How to quote a painting job
To quote a painting job, price it in five parts: (1) measure every surface in the scope, (2) estimate labor hours from your production rates, (3) cost the paint and sundries, (4) price the prep honestly, and (5) add overheads and profit, then present a clear written quote.
The steps
- Measure the surfaces. Walk the job and measure wall, ceiling and trim areas separately — they carry different rates. Note the scope in writing: which rooms, which surfaces, how many coats, and what is excluded.
- Estimate labor hours. Apply your production rates: a typical pro covers 150–200 sq ft of wall per hour rolling, far less on trim and cutting-in. Multiply hours by your hourly rate, and add setup and cleanup time per room.
- Cost the paint and sundries. Divide surface area by coverage (about 350 sq ft per gallon per coat) to get gallons, and price at your buy cost plus a 10–25% markup. Add tape, plastic, filler, caulk and roller sleeves — sundries are real money on big jobs.
- Price the prep honestly. Patching, sanding, priming stains, moving furniture and masking floors is where quotes blow out. Walk every room and price prep as its own line — never assume walls are ready to coat.
- Add overheads and profit, then write it up. Cover insurance, vehicle, tools and admin, then add profit margin — do not quote at break-even. Present labor, paint, prep and tax as separate lines with a total, scope notes and an expiry date.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Prep — patch, sand, mask (6 hrs @ $50) | $300 |
| Labor — walls & ceilings, 3 rooms (14 hrs @ $50) | $700 |
| Trim & doors (5 hrs @ $50) | $250 |
| Paint & primer — 8 gal (incl. markup) | $320 |
| Sundries — tape, plastic, filler | $60 |
| Subtotal | $1,630 |
| Tax (8%) | $130 |
| Total | $1,760 |
FAQs
How do you quote a painting job?
Measure every surface, estimate hours from your production rates, cost the paint with a markup, price the prep as its own line, then add overheads and profit. Send it as an itemized written quote with scope and expiry.
How much should I mark up paint?
10–25% is common, covering pickup time, wastage and warranty risk. Some painters instead build materials into a single per-square-foot rate — either works if you know your numbers.
Should painting quotes be fixed price or hourly?
Fixed price wins more work and clients prefer certainty — but only quote fixed after seeing the walls. Use hourly for repair-heavy or open-ended prep where condition is unknown.