How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Room or House?
Part of Interior & Finishes
Quick answer
Painting a single room costs about $300–$1,000 professionally, or roughly $2–$6 per square foot of floor area. A whole-house interior runs $2,000–$6,000+ ($2–$6/ft²), an exterior $3,000–$10,000+, and kitchen cabinets $900–$3,800. Labor is 70–85% of the bill, so DIY mostly costs paint and supplies.
Professional painting is priced by area and labor, and labor is the bulk of it — prep, taping, cutting in and multiple coats take time. That's why DIY, where you only buy paint (~$25–$60/gal) and supplies, costs a fraction of a quote.
Typical painted-project costs
| Project | Cost (installed) | Per ft² |
|---|---|---|
| Single room | $300–$1,000 | $2–$6 / floor ft² |
| Whole house interior (2,000 ft²) | $4,000–$12,000 | $2–$6 |
| House exterior (2,000 ft²) | $3,000–$10,000+ | $1.50–$4 |
| Ceiling only | — | $1–$2.50 |
| Kitchen cabinets | $900–$3,800 | $3–$10 |
What drives the price
- Labor: 70–85% of a professional quote — the single biggest factor.
- Prep: patching, sanding, caulking and priming add hours.
- Ceiling height: tall walls and stairwells need scaffolding.
- Color change & coats: dark-to-light or 3-coat jobs cost more.
- Paint grade: premium paint is $50–$70/gal vs $25–$40 for builder grade.
To estimate the DIY material cost, get your gallons from the paint calculator and enter your paint's price per gallon — it returns the paint cost so you can compare against a pro quote.
FAQs
How much does it cost to paint a room yourself?
Usually $50–$200 in paint and supplies for an average room (1–2 gallons plus rollers, tape and drop cloths) — versus $300–$1,000 for a professional, since you're not paying for labor.
How much does a painter cost per square foot?
Interior painting runs about $2–$6 per square foot including labor and materials, and exterior $1.50–$4 per square foot. Per-room pricing is common too, at roughly $300–$1,000 a room.
Is it worth painting kitchen cabinets vs replacing?
Painting cabinets ($900–$3,800) costs far less than new cabinets ($5,000–$15,000+) and refreshes the look, as long as the boxes are in good shape. Prep and a durable enamel are what make it last.