Interior Painting: Breaking Down the Price Tag

Painting is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to revive a tired interior space. But understanding what a fresh coat will cost is harder; in fact, it can be downright frustrating. This breakdown of cost factors will clarify pricing and help you plan the perfect project.

Paint

The cost of paint varies depending on type – flat, semi-gloss, gloss, matte, satin, etc. – and brand. One gallon of name-brand paint will usually cover up to 400 square feet — the size of a small room. Some brand names, such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams, can cost between $30 and $60+ per gallon. And while purchasing higher-quality paint may consume more of your budget, it can help prevent premature aging and fading — which means less repainting later.

“Really understand your options,” says Nick May, owner of Walls by Design in Denver, Colo. “Most paint companies make a good paint, but they also can sell a crappy paint. Some paints hide better; some paints perform better; some paints touch up better.”

Prep

Paint is important, but it’s the prep work that makes a quality paint job possible. “Putting paint on the walls is the easy part,” says Yvonne ‘Grandma’ Costin, president of Grandma’s Handyman Service in Denver, Colo. “But preparation is what matters in the long run. Thorough prep will keep your paint looking great for years and years. It’s worth every dime.”

And what is needed to do prep right? Time, and lots of it. Completing such tasks as masking, taping, sanding and repairing drywall takes up the bulk of any interior paint project, often requiring more than double the time required to do the actual painting.

Labor

Labor costs typically fall around $400 to $800 for an average-sized room (10x12 feet), says Costin, not including the cost of the paint itself or finish work like trim, closets or ceilings. You can expect these prices to change if you have a large or oddly shaped space. Painting tall or hard-to-reach surfaces will require additional time and setup.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

According to the Angie’s List Pricing Guide, most homeowners spend between $836 and $2,360 to have their home interiors professionally painted, and up to $4,000 on the higher end. You can do it yourself for just the cost of materials, of course — particularly if you’re a skilled and experienced painter. But most homeowners find it’s worth the cost to hire a professional.

A quality paint pro knows the importance of good, thorough prep, saving you from making pricey mistakes that increase overall costs and often necessitate a total repaint later on. What’s more, hiring a pro will save you the time you’d spend doing the job yourself. On larger projects, this can easily add up to several weeks.

When you do hire a pro, be sure to ask plenty of questions, and know exactly what you’re getting before making a commitment. And remember that while it may be tempting to go with the lowest bidder, it’s best to carefully consider your options.

“Going with the cheapest bid is a common problem I see,” says May. “Homeowners choose someone who is less expensive, they don’t understand what goes into doing a project the right way and they think they are comparing apples to apples; in reality, it’s apples to bananas. And in the end the homeowner is unhappy with the results of cheaper bid.”