All walls you plan to paint. Perimeter × ceiling height, then deduct doors and windows.
Optional: total area of doors and windows to subtract.
Typical: 350-400 sq ft/gallon. Check your product label.
Auto-filled from paint type. Edit to match your supplier quote.
Paint Cost Guide: Gallons, Labour & Project Price (2026)
This calculator estimates paint material cost for any wall area. Select your paint type for a default price per gallon, enter total wall area, choose your coat count, and get an instant material cost plus a professional painting price range. Deduct openings for a more accurate net area, or leave the deduction at zero for a conservative estimate.
Paint price per gallon by type (2026)
| Paint type | Price per gallon | Coverage per gallon | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior latex (standard) | $25–$45 | 350–400 sq ft | Most common for walls and ceilings |
| Interior latex (premium) | $50–$85 | 350–450 sq ft | Better hide, washability, and durability |
| Ceiling paint | $25–$45 | 300–400 sq ft | Flat finish, designed for overhead application |
| Exterior (standard) | $30–$55 | 300–350 sq ft | Weather-resistant, thicker formulation |
| Exterior (premium) | $55–$90 | 300–400 sq ft | Longer lifespan, better fade resistance |
| Primer | $20–$40 | 250–350 sq ft | Required for new drywall and colour changes |
Prices for standard 1-gallon cans at major home improvement retailers in 2026. Coverage rates assume smooth, previously painted surfaces. Textured or porous surfaces reduce effective coverage by 15-25%. Interior latex highlighted as most common type.
Professional painting cost by project size
| Project | Wall area | DIY material cost | Professional (labour + materials) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room (small) | ~250 sq ft | $40–$100 | $200–$500 |
| Standard bedroom (12×12) | ~384 sq ft | $60–$150 | $300–$750 |
| Living room (16×20) | ~576 sq ft | $90–$225 | $450–$1,100 |
| Whole house interior (1,500 sq ft) | ~3,000 sq ft | $450–$1,100 | $2,500–$6,500 |
| Exterior (1,500 sq ft house) | ~2,000 sq ft | $300–$750 | $2,000–$5,000 |
Professional price includes labour, materials, prep, and cleanup for 2 coats. Standard bedroom highlighted as most-calculated project. DIY material includes paint only, not supplies. Excludes primer, repairs, and trim painting.
What affects painting cost
Labour is the dominant cost in professional painting, typically 70-80% of the total bill. The biggest variables beyond room size are prep work (wall repairs and patching add $50-$200+), ceiling height (anything above 9 ft needs ladders or scaffolding and adds time), colour change (going from dark to light or vice versa usually needs primer plus 2-3 coats of finish), and surface texture (rough or previously unpainted surfaces absorb significantly more paint). Trim and ceiling painting are usually quoted separately and add $1-$3/linear ft for trim.
Professional painting cost by region: 2026 US averages
Paint itself is a nationally distributed product with broadly similar pricing across the country. What varies significantly is the cost of professional labour. Painter rates in Texas and the Southeast run well below rates in the Northeast and West Coast, where higher cost of living and in some markets union labour agreements push hourly rates up. For a DIY project the regional difference is minimal, but for a professionally painted job regional rates drive the final invoice more than any other factor.
| Region | States | Painter rate (per hour) | Interior walls (per sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast | FL, GA, NC, SC, TN | $35–$55 | $1.25–$2.75 |
| South Central | TX, OK, AR, LA | $30–$50 | $1–$2.50 |
| Midwest | OH, MI, IL, IN, WI | $38–$60 | $1.35–$3 |
| Mid-Atlantic | PA, VA, MD, NJ | $45–$70 | $1.60–$3.50 |
| Mountain West | CO, AZ, NV, UT | $40–$65 | $1.50–$3.25 |
| Northeast | NY, MA, CT, RI | $55–$85 | $2–$4 |
| West Coast | CA, WA, OR | $60–$90 | $2.25–$4.50 |
Painter hourly rates and per-sq-ft labour for standard interior wall painting (2 coats, smooth surfaces). Rates include labour only. South Central highlighted as lowest-cost region nationally. Always get 3 painter quotes for accurate pricing.
Texas and Florida are consistently among the most affordable markets for professional painting in the US. A 1,500 sq ft house interior that might cost $4,500-$7,000 professionally painted in New York or Los Angeles typically runs $2,500-$4,500 in Houston or Dallas, with materials representing roughly the same cost in both markets. The Southeast broadly follows the same pattern, with a large supply of independent painting contractors keeping rates competitive.
In the Northeast and West Coast, licensed painters tend to charge more because the general cost of running a business, insurance, and labour is higher. Additionally, union painters are common in commercial and multi-family residential work in markets like New York and San Francisco, which pulls residential rates upward in the same labour pool. Getting painting quotes in January or February rather than in spring, when demand peaks, often produces better pricing in these markets.
Professional painting cost by city (standard bedroom, 2 coats)
| City | Labour only (~384 sq ft) | Professional total |
|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | $150–$300 | $225–$450 |
| Dallas, TX | $150–$300 | $225–$450 |
| Atlanta, GA | $175–$350 | $250–$500 |
| Charlotte, NC | $175–$350 | $250–$500 |
| Columbus, OH | $200–$375 | $275–$525 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $200–$400 | $275–$550 |
| Chicago, IL | $225–$425 | $300–$575 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $250–$450 | $325–$600 |
| New York, NY | $300–$550 | $375–$700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $325–$600 | $400–$750 |
Based on a standard 12x12 ft bedroom (~384 sq ft of wall area) at typical regional painter rates. Columbus, OH shown as national mid-market reference. Excludes ceiling, trim, primer, and wall repairs. Get local quotes to confirm pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paint Project Planning Checklist
Covers surface preparation, primer selection, colour change assessment, coat count, coverage estimation, and cleanup planning before starting.
Download Checklist (PDF)Planning reference only. See Methodology and Data Sources. View all project checklists →
Accuracy & Review
Reviewed by: Natalie Green
Natalie reviews our paint and coating calculators, validating coverage rates, coat count assumptions, and product yield calculations to ensure estimates align with real-world application results across interior and exterior projects.
Last updated:
See: Methodology · Data Sources · Review Board
Related Interior Calculators
Disclaimer: This calculator provides rough planning estimates only. Actual paint costs vary based on product quality, finish type, wall texture, number of coats, coverage rate, regional labour rates, and project complexity. Professional painting ranges are indicative only.
See Methodology and Data Sources for details.