Interior Painting Costs Explained

What is being measured

Wall area is calculated from perimeter and ceiling height, which is why a room with nine or ten foot ceilings costs more than the same footprint at eight feet. Ceilings are additional area again, and are more labour-intensive to cut in and coat evenly.

Trim is priced by linear measurement and complexity. Baseboards, casings, doors, closet interiors and window surrounds each add hours, and a heavily trimmed older room can carry more labour than its wall area suggests.

Repairs and surface condition

• • Nail holes and small dents — minor, absorbed into normal preparation
• • Hairline cracks and settled joints — moderate filling and sanding
• • Failed patches, water staining or previous poor work — significant additional time
• • Previously oil-based woodwork — requires a bonding primer before finish coats
• • Wallpaper removal — a separate scope item and often substantial

Coats, colour and product

Two finish coats is the standard. A primer coat is added where the surface is bare, repaired, stained or where the colour change is significant. Product grade also affects both cost and result — better paints generally cover more consistently and stand up to cleaning, which matters most in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways.

What reduces cost

• • Grouping rooms into one project rather than separate visits
• • Keeping the existing colour family to avoid an extra coat
• • Clearing rooms yourself before the crew arrives
• • Deciding on colours and sheens before the start date