Painting one interior room yourself typically costs $100 to $250 in paint and supplies, compared with $400 to $1,000 to hire it out in New Orleans. For exteriors the gap grows: DIY supplies for a shotgun house run $800 to $2,000, while a hired job is usually $3,500 to $9,000. DIY saves money on simple rooms; height, old wood and humidity favor hiring.
How much does DIY painting really cost in New Orleans?
The paint is only part of a DIY budget. Brushes, rollers, tape, drop cloths, caulk, patching compound, primer and sandpaper add up, and exterior work usually needs ladders, a scraper set and sometimes a pressure washer rental. Here is a side by side look at common projects in 2026.
| Project | DIY supplies | DIY time | Hired price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedroom, walls only | $100 to $200 | 1 to 2 days | $450 to $900 |
| Living room, 12 ft ceilings | $150 to $300 | 2 to 3 days | $800 to $1,800 |
| Bathroom | $70 to $150 | 1 day | $300 to $700 |
| Kitchen cabinets | $200 to $450 | 4 to 7 days | $3,000 to $7,000 |
| Shotgun exterior | $800 to $2,000 | 2 to 4 weekends or more | $3,500 to $9,000 |
| Porch floor and steps | $80 to $200 | 1 to 2 days | $400 to $1,000 |
The hired price includes labor, prep, cleanup and usually better results on tricky surfaces. The DIY column assumes you already own basic tools. If you need to buy an extension ladder, a quality sprayer or scaffolding, add $200 to $800 or more.
When does DIY painting make sense?
DIY works well when the surface is sound, the room is easy to reach and you have time. Good DIY projects in a New Orleans home include:
- Bedrooms and home offices with standard 8 to 9 foot ceilings and drywall in good shape
- Accent walls and small color refreshes
- Fences, garden furniture and small sheds
- Touch ups on interior trim and doors
- A single porch floor that only needs a clean and a fresh coat
If you go the DIY route, take the prep seriously. Wash walls, patch holes, sand glossy surfaces and prime stains. Most DIY paint jobs that look bad fail at the prep stage, not the painting stage. Our general guide to DIY vs professional painting covers basic technique.
When should you hire a painter in New Orleans?
Raised homes and tall ceilings
Many New Orleans homes sit three to eight feet off the ground, and interiors often have 10 to 14 foot ceilings. Working off tall ladders for hours is slow and risky for someone without experience. A fall from a raised porch or second story can turn a money saving project into a medical bill.
Old wood and lead paint
Homes built before 1978, which describes much of Mid City, Treme, the Irish Channel and Uptown, may have lead paint under newer layers. Dry scraping and sanding can spread lead dust, which is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women. Lead safe work practices take training and the right equipment, which is a strong reason to hire out exterior scraping on older homes.
Humidity, rain and timing
Exterior paint needs dry wood and a dry window after application. Between June and September, afternoon storms roll in most days, and a DIY schedule that only allows weekends can stretch an exterior job across months. Painters who work full time can move fast when the weather opens up.
Detail work on historic trim
Gingerbread brackets, louvered shutters, turned columns and transoms are slow to paint well. Cutting clean lines on decorative trim takes steady hands and practice, and sloppy trim is the first thing people notice. See our shotgun house makeover guide for how these details fit into a bigger refresh.
What are the hidden costs of DIY painting?
The sticker price of DIY leaves out a few real costs that homeowners often forget:
- Your time. An exterior that takes a crew three or four days can take a homeowner six to ten weekend days. Put a value on those hours.
- Redo work. Paint over damp wood or mildew can peel within a year, and fixing it means scraping and painting again.
- Wasted paint. Wrong sheen, wrong color or poor coverage can mean buying more gallons at $40 to $90 each.
- Repairs you uncover. Scraping often reveals rotted boards or cracked plaster that you then need to fix. Our drywall repair cost guide covers typical patch prices.
What supplies do you need to paint a room yourself?
If you decide to tackle a room, buying the right supplies up front saves extra trips to the hardware store. A typical 12 by 12 bedroom with two coats needs about two gallons of wall paint, plus a quart or two for trim. Expect to spend roughly this much in 2026:
- Wall paint, two gallons of a good acrylic: $70 to $140
- Primer for stains or patched areas: $20 to $45
- Roller frame, covers, tray and an angled brush: $25 to $50
- Painters tape, drop cloths and plastic: $20 to $40
- Spackle, caulk, sandpaper and a putty knife: $15 to $30
- Extension pole for tall ceilings: $15 to $40
In humid months, run the AC and keep windows closed while paint dries so it cures evenly. Bathroom and kitchen walls do best with a satin or semi gloss finish that resists moisture and wipes clean, while flat or eggshell hides flaws on old plaster walls in living rooms and bedrooms.
A simple way to decide: DIY, hire, or split the job
Many New Orleans homeowners split the work: they paint easy interior rooms themselves and hire out exteriors, high ceilings, cabinets and anything involving old, peeling wood. Use this quick guide:
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Sound drywall, standard ceilings, free weekend | DIY |
| Ceilings over 10 feet | Hire |
| Exterior on a raised or two story home | Hire |
| Pre 1978 home with peeling exterior paint | Hire |
| Kitchen cabinets with a smooth factory look | Hire |
| Fence, shed or small porch floor | DIY |
Whichever path you pick, quality paint matters in this climate. Read our guide to the best exterior house paint before you buy.
If you decide to hire, House Fly shows you an upfront price for the painting service before you book. You book at that price, House Fly handles the rest, and your payment is held until the job is done. See your upfront price and book your house painting on House Fly.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to paint a house yourself in New Orleans?
Yes, on paper. DIY supplies for an interior room cost $100 to $250 compared with $400 to $1,000 hired. For exteriors, supplies run $800 to $2,000 vs $3,500 to $9,000 hired. Once you add your time, tools, ladder safety and the risk of redoing failed paint, the savings shrink on large or tall jobs.
How long does it take to paint a house exterior yourself?
For a typical New Orleans shotgun, plan on 6 to 10 full days for washing, scraping, repairs, priming and two coats, often spread over several weekends. Summer rain can add more delays. A professional crew usually finishes the same house in about 3 to 6 working days.
Do I need to worry about lead paint in an old New Orleans house?
If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead paint under newer coats. Scraping or sanding can release lead dust that is harmful, especially to young children. Test before you disturb old paint, and use lead safe practices or hire people trained in them for exterior scraping.
What painting jobs are easiest to do yourself?
Bedrooms and offices with standard ceilings and sound drywall, accent walls, fences, small sheds and porch floor recoats are the easiest DIY projects. They need basic tools, little ladder work and forgiving surfaces. Leave tall ceilings, cabinets, raised home exteriors and peeling historic trim to experienced painters.
