Last Updated on December 4, 2022 by
What is interior painting?
Interior painting is a process that entails many steps. The work involved in painting an interior begins before paint brushes touch a wall. Preparation is necessary to ensure your home is properly prepared for the application of a new coat of paint, and the right materials are chosen for each surface.
Cost depending on size of home
The actual cost will vary depending on the size of the home interior, condition of existing walls prior to painting, type and quality of paint selected and labor costs associated with preparing surfaces and applying coats.
- Surface preparation: $0 – $500 per room, $400 – $1000 total
- Paint: $0 – $1300+ per gallon, $400 – $4000 total
- Labor: $50/hour, $200 – $2500 total
Requirements
Before you begin calculating how much it will cost to paint your house interior, make sure that you have all of your supplies ready. These include:
- A solid working surface with adequate lighting (the more light, the better)
- Hand sanding equipment (if necessary)
- Paint trays and rollers
- Drop cloths/sheets to protect floors & furniture from splatters or spills
To determine how much it will cost to paint your house’s interior, you’ll need to know the following:
- The square footage of the room(s) that you’re painting
- The amount of primer and/or sealant (and paint if necessary) that you’ll need
Estimate Cost to Paint a House Interior
If you want an estimate as far as how much it would cost to paint one room or multiple rooms in your house, here is how it breaks down, Gallons per Room. If there are areas in the living room where two coats will be necessary (high-traffic areas, for instance), you’ll need to calculate how much paint you’ll need in gallons.
For example: If you have a long conference table in your dining room that is 8 feet long and 2.5 feet wide, then: 2.5ft x 8ft = 20 sq ft. 20sqft/9sqft per gallon = approximately 2 gallons of paint needed to cover the surface completely.
For a bedroom
If you’re painting a bedroom that has an area of 100 square feet: 100sqft/9sqft per gallon = 11 gallons you would need at least 11 gallons of paint to complete the job.
Amount of Primer and/or Sealant: Please note that if you’re painting over a particularly porous surface (like drywall or concrete), you will also need to use primer on top of your sealant for optimal results. If this is the case, make sure to add an additional 1-2 gallons (depending on how high quality your primer is) to the amount of paint needed in order to complete the project successfully.
Cost of cheap paint
It is important to note that you don’t get what you pay for with paint. A cheap paint (under $25/gallon) will require 2 coats and will not cover well, while a good quality paint (above $50/gallon) will generally only need 1 coat but can last 5 years or more if applied correctly.
Effect due to surface
The type of surface you are painting and its condition also play an important role in determining the cost of your interior paint job, for example: flat surfaces such as doors and windows should be primed prior to applying the main coat, wood trim should be caulked before painting, ceilings should be painted white or off-white to set them off from the walls, etc.
How to save money?
If you purchase your paint through your painter, he/she will often get a discount which will also save you money. Your professional painter can explain the nature of the work and what it entails to achieve your vision.
Remember, you will still be paying for the paint itself. Similarly, if you hire a professional contractor to perform any other home improvement service such as installing new windows or siding, they’ll usually charge more than an amateur who is doing interior painting for their own home and won’t expect that you are hiring them to do the work.
How long does it take to paint a room?
An experienced painter can complete most rooms in just a few hours. Prep work typically takes more time than the actual painting itself, so only one or two days may be needed to complete a project. If you have several rooms with heavy coats of paint, it is important to allow enough time for each coat of paint to completely dry before applying the next coat.
Therefore, consider when each coat will need to dry before starting your project. Painting on weekends or during times when you don’t plan on being home is a good idea so you don’t have to keep moving items and taking time off work.
Total budget you need
The overall cost of painting your house appears to be based on the square footage of the area that needs to be painted, with regards to labor costs. This will come down to multiple factors such as: type of paint used, size of the job (square footage), preparation required (cleaning, sanding, priming etc.), number of coats needed, ceiling height/architectural features, windows & doors extra care required, specialty paints or stains required.
So realistically $400 – $2000 dollars not including your painters wage (wage could be double this for high quality painters). The actual labour cost will be determined by the size of your home and what needs to be done. If you hire a good quality professional painter expect to pay $50+ an hour (2 guys working 4 hours at $50/hour – $200) $350-$1000 for surface preparation, paint, materials & supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can we paint the interior of house by our self?
Yes, you can paint by yourself. This is a very simple and easy. You need some techniques. All tools must be available before start painting.
- What is the advantage of painting by own?
Your money will save. This is a major reason that is why people do this work by their selves.