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Interior painting cost calculator?

House painting (whether interior or exterior) is one of the quickest and easiest ways to give your home a facelift. A fresh coat of paint can give your abode the perfect makeover. Once you commit to painting the interiors of your home, you need to know how much of an investment you’ll require for this home improvement project.

A painting estimate helps you organize your home renovation and effectively manage milestones and costs. And, you can get a reasonably accurate estimate through a reliable interior painting cost calculator.

Acquiring a free estimate for your interior painting will help you create a realistic budget – getting you quality work at a fair price. It’s also the best way to ensure that you don’t stumble across any unwelcome surprises during the execution of your project.

Also, a carefully planned remodeling project can greatly increase the value of your property in a home buyer’s market.

Painting a home interior costs about $2 to $6 per square foot – averaging at $3.50 per square foot. Keeping this in mind, the average painting project cost will be approximately $1,915. Generally speaking, the total cost can range from $950 to $2,909, depending on the house type, house size, local labor costs, and the painting material cost.

Let’s understand how interior painting cost depends on the kind of house it is and its square feet measurement. For example, if you have a 2,300 square foot home, you can expect to pay anywhere between $4,000 and $11,000 for the entire house.

If you live in a 950 square feet apartment, your total painting cost can run from $1,000 to $2,900. In case you’re the homeowner, you’ll have to bear the entire expenditure. However, if you’re a renter, your landlord may pick up the tab. It’s therefore advisable for renters to talk to their homeowners before picking up a brush or hiring a painting pro.

Painting an average 1,200 square foot condo will cost you $1,200 to $3,600. Again, before you undertake the painting project, remember to check with your HOA regarding any specific rules about the color choices.

At the time of estimating the painting cost, the painter should start by calculating the total coverage area. This will give them a good idea of how many gallons of paint to buy.

You can find out the total area coverage with a few simple steps:

Add all the wall lengths in the room.
Multiply the sum by the height of the room. This will give you the area of the walls.
Subtract the unpaintable areas such as the windows, doors, and cabinets by using the same length times width method.
If the painting project involves the ceilings, trim, and baseboards, add them too by using the same method for calculating area.

You’ll get the total surface area to be painted. Most painting contractors add a small percentage to this number to account for extra work such as detailing, patching, and overage.

When it comes to labor costs, you can expect to pay a professional $170 to $680 to paint a room. Keep in mind that the painter may charge the fees according to the square foot of coverage, per square foot of floor space, or hourly.

Labor and materials will cost you approximately $2 to $6 per square foot of coverage area – with just the labor cost amounting to $1.50 to $4 per square foot.

Most painters charge $5 to $10 per square foot of floor space as detailed on the house floor plan.

An hourly rate or coverage area quote makes more sense for homeowners who have unique architectural features such as floor-to-ceiling windows. The average labor cost per hour is $20 to $75, depending on the work involved.

Here’s a list of some commonly used painting materials and their average costs:

Paint: $20 to $100 per gallon, depending on the quality of paint.
Paint brushes: $3 to $20 each. This includes trim and sash brushes for intricate work and beaver-tail handle on larger brushes for larger surfaces.
Tape: $3 to $10 per roll, including painter's tape to protect trim and ceilings.
Drop cloth: $5 to $30 each.
Paint tray: $2 to $5 each.
Paint rollers: $10 to $100.

Painting a single wall runs as little as $100. However, keep in mind that most painters charge a minimum project fee of around $250 to $500.

Painting accent walls, such as the wall where the fireplace or the TV is situated in the living room or the bedroom wall that your bed sits against, often cost more than other types of walls – about 20% to 30% more. The reason is that it involves a drastic color change or finish from the rest of the walls.

Also, a textured wall painting will increase the costs by up to 50%. Keep in mind that texture would add more surface area, without increasing square footage. Let’s understand it by an example, a can of paint will cover 400 square feet of a smooth wall, while it will cover only about 250 square feet on a textured wall.

Moreover, any kind of specialty work such as painting murals or trompe l’oeils is more expensive at $800 to $1,850.

If you want wall art to highlight an antique collection or a signature piece of art, it’s going to cost you a lot more than painting a plain wall.

