Painting cluster
Painting Cost: Interior, Exterior and Labor Prices
Painting quotes vary more than almost any other trade, because prep work is invisible in the final price. This hub gathers the RenoCalc Hub painting guides — coverage math, interior and exterior estimating, labor rates and deck staining — so you can tell a thorough bid from a cheap one.
- Labor is 70-85% of a professional painting bid; paint itself is minor.
- One gallon covers roughly 350-400 sq ft per coat on primed walls.
- Prep — patching, caulking, masking — is where cheap quotes cut corners.
Guides in this cluster
Interior Painting Cost Calculator: 2026 US Prices per Room
Painting an interior room costs $350-$1,100 in 2026 depending on ceiling height, coats, and paint tier. This guide gives you real 2026 US prices per room and per square foot — with a calculator that includes trim, ceilings, and regional labor.
Read guideHouse Painting Estimate Calculator: 2026 Exterior Cost by Home Size
Painting the exterior of an average US home costs $3,800-$11,500 in 2026 depending on size, stories, and siding type. This guide gives you real 2026 exterior painting prices by home size — with a calculator that adjusts for siding, prep, and ZIP.
Read guideExterior House Painting Cost Estimator: 2026 US Prices by Siding & Size
Painting the outside of a US home costs $3,800–$11,500 in 2026, driven mostly by siding type, condition and how many stories the crew has to reach. Here's the 2026 pricing math — with an estimator that adjusts for your ZIP.
Read guidePainting Labor Cost Calculator: 2026 US Rates per Square Foot & per Room
Painting labor runs $1.50–$4.00 per square foot of wall area in 2026 — before paint, prep, or trim. This guide breaks the labor line down by scope and shows how ZIP, coats and ceiling height change the number on your invoice.
Read guideHow Much Paint Do I Need? Calculator Guide
The fastest way to figure out how many gallons of paint a room actually needs — without overspending at the store.
Read guideHow Much Does It Cost to Stain a Deck? 2026 Price Guide
The average deck staining cost in 2026 is $2 to $5 per square foot for a pro and $0.40 to $0.90 per square foot DIY. Here is the full breakdown, formula, and prep checklist.
Read guideCalculators for this topic
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a house interior in 2026?
Most interior repaints run $2.50-$6.00 per square foot of floor area, or roughly $400-$900 per average room including two coats, trim and normal prep.
How much paint do I need?
Divide wall area by 350-400 sq ft per gallon per coat, then multiply by the number of coats. Deep colors over light walls usually need a primer coat as well.
Is exterior painting more expensive than interior?
Usually yes. Exterior work adds pressure washing, scraping, caulking and staging or ladder time, which pushes labor above a comparable interior job.