How do you calculate painting cost?
To calculate how much it will cost to paint an entire room or area, you’ll need to make some calculations. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Measure the area: The first step you’ll need to take is to calculate the total area to be painted. Start by measuring the height and width of your walls, as well as the length and width of the ceiling. You’ll also need to measure the doors and windows. In order to calculate the area of the walls, multiply the height by the width of each wall and add them together. For ceilings, multiply the length by the width. Don’t forget to subtract the areas of windows and doors.
- Determine the paint coverage: Check your paint can for coverage info, usually given in square feet per gallon. This varies by paint type and brand but typically ranges from 250 to 400 square feet per gallon.
- Calculate the amount of paint needed: Divide the total area to be painted by the paint coverage per gallon. This will give you the number of gallons needed. If multiple coats are required, multiply the number of gallons by the number of coats.
- Estimate paint cost: Multiply the number of gallons needed by the cost per gallon of paint.
Don’t want to do all the calculations by hand? Simply input the measurements you’ve taken into Joist’s free interior and exterior painting cost calculator, and we’ll do the work for you!
How does this painting cost calculator work?
Our free painting estimate calculator does most of the calculations for you. You’ll just need to input the room’s measurements, info about the number of doors and windows, and the cost per square foot for your chosen paint.
To get to the final paint cost, our residential and commercial painting cost calculator does all the adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, so you don’t have to.
How do you calculate labor cost for painting?
There are many variables that come into play when calculating labor costs for painting, such as:
- Complexity of the job: Is there detailed trim work to account for? Are you painting the ceiling? Are you using multiple paint colors? All of these factors can increase both time and cost.
- Condition of the surfaces: What condition are the surfaces you are painting in? Have they been well maintained, or are they damaged? This could affect the prep time and, therefore, the labor costs.
- Geographic location: Where are you located? You will charge different labor rates based on location.
With all that said, you can still get a good idea of labor costs for a residential or commercial painting job by considering the following steps:
- Start with your hourly rate: This will vary based on where you are located, your experience, and how complex the job is.
- Determine the total area to be painted: Calculate the square footage of the surfaces to be painted. Measure the length and height of each wall and add them together, subtracting any areas not to be painted (such as doors and windows).
- Estimate the time required: As a professional painter, you likely have a sense of how much square footage you can cover per hour. A typical range is one hour per 150-300 square feet. This will change based on how complex the job is, the condition of the surfaces, and how many coats of paint you are applying.
- Calculate the number of hours needed: Divide the total square footage by your coverage rate per hour, to get an estimate of the total number of hours required.
- Include additional labor costs: Take note of any additional tasks, such as prep work like moving furniture, taping, priming, or repairs, that can add to the total labor time.
- Calculate the total labor cost: Multiple the total hours required by your hourly rate. Don’t forget to factor in any extra costs for prep or specialized work.
When you’re ready to put it all together for your customers, try Joist’s easy-to-use estimating and invoicing app for painting contractors.
Painting Cost FAQs
The cost to paint a room depends on many factors, such as the size of the room, the type and quality of the paint, labor costs, supplies, and any additional prep work needed.
Some general ranges include:
- Small room (100-200 sq ft): $150 – $400
- Medium room (200-400 sq ft): $300 – $700
- Large room (400+ sq ft): $600 – $1,200
The cost to paint a 12×12 room will vary based on what type and brand of paint you’re using, how much you charge per hour, and any additional materials you need to purchase.
Here is a sample calculation:
Let’s say you have a 12 ft x 12 ft room with 8ft high walls.
The total paintable area is (12 x 8) + (12 x 8) + (12 x 8) + (12 x 8) = 384 sq ft
Let’s say the paint coverage is 350 sq ft per gallon (a standard estimate), so you’ll need 384/350 = 1.1 gallons of paint. Round up to 2 gallons for 1 coat, and then assume you’ll want 2 coats for better coverage. This means you’ll want 4 gallons of paint.
Assume the paint is $30/gallon. So, you’ll spend 4 x 30 = $120 on paint.
In terms of labor, let’s say you charge $30 per hour and can cover 200 sq ft per hour. You’ll need 384/200 = 1.92 hours to complete the project. It’s safe to round up to 2 hours per coat.
The total labor cost then would be 2 hours x 2 coats x $30 per hour = $120
Add all these together: $120 (paint) + $120 (labor) = $240.
Remember, this is just an example and doesn’t account for the ceilings, additional materials, or prep work.
The cost to paint kitchen cabinets is never fixed. It’ll depend on lots of details, like the size of the kitchen, the number of cabinets, the type and quality of the paint, labor costs, and any additional prep work.
Prep work may include cleaning, sanding, priming, and repairing any existing damage.
To figure out the costs, you’ll need to consider the price and quantity of paint, your hourly rate, the estimated amount of time it’ll take you to complete the project, plus any extra costs.
For example, say you were working in a kitchen with 20 cabinets and 10 doors. Your customer chooses a paint that costs $50/gallon. You’ll need primer too. So, your material costs start at $50 + $25 = $75 per gallon.
You’ll need to figure out how many gallons you need for the job, but for the sake of this example, you’ll pick up 5 gallons. Your material costs are now $75 x 5 = $375.
Let’s say your rate is $40/hour, and you estimate that this job will take you 30 hours. Your labor cost is $40 x 30 = $1,200.
Adding those together, the total cost for this project (excluding any additional costs) is $375 + $1,200 = $1,575.
Remember, this can all change based on your location and the size and condition of the kitchen you are working on.
Much like the cost to paint a room, the cost of a gallon of paint is variable. Factors that affect the cost include the type of paint, quality, brand, and the store where you purchase it.
Some general price ranges you might find include:
Interior latex paint:
- Budget/basic quality: $15 – $25 per gallon
- Mid-range quality: $25 – $45 per gallon
- Premium quality: $45 – $70 per gallon
Exterior latex paint:
- Budget/basic quality: $20 – $30 per gallon
- Mid-range quality: $30 – $50 per gallon
- Premium quality: $50 – $80 per gallon
Specialty paints:
- Mold-resistant or mildew-resistant paint: $30 – $60 per gallon
- Eco-friendly or low-VOC paint: $35 – $70 per gallon
- High-gloss or specialty finishes: $40 – $80 per gallon
In terms of paint quality, budget brand examples are Glidden Essentials and Valspar 2000. Examples of mid-range brands are Behr Premium Plus and Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint, while premium brands include Benjamin Moore Regal Select and Sherwin-Williams Duration.
A good starting point for a residential painter’s hourly rate is somewhere between $20 and $50. This, of course, depends on your level of experience, how complex the job is, and where your business is located.
Commercial painting jobs tend to be higher (from $30 to $70 per hour) due to the complexity, scale, regulations, and requirements you’ll need to consider.