How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?

A professional interior repaint of a 2,000 square foot home typically costs $4,500–$10,000 for walls, ceilings, and trim — roughly $2.25–$5.00 per square foot of floor area. This range reflects differences in ceiling height, surface condition, number of coats, paint quality, and regional labor rates. Homes with cathedral ceilings, intricate trim profiles, or surfaces requiring significant prep work fall toward the higher end.

How much does exterior house painting cost?

Exterior painting costs $2,500–$12,000 for a typical single-family home in 2026, depending on square footage, siding material, number of stories, and surface condition. A ranch home under 1,500 square feet runs $2,500–$5,000; a two-story home with 2,500 square feet of exterior surface runs $5,000–$10,000. Scraping, sanding, and priming deteriorated surfaces adds significant labor cost.

How long does it take to paint a room professionally?

A professional painter can typically complete a standard 12x12 bedroom — walls only, no ceiling — in 3–5 hours including prep, cutting in, and rolling. Add 1–2 hours for ceiling painting and another 1–2 hours for trim and baseboards. Two-coat applications double the time. A crew of two painters will typically complete a single room in a half-day and a whole house interior in 3–5 days.

Should I hire a painter or do it myself?

DIY interior painting typically costs $300–$700 in materials for a single room (paint, primer, brushes, rollers, tape, drop cloths) compared to $500–$1,500 to hire a professional. The DIY savings are real, but professional painters work faster, handle prep more thoroughly, and produce cleaner edges and coverage. For rooms with high ceilings, extensive trim, or surfaces in poor condition, the quality difference typically justifies the cost.

Does the type of paint significantly affect cost?

Yes. Contractor-grade paint runs $20–$35 per gallon; premium paints from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, or Farrow and Ball run $55–$110 per gallon. For a 2,000 square foot home requiring 20–25 gallons, the difference between budget and premium paint is $700–$2,000 in materials alone. Premium paints typically require fewer coats, have better durability, and affect the quoted price even when a painter supplies the materials.

Painting Contractor Costs in 2026: What to Budget for Interior and Exterior Projects

May 6, 2026 · Cost Guide · 6 min read

A professional interior painter charges $2.00–$4.00 per square foot of paintable wall surface in 2026, making a standard 2,000 square foot home interior cost $4,500–$10,000 for a full repaint including prep, two coats on walls, and trim. Exterior painting runs $1.50–$4.00 per square foot of exterior surface area — $2,500–$12,000 for most single-family homes. These ranges are not vague; specific project characteristics consistently explain where a given job lands within them.

What Actually Drives Painting Costs

Five factors explain most of the price variation you will see across contractor bids:

Prep work: Surface preparation — patching holes, sanding rough edges, caulking gaps, washing dirty surfaces, applying primer — typically accounts for 40–60% of total labor time on a professional paint job. Walls in poor condition require more prep time and cost more to paint, not because the painting itself is harder but because the prep is.
Number of coats: Two-coat applications are standard. Three-coat jobs (common with dark colors, significant color changes, or new drywall) add 30–50% to labor cost and 50% to material cost.
Ceiling height: Standard 8-foot ceilings are the baseline. Vaulted, cathedral, or 10-foot-plus ceilings require ladders, scaffolding, and additional setup time that contractors price at a premium — typically 15–30% higher than equivalent square footage at standard height.
Paint quality: Whether the painter supplies premium or contractor-grade paint shifts material costs significantly. Always ask what product line is included in the quoted price and whether upgrades are available.
Regional labor market: Labor rates in San Francisco, New York, Seattle, and Boston run 25–45% higher than national averages. The Southeast, Midwest, and Mountain West generally come in at or below national average.

