Cost to hire a painter
$333 – $999$333$333–$999$999
333 sq ft of walls, 2 coats · national average prices
Paint to buy2 gal2 gal2 gal1 coat: 1 gal · 2 coats: 2 gal · 3 coats: 3 gal
Paintable area333 sq ft333 sq ft333 sq ftWalls minus 51 sq ft of openings
DIY paint cost$80$80$80Paint and primer only
Key takeaways- Hiring a painter costs about 8.3× the DIY paint cost for this room ($333 – $999 vs $80).
- A third coat would add 1 gal of paint ($40).
- Doors and windows remove 51 sq ft from 384 sq ft of gross wall.
Professional painting estimate
- Walls (333 sq ft)Typical per-sq-ft painter rates include paint and standard prep.$333 – $999
DIY vs hiring a painter
Detailed numbers
Gallons by number of coats| Coats | Wall paint | Ceiling paint | Paint cost |
|---|
| 1 | 1 gal | — | $40 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 gal | — | $80 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 gal | — | $120 |
|---|
DIY vs hiring a painter| Option | Estimated cost | Notes |
|---|
| DIY | $80 | Paint and primer only |
|---|
| Professional painter | $333 – $999 | Labor and paint, standard prep |
|---|
Show the math
- Wall area = 2 × (12 + 12) ft × 8 ft = 384 sq ft
- − 1 door(s) × 21 − 2 window(s) × 15 = 333 sq ft paintable
- Wall paint = 333 × 2 coat(s) ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 1.9 → 2 gal
- DIY cost = $80.00
- Painter = 333 sq ft × $1–$3/sq ft × 1 = $333 – $999