Colors add significant value to your house, not only through the paint jobs but also through how the paint interacts with every other color in the house. Adding color to your home is a huge step toward both comfort and beautification, with the option of choosing the colors you want.
Most people would like to venture into this project but don’t know where to begin or how much it would cost.
So, suppose you’re ready for your next adventure and are wondering How Much it Costs to Paint the Interior of a House. In that case, this article gives an insight into various estimates and related tasks that contribute to the final cost.
Factors Affecting The Cost to Paint The Interior of a House
It is essential to understand some factors that affect the overall cost to paint the interior of a house, as these may lead to differences in estimations.
- The size of your house
The total number of paintable surfaces increases with the increase in house size. For a house with a total paintable surface of 1000 square feet and 2000 square feet and a rate of $2 per square foot, one house will cost $2000, and the other will cost $4000.
- The condition of your house
If the walls have been damaged, it may cost more to caulk and fill in any cracks or holes, as any peeling and chipped-off paint will have to be removed.
Removing paint costs about $3.50–$10 per square foot. This varies according to the surface type, with surfaces like brick costing more due to the clean-up involved.
Removing lead paint costs between $8 and $16 per square foot.
It costs less to paint a new house since there is less prep work and cleaning.
- The location of your house
It is more expensive to paint a house located within the city due to the increased demand for labor and the higher cost of materials.
These are some places that have a higher overall cost of living. Painting a property in the countryside or on the outskirts of a city will be less expensive.
How Much Does it Cost to Paint the Interior of a House- The Fine Details
Determining the cost to paint the interior of a house involves many different variables that affect the final price. Typically it costs between $1.50 and $4.00 and between $3 and $6 if you include the ceiling and the trim.
Labor accounts for more than 50% of this cost, and if you DIY paint your house, you’re likely to spend the same amount on equipment and materials.
Paint estimate
If you want to paint your house, it is helpful to estimate how much paint you will require so that you may make financial and logistical preparations in advance and save money.
To begin, multiply the area of each room by its height and then sum up all those numbers to compute the total area. If you wish to paint the ceiling, you should add the area of the floor to the total if it is the same size as the ceiling.
To establish how much paint you will need to paint the trim around your house, determine how many linear feet of space the border takes up, and then add that number to the total price. You don’t need to change anything if you intend to use a different kind of paint for the trim.
If the measurements of length and width are the same, then one linear foot is equivalent to one square foot. To approximate the quantity of paint you need, you can convert the measurement in linear feet to square feet and use that number instead.
1. The cost of paint and primer
The price of your project will vary depending on the kind of paint you use for it.
Oil-based paints are more expensive, more durable, and have a more viscous consistency. However, greater caution is required when painting with them since they are thinned with mineral spirits and contain a more significant number of volatile organic components(VOCs).
Because the painting project will take place inside, it is recommended that you choose latex paint because it is less hazardous to your health. Compared to paints made with oil, they typically come at a lower cost.
The amount of paint needed
A gallon of paint covers almost 400 square feet and costs anywhere from $15 to $45; the price of designer brands can go as high as $100 per gallon. Because of this, you can predict how much you will spend on paint based on the entire surface area that can be painted.
The amount of paint you will need is 4 gallons if the entire surface area to be painted is 1600 square feet. The cost of one coat of paint will range from $60 to $180, and the cost of two coats of paint will be anywhere from $120 to $360.
The amount of primer needed
You should prime the walls before you paint them if the surface you are working with is porous, such as brick or concrete. Priming the walls ensures that the final coat of paint will adhere well and endure for a long time.
The paint job will be ruined because the pores will capture air bubbles, which will expand and contract with temperature changes. Because of the uneven surface, they absorb more paint, so you will have to spend more money on paint.
A gallon of primer covers about 200–300 square feet and costs about $10–$20 per gallon. For a paintable surface of 1600 square feet, expect to pay around $80–$160 for one coat of primer or double the amount for a double coat.
The type of paint finish
There are various paint brands, each with different formulas for their finishes. Glossy paints typically cost more than dull paints.
- Flat-$10-$93
- Satin-$12-$70
- Semi-gloss-$12-$68
- High-gloss-$17-$70
2. The cost of painting the ceiling and trim
Painting the ceiling can range anywhere from $0.50 to $3.00 per square foot, with the average cost falling between $1.00 and $2.60 per square foot.
