Painting Cost Per Room Calculator
Painting cost = (wall + ceiling) ft² × $/ft² labor & materials. Interior or exterior.
Result
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How to use this calculator
- Measure room length, width, and ceiling height.
- Toggle ceiling on/off.
- Pick interior or exterior rate.
- Use as a sanity check on contractor quotes.
About this calculator
Pro painters quote $2-4/ft² for interior walls and $3.50-6/ft² for exterior, including paint, prep, and labor. Higher rates for: dark-to-light color changes (extra coats), repairs, popcorn ceilings, or trim-heavy rooms. The room dimensions here approximate wall area as perimeter × height; this slightly overstates because it doesn't subtract doors/windows. For tight quotes use the wall-area-for-paint calculator with door/window subtraction.
Frequently asked
Why is exterior more?+
More prep (scraping, priming), more setup (ladders, scaffolding), more weather risk, and rougher surfaces that absorb more paint.
Should I get color change?+
Light-to-dark or dark-to-light: usually 3 coats. Add ~30% to the rate or expect a higher quote.
DIY savings?+
Materials are typically 20-30% of the quote; the rest is labor. DIY a 12×10 room saves $400-700 if you have a weekend and a good drop cloth.
Trim included?+
Most quotes are walls + ceiling only. Trim, doors, and casings are usually 15-25% extra.
How long does a room take a pro?+
A 12×10 room: 1 day for 1 painter (prep + 2 coats walls + ceiling + cleanup). Trim adds half a day.
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