It is excellent to try out small DIY painting projects by yourself, but it is worth your time and money to hire a painter as it guarantees an excellent first-time paint job when it comes to big paint projects.
Having an estimate for your project cost is essential to working within a given budget. You need to know the cost of hiring a painter to get your rough estimates.
Prices vary according to factors that might be a lot to take in; worry no more, as we have you covered. Keep reading our article to discover How Much Does Hiring a Painter Cost?
How Much Does Hiring a Painter Cost: Factors you Should Consider
To make a simple overview, we have compiled a detailed summary of the many considerations to think about. These cause the price range to vary, and you need to pick the one that applies to your current paint job.
The prices can vary with:
| The Painter | The Surface | The Materials |
| Preparation works the painter needs to complete | Type of surface being painted | What tools are needed for the best possible job |
| The amount of time needed to complete the painting project | The size of the surface | What type of paint do you need |
| Type and/or purpose of the task | The condition of the surface | |
| Safety equipment and measures required | ||
| The distance between the painter and homeowners address |
Note:
- The price estimates below include the materials and tools needed for painting apart from the painter. It is because the painter gives you a budget summary for what they will use, and you may have to buy them or have him come with them.
- The cost of painting depends on your area’s zip code.
Surface Type
It is the first thing to consider before anything else. Painters often charge according to the type of surface, which influences the variety of materials and tools they will use.
Wood
Wood comes in different finished forms, such as doors, cabinets, ceilings, furniture, and walls. Various wood types, like laminated surfaces, MDF, and solid wood, also cause a change in the price range.
Painting wood paneling costs about $2.90-$5.92 per square foot. You can calculate the total square feet painted.
The cost of painting furniture depends on its type and size. It could range anywhere between $20 and $600.
Painting ceilings can cost $1.5-$3 per square foot. Factors such as the ceiling design can also influence these price changes.
The average cost of painting a wooden door is about $50–$100 for interior doors and $100–200 for exterior doors—factors such as primers, the type of paint case, and these variations in prices.
Concrete
The concrete surface can be driveways, floors, or interior and exterior walls. The price can range from $2-$4 per square foot.
It depends on the materials and finishes you will use.
The surface condition also incurs some additional cost if it requires special attention.
- Previous paint needs to be removed accordingly.
- Holes and chippings on the surface must be filled in and sanded down.
- Mold, efflorescence, and mildew have to be handled appropriately.
It’s also essential to think about the size of the space available for you. A painter can charge by the room, but the work can include doors, window frames, walls, and ceilings.
Depending on room size, the average cost of painting a room is $700 – $2,000. Bedrooms are likely to be less expensive than living rooms in terms of square footage.
Equipment and Materials
The cost of painting tools and materials is fixed. However, the type of material used depends on the surface to be painted and its size.
Brushes
Paintbrushes can come in sets when ordered online. They include 1″ Flat, 1-1/2″ Angled, 2″ Stubby Angled, and 2″ Flat and 2-1/2″ Angle, costing around $11 for the set.
You can buy a paintbrush at your nearest hardware store, but the prices vary according to the type and size of the brush.
Smaller brushes, like 1″ brushes, cost about $3, but you might need different types depending on the job done.
?Hot Tip: You will need different paint solvents to clean the paintbrushes for bigger paint jobs.
Sometimes a painter might require a sprayer to ease the painting of large surfaces. The cost of renting a paint sprayer could be $40 per hour or $120 per day, depending on your location.
A paint roller for small jobs is about $10, and $30 for bigger paint jobs. Some paint rollers aren’t as durable as paintbrushes, and you might need more than one for a big paint job.
Using paint
The surface determines the type of paint that is applied.
Four liters of concrete paint costs approximately $4 per square foot or about $80 for the same amount of paint.
Latex paints are more expensive than oil-based paints, with a gallon costing between $20 and $70 on average.
The Chosen Painter
The painter has the most significant influence on the final cost. For the simple reason that everything else has a price tag, but the price range of a painter can differ from one painter to the next.
The labor of a painter may account for approximately 80% of the total cost, with materials and tools accounting for 20%.
It is possible to pay anywhere between $30 and $80 per hour depending on the amount of work, detail, risk factor and professionalism. Several factors influence the final price, including the painter’s previous experience, the urgency you need the work complete and even rising operating costs. Also, keep in mind as minimum wage increases in most places along with rising paint prices, these economic forces play a large part in the cost of hiring a painter.
Preparation Work
Painting requires good preparation beforehand to give a good finish. The amount of work to be put in varies with the type of paint job and materials.
Some paint jobs may require skills such as power washing, spray painting or using a machine boom lift to reach dangerously high areas.
The painter may charge extra to clear out the room if you haven’t already done so, especially if the room may contain delicate items such as a library. Also, some painters charge more to clean the room prior to painting.