To determine how many gallons of paint you will need, take the entire area and divide it by 400 square feet. Multiply the width by the length of each ceiling, and then put the resulting numbers together to estimate the amount of paint needed for your ceilings. This will roughly guide you on how much paint you need in gallons.
Painting the trim and baseboards can cost anything from $1 to $4 per linear foot.
3. Custom interior painting
Each type of interior painting job varies in design and the amount of paint it would take.
Textured painting
Textured painting takes up to 50% more than other paint jobs. For a gallon of paint, you may use 250 square feet instead of 400 square feet when texturing walls.
Having your wall textured costs $4–$7 per square foot.
Murals
They cost $10–$20 per square foot depending on the level of detail, and if you want a mural painted on your wall, it costs about $50–$150 per hour.
Faux paint
It is a decorative painting design that creates the appearance of particular finishes such as fabric, wood, or granite. They add dimension and beautify the house, costing about $5-$10 per square foot.
Paint variations
Walls with two different tones and walls that serve as an accent may cost an additional dollar per square foot. Walls that are two tones employ two completely different color palettes.
The paint cost is the same for each color of the same finish, and the only thing that might happen is that you might have too much of one of the two colors of paint.
Walls with two colors will typically cost more because they require additional work on the cleaning equipment and caution when separating the two colors.
DIY vs. Professional Interior Painting
When doing the job yourself is not an option, one should always consider the possibility of hiring a professional. If you want a paint job that looks professional and is finished as quickly as possible, you should consider hiring a professional painter.
As well as considering the cost to paint the interior of a house, in general, interior painting of your home presents several challenges, including the following:
- Toxic fumes
- Lack of skillset
- Task full activities
Compared to doing the painting by yourself or with a small team, hiring a professional to do the job may result in additional costs. However, it will also result in a paint job that is of higher quality and completed more quickly.
You also reduce the likelihood that your children or pets will come into contact with the paint, which is especially important if any leftover paint is not disposed of properly.
The following factors affect how much it will cost to hire a professional:
- Work demand
- Location
- The size of the house
- Special skills
- The amount of work involved
The expense of employing a professional, which covers everything from the preliminary work to the final touches, differs depending on the rates charged by each contractor. Listed below are some of them:
- Cost per square foot- $2-$6
- Cost per room-$400-$2000
- Cost per hour-$25-$100
Is it cheaper to DIY paint or hire a professional?
Given that labor costs account for more than half of the total cost of painting a house, you might ask this question. If you already own all of the required supplies and tools, then painting should be much more affordable for you.
Regardless of your decision, you will require a few additional things besides the paint. Listed below are some of them:
| Material | Cost |
| Painter’s Tape | $4-$6 |
| Paint Tray | $4-$11 |
| Painting Gloves | $8 |
| Painter’s Mask | $20 |
| Paintbrushes | $2-$10 |
| Paint Rollers | $9-$25 |
| Safety Goggles | $12 |
| Tape and Drape | $7-$15 |
| Drop cloth | $10-$17 |
| Rosin Paper | $20-$38 |
| Ladder | $100 |
It is essential to prioritize safety, so even though it might seem reasonable to use a chair to get to the farthest corner of your room, you should use an appropriately erected ladder instead.
Using tape and drape will help you save money on the cost of rosin paper and drop cloths, among other things. This will be accomplished in many different ways.
Since tape and drape simultaneously serve two purposes, you might not require additional equipment if you purchase them together.
Is It Cheaper to Buy Paint or Include it in a Painting Quote?
When you are planning to paint your house, one of the questions you may have is which method will save you the most money on the cost of paint supplies.
When painting your house, paint is the primary material, so it is common to find the best way to save a few bucks off your wallet. Finding the best way to paint your house can be challenging.
Getting a quote from the contractor will provide you with a rough estimate of the amount of paint required for the job. This is always an estimate because other factors like covering blemishes and paint drips aren’t considered here.
It is in your best interest to have the paint purchased by the contractor rather than yourself because they can access better deals and discounts. They are aware of the best products to use for your surfaces, as well as the types of paint that will work well for the project you are working on.
If you are planning on painting the room in your house on your own, you should talk to the local paint supplier about what kind of paint would be best for the job and how to apply it correctly.
