How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?

*Market price fluctuations are also included in the total cost. Costs to paint the entire home include sealing and priming, two coats of paint and two paint colors.

Several variables may affect the total cost of an interior house painting project. For example, a bigger home has a larger surface area and sometimes more rooms to paint. This can drive up your costs. 

The state of your walls may also affect the cost. A poorly maintained wall will likely require more prep work — patching any fissures in the drywall, cleaning the surface, etc. — which can increase the labor cost. 

Read on for a detailed look at the variables that can alter the cost of painting your home’s interior. And if you want to get a more accurate rate for your area, contact interior painting professionals on Thumbtack for free estimates. 

On average, the labor cost to paint the interior of a house ranges from $4,420-$19,891, depending on how high your ceilings are and your home's square footage. Material costs range from $972-$4,351, on average.

*Interior house painting costs above reflect national average pricing for an entire home’s interior of average condition. Costs include sealing and priming, two coats of paint and two paint colors. Market price fluctuations are NOT included in labor or materials costs.

Thinking about painting your entire home? As you can see in the table above, you will likely pay more for labor and materials if you have high ceilings and a lot of square footage.

Painting only a wall and ceiling involves less work than painting the entire interior, which includes other elements like doors, windowsills, trim, baseboards and more. However, if you decide to apply multiple coats and colors, material and labor costs will likely increase:

*Total costs above reflect national average cost range estimates to seal, prime and paint 1,000 sq. ft. of walls and ceilings.

When requesting quotes from interior painters near you, compare their labor and material costs before deciding on who to hire for your project to help ensure you’re paying a fair price.

*All figures above reflect national average cost range estimates to seal, prime and paint walls and ceiling in one color with two coats, which is $0.81-$1.35 per sq. ft.

The national average cost to paint a room is $324-$1,620, assuming you're paying $0.81-$1.35 per square foot and your room ranges anywhere from 400-1,200 square feet in size.

Measure the interior surface areas as accurately as possible. This includes walls, ceilings, doors, trim and baseboards. Then, use the average cost per square foot as a starting point to calculate your estimated total cost. 

That said, it's crucial that you obtain quotes from interior painters in your area for better accuracy. Many factors (including labor rates in your area) can influence how much you end up paying for interior painting services. 

The following is a list of aspects and project details that can affect the cost of painting the interior of your house. Be prepared to discuss these details with your contractor so that they can give you a realistic estimate:

1. The size of the total surface area.

Larger homes (with more rooms), higher ceilings and bigger walls will typically cost more to paint. That’s because the contractor will need to supply additional paint to cover the additional surfaces. 

Plus, more surfaces — such as doors, windowsills, trim and molding, etc. — require the contractor to spend extra time and effort (and possibly hire more help) to paint all of those additional areas in your home.

2. The condition of the interior surface.

The surface you're painting may need a considerable amount of preparation before the contractor can begin working. 

For instance, you may need to remove wallpaper first. Uneven wall surfaces should be leveled with sandpaper. Cracks and holes should be patched, and any dirty walls should be cleaned. All of this additional preparation often requires extra labor and materials — which can increase the total cost.

3. The type of paint you choose. 

If you’re painting your entire home, you'll likely need different paint finishes for different surfaces and rooms. Flat/matte paints tend to be the least expensive option, while high-gloss paints can be the most expensive. And, of course, different paint brands may have different price points.

Chat with your contractor to find out how much different finishes and brands will cost. Let them help you decide which option can fit within your budget and still provide the desired results.

4. The time of year.

The season in which you paint may also affect your interior painting costs. If you're hiring a professional interior painter, chances are your costs might be lower in the winter when there’s less demand.

Interior painting costs can add up, but there are ways to save. You may be able to cut back on costs by following a few important tips:

• Paint in the offseason. As mentioned previously, you’ll likely see more competitive pricing if you schedule your project in the winter instead of the spring or summer. 
• DIY some of the painting. If hiring a professional to paint your entire home is out of your budget, consider painting a few walls or rooms yourself and have your pro finish the rest. 
• DIY the prep work, too. If you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, dust, clean and repair your walls before your painter arrives. However, don’t attempt to do the prep work if you’re not comfortable — you don’t want to risk causing more damage to your interior walls.
• Decrease the scope of the project. You don’t necessarily need to repaint an entire room to give it a fresh look. Consider just painting an accent wall, a bookcase or a few cabinets for a quick upgrade.
• Choose good paint brands. If the paint is high quality, you can likely cover a surface with a single coat of paint and save money. Plus, higher-quality paint tends to last longer than cheap paint. Consult your contractor when picking out paints.
• Measure accurately to avoid overspending on paint. But be sure you have some leftover paint for touch-ups.
• Stay on top of maintenance. Save money in the future by cleaning your walls regularly so you won't need to paint them as often.

When it comes to painting your house, doing it yourself isn't always the best option — even though it may be the cheapest. Consider these DIY pros and cons before you decide: