Rooms
Paint and rates
How the numbers are worked out
Wall area per room = 2 × (length + width) × ceiling height, minus 20 sq ft for each door and 15 sq ft for each window. Ceiling area = length × width. Gallons = area × coats ÷ coverage, rounded up separately for wall and ceiling paint. Labor = area × your rate per square foot.
Example with the defaults: 2 × (14 + 12) × 8 = 416 sq ft, minus 20 for the door and 30 for two windows = 366 sq ft of wall. The ceiling is 168 sq ft. Two coats need 2.1 gallons for the walls (buy 3) and 0.96 for the ceiling (buy 1). Labor is 366 × $2.25 = $823.50 plus 168 × $1.75 = $294. With 4 gallons at $40 and $75 of supplies the job comes to $1,352.50 before tax.
Tips for painting estimates
- Price trim, doors and cabinets on their own lines; they take far longer per square foot than walls.
- Add a line for repairs (patching, caulking, sanding) when walls are in poor shape instead of absorbing it in your rate.
- Dark-to-light color changes often need a primer coat; set coats to 3 or add primer as a separate line.
- Check your price covers your target margin with the job price calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of paint do I need for a room?
Wall area is the room perimeter times the ceiling height, minus about 20 sq ft per door and 15 sq ft per window. Multiply by the number of coats and divide by the coverage on the can (usually 350 to 400 sq ft per gallon), then round up. A 12 x 14 ft room with 8 ft ceilings, one door and two windows has about 366 sq ft of wall: two coats at 350 sq ft per gallon is 2.1 gallons, so buy 3.
How do painters price a job per square foot?
Most painters price labor per square foot of surface for the number of coats included, with walls, ceilings and trim priced separately because they take different time. Paint and supplies go on their own lines. Use your own rates: the defaults here are only examples.
Can I send this as an estimate?
Yes. Click Turn into an estimate. The line items open in the free Estimate & Invoice Maker, where you add your logo and customer details and download a PDF. Your business details from earlier drafts are kept.
Estimates for planning only. Check the coverage on the paint you use; textured and porous surfaces take more paint.
Related: Free painting estimate template · Material waste calculator