How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a House?

Interior Painting by Square Footage

Typically, it costs $2 to $6 per square foot, including paint and materials, with most jobs averaging $3.50 per square foot. As we can see below, there might be some price differences when painting a house, condo, or apartment.

House

If you're a homeowner, you'll have more freedom to tackle this project any way you wish. Expect to pay a pro around $8,050 for a 2,300-square-foot house. For a single room, you'll spend anywhere from $150 to $2,000.

Condo

If you live in a condo, check with your homeowners association before hiring a local wall painting service or picking up a paint roller yourself. There might be rules governing your color choices. Painting a 1,200-square-foot condo typically costs around$4,200. 

Apartment

Painting an apartment is a great way to make it your own. You're looking at a price tag of around $3,000 to have a pro paint a 950-square-foot apartment. If you own the unit, you'll have to foot the bill. However, if you're a renter, the landlord or owner might pick up some or all of the tab. Always talk to your landlord or property manager first before picking up a brush or hiring a pro.

Interior Painting by Room Type

You might be wondering if the cost of interior painting varies by room. The answer is yes, because of the difference in square footage. Painting a bathroom costs less since it's typically the smallest room. The living room is typically the largest in the home and will cost more to paint.

Interior Painting Cost Factors

Other than square footage and room type, there are a few other variables that’ll affect the cost of your home painting project:

• Materials and supplies

• Paint 

• Labor 

• Walls

Materials and Supplies

Paint supplies cost anywhere from $3 to $200. Many painters will provide the supplies for a project when they give you their quote. But if you want to buy the supplies and pay them for labor only, it never hurts to ask if this is OK. Should you decide to DIY a paint job, have these supplies on hand to save you time and money. Here are the most common supplies needed.

Paint 

The right paint will depend on what you're looking for and what you want to pay. A 2-gallon can of paint can cover up to 800 square feet, which is enough to cover an average-size room in two coats, while a 3-gallon can of paint can cover up to 1,200 square feet. Here are some factors that'll determine the final cost. 

Paint Quality

Most gallons of paint average between $20 to $30. However, some designer brands can cost as much as $100 per gallon. High-end paint brands are made of natural coloring agents, unlike standard paints made of synthetic ones. It can result in a more impactful color that absorbs more light so the room looks more vibrant. The average home needs about 6 gallons of paint per coat. If you opt for two high-end coats, painting your entire interior may cost more than $1,000.

Colors

Painting rooms with different colors tend to cost more since you'll likely have paint left. A great way to save money is to paint your entire house or all the rooms the same color. 

Gloss vs. Matte

You'll spend about $2 per gallon or more per gloss level. The glossier the paint, the higher the cost. But for the average-size home, the price of glossy paint will only add a little over $10 to your final cost. These paints are more stain-resistant and easier to wipe down and wash, so consider using them for your kitchen, bathrooms, and some dining rooms.

Primer

It costs anywhere from $10 to $20 per can. Primer is the step most people want to skip, but applying it before that first coat of paint can help the finished product look smoother and last longer. Some brands even sell paint and primer in one. Primers come in water-based latex or oil-based types. For walls and ceilings, use a water-based primer. And for doors, windows, metal, and woodwork, use oil-based. If you have water damage or mold stains, try a stain-blocking primer. 

Labor 

It'll cost $170 to $680 to have a pro paint a single room in your home. Their rates range from $20 to $50 per hour. While these are national averages, be prepared to be flexible as your painter might charge by the square foot of coverage or floor space.

Accent Walls

If you choose to include an accent wall, plan to spend 20% to 30% more to cover additional paint and materials. Specialty work gets more expensive. For example, murals and trompe l’oeil cost $800 to $1,850.

Wondering which wall to paint? Choose a wall with maximum focal point potential, such as the following: 

• Living room: Choose the wall where the fireplace or TV is situated.

• Bedroom: Choose the wall your bed sits against.

• Wall art: An accent wall is a great way to complement or showcase a collection or piece of art or furniture.

• Open or close a room: You can add an accent wall on one end of a narrow hallway to provide a lengthening effect.

Textured Walls

Textured drywall can hide paint flaws and make walls look more attractive. Orange peel is the most popular drywall texture, named because it looks like an orange peel. However, painting textured drywall costs drive up painting fees by up to 50% because textured walls need more paint. Where a can of paint covers 400 square feet of smooth wall, you might only get 250 square feet on a textured one. Factor in the additional surface area into your square footage when seeking professional estimates.

Hiring a Pro or Painting It Yourself 

You could save thousands of dollars by taking care of your painting project without the help of a local interior painter. A handy homeowner can buy paint and equipment for about $200 to $300. But don’t forget to factor in the time it’ll take to do this yourself and get the materials you’ll need. 

“Many homeowners will offer to buy the paint for the professional painter, thinking that they’ll save money,” says Bob Tschudi, Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor. “But painters usually get significant discounts from their suppliers and often pass some of that savings on to you.”

Depending on the size of the room and how much help you have, the process could take a few hours or a few days. Painting can also be physically challenging. In that case, consider the cost of hiring a painter to help you. 

FAQs

How much paint do I need for my home interior?

To determine how much paint you need, use our handy paint calculator to plug in the dimensions of your painting project. Another option is to measure your coverage area by taking the wall length times its height and subtracting any windows, doors, or other unpaintable areas. 

How much do interior painters charge per hour?

Local painters charge $20 to $50 per hour on average. However, they typically don’t work for an hourly rate, opting instead to charge by the project or square footage.

How long does it take to paint a room?

It’ll take anywhere from six to 10 hours to paint a single room. It depends heavily on the experience of the person doing the job. Pros can get it done in a few hours, while a DIY-er may likely take two to three times as long.