How much will your interior painting cost?
Columbus, OH 43215
Interior house painting costs$700 - $1100
National average fixed price
- Lowest price:$
- Most common low price:$700
- Most common high price:$1100
- Highest price:$
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?
By Thumbtack Staff
Last updated Tue, Jan 21
Most people in the U.S. spend an average of $700-$1,100 to paint the interior of their homes, according to Thumbtack data. This price reflects the cost of painting interior walls, ceiling, trim, doors, and window frames — but not the cost to paint an entire home's interior.
Interior house painting costs.
| Area or surface in the home | National average cost | National average cost range |
|---|---|---|
| Walls | $700 | $375-$1,590 |
| Ceiling | $850 | $450-$1,730 |
| Trim | $940 | $450-$1,866 |
| Doors | $1,000 | $450-$2,146 |
| Window frames | $1,100 | $500-$2,020 |
Cost to paint an entire home.
Painting an entire home interior costs $5,401-$24,282, on average, in the U.S. This cost is according to data provided to Thumbtack by Xactware:
| Home Size | National average cost range | Average cost per square foot |
|---|---|---|
| 1,400 sq. ft. | $5,401-$9,026 | $3.86-$6.45 |
| 1,600 sq. ft. | $6,679-$11,162 | $4.17-$6.98 |
| 2,000 sq. ft. | $9,019-$15,071 | $4.51-$7.53 |
| 2,800 sq. ft. | $14,530-$24,282 | $5.19-$8.67 |
*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. Source: Xactware
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.
What's in this cost guide?
- Interior house painting costs.
- Cost to paint an entire home.
- Cost to paint a room.
- Material and labor costs to paint the interior of a house.
- How do I estimate the cost of painting the interior of a house?
- Factors that impact interior house painting costs.
- Tips to save money when painting your home's interior.
- Is it cheaper to paint your house's interior?
- Get free cost estimates from interior painters near you.
Cost to paint a room.
The national average cost to paint one room is $371-$1,011, according to Thumbtack data. Here's a look at how much customers pay (on average) to paint multiple rooms in their homes:
| Number of rooms | National average cost range |
|---|---|
| 1 | $371-$1,011 |
| 2 | $627-$1,706 |
| 3 | $933-$2,538 |
| 4 | $1,294-$3,521 |
| 5 | $1,677-$4,565 |
| 6 | $1,834-$4,992 |
| 7 | $2,052-$5,585 |
| 8 or more | $2,507-$6,824 |
Source: Thumbtack
Material and labor costs to paint the interior of a house.
Thinking about painting your entire home? You will likely pay more for labor and materials if you have high ceilings and a lot of square footage.
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.
| Ceiling height | Home square footage | Labor cost range | Materials cost range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 ft. | 2,800 | $11,902-$19,891 | $2,604-$4,351 |
| 10 ft. | 2,000 | $7,385-$12,341 | $1,619-$2,706 |
| 9 ft | 1,600 | $5,467-$9,137 | $1,201-$2,007 |
| 8 ft | 1,400 | $4,420-$7,386 | $972-$1,625 |
*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. Source: Xactware.
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.
Compare prices from Interior Painters near you.
How do I estimate the cost of painting the interior of a house?
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.
Factors that impact interior house painting costs.
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. Number of coats.
If you decide to apply multiple coats and colors, your material and labor costs will likely increase:
| Description | Material costs | Labor costs | Total costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| One coat, one color | $120-$200 | $425-$711 | $545-$911 |
| Two coats, one color | $218-$365 | $589-$985 | $807-$1,350 |
| Two coats, two colors | $218-$365 | $780-$1,303 | $998-$1,668 |
*Total costs above reflect national average cost range estimates to seal, prime and paint 1,000 sq. ft. of walls and ceilings. Source: Xactware
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.
Tips to save money when painting your home's interior.
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.
Get free estimates from top-rated Interior Painters.
Is it cheaper to paint your house's interior?
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:
| DIY painting pros | DIY painting cons |
|---|---|
| You can avoid high labor costs. | Painting high surfaces can be a safety risk. |
| You can buy your own materials and paint, which may result in savings. | Painting incorrectly can result in pricey repairs. |
| You’ll have more control over the project’s timeline. | It can consume too much of your time. |
| You may enjoy the process and feel proud of your workmanship. | You may need to spend more money to pay for materials, tools and equipment you don’t already own. |
| You’ll build your painting skills and build your confidence to do more DIY tasks in the future. | You won’t be eligible for a workmanship warranty. |
| If you make mistakes or damages occur, your insurance likely won’t cover the cost to fix it. |
Get free cost estimates from interior painters near you.
Ready to explore professional painting options in your area? Download the Thumbtack app to see a list of top-rated interior painting professionals near you. Start requesting free cost estimates for your project today.
A note about project costs featured in this article: Figures represent national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research. These figures are provided for educational purposes only and are subject to change at any time due to various factors. Details about your specific project and local rates can impact costs.
Also, some of the project cost estimates included in this article were provided by Xactware’s pricing data (unless otherwise noted). For more information, visit Xactware’s pricing methodology page.
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