website
