CostDIY vs Professional Interior Painting: Cost Comparison
DIY saves 60–75% on paint jobs, but only if your time is worth less than $25/hour and you're okay with a good — not great — finish.
Typical range: $500 – $6,000 for a typical 1,500 sq ft home
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DIY Painting
$0.50–$1.50 / sq ft (materials only)
Pros
- 60–75% savings
- Full control of timing
- No strangers in your home
- Satisfying weekend project
Cons
- 30–60 hours of your time
- Prep is 70% of the work
- Ceilings and trim are brutal
- Visible mistakes if inexperienced
Professional Painters
$2–$6 / sq ft
Pros
- Done in 2–4 days
- Clean lines, no drips
- Includes prep, patching, priming
- Warranty on workmanship
Cons
- 3–5× the cost
- Scheduling waits (2–6 weeks)
- Quality varies by crew
- Extra for high ceilings/repairs
Bottom line
Rooms with 8-ft flat walls and simple trim: DIY wins easily. Whole-house repaints, high ceilings, or if you've never done trim work — pay a pro. The finish quality difference is huge.
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