How Much Do Painters Charge?

How Much Do House Painter Charge?

Hiring professional painters can be a major expense of home ownership. It is important to do your research and find a painting company that does quality work at a reasonable cost. The average cost to repaint the interior walls of a home is $3,500 according to Forbes. 

Getting accurate and detailed estimates of the painting project is the best way to complete a painting project that aligns with your budget. Some painters will charge hourly or by square footage so it is important to understand how costs could accumulate during the course of a larger project. 

Many painting companies specialize in interior or exterior painting so it’s important to find someone who has relevant experience. If you have a tall space requiring scaffolding or want a specific finish, you want to find an affordable painter who can successfully accomplish that. The more complicated a painting project is, the more likely that a professional painting company will do a much better job than a homeowners taking it on as a DIY project. We break down the details of how much does a typical house painter charge for their work.

Painter prices: Average cost

The average cost of hiring a professional painter is between $1,200-$6500 to repaint all the interior falls with two coats of painting according to a recent Forbes Home article. The labor needed to prepare the walls to take the paint smoothly is the largest portion of the total cost; painting materials themselves tend to be affordable. 

Interior painters tend to charge between $2-7 a square foot with extra charges for doors or molding. More expensive metropolitan areas will usually charge on the higher end of that range for labor. Note that kitchen cabinetry costs more per square foot because it involves more detailed work with brushes than a plain wall. High cathedral ceilings (above 12 feet) or stairwells also cost more per square foot to paint because scaffolding or more dangerous ladder placement is required. This Angi pricing guide for interior painting breaks down additional costs that can arise from: 

• Room set up/moving furniture - expect $25-50 for labor
• Extensive drywall repairs - an average cost of $600 total 
• Skim coating drywall to remove texture - add $1-3 per square foot 
• Texturing walls - expect an additional $1-3 per square foot
• Lead or Asbestos Testing - will cost a few hundred dollars; a full removal process would easily cost thousands of dollars 

Exterior painters charge between $3-6 per square foot and that does often include decorative elements such as window shutters. For a multi-story building, plan to add 50% to the cost according to this Angi exterior painting resource. The extra costs stem from the need for scaffolding set-up and additional labor utilizing taller ladders. For example, a two story house with around 2,000 paintable square feet will cost approximately $3000-$6,2000. In comparison, a three story home with 2,500-3,000 paintable areas will cost $4,500-10,000+ to paint. When receiving outdoor painting quotes, it is important to clarify what is included in the quote - window trim, porches etc. 

Additional costs for exterior painting can include: 

• Obtaining local permits (including HOA permission to paint) - budget $250 for this fee 
• Paint stripping will cost $0.50-2.00 per square foot 
• Exterior doors cost between $150-500 each 
• Power washing - expert to pay $240-400
• Hiring other contractors to recaulk the foundation or windows  
• Hiring a carpenter to repair damaged siding - the average siding repairs costs $600 

Hourly rates for the top 5 painter platforms

Pros on Angi can set their own pricing. Angi estimates that an interior house painter charges $20-50 hourly, though projects are often quoted in square footage. The Angi platform makes it easy to request quotes from multiple painting companies in a few clicks. 

The CetraPro Painters franchise provides free, detailed estimates for both interior and exterior projects. Hourly rates vary by location and franchise; CetraPro states that rates between $20-60 are typical for the Midwest. Their project minimum is $1,200. 

Ace Hardware Painting is a franchise with a few locations across the central United States. They do not publish their hourly rates. They do have a commitment to affordability and offer free project estimates, color consultations, and touch-ups for up to a year after the project is complete. 

Operating on a quote-by-quote basis, Five Star Painting is committing to completing projects on time and aligned with a homeowner’s budget. Estimators create detailed quotes for prospective customers free of charge.

Need a referral to a local painting company? Pro Referral by Home Depot is a free program from the major hardware chain that connects homeowners with contractors. Hourly rates for painting projects are determined by the local company.  

How many hours does a painter take?

Professional painters can complete an interior painting job in two to three work days - around 24-36 working hours. A lot of the time is devoted to preparing the walls and allowing the coats of primer and paint time to dry properly for best results. Generally the charge for professional painters to paint an average room is between $1,000-1,500 across multiple workdays.  

A small team of painters can paint the exterior of an average two-story home in three to four workdays - around 30-48 working hours. The charge to paint the exterior of a home can vary widely due to the framing of the home itself and the need for additional ladders for taller homes.

What’s included in a painter’s service?

Before any paint cans come out, a painter will need to evaluate the space, patch any dents in the dry wall, sand down all surfaces, and remove all sanding dust. Then coats of primer may need to be applied before the painting can start. The edges of walls and ceiling need to be “cut in” with a brush and then paint spray guns or rollers are used to finish the job.

Note that most painting companies will not include the time and cost to paint the ceiling in a typical quote - plan to budget $1-3 per square foot of a non-vaulted ceiling.   

How can I save money on a painter?

Save money on a professional painter by requesting 3-4 quotes from local painting companies to find a team that fits your budget. You can also cut costs by removing extras like window sills, baseboards, ceiling and closets from the square footage you wanted painted. Finally, you can try to reduce the professional prep hours by moving furniture yourselves and preparing the space to be painted. 

Is a painter worth the cost?

If you have limited painting experience and want a high-quality result, hiring a professional painter is worth the cost. Especially when drywall repairs and tall ladders are required to complete the project, it is good to have an expert take on the job. 

Additionally, if you need a painting project completed efficiently, a professional painting is better equipped to take on the job than homeowners DIY painting every weekend. A well-done paint job can positively affect the resale value of a home. 

We recommend Angi

Need a painting pro in your local area for interior or exterior projects? Search your prospects on Angi, where you can find detailed listings and reviews. Painters often specialize so having more information helps you find the right team for your painting needs. Angi also makes it easy to request quotes online so you can avoid numerous phone calls to request estimates. 

As a well-established home services platform, Angi is an excellent source for contractor labor especially when you need quality workmanship and professionalism. Find your painter on Angi that will charge a fair price for your next home painting project.