Calculate the estimated cost of an interior paint job — walls, ceilings, trim, and labor — with an itemized breakdown by room. National average cost: $2–$6 per sq ft. Enter your project size below for an itemized breakdown — adjust any line item to match your local prices and scope.
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Try Suparate FreePrep is 70% of a professional paint job
Sanding, filling nail holes, caulking gaps at trim and crown, and taping correctly takes 2–3 hours for a room that takes 1 hour to paint. Skipping prep is the single most visible difference between a professional and a DIY result. Roll two light coats of a quality paint on a properly prepped surface rather than one heavy coat on an unprepped one.
Always buy the same brand for primer and topcoat
Paint manufacturers formulate their primers to bond specifically with their topcoats. Mixing brands can cause adhesion failures, color bleed-through, and uneven sheen. If you're using Sherwin-Williams topcoat, use a Sherwin-Williams primer — this is a $20 decision that determines whether the paint lasts 5 years or 15.
Keep the paint code, not just a photo
Every paint can has a formula code on the label that tells the store exactly how to recreate that color. Photograph or save the label code — not just the color chip name — so future touch-ups are an exact match. Color chip names are the same across sheen levels and brands, but the formula is what actually matches.
Professional interior painting costs $2–$6 per sq ft of floor area for walls and ceilings, including labor and material. A 1,500 sq ft home costs $3,000–$9,000 to paint professionally. Painting ceilings separately costs 20–30% more than walls alone. Trim, doors, and built-ins are typically bid as an additional per-hour or per-piece rate on top of the wall price.
A 2-person crew can paint approximately 200–300 sq ft of wall and ceiling per hour under normal conditions. A 1,500 sq ft home with moderate prep work takes 2–4 days for a professional crew. Homes with high ceilings, extensive trim, multiple colors, or significant drywall repair take longer. DIY painting the same home typically takes 1–2 weekends.
Calculate total wall area: perimeter × ceiling height, minus door and window openings. Divide by the coverage rate on the paint can (typically 350 sq ft/gal for smooth walls) and multiply by the number of coats. A standard 12×15 room with 9 ft ceilings has about 486 sq ft of wall area — 2 coats needs 2.8 gallons. Always add 10% for waste and touch-ups.
Flat/matte hides imperfections best and works well in low-traffic areas (bedrooms, ceilings). Eggshell is the most popular choice for living areas and bedrooms — it cleans better than flat and looks elegant. Satin is used in high-traffic areas (hallways, kids' rooms) for easy cleaning. Semi-gloss is standard for trim, doors, and windows. High-gloss is reserved for accent details and exterior trim.
Paint before new flooring is installed when doing both. Painting after flooring requires protecting the floor with drop cloths and risks paint drips on a finished surface. If painting over existing flooring, use tape along the baseboards and plastic sheeting. For new construction or a full renovation, the sequence is: drywall → prime → paint walls and ceiling → flooring → trim.
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