How to price a painting job

Pricing is where painting businesses win or lose money. Here are the methods pros use — and how to keep every quote consistent.

Three ways painters price work

Per square foot of surface is the most consistent for walls and ceilings. Per room is quick for interiors once you know your averages. Per hour works for odd jobs and repairs. Most pros estimate by square foot, then sanity-check against hours.

Interior vs exterior

Interiors are driven by prep, cut-in and trim. Exteriors add setup, surface repair, weather windows and height/access — all of which raise the price. Price them with separate rates rather than one blended number.

Markup and margin

Mark up materials, and build a target net margin into labor. If you want to keep, say, 30% after costs, your price has to carry overhead and profit — not just paint and hours.

Keep every quote consistent

The fastest way to price accurately is to stop doing it by hand. WEDO applies your rates automatically and produces a clean proposal and contract. Start free or try the calculator.

FAQ

How much do painters charge per square foot?

It varies by region and surface, but square-foot pricing of the painted surface (not floor area) plus prep is the standard method. Apps keep your rates consistent.

Should I price by the room or by the hour?

Per-room is quick for interiors once you know your averages; per-hour suits small repairs. Square-foot pricing is the most reliable base for most jobs.