Interior Paint Cost Calculator

How much does interior painting cost?

Interior painting in 2025 costs $2–$6 per square foot of floor area or $1–$3 per square foot of wall area for professional work. Painting an average 2,000 sq ft home interior runs $4,000–$10,000. A single average bedroom is $400–$900, a living room $800–$1,500. Our calculator estimates by wall square footage, ceiling and trim inclusion, coat count, and ZIP-adjusted labor.

Cost breakdown

• Labor — 70–85%. By far the largest share; painting is a labor-intensive trade.
• Paint — 10–20%. A gallon covers 350–400 sq ft one coat; premium paint $50–$85/gallon, contractor-grade $25–$45.
• Supplies (tape, plastic, filler, primer) — 3–8%.
• Repair prep (patching, sanding, caulking) — 5–15% if needed.

Interior painting is one of the few home projects where paying more actually pays back within days. Cheap crews spatter, miss prep, and use one thin coat that fades in 3 years. Good crews prep, primer, and roll two solid coats that hold for 10+ years.

What to expect per room

• Bedroom (10×12): $300–$700
• Master bedroom (14×16): $500–$1,100
• Bathroom: $250–$600
• Kitchen (walls only): $500–$1,200
• Living/family room: $800–$1,800
• Hallway: $250–$600
• Full house (2,000 sq ft): $4,000–$10,000
• Trim only (baseboards, casings, doors): $1–$3/lf plus doors at $75–$150 each

How to use the calculator

Choose whole-house or single room, enter wall square footage or room count, indicate whether ceilings and trim are included, and enter ZIP. The estimate assumes two coats, standard prep (patch nail holes, light sanding, tape edges), and mid-grade paint like Sherwin-Williams Emerald or Behr Marquee.

Where the cost really moves

Three factors dominate the estimate:

1. Ceiling height. 9' walls are ~10% more than 8'. Vaulted ceilings can double the cost due to scaffolding.
2. Prep condition. Skim-coating textured walls, patching drywall damage, or removing wallpaper adds $1–$3/sq ft.
3. Trim and doors. Painting trim and doors typically doubles per-room cost. Cabinets are even more — a full kitchen cabinet paint runs $2,500–$6,000.

Paint quality tiers

• Contractor grade ($25–$40/gal): Behr Premium Plus, SW ProMar 200. Fine for closets and low-traffic areas.
• Mid-grade ($40–$60/gal): Behr Ultra, SW Cashmere, BM Ben. Good for most residential.
• Premium ($60–$85/gal): SW Emerald, BM Aura, SW Duration Home. Best for high-traffic, kitchen, bathroom.

Premium paint costs $30 more per gallon and covers 1 coat = 1 coat premium coverage that would take 2 coats of cheap paint. Net cost of the "cheap" paint job is often higher.

Prep is the entire job

Ask a bidder what prep they include:

• Fill nail holes and small dings
• Sand glossy surfaces (kitchens, bathrooms, trim)
• Caulk trim joints and gaps
• Tape and mask floors, cabinets, fixtures
• Cover furniture
• Prime bare drywall, stains, or major color changes
• Clean surfaces (dust, grease near stove)

Skipping prep is why cheap paint jobs peel in 2 years.

DIY vs. hire

Interior paint is one of the more accessible DIY projects for a homeowner willing to spend a weekend per room. Reality check:

• A 12×12 bedroom, walls only, 2 coats, no trim: 6–10 hours DIY with $80 in paint and supplies vs. $500 hired
• A full house: 60–120 hours DIY over 2–4 weekends vs. 3–5 days hired
• Where DIY breaks down: Ceilings, cutting-in around cabinets, spray-finish doors, tall stairwells

Homeowners often save $2,500–$5,000 doing the walls themselves and hiring out trim, ceilings, and cabinets.

Color choice — get it right

• Test at scale. Buy a sample and paint a 2'×2' patch; view in morning and evening light.
• LRV (Light Reflectance Value). Above 70 = light and reflective; below 30 = darker/moody. Small rooms want 55+ for airiness.
• Whites vary hugely. Chantilly Lace (BM), Simply White (BM), and Pure White (SW) all read differently. Test.
• Trim gloss level. Semi-gloss for trim in kitchens/baths; satin for main living areas; flat only for ceilings.

Common mistakes that cost you

• One-coat lies. No paint truly covers in one coat over a real color change. Budget two coats.
• Skipping primer over stains, water damage, or bare drywall. Bleeds through both new coats.
• Painting over glossy trim without sanding. Peels in a year.
• Buying multiple gallons on different days. Batch numbers can vary; buy all needed gallons together.

Saving without sacrificing quality

• Get 3 quotes. Painter pricing spread is 20–40%.
• Consolidate rooms. Whole-house is 15–20% cheaper per room than single-room jobs.
• Provide the paint. Homeowner discount at some paint stores; skip contractor markup.
• Ceilings same color as walls. Skip ceiling paint step; saves ~15% on room cost.
• Off-season. January–March is slow for interior painters; 10–15% discounts common.

Bottom line

Get at least three itemized quotes, verify licensing and insurance, and prioritize install quality over brand. The install crew matters more than the box on the truck — a mid-tier product installed well outperforms a premium product installed poorly. Use the calculator above to set your budget expectations, then negotiate from an informed position.