How much to charge for interior painting
Updated 26 September 2026
Interior painters usually quote a set price per room, then add for ceilings, trim and doors. Prep is the part that's easy to underprice, because filling and sanding can take longer than the painting.
Example interior painting prices
| Job | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walls in 2 bedrooms, good condition | $630 – $800 | £500 – £640 | A$950 – A$1,220 | CA$850 – CA$1,080 |
| 3 rooms with ceilings, some patching | $1,300 – $1,670 | £1,040 – £1,330 | A$1,970 – A$2,520 | CA$1,750 – CA$2,240 |
| 6 rooms with ceilings, trim and doors, extensive repairs | $3,520 – $4,500 | £2,820 – £3,600 | A$5,330 – A$6,810 | CA$4,730 – CA$6,040 |
Priced with the starting rates in our interior painting template, in each country's currency. They're a starting point, not a survey of local rates, so set your own from what your jobs take and what others charge near you.
How painters set their prices
By the room
A set price per room, with extras for ceilings and trim. It's quick to quote from a room count, and customers can compare it with other painters' prices.
By the square metre or foot
A rate per square metre or square foot of wall. It follows the real size of the job better than a room count, but you need measurements, so it suits site visits more than phone quotes.
Hours plus materials
Estimate the hours, multiply by your hourly rate and add paint and supplies. It's the best check on your room prices, but it's slower to quote and customers may question the hours.
Sample interior painting price list
The prices in our template, as a list you can adapt. Percentages change the price of the job; fixed-price extras are added on top.
| Item | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooms to paint, per room | $350 | £280 | A$530 | CA$470 |
| Include ceilings | +20% | +20% | +20% | +20% |
| Include trim & doors | +15% | +15% | +15% | +15% |
| Wall condition: Some patching needed | +15% | +15% | +15% | +15% |
| Wall condition: Extensive repairs | +35% | +35% | +35% | +35% |
| Minimum job price | $400 | £320 | A$600 | CA$540 |
Put this price list on your website
Customers answer a few questions about the job, see the price and send you their details. This is our interior painting quote form with the prices above. Try it as a customer would, then start from these prices and change any of them.
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Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Giving every room the same price. A stairwell needs planks or a tall ladder, and a room with high ceilings has far more wall to cover. Price them separately from a standard bedroom.
- Underpricing wall repairs. Walls full of holes and cracks need filling, sanding and spot priming before any paint goes on. Our template adds 15% when some patching is needed and 35% for extensive repairs.
- Throwing in ceilings and trim. They need different paint, careful cutting in and more time up a ladder. Our template adds 20% for ceilings and 15% for trim and doors.
- Forgetting colour changes. Covering a dark colour with a light one can need a primer and an extra coat. Ask what's on the walls now before you quote.
- Taking tiny jobs below cost. One feature wall still means driving there, setting up and cleaning up. Our template's minimum is $400 in the US.
Not sure what your time is worth? Work out your hourly rate with the pricing calculator, then check your job prices cover it.
Questions
- How do I price painting jobs?
- Start from a room price that pays your hourly target, then add the extras. After each job, compare the hours you spent with the hours the price allowed, and adjust.
- Should I price painting by the room or by the hour?
- By the room for most homes, because customers can compare it and you can quote without measuring every wall. Keep an hourly rate for touch-ups and small repairs, where the time is hard to predict.
- Should my price include paint?
- Including standard paint keeps the quote simple. Name the paint range and the number of coats in your quote, and charge the difference if the customer wants a premium brand.
- How do I quote a room I haven't seen?
- Ask for photos of each wall and the ceiling, plus the ceiling height. Quote from those, and say the price is confirmed once you've seen the walls up close.
- How do I put my painting prices on my website?
- Set up a quote form with your room price and extras. Customers enter the number of rooms, tick ceilings or trim, pick the wall condition and see a price range they can send you. The interior painting template starts with the prices on this page.