Use this helpful guide to create your baseboard-painting budget
If you’re planning to revive your home's baseboards, you expect the cost to paint baseboards to average between $1 and $4 per linear foot. Most baseboard paint jobs cost between $500 and $2,000, depending on the size, style, and current state of your baseboards. Here's what you need to know about the cost to paint your home's baseboards.
| Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $1,250 | $2,000 |
Baseboard Painting Cost Factors
When planning your baseboard painting project, consider these cost factors, which will impact your total price tag.
Size
When providing estimates for baseboard painting, professional interior painters generally base costs on standard 3-inch to 5-inch baseboards. Baseboards ranging from 6 inches to 8 inches are considered specialty baseboards. Expect to pay 20% to 25% more for larger baseboards to account for the extra time and paint needed.
Baseboard Condition
If your baseboards are damaged or dinged up from wear and tear, your painter will need to use wood filler and buffering to get them into "paintable" condition. Most pros charge between $5.70 and $8.95 per linear foot for baseboard repair in addition to painting costs.
Room Size
With pros charging between $1 and $4 per linear foot to paint baseboards, the type and size of the room factors into the total cost. While most contractors charge by room, you may be able to get a "volume" discount through a flat rate if you're repainting baseboards throughout an entire home. Keep in mind that some painters estimate costs by requesting the total square footage of the baseboards.
Labor
While most painters bundle labor into the cost per linear foot when creating an estimate, others charge per hour. You can expect professional painters to cost $20 to $50 per hour for the labor required to paint your baseboards.
Materials
The average cost of a gallon of paint is between $15 and $40, depending on the brand and paint quality. You’ll need premium paint primers and paints to withstand the types of scrapes and kicks that baseboards experience. While your contractor may bundle material costs into your total estimate, your costs could increase if you request high-quality paint. Semi-gloss paint is considered one of the best paint options for trim and baseboards, so confirm that your painter isn't using flat wall paint if you're trying to achieve a more vibrant aesthetic. Also, learn more about the best brushes to paint trim with.
Prep Work
Most baseboards will require prep work to ensure that paint goes on smoothly to create a polished finish. If your baseboards have multiple layers of paint on them from previous paint jobs, consider asking your painter for a flat rate that includes all necessary prep work instead of charging by prep service.
Depending on the state of your baseboards, you may need to account for the following additional cost factors:
Cleaning: $0.20–$0.50 per linear foot
Light sanding: $0.30–$0.50 per linear foot
Paint or varnish removal: $1.00–$3.00 per linear foot
Additional Costs to Consider
Here's a look at some extra costs to consider once your baseboard project gets off the ground.
Replacement Baseboards
If some of your baseboards are beyond help, your contractor may recommend replacing them and starting fresh with a new set. Baseboard installation costs average between $5.70 and $9 per linear foot, depending on the size, material, and style of baseboard.
Upgrading Baseboards
What if you decide that you want to pull out all of your baseboards and upgrade to bigger, premium versions? This type of project is popular in homes with old or outdated baseboards. You may also want to upgrade from "short" baseboards to premium baseboards that are higher than 5 inches to create a high-end look.
If you have vaulted ceilings, you should ideally pair those high ceilings with 8-inch baseboards in order to keep the same grand scale throughout the space. With average costs for installing new baseboards costing between $720 and $1,300, you expect to pay at the highest end of the cost range for upgraded baseboards.
Cost to Paint Your Baseboards Yourself
Want to reduce costs by attempting to DIY paint your baseboards? In that case, you can expect to pay between $25 and $50 for the paint supplies, depending on your tools, size of the job, and number of paint coats. As mentioned above, professional painters typically charge $25 to $50 per hour for labor costs.
While the lower price of a DIY baseboard upgrade may seem appealing, it's important to remember that homeowners are paying for the precision and artistry that a professional interior painter near you applies to the paint job. The intense detail that’s necessary to create a smooth, high-quality paint finish is the top reason to hire a local painter to tackle this job. That way, you can avoid having baseboards with drippy, goopy paint.
Cost of Common Baseboard Painting Add-Ons
If you’re consulting with a professional painter about updating your baseboards, you might want to consider adding related paint jobs to heighten the polished look and combine services. Consider taking care of these related painting projects while painting your baseboards:
Crown molding installation cost: $4–$23 per linear foot
Painting window frame cost: $1–$5 per linear foot for paint
Install trim: $200–$6,500
How to Save Money While Repainting Your Baseboards
If you have the time and motivation, consider handling some of the prep work yourself to reduce labor costs. You can get your baseboards in workable condition by preparing a bucket of warm water, liquid dish soap, and vinegar and scrubbing your baseboards clean with a sponge.
You may also choose to sand your own baseboards using 80-grit to 120-grit sandpaper until you can clearly see that the shine is gone from the surface. That way, your baseboards will be ready for the professional painters to paint right away, reducing their time on task and labor costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should typically be able to paint baseboards without removing them. If you remove baseboards for painting, you risk creating large nail holes or cracks when putting them back in place after the job is complete. If you need to remove the feature, it is possible to remove baseboards, paint them in another location, and reinstall them.
White is the most commonly used color for baseboards and trims. There are other paint colors that go with white trim, including white variations, gold, and orange. However, many people use wood stain instead of painted trim on baseboards to add a natural look to a room.
Caulk and wood filler are handy tools for covering up nail holes. Most painting pros recommend wood filler because it’s easy to sand it down to be smooth. Be sure to only use products that are labeled as "paintable" when filling in nail holes that will be painted.
