Professional painters typically charge $2 to $6 per square foot of wall area, which works out to about $400 to $1,000 per room in 2026. Hourly rates run $40 to $100 per painter. A full interior for a 2,000 square foot home usually costs $4,000 to $10,000, and exterior jobs average $3,000 to $8,000.
| Pricing method | Typical 2026 cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Per square foot of wall | $2 to $6 | Comparing quotes room to room |
| Per room | $400 to $1,000 | One to three rooms |
| Per hour, per painter | $40 to $100 | Touch ups and small jobs |
| Whole interior, 2,000 sq ft home | $4,000 to $10,000 | Full repaint or new owners |
| Exterior, average home | $3,000 to $8,000 | Siding, trim and doors |
How much does it cost to paint one room?
Room size drives most of the price, followed by ceiling height and how much trim the room has. These ranges assume two coats on walls with mid grade paint and normal prep:
| Room | Walls only | Walls, ceiling and trim |
|---|---|---|
| Small bathroom | $250 to $500 | $450 to $800 |
| Bedroom, about 12 by 12 | $400 to $800 | $800 to $1,300 |
| Kitchen walls | $400 to $900 | $700 to $1,400 |
| Living room | $600 to $1,200 | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Two story foyer or stairwell | $800 to $1,800 | $1,200 to $2,500 |
Bathrooms cost less in total but more per square foot, because painters spend most of the time cutting in around the vanity, toilet, mirror and tile. Open plans with vaulted ceilings need taller ladders or scaffolding, which adds labor.
What affects the cost of hiring a painter?
Prep and repairs
Prep is often half the labor. Filling nail holes and light sanding is usually included, but patching larger holes, fixing water stains or skim coating textured walls is extra. If your walls need real repair first, check our drywall repair cost guide so you can budget both jobs.
Color changes
Going from a dark color to a light one, or covering a bold accent wall, often needs a primer coat plus two finish coats. Expect 20 to 40 percent more for a dramatic color change than for a refresh in a similar shade.
Paint quality
Paint usually makes up 15 to 25 percent of the bill. Mid grade interior paint runs about $35 to $55 a gallon and premium lines run $60 to $90. Premium paint can cover better and hold up longer in kitchens, bathrooms and kids rooms.
Trim, doors and ceilings
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Ceilings | $1 to $3 per square foot |
| Baseboards and trim | $1 to $3 per linear foot |
| Interior doors | $75 to $150 each |
| Kitchen cabinets | $3,000 to $7,000 |
How much does exterior house painting cost?
Exterior painting typically costs $1.50 to $4.00 per square foot of paintable surface. A single story home of about 1,500 square feet often lands between $3,000 and $5,500, while a two story home of 2,500 square feet usually runs $5,000 to $9,000. Peeling paint, wood rot, tall walls and lots of trim raise the price.
Product choice matters even more outside, where sun and rain do the damage. Our roundup of the best exterior house paint explains which finishes last longest in hot and humid climates.
Is it worth hiring a painter instead of doing it yourself?
Doing it yourself saves labor, which is roughly 75 to 85 percent of a painting bill. For one bedroom, supplies run about $100 to $200 and the job takes most of a weekend. Professionals usually finish the same room in four to eight hours with cleaner lines and less mess. Our DIY vs professional painting comparison covers when each makes sense.
- Hire it out for ceilings, stairwells, cabinets, exteriors and anything above one story.
- DIY can work for a single accent wall, a small bedroom or touch ups in the same color.
- Selling soon? Neutral fresh paint is one of the lower cost ways to make listing photos look better.
How can you lower the cost of painting?
Labor is the biggest part of every painting bill, so the best savings come from cutting the hours a crew spends on things other than putting paint on the wall. These steps typically save 10 to 25 percent without lowering the quality of the finish:
- Move furniture, wall art, curtains and outlet covers yourself before the crew arrives.
- Group rooms into one visit. Painting three rooms at once costs less per room than three separate trips, because setup and cleanup happen once.
- Keep the same color or a similar shade when you can, so two coats cover without primer.
- Use one wall color throughout. Every extra color adds cutting in time and more paint cans.
- Skip ceilings that are still clean and white. Ceilings are slow work and often look fine for ten years or more.
- Book in the slower months. Interior painting in late fall and winter often has more open dates.
Be careful with the cheapest quote. A price far below the others often means one coat instead of two, little or no prep, or bargain paint that shows lap marks. Make sure every quote you compare covers the same rooms, coats and paint line, so you are comparing the same job.
How long does a paint job last?
Interior walls in bedrooms and living rooms typically look good for 7 to 10 years. Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and kids rooms often need a refresh in 3 to 5 years. Exterior paint usually lasts 5 to 10 years depending on the siding, sun exposure and humidity. In hot, humid places such as Dallas summers or the Gulf Coast, south and west facing walls fade first. For local pricing, see interior house painting costs in Dallas.
How do you get an accurate painting quote?
A clear quote lists the rooms or surfaces, number of coats, paint brand and line, prep included, what is extra and who moves the furniture. Before you book, measure each room, note ceiling heights, photograph any damage and decide on colors. If you want ideas first, see our fall 2026 paint trends.
Ready to skip the back and forth? See your upfront price and book your painting on House Fly. Payment is held until the job is done.
Frequently asked questions
How much do painters charge per room?
Most homeowners pay $400 to $1,000 to have a professional paint an average bedroom of about 12 by 12 feet, including walls and labor. Adding the ceiling, trim and doors pushes a room toward $800 to $1,500, and large living rooms with tall ceilings can run higher.
How much do painters charge per hour?
Painters who bill hourly typically charge $40 to $100 per painter per hour in 2026, depending on the market and the type of work. Most companies quote a fixed price per room or per job instead, which is easier to compare because it already includes prep and cleanup time.
Is it cheaper to buy your own paint?
Sometimes, but not by much. Painters often get trade discounts of 10 to 30 percent at paint stores, so the savings from buying your own can be small. If you have a specific brand or color in mind, tell the painter up front and ask them to quote with that product.
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a whole house?
Painting the interior of a 2,000 square foot home typically costs $4,000 to $10,000, or about $2 to $5 per square foot of floor area. Walls only lands at the low end. Ceilings, trim, doors, color changes and repairs move the price toward the top.
What time of year is cheapest to hire painters?
Late fall and winter are often the slowest months for interior painting in many markets, so you may get more open dates and more flexible pricing. Exterior work depends on weather. Spring and early summer are usually the busiest and most expensive times to book.
