How to Estimate a Paint Job | Benjamin Moore (2024)

FAQs

How to write an estimate for a paint job? ›

You should budget for paint by finding the total surface area in the square foot that needs to be covered in paint. Then you can select the type of paint you want to use whether it is interior paint or exterior paint. The price of paint can range from ₹10 per sq. ft to ₹200 per sq. ft.

Divide the paintable wall area by 425 (the square-foot coverage in each gallon can) to find the number of gallons of paint you need for the walls. You can round uneven numbers; if the remainder is less than . 5, order a couple of quarts of wall paint to go with the gallons; if the remainder is more than .

Professional interior paint jobs are typically priced at $2 to $6 per square foot. However, to receive a more accurate quote from your painter, have the room measurements ready when you contact them. One gallon of paint covers approximately 400 square feet.

(Height x Width) × Price per square inch

It's also pretty straight forward: it takes the surface area of a work and multiplies by a rate of your choosing. Determining the price per square inch is the tricky part.

What do most painters charge per hour? you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour for a professional paint job. The more experienced and skilled your painter, the higher their hourly rate will be–and there's no denying that more complex projects take longer to complete.

It is not all about the pricing, but it all boils down to what you can expect from the entire project. A detailed quote includes the brand of paints to use, cost of materials, measurement or size of area to paint, estimation of completion, guarantee and many other small details. Remember, a quote is not an invoice.

Multiply the painting's width by its length to arrive at the total size, in square inches. Then multiply that number by a set dollar amount that's appropriate for your reputation. I currently use $6 per square inch for oil paintings. Then calculate your cost of canvas and framing, and then double that number.

To estimate the square footage, you multiply length x width. For example: If you are painting a bedroom, you should measure from corner to corner of a wall and then measure the height. So if your wall is 12 ft wide and 8 ft high, that wall is 96 square feet.

How much does 1 gallon of paint cover? ›

Most typically, a gallon of paint covers anywhere from 350 to 400 square feet, so a gallon of paint is enough to cover a small space like a bathroom. Depending on the number of coats you intend to paint, one to two gallons of paint is the average amount for a typical sized room.

If you divide 400 by 2000, it gives you five. So, for 2000 square feet, you will likely need 5 gallons of interior house paint. For the top-rated interior paint, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50 – $80 per gallon. We recommend top brands, such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams.

Some contractors use a rough base rate of $1.50 or $2.00 per square foot, some multiply 4 to 6 times the paint cost, some estimate the time the job will take and add it to an estimate of materials—and some may simply offer the lowest price to outbid the competition.

Painters charge $400 to $1,000 per room on average, depending on the size. The average cost to paint a 12x12 room is $400 to $950.

How Much to Charge for Painting Per Square Foot. You can charge from $2 to $6 per square foot on average for most interior painting jobs. Exterior jobs typically range from $0.50 to $4.50 per square foot. Taller buildings, difficult-to-reach areas, or switching between paint colors frequently add to this price.

A detailed quote should describe all the work you'll do before, during, and after the paint job. It also needs to look professional and include you and your client's contact details, your company branding, terms and conditions, and any special discounts or rates.