Calculate any paint job — interior, exterior, or both — in seconds. Enter room dimensions, surface type, and paint quality. Get gallons needed, prep hours, labor cost, and total estimate. No signup required to try the demo.
Professional painters estimate jobs using a consistent method that scales from a single room touch-up to a full-house repaint. Here's the process:
Measure room length + width, multiply by 2 for perimeter, then multiply by wall height (typically 8–10 ft). Subtract openings: each standard door ≈ 14 sq ft, each standard window ≈ 12 sq ft. Example: 14×12 room with 9-ft ceilings = 2×(14+12)×9 = 468 sq ft of wall area.
Standard paint on repainted drywall covers 325–350 sq ft/gal. Economy: 275–300. Premium: 375–400. Multiply by number of coats. A 468 sq ft room at 2 coats with standard paint: 936 ÷ 350 = 2.7 gallons per coat, 5.4 gallons for two coats.
New drywall absorbs more paint — plan 250–300 sq ft/gal. Peeling surfaces need scrape + sand + prime before painting, reducing effective coverage and adding significant labor. Textured surfaces (stucco, knockdown) reduce coverage by 15–20%. Porous surfaces like brick need more coats.
Repaint in good condition: 0.75 hrs/room prep. Peeling: 1.5 hrs/room (scraping, sanding, priming). Add per-item: patching compound ($2/hr), sanding ($1/hr), primer ($1.50/hr), caulking ($0.75/room). Never skip prep — it's what separates a professional job from a weekend amateur.
Trim (baseboard/casing): ~150 LF/hr application rate, 1 gal covers ~400 LF. Ceilings: paint at 250 sq ft/hr. Add 15% markup for overhead and profit. Exterior work adds 15% labor premium for ladder work and weather exposure.
Coverage rates determine how many gallons you need. Always subtract waste (5–10% for walls, 10–15% for ceilings) and apply the correct rate for your surface condition.
| Paint Quality | Price/gal | New Drywall | Repaint (Good) | Peeling/Sanded | Textured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | $28 | 250 sq ft | 275 sq ft | 225 sq ft | 240 sq ft |
| Standard | $45 | 300 sq ft | 325–350 sq ft | 275 sq ft | 300 sq ft |
| Premium | $72 | 350 sq ft | 375–400 sq ft | 325 sq ft | 350 sq ft |
Interior and exterior jobs have different cost drivers. Understanding the differences helps you price accurately and avoid the most common estimator mistake: using the same labor rate for both.
| Factor | Interior | Exterior |
|---|---|---|
| Labor rate multiplier | 1.0× base rate | 1.15× base rate (ladder work, weather) |
| Paint cost multiplier | 1.0× base price | 1.1–1.15× (weatherproof formula) |
| Coverage rate | Standard coverage table | ~15% lower (texture, windage) |
| Prep time | Clean + patch + prime | Power wash, scrape, caulk, prime |
| Weather dependency | None (climate controlled) | Temperature, humidity, rain delays |
| Access complexity | Single-story easy, multi-story harder | Ladder work, scaffolding on multi-story |
| Surface types | Drywall, plaster, wood trim | Stucco, wood clapboard, brick, vinyl |
Labor rates vary significantly by market. The base rate in the IronKit calculator defaults to $45/hr — adjust for your local market. Here's a general guide for US regions:
| Region | Typical Labor Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rural / Midwest | $30–$45/hr | Lower overhead, competitive pricing. Many solo painters. |
| Southern Metro | $35–$50/hr | Atlanta, Houston, Dallas. Moderate competition. |
| Pacific Northwest | $45–$60/hr | Seattle, Portland. High cost of living, quality-conscious clients. |
| Southwest | $40–$55/hr | Phoenix, Las Vegas. Seasonally hot — summer pricing premium. |
| Northeast | $50–$75/hr | Boston, NYC metro, DC. Highest rates in the country. |
| California | $55–$90/hr | LA, SF, SD. High demand, licensed contractor market. |
3-room interior repaint pre-loaded: living room (20×16×9), bedroom (14×12×9), bathroom (8×6×8). All drywall, repaint condition, 2 coats, standard paint. Hit Calculate and see the full cost breakdown in seconds.
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