How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room?

Painting a room is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to quickly freshen up that room. On average, if you already own paint equipment, you'll pay about $415 to paint a room. If you need to buy equipment, that brings the total cost up to about $760. Hiring a professional painter will cost between three and five times more than painting the room yourself, for a total project cost approaching $2,000.

The Cost to Paint a Room by Yourself

If you are painting a room by yourself, on average it will cost $415 for the supplies alone. Paint supplies will cost $235 for a small room, $390 for a medium room, and $610 for a large room.

If you need to purchase painting equipment, this will add about $350 to the cost of the project, no matter the size of room. So, a small room will cost $585, a medium room $740, and a large room $960. Averaging all room sizes is about $760.

You'll also have to factor in the square footage of the room. Small rooms are approximately 240 square feet; medium rooms are approximately 480 square feet; and large rooms can be estimated at around 880 square feet.

The Cost to Hire a Professional to Paint a Room

According to Home Advisor, if you choose to hire a professional painter, expect to pay between $2 and $6 per square foot of surface coverage (not floor space), basic supplies and equipment included.

Depending on the type of paint you choose, you may need to pay extra for the paint. On average, a professional painter will charge $1,900 to paint a room.

• Small room, 240 square feet: from $480 to $1,440, for an average of $960
• Medium room, 480 square feet: $960 to $2,880, for an average of $1,920
• Large room, 880 square feet: $1,760 to $5,280, for an average of $3,520
  

The Cost of Paint Supplies

The Cost of Paint Equipment

Paint equipment will cost about $350 to paint a room, if you are starting the project with no equipment:

• Canvas drop cloth, 9-foot by 12-foot: $140
• Extension pole: $20
• Ladder: $100
• Paint brushes set: $25
• Paint roller handle: $12
• Paint tray: $10
• Paint stir sticks: $0
• Putty knife: $10
• Rags or towels: $10
• Sanding blocks, pack: $12

Paint Quality

Latex-based paints cost an average of $15 to $20 per gallon at the lower end for economy paints and up to $65 to $80 per gallon for premium paints. Premium paints usually have extra features like mildew-resistant additives, stain blockers, and scrubbable/washable additives.

Oil-Based Paint

Oil-based paints nearly always cost more than latex-based paints, though since it's used for trim, less is used. Usually available in quart sizes, oil-based paints cost about $20 to $25 per quart or about $80 to $100 on a per-gallon basis.

Paint Gloss

Paint gloss or sheen affects paint cost, too, with prices rising as the paint gets glossier.

Flatter paints nearly always cost less than glossier paints. Most flat paints cost between $25 and $50 per gallon. But there is an almost equal number of flat paints in the $15 to $25 per gallon range. 

Progressing up the gloss scale, eggshell paints mostly cost from $15 to $50 per gallon, though more weighted toward the $25 to $50 per gallon range. And satin gloss paints generally cost between $25 and $50 per gallon, but with far more in the $50 to $100 range than any other type of paint gloss.

Number of Paint Coats Needed

The number of paint coats has a direct influence on the cost of painting the room. More gallons used means a higher overall cost. Most rooms require more than one coat of paint. If you are painting over a darker color, it is best to use two coats of primer before painting two coats of the new color.

Surfaces readily soak up the first coat of paint, with subsequent coats requiring diminishing quantities of paint. So, two coats of paint do not necessarily use twice as much paint as one coat.

Size of the Room

Along with the number of paint coats required, the size of the room also has a direct corollary to the overall cost of painting the room. Larger rooms require more paint. If you're hiring professional painters, this also means more paint but more labor, as well. Most interior paints will cover up to 350 to 400 square feet. 

Ceiling Paint

Because ceilings are out of the way, they are often in good condition and do not require painting. If the ceiling needs to be painted, the ceiling's size will factor into the number of gallons of ceiling paint purchased. 

Ceiling paint is flat or matte white latex paint, and it is usually inexpensive relative to wall paint. Most ceiling paint costs about $20 to $22 per gallon. Color-changing or recolor ceiling paint costs $35 to $40 per gallon.

Surface Conditions

Whether you're painting the walls by yourself or hiring a professional painter, the assumption is that the surfaces are in paint-ready condition when that first can of paint is opened up. Anything other than paint-ready condition will require repairing or cleaning the walls.

Priming

Interior walls are often in good enough condition that primer is not required, especially when painting over with the same color. But if you are going from a dark to a lighter color or if the walls are bare drywall or in poor condition, they will need to be primed before painting.

Universal or multi-surface primer costs around $15 to $25 per gallon, for an average of $20 per gallon. One gallon of this flat product dries quickly and covers 200 to 300 square feet. Primer that stops peeling paint, hides heavy stains, kills mold and mildew, or which has other special qualities may cost up to $50 to $60 per gallon.

Trim and Detail Work

Trim, or millwork, is narrow wood, MDF, or PVC board that surrounds windows and doors or covers up baseboards. To calculate how much trim paint you will need:

1. Add the linear length of all of the trim in the room and express the result in inches. 
2. Measure the width of the trim. 
3. Multiply the length of the trim by its width. 
4. Convert to square feet.
5. Divide the total by 350 to find how many gallons of trim paint you will need.

Four quarts comprise one gallon. Since oil-based trim paint is usually sold in quart sizes, each quart will cover about 80 to 100 square feet of trim.