How Much to Charge to Paint a Room
Work out the price to paint a room: walls, ceiling, trim, paint and labor, priced to your margin. Free calculator for painters with a worked example.
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See it on Etsy →The method
Wall area is the perimeter times the height, minus doors and windows. Two coats is standard. Divide area × coats by how many square feet a painter rolls per hour, add ceilings, trim and setup, then price labor and paint to your margin.
What changes the price
Prep is the big swing: patching, caulking, dark-to-light color changes and furniture moving can add 20–50% to labor. Charge for it, don't absorb it.
FAQ
How long does it take to paint a 12x12 room?
Roughly 4–7 painter-hours for walls, ceiling and trim with two coats, depending on prep.
Should I charge by the room or by the hour?
Customers prefer a room price. Build it from your hours so it still pays you.