Interior painting is typically priced at $2-$6 per square foot of wall surface (not floor area), or $300-$800 per room of standard size. This guide walks through measuring wall surface, calculating paint quantity, separating prep work from painting, labour benchmarks by room and ceiling height, exterior considerations, sample whole-house estimates, and protective wording for colour-change premiums.
Interior painting in 2026 is typically $2-$6 per sq ft of wall surface (not floor area). The variation depends on prep work, paint quality, ceiling height, and regional labour costs.
Most painters include paint in the estimate — clients prefer one all-in number. Itemise it as a separate line so the client sees what they're paying for.
One gallon of paint covers about 350 sq ft per coat on smooth interior walls. Multiply your wall surface area by the number of coats (usually 2), divide by 350, round up to the next gallon.
Yes — always. Prep is invisible to the client but represents 20-40% of the total labour. Itemising it educates the client and prevents pushback.
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