An enthusiastic DIYer can buy paint and painting equipment for about $200 to $300. Painting an average ten-by-twelve-foot single room yourself would cost you between $100 to $300. The same would cost between $200 and $1,000 for a professional paint job. However, do factor in the time and effort it will take you to complete a DIY project.

An interior painting job could take a few hours to a few days depending on the size of the room and the type of help you have

Painting your home interiors costs also vary depending on other cost factors such as:

Surface repair or prep work: This includes repairing dents, filling holes in drywall, or applying a prime coat or stain blocker. This kind of extra work adds to the overall painting cost.
Quality of paint: For example, a standard gallon of paint costs $20 to $30, while a designer paint brand would cost you upwards of $100. An average-size home requires about six gallons per coat.
Gloss vs. matte paint: Glossy paint will cost you about $2 more per gallon. The glossier the paint is, the more expensive it will be.
Changing colors between rooms: This trend generates higher waste and tends to cost more in materials. Especially if you want to replace dark wall colors with lighter colors. If you’re on a tight painting budget and want to save money, it’s best to choose the same color throughout the house.
Geographic location: If you live in a place like New York, Denver, or San Francisco that has a high cost of living, you can expect to pay more for your home interior painting. The higher cost would cover higher overhead and wages.
Painting supplies and materials: Paint materials cost between $10 and $100 depending on what you need. You could either let the painter provide most of the supplies for a project or provide the materials yourself. It’s almost always a wise decision to let the professional painter buy the required amount of paint. Most experienced painters get significant discounts from their suppliers and don’t mind passing some of that savings on to the homeowner.

Kukun's interior painting cost calculator is a useful tool to help you estimate your renovation costs instantly. The calculations are based on your area zip code as well as other relevant parameters.

Using the interior painting cost estimator is easy, is a confidential address-based estimator. Simply enter your specifications and the result will give you a realistic estimate of your painting cost in minutes.

Just follow the steps below to get your custom, personalized cost estimate:

1. Choose if you require painting for the entire house or just parts of it.
2. Mention if you need to paint ceilings or refinish doors.
3. Enter your property details by adding your zip code, home size, and approximate home value.

(We do not share this information, but it helps us give you a better estimate because labor and material costs vary widely by geography.)

And there you go! An estimate for your interior painting cost is ready! With this estimate, you can analyze the best finance options or hire a professional to get started on the work right away.

What’s more, you can weigh options for professional remodeling contractors who have worked in your neighborhood and have been vetted by your neighbors. You can explore each contractor's profile, check out their online reviews, view all their previous permits, and ask around your vicinity before hiring them.

It’s very important that you plan your interior painting well in advance. Here are some tips to make the process easy and quick:

Set a realistic home remodeling budget. Always include leeway for some surprise costs. Experts advise adding 20% extra to your existing budget.
Remove all your draperies, wall paintings, and area rugs.
Use drop cloths if moving furniture is not possible.
Make sure that you work with quality paint tools, paint colors, and equipment.
Professional painters recommend one gallon for every 400 square feet.
When using oil-based coatings, keep paint away from heat and open flame.
Keep the area well-ventilated.
Ensure that the surface to be painted is clean, dry, smooth, and coated with the right primer.
Work with an expert interior painting contractor. A professional finish goes a long way in adding to the beauty and value of your home. Usually, a paint job will not require a permit. Do check your local building code if in doubt.
A pro will help you evaluate the coverage area and how many gallons of paint the project will need.
Monitor the entire process.
Be sure to get a warranty or guarantee from your contractor.
Get a written contract from your contractor. The document should detail the complete schedule, deadlines for milestones, and payment details.
Maintain a timeline in order to manage a seamless interior paint job.

How many gallons of paint do I need for my home interior?

To figure out how much paint you'll need, multiply the length of the wall by its height, then deduct any windows, doors, or other non-paintable surfaces. A single can of paint is generally enough to cover 400 square feet of smooth wall. And, a typical-sized home uses roughly six gallons of paint per coat.

What is the average labor cost for house painting?

Painters typically charge $20 to $50 per hour. However, painters generally charge by the project or square footage instead of hourly rates.

How long does painting a room take?

Painting a single room by a professional might take 6 to 10 hours. However, a DIY painting project may take two to three times as long.

Interior painting cost calculator

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