How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room in Your House?

If you’re among the 75% of Americans caught in the grip of the 2020 home-improvement trend, you might be wondering about the cost to hire painters or other questions relating to upgrading your home.

The fact is, the answer to most of these queries is akin to the age-old expression, ‘how long is a piece of string?’. Most home improvement costs depend on several factors.

So, if you want to spruce up your home’s interior, consider these pointers when you’re trying to figure out the cost to paint a room.

The Contractor You Choose

Always get three estimates before hiring anyone for your painting job. Remember, the cheapest isn’t always the best. More experienced painters should cost more than those who lack experience and expertise.

Read the fine print before you decide which contractor’s offering the best value for money. A more expensive quotation may involve better quality paint, a faster turnaround time, warranties, and after-sales service.

These are the factors that can affect the price of your paint job:

• The number of rooms you’re getting painted
• The height of your ceilings
• How painters set their prices i.e. per room, per foot, or per hour
• The overall size of the walls you want to get painted

There are also a few important questions you can ask a painting service provider to put your mind at ease before you hire them.

If you want to try and get a ballpark figure in your mind before you approach anyone for assistance, keep reading for more information on things that can affect the cost of the job.

Room Size Affects the Cost to Paint a Room

Even if the painters charge per room, they’re likely to have a set price based on the estimated size of the space. For example, they’ll charge less for small rooms like bathrooms and more for living rooms.

Some painters might ask you for the estimated size of your room before they provide you with an estimate. Here’s how to work it out.

Grab a tape measure, notepad, and pen, or have your phone handy to record and calculate your measurements.

Measuring Interior Walls

Measure the wall from end to end horizontally. It’s best to measure along the floor, so you know the tape measure’s level. Then, measure the vertical height of the wall from the top of the baseboard to the ceiling.

Multiply these two figures together to get the total square feet measurement of each wall in your room.

Make Provision for Windows and Doors

After you’ve recorded the square feet size of your wall, measure the width and height of each window. Then multiply these two figures together to get the square feet measurement of the window.

When you’ve measured all the windows and other areas that don’t need paint, add all these square foot totals together to get a total. Subtract the size of these blank spaces from the overall square footage of the wall.

The last step is to add together the final square foot measurements of all your walls to get the total area.

The Condition of the Walls

The painting crew must prepare the walls thoroughly beforehand if you want your painting job to look great and last a long time.

If your walls are in poor condition, the painters may need to patch or repair sections before commencing work. This service costs extra.

To avoid unexpected costs, be sure to give your painting contractor an idea of the condition of your walls beforehand. The most common descriptions of wall condition include:

• Clean and smooth – excellent condition
• Minor holes and scratches – fair condition
• Major repairs needed – poor condition

There’s a limit to how much painters can do to repair walls, so you might need to get a builder in to repair major damage beforehand. If you’re in doubt, send a photograph of the condition of the walls to the painting contractor so they can advise you accordingly.

Another way to save how much preparation your painters will need to do is to do some of the work yourself. You can patch small holes, wash your wall thoroughly, and move your furniture out of the way before they arrive.

While this won’t affect the contractors’ initial estimates, it can save you from unpleasant extra charges when you get your final bill for the painting.

The Type of Paint You Need to Paint Your Room

Some painters might need to know what type of paint you want in your room before they can provide an estimate. Others might advise you on the best one for your needs.

These are the most common types of paint used in residential projects:

• Latex-based paint – a long-lasting paint that’s easy to clean and quick-drying
• Oil-based paint – the most durable type of paint
• High-gloss paint – the most durable sheen-type paint that’s also easy to clean and stain-resistant
• Eggshell paint – best for large areas and easy to clean
• Semi-gloss paint – reflective, durable, and easy to clean
• Satin paint – beautifully smooth, glossy, stain-resistant, and durable
• Flat paint – dark non-glossy colors that cover imperfections
• Matte paint – a no-shine paint that hides flaws and goes on easily

Matte paint is the cheapest type of paint but it doesn’t last as long as the more expensive types of paint. This is still a good option for homeowners who like to change their wall colors often.

Make Your Home Even Better

If your calculations tell you that the cost to paint a room professionally is out of your league budget-wise, there are plenty of DIY tasks you can try to boost your home’s appeal more cost-effectively instead.

It’s not a good idea to attempt painting a room yourself. If you mess it up, you’ll have to hire professionals to fix your mistake, or learn to live with it.

For more great ideas on home improvements, keep browsing our website. We’ve got all the best hacks for getting your home into tip-top shape, from the basement up.