Free pricing guide
How Much to Charge as a Painter
Most painters lose money on the parts of a job they forget to price, not on their hourly rate. Work the whole job through below, then send it as a quote.
Field estimate workbench
Price the job before you invoice it.
Build a practical estimate from labor, materials, and other costs. Your draft stays in this browser until you choose to create an invoice.
Keep client names and contact details out of this browser-only draft.
Cost ledger
Labor, materials, and other costs
Add at least one described line with a value greater than $0.
Tax treatment varies by location and job type.
Grand total must be greater than $0.
What drives the price on painting
- Prep time, which routinely takes longer than the painting itself
- Labor by area or by day rather than by the hour
- Paint and supplies, priced by coverage rather than by the gallon you happen to buy
- Masking, protection, and patching and touch-up afterwards
Jobs painters price most often
- Repaint a room or hallway
- Paint a full house interior
- Exterior repaint and prep
- Strip and repaint trim and doors
- Repair and paint damaged drywall
Pricing tips for painters
- Quote prep as its own line. Customers compare painters on the total, and prep is where a cheap quote cuts corners.
- Price walls, ceilings, and trim separately, by square foot or linear foot, so adding a room is simple math.
- Specify the paint line and number of coats on the estimate. Two coats of a premium paint and one coat of contractor grade are different jobs.
- Charge color changes and dark-to-light coverage as an add-on, because they can mean an extra coat.
Licensing and permits for painters
Under the federal EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, firms that disturb paint in homes or child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be lead-safe certified and follow lead-safe practices. Some states also require a contractor license for painting above a job-size limit. Check EPA and your state board.
General information, not legal advice. Rules vary by state and city.
Guides for painters
Turn the number into a quote
ForgeBill takes the same figures straight through to a quote, a work order with photos and sign-off, and an invoice you can get paid on.
No credit card required. Free plan includes 3 sent invoices or quotes a month. Pro is $19.99/month or $199.99/year.
Need a client-ready price first? Free Painting Estimate Generator or use the free painter invoice template