Interior Painting Costs by Space

Individual Rooms

These ranges reflect walls-only painting (two coats) by a professional crew in most U.S. markets in 2026. Ceiling and trim painting are priced separately or added as line items:

Standard bedroom (10x12 ft): $300–$750 for walls only; $550–$1,100 including ceiling and trim
Living room or family room (15x20 ft): $600–$1,500 for walls; $1,000–$2,200 including ceiling and trim
Kitchen: $500–$1,400 — typically includes cabinet prep and back-painting around appliances; full cabinet repainting is priced separately (see below)
Bathroom: $200–$600 — smaller surface area but often involves humid-condition prep, mold treatment, and specialty bathroom paint; 2–4 hours per bathroom
Hallways and stairwell: $300–$1,200 depending on height and length — stairwells are among the highest per-square-foot spaces due to scaffold or ladder setup time
Garage interior: $600–$2,000 for walls and ceiling; epoxy garage floor coating adds $1,500–$5,000

Whole House Interior

Full interior repaints — all rooms, ceilings, trim, and doors — follow a per-square-foot model based on total floor area:

Under 1,200 sq ft (condo/small home): $3,000–$6,000
1,200–2,000 sq ft: $4,500–$9,000
2,000–3,000 sq ft: $7,000–$14,000
Over 3,000 sq ft: $12,000–$25,000+

Based on our directory of contractors completing interior repainting projects, the average whole-house interior project in major metro areas runs $6,500–$11,000 for homes in the 1,500–2,500 square foot range. Projects exceeding $15,000 typically involve high ceilings, extensive plaster repair, or premium paint specifications.

Cabinet Painting

Kitchen cabinet painting is a specialty service priced separately from wall painting. A professional cabinet refinishing job — disassembly, priming, spraying with a smooth finish, and reassembly — typically costs:

Small kitchen (under 20 linear feet of cabinets): $1,200–$2,800
Medium kitchen (20–35 linear feet): $2,500–$4,500
Large kitchen (35+ linear feet): $3,500–$7,000

Cabinet painting done by a specialist who uses spray equipment (rather than brushing) produces a dramatically different result than wall painters applying brush-rolled coats to cabinets. Verify that a cabinet painting quote includes primer, sanding between coats, and a hard-wearing enamel topcoat — not standard latex wall paint applied with a brush.

Exterior Painting Costs

By Home Size and Story Count

Ranch home, 1,200 sq ft footprint: $2,500–$5,000 — single story, minimal scaffold time
Two-story colonial or craftsman, 2,000–2,500 sq ft exterior: $5,000–$9,000
Two-story with complex architecture (dormers, gables, wraparound porch): $7,000–$14,000
Large home, 3,000+ sq ft exterior: $10,000–$20,000+

Siding Material Matters

Different siding types require different prep and application methods, which affects cost:

Hardboard or T1-11 panel siding: Typically the most expensive to paint per square foot due to extensive caulking and primer requirements
Wood lap siding (painted previously): Moderate prep, standard pricing
Stucco: Requires masonry paint and different application technique; typically $0.50–$1.00/sq ft more than lap siding
Fiber cement (Hardie board): Paints well and holds paint longer; similar cost to wood lap siding
Vinyl siding: Most painters will paint vinyl, but many caution that adhesion can be an issue; requires bonding primer

Trim, Shutters, and Doors

Exterior trim, window shutters, and doors are typically priced as a separate line item in exterior painting quotes:

Exterior trim (fascia, soffit, window surrounds): $800–$2,500
Shutters (pair): $75–$200 per pair to paint in place
Exterior doors: $100–$300 per door including frame and trim
Garage doors: $150–$500 depending on size and panel detail

Lead Paint: The Most Significant Exterior Cost Variable

Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Federal law (EPA's RRP Rule) requires that contractors performing renovation work — including exterior painting that disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room or 20 square feet on exterior surfaces — must be EPA Lead-Safe Certified and follow lead-safe work practices.

Lead paint test kit: $20–$40 for DIY swab tests; $200–$500 for professional XRF or lab-certified testing
Lead-safe painting premium: Certified contractors charge 15–30% more than non-certified work for lead-safe practices (plastic sheeting, HEPA vacuuming, waste disposal)
Full lead paint encapsulation: $5,000–$15,000 for a whole-house exterior — a specialized service distinct from repainting

If your home was built before 1978, budget for lead testing and confirm your painting contractor has current EPA Lead-Safe Certification before signing. Non-certified contractors performing disturbing work in pre-1978 homes create liability for both contractor and homeowner.