There may also be extra costs for health hazards such as removing lead paint or asbestos abatement. For lead testing, you may have to pay around $300 and $13 per square foot for removal.
?Look Out: Closely examine the furniture or area you plan to paint, for example, if it is your siding, you’ll want to look out for mold or mildew. Alert your painter to the mold and ask them to add it to the overall cost of your job.
Length of Time
A painter usually charges
- $30-$80 per hour
- $300-$600 per day
It depends on the complexity of the property, the season, location, and experience level. The price may range from $70 to $100 per hour, depending on the specialty of the project.
Purpose of the Project
A tedious process, painting often necessitates the removal of the previous paint job or the sanding of existing paint.
The preparation work for painting a new surface is less than one previously painted, and painters can charge $2–4 per square foot for new construction.
Decorative painting takes more time and effort, and it can cost up to $70-$100 per hour to complete.
Addresses
If the painter is from your area, they will spend more time on your project and less money on transportation costs, saving you money as the property owner. Most painting companies will cover this expense, and some will even include a small fee, but this may not be the case for independent contractors.
Depending on how far you are from the painter, the distance they travel will be considered, which may affect the number of hours per day spent on the project because they must leave early or late.
It may seem insignificant, but hiring the nearest painter can help you stay within your budget.
Safety Equipment and Measures
As mentioned earlier, lead testing for paint when dealing with potential lead paint requires careful handling.
The painter needs some protective wear.
- Gloves protect the hands. Leather gloves ($15–$19) may prevent injury during sanding, while solvent-resistant gloves ($16–$24) protect the painter from paint thinners and other solvents.
- Protective eyeglasses ($12-$13) or face shields ($15-$31) are essential when painting above the head or spray painting.
- A dust mask ($16–$21) or particulate respirator ($17–$30) is used when sanding. A respiratory mask is used when handling paint solvents to avoid inhaling the most toxic fumes.
- Coveralls ($40-$50) and shoe coveralls ($13) protect the painter’s skin and clothing from paint and paint solvents.
- A hard hat ($16–$24) protects the head, especially when working at great heights or removing old, worn-out parts of a house.
- A fall arrest system ($46-$96) may be used when painting at great heights, where a painter may use a ladder.
All of this safety equipment depends on the complexity of your projects and the experience of the painters. Some resources may be provided to the painter by the company, while others may be required in the case of self-employed painters.
Examine your painting job and look for a painter who can access the protective equipment (PPE) you require.
?Extra Information: The prices listed are estimates, and they may vary depending on the location, manufacturer, and time of year.
How Much Does Hiring a Painter Cost: Top Seven Tips:
It can be overwhelming to have all of these details to get the best deal when hiring a painter, and it can be even more overwhelming to consider them all at once.
Think about these seven tips below to obtain the best possible price for the job:
1. Get recommendations
If you hire an online painter or a painter from a companies website, you can check for customer reviews. You can also ask the customers whether they got a satisfactory job.
Please consult with your family, friends, and neighbors to determine whether they have had a similar paint job done and whether it was done to perfection.
- Choose your best estimate.
Request an estimate from the painters or companies on how much you will need for the job. Different painters will have other estimates.
?Remember: Cheap is expensive. You might get a more affordable painter, but they might use more inexpensive paint and materials, which will give you a lousy job.
If the estimates seem too high or too low, ask why before proceeding.
- Check the qualifications.
Review the credentials of the painter you settle with. This is to ensure you work with an experienced painter who won’t leave you with repairs and fixes after the paint job.
- Inquire with the painter
Once you choose a painter to work with, ask the pre-hire questions.
- How long have you been working?
- Do you have insurance against any liabilities? And if so, can I get a declaration?
- Can you provide the contact information of some of your previous clients?
- Are you working with a team or by yourself?
These questions will assure you that the painter will provide you with a professional job and that you can trust them.
- Have a payment plan?
Determine whether you’ll pay before or after the job.
It is advisable to ask if you can pay step-wise so that after completion of a particular stage, the payment is made.
?Top Tip: Never pay in cash or more than half of the total job upfront. Industry standard for deposits range from 10 – 30%.
- Get a contract
Sign a contract with the painter to show that you hired them for the job. It is so that they don’t breach the agreement, and you can use it as proof in case of any liabilities. When you sign up for a free membership with Trusted House Painter you get access to a sample contract in the Homeowner Toolkit. Register today!
- Pick the paint and materials required.
It is the final step, and you can work with the painter’s advice to decide on the best product and color if you haven’t already. Every paint product is slightly different and protects the surface in different ways. Make sure you confirm what products your painter is going to apply prior to proceeding – paint is costly and you want to get this part right the first time!
Get your painter to start after that, and you are ready to go.
