Interior Painting Cost Calculator

Painting is mostly prep: patching, sanding, caulking, and masking. Enter the floor area you want painted (one room or the whole house) to see a planning range.

Typical cost (US average)$4,200 – $5,8001,800 sq ft of floor, mid-range finishes. Includes labor, permits, disposal, tax, and a 10% contingency.

Your project

Your citySets local labor rates, permit costs, and sales tax

Project size (sq ft)

sq ft

Contingency cushion

Finish level

Scope included in estimateUncheck items you plan to keep or handle yourself

Wall Prep & 2 Coats PaintCaulking, spackling, sanding, spot priming, and two complete top coats.

Ceilings (Flat White)Masking walls, painting ceilings with dead-flat ceiling paint.

Baseboards, Door Trim & DoorsFilling nail holes, scuff sanding, semi-gloss enamel on trim and casing.

Floor Protection & Plastic MaskingRosin paper / Ram Board on floors, plastic over furniture and cabinetry.

Often forgotten

What am I forgetting?

Full primer coat for dramatic color shifts ($500 - $1,200): Going from dark burgundy to warm beige requires an extra tinted primer coat.
Interior closet painting ($200 - $600): Contractors frequently omit closets unless explicitly written into scope.

Quote checklist

Your contractor's quote should list

Exact paint brand and product line (e.g., Benjamin Moore Regal Select, not just "Benjamin Moore")
Sheen specified for each surface (flat for ceilings, eggshell/satin for walls, semi-gloss for trim)
Number of coats guaranteed (2 coats over prep)
Drywall patch and sanding prep expectations defined

Interior painting cost by home size

Area painted	Size	Mid-range cost
One bedroom or office	150 sq ft of floor	$500 – $600
Average home	1,800 sq ft of floor	$4,200 – $5,800
Large home	3,000 sq ft of floor	$7,000 – $9,600

National-average prices from our calculator with its default scope. Your quotes will vary with site conditions and exact products.

Painting cost by quality level

Finish level	Per sq ft	1,800 sq ft total
Single Coat Contractor GradeSingle coat refresh, standard commercial grade paint, basic spot patching.	$1.89 – $2.59	$3,400 – $4,700
Two Coats Premium (Sherwin / BM)Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint or Benjamin Moore Regal Select, nail hole patching, trim caulking.	$2.36 – $3.23	$4,200 – $5,800
Designer Level 5 FinishBenjamin Moore Aura or Farrow & Ball, full skim coat repairs, sprayed trim enamel, high ceilings.	$3.21 – $4.41	$5,800 – $7,900

What makes a good painting quote

Named paint line The quote should name the product (for example, Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Sherwin-Williams Emerald), not just a brand.
Caulking and patching Good painters cut out cracked caulk and re-caulk trim seams before painting.
Primer for big color changes Going from a dark color to a light one needs a separate tinted primer coat.

What the price includes

Freshly painted living room — **Two coats is the standard**Most quality quotes include patching, caulking trim, and two full coats of a named premium paint line.

Painter cutting in along trim — **Trim and ceilings add up**Doors, baseboards, and ceilings can add a third or more to a walls-only price.

Questions

Interior Painting cost FAQ

How much does interior painting cost in 2026?

Our calculator puts interior painting (1,800 sq ft of floor, mid-range finishes) at about $4,200 – $5,800 at national-average prices. Size, finish level, and local labor rates move the total, so enter your own numbers above for an itemized range.

What does interior painting cost per sq ft?

Installed cost runs from about $1.89 per sq ft (Single Coat Contractor Grade) up to about $4.41 per sq ft (Designer Level 5 Finish), including labor, permits, disposal, tax, and a 10% contingency.

How long does interior painting take?

A single room usually takes one day. A whole average-size home takes a crew about 3–5 days, depending on prep, ceilings, and trim.