How much does interior painting cost?
Interior painting costs $2 to $6 per square foot of floor area, putting a typical whole-home job at $1,200 to $6,000. A single 12x12 room runs $400 to $1,000 including walls, ceiling and trim.
National average
$3,200
Typical low
$1,200
Typical high
$6,000
Per square foot
$2 – $6
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Estimated project cost
$2,208 – $3,864
Most homeowners pay around $3,036
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Cost by material
Installed pricing per square foot.
| Option | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Builder-grade paint | $2 – $3 |
| Standard acrylic latex | $2 – $4 |
| Premium low-VOC (Sherwin, Benjamin Moore) | $3 – $6 |
| Specialty finishes (venetian, lime wash) | $6 – $15 |
| Cabinet enamel refinishing | $75 – $200 |
| Trim and door enamel | $1 – $4 |
Cost by room
Walls only, two coats, standard 8-foot ceilings.
| Room | Walls only | Walls, trim and ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom (5x8) | $150 – $350 | $300 – $650 |
| Bedroom (12x12) | $350 – $800 | $600 – $1,300 |
| Living room (16x20) | $600 – $1,300 | $1,000 – $2,200 |
| Kitchen (walls only) | $300 – $800 | $600 – $1,400 |
| Hallway and stairwell | $400 – $1,000 | $700 – $1,800 |
Whole-home interior painting
| Home size | Walls only | Walls, ceilings and trim |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $2,400 | $1,800 – $4,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,500 | $2,700 – $6,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $2,000 – $4,600 | $3,600 – $8,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,800 | $4,500 – $10,000 |
| 3,500 sq ft | $3,500 – $8,000 | $6,300 – $14,000 |
Where the money goes
A typical project budget, broken down by line item.
- Labor70% · $2,240
- Paint & primer20% · $640
- Prep, masking & materials10% · $320
Cost by region
Labor markets move the number more than any other single factor.
Northeast metro
$1,440 – $7,200
+20% vs. national average
West Coast metro
$1,464 – $7,320
+22% vs. national average
Mountain West
$1,248 – $6,240
+4% vs. national average
Midwest
$1,200 – $6,000
At the national average
South & Southeast
$1,080 – $5,400
-10% vs. national average
Rural nationwide
$1,020 – $5,100
-15% vs. national average
Common add-ons
Line items that show up on most quotes but rarely in the headline price.
Wallpaper removal
Per square foot
Drywall patch & repair
Accent wall
Cabinet painting (kitchen)
Interior doors
Each
Popcorn ceiling removal
Per square foot
DIY vs. hiring a pro
Hire a pro
$1,200 – $6,000
Do it yourself
$300 – $1,200
Painting is the highest-value DIY project in the house. Hire out only vaulted ceilings, heavy repair and spray-finished cabinets.
Ways to save
Practical levers that lower the bill without cutting quality.
- Paint several rooms at once — mobilization and masking are charged once.
- Move furniture and remove outlet covers yourself before the crew arrives.
- Stay within two shades of the existing color to avoid needing a third coat.
- Skip trim and ceilings in rooms where they still look clean.
- Book in winter; painters discount when exterior season ends.
Questions to ask your contractor
- 01How many coats are included in the price?
- 02Which paint brand and sheen are you quoting?
- 03Is patching, caulking and priming included?
- 04Who moves and covers the furniture?
Frequently asked questions
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Get painting quotesInterior Painting cost by city
Local labor rates, permits and climate change the number. Pick your city for prices near you.
Interior Painting cost in Los Angeles, CA
$1,488 – $7,440
Interior Painting cost in San Diego, CA
$1,416 – $7,080
Interior Painting cost in San Jose, CA
$1,656 – $8,280
Interior Painting cost in San Francisco, CA
$1,740 – $8,700
Interior Painting cost in Oakland, CA
$1,584 – $7,920
Interior Painting cost in Sacramento, CA
$1,296 – $6,480
Interior Painting cost in Fresno, CA
$1,176 – $5,880
Interior Painting cost in Long Beach, CA
$1,464 – $7,320
Interior Painting cost in Anaheim, CA
$1,440 – $7,200
Interior Painting cost in Santa Ana, CA
$1,428 – $7,140
Interior Painting cost in Irvine, CA
$1,512 – $7,560
Interior Painting cost in Riverside, CA
$1,272 – $6,360
Interior Painting cost in San Bernardino, CA
$1,236 – $6,180
Interior Painting cost in Bakersfield, CA
$1,164 – $5,820
Interior Painting cost in Stockton, CA
$1,224 – $6,120
Interior Painting cost in Modesto, CA
$1,200 – $6,000
Interior Painting cost in Chula Vista, CA
$1,380 – $6,900
Interior Painting cost in Fremont, CA
$1,620 – $8,100
Interior Painting cost in Pasadena, CA
$1,536 – $7,680
Interior Painting cost in Glendale, CA
$1,500 – $7,500
Interior Painting cost in Santa Clarita, CA
$1,392 – $6,960
Interior Painting cost in Torrance, CA
$1,476 – $7,380
Interior Painting cost in Oxnard, CA
$1,368 – $6,840
Interior Painting cost in San Mateo, CA
$1,680 – $8,400