Interior House Painting Cost Calculator
Whole-home or room painting from wall/ceiling square footage, coat count, how much prep you need, and regional labor.
Your project
Paintable area (sq ft)
i
Area
Wall + ceiling square footage to coat — often 3.5–4× floor area for typical rooms. |
|
|---|---|
Coats of paint
i
Coats
One coat is rare for color changes; two coats is standard on new drywall. |
|
Ceiling scope
i
Ceilings
Flat ceilings cost less than tall vaulted work. |
|
Surface prep
i
Prep
Patch-heavy jobs before primer add labor hours in the midpoint. |
|
Your state
i
Your state
Scales midpoints for typical state-level labor and material costs versus the U.S. average. Not a local contractor bid. |
Options
How to use this calculator
- Enter total paintable square footage.
- Select coats, ceiling scope, and prep level.
- Choose your state.
- Toggle furniture moving if rooms stay furnished.
Results explained
Rates bundle material and pro labor per sq ft painted. DIY is not modeled — uncheck moving and treat as a labor benchmark only if you supply paint yourself.
Quick reference: interior painting
| Scope | Per sq ft |
|---|---|
| 2 coats, standard ceilings | $2.35 |
| Heavy prep add-on | +$0.85 |
| Vaulted add-on | +$0.55 |
How the estimate is built
Coat rate + ceiling + prep add-ons per sq ft × area, optional masking line, state scaled.
Example scenario
1,800 sq ft with two coats, medium prep, and moving help ≈ $5,400 at U.S. average before state scaling.
FAQ
Primer separate?
Primer needs are folded into prep tiers — severe stains may need a dedicated primer coat quote.
Cabinet painting?
Not included — cabinets are priced per door/front, not wall sq ft.
Owner-supplied paint?
Labor-only bids run lower; this model assumes contractor-grade paint in the rate.