Materials: What Paint Actually Costs

Paint quality directly affects both durability and job pricing. Painters either supply materials (included in quote) or charge for materials separately. Understanding the options:

Contractor-grade paint (e.g., Sherwin-Williams Emerald contractor line, PPG PaintPro): $22–$38 per gallon — one coat coverage, acceptable durability
Mid-range paint (Behr Premium, Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint): $40–$55 per gallon — better hide, two-coat coverage in most colors
Premium paint (Benjamin Moore Aura, Sherwin-Williams Emerald, Farrow and Ball): $60–$115 per gallon — excellent coverage, exceptional durability and washability

A 2,000 square foot home interior requires approximately 18–25 gallons of paint for two coats on walls (walls only). The material cost difference between contractor-grade and premium paint runs $700–$2,000 on a whole-house project. Premium paints typically require fewer coats and maintain finish quality longer — the cost difference often pays back over a longer interval between repaints.

Getting Accurate Bids and Comparing Them

Painting bids vary not just in price but in scope. Before comparing numbers, compare scope:

Does the bid include moving and protecting furniture, or is that owner responsibility?
What paint brand and product line is quoted? Upgrading from contractor to premium grade typically adds $400–$1,200 to materials cost.
How many coats are included on walls? On ceilings? On trim?
Does prep include patching nail holes and hairline cracks, or only major damage?
Is primer included, and on what surfaces?

Two bids at $5,500 and $8,500 may cover fundamentally different scopes. The process for getting equivalent, comparable bids is covered in detail in the contractor bidding guide. Before hiring any painting contractor, confirm insurance (general liability and workers comp) and verify their license status — the contractor vetting checklist applies equally to painting specialists. For protection against payment disputes and scope creep, the renovation contract guide covers the scope-of-work clauses most important for painting projects specifically.

Browse painting contractors and general contractors in your city, or find top-rated painting contractors near you with verified licensing and recent project photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?: A professional interior repaint of a 2,000 square foot home typically costs $4,500–$10,000 for walls, ceilings, and trim — roughly $2.25–$5.00 per square foot of floor area. This range reflects differences in ceiling height, surface condition, number of coats, paint quality, and regional labor rates. Homes with cathedral ceilings, intricate trim profiles, or surfaces requiring significant prep work fall toward the higher end.
How much does exterior house painting cost?: Exterior painting costs $2,500–$12,000 for a typical single-family home in 2026, depending on square footage, siding material, number of stories, and surface condition. A ranch home under 1,500 square feet runs $2,500–$5,000; a two-story home with 2,500 square feet of exterior surface runs $5,000–$10,000. Scraping, sanding, and priming deteriorated surfaces adds significant labor cost.
How long does it take to paint a room professionally?: A professional painter can typically complete a standard 12x12 bedroom — walls only, no ceiling — in 3–5 hours including prep, cutting in, and rolling. Add 1–2 hours for ceiling painting and another 1–2 hours for trim and baseboards. Two-coat applications double the time. A crew of two painters will typically complete a single room in a half-day and a whole house interior in 3–5 days.
Should I hire a painter or do it myself?: DIY interior painting typically costs $300–$700 in materials for a single room (paint, primer, brushes, rollers, tape, drop cloths) compared to $500–$1,500 to hire a professional. The DIY savings are real, but professional painters work faster, handle prep more thoroughly, and produce cleaner edges and coverage. For rooms with high ceilings, extensive trim, or surfaces in poor condition, the quality difference typically justifies the cost.
Does the type of paint significantly affect cost?: Yes. Contractor-grade paint runs $20–$35 per gallon; premium paints from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, or Farrow and Ball run $55–$110 per gallon. For a 2,000 square foot home requiring 20–25 gallons, the difference between budget and premium paint is $700–$2,000 in materials alone. Premium paints typically require fewer coats, have better durability, and affect the quoted price even when a painter supplies the materials.