How the painting estimate calculator is calculated
gallons = paintable area × coats ÷ coverage per gallon (round up to whole cans)
job price = (paint + hours × labor rate + supplies) × (1 + markup)
hours = paintable area × coats ÷ painting speed
Worked example: a 14 by 12 ft room, two coats
These are the example defaults loaded above: an 8 ft ceiling, 2 doors of 21 sq ft, 2 windows of 15 sq ft, 350 sq ft per gallon, $45 a gallon, 125 sq ft an hour at $45, $25 of supplies and a 25% markup.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wall area, 2 x (14 + 12) x 8 | 416 sq ft |
| Less 2 doors and 2 windows (72 sq ft) | 344 sq ft paintable |
| Two coats | 688 sq ft to cover |
| Paint, 1.97 gal, buy 2 at $45 | $90.00 |
| Labor, 5.504 hours at $45 | $247.68 |
| Supplies | $25.00 |
| Cost to you | $362.68 |
| Markup at 25% | $90.67 |
| Job price | $453.35 |
Every default in the calculator is an example so you can see a result straight away. None is a market average. Replace each with your own costs and rates.
This prices the job, not just the paint
The house painting cost calculator answers how many gallons a room or house needs. This page starts from one room and goes on to the number you quote: paint, your labor, supplies and your markup. Use the gallons from either one; the arithmetic is the same.
Why painting speed is an input
Labor is the biggest line and the least certain. Instead of guessing a flat labor figure, enter how many square feet you cover in an hour including masking and cutting in, and the hours follow from the area and the number of coats. Time your own crew on a real room rather than trusting any published figure.
What is left out
Ceilings, trim, doors as surfaces, patching and primer are not in the area. Add a second pass for a ceiling by treating it as another room with its own length and width, and set the wall height to 0, or price the extras as separate lines on the estimate.
Turn this into an estimate or invoice
The button under the result carries these lines into the document generator, ready to edit. To price the whole job section by section with waste and a deposit, open the cost estimator set up for painting. For painting designs and presets, see the painting invoice page.
Related calculators
- House painting cost calculatorGallons of paint and a cost check
- Markup calculatorTurn markup into margin and back
Questions people ask
How do I estimate the price of a painting job?
Work out the paintable wall area, multiply by coats, then price the paint by the gallon and the labor by hours. Add supplies and your markup.
How do I find the wall area of a room?
Add the room's length and width, double it, and multiply by the wall height. Subtract the area of doors and windows.
What is the difference between this and the paint calculator?
The paint calculator is for quantity and a cost check. This one turns room size into the job price you quote, with labor and markup.
Where do coverage and painting speed come from?
Coverage is printed on the paint can. Painting speed is yours to time on a real job. The defaults here are examples only.
Why are gallons rounded up?
Paint is sold in whole cans, so you pay for the full can even if you use part of it.
How do I turn this into an estimate?
Use the button under the result to carry the labor and paint lines into an estimate, quote or invoice, ready to edit.