Painting Cost Calculator
Estimate painting costs for your home or business.
Last updated: March 2026
Total Cost
£$528
Cost per Room
£$132
Paint Needed
16 litres
Labour Hours
16 hrs
How You Compare
Your cost per room is in the bottom 72% of UK interior painting.
Industry typical: £200-£500 per room
Source: Checkatrade 2025
💡 What This Means
- ✅ At £132 per room, this is a competitive quote. Make sure it includes preparation (filling, sanding) and two coats.
- 💡 You'll need approximately 16 litres of paint. Buying in 5L tins is typically 20-30% cheaper per litre than 2.5L tins.
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What is House Painting Cost?
House painting cost covers labour, materials, and preparation work needed to paint interior or exterior surfaces. Costs vary significantly based on room size, wall condition, paint quality, and whether scaffolding is required. For exterior work, you may also want to estimate roofing costs at the same time.
The Formula
Total Cost = Wall Area (sqft) × Cost per Sqft + Paint Cost + Preparation Labour
Preparation labour includes filling cracks, sanding, priming, masking, and moving furniture. This is often underestimated but critical for a quality finish.
Worked Example
A living room with 400 sqft of wall area needs painting. Labour is £2.50/sqft, paint costs £80, and preparation labour is £100.
- Labour = 400 × £2.50 = £1,000
- Paint = £80
- Preparation = £100
- Total = £1,000 + £80 + £100 = £1,180
📌 The living room painting costs £1,180 — roughly £2.95/sqft all-in. For a standard 12×14ft room this is typical for professional work.
Why This Matters
Property value
A fresh coat of paint is consistently rated as the highest-ROI home improvement, returning 60-100% of cost in increased property value. Interior painting before sale is almost always worthwhile.
Accurate budgeting
Painting projects regularly come in over budget because people forget preparation costs. Breaking down the estimate by component prevents surprises.
Common Mistakes
❌ Skipping preparation
Painting over cracks, flaking paint, or damp patches saves time initially but the new paint will peel within months. Proper prep adds 20-30% to cost but the finish lasts 5-8 years instead of 1-2.
❌ Buying cheap paint
Budget paint requires 3-4 coats for coverage vs 1-2 coats for premium brands. The labour cost of extra coats almost always exceeds the paint savings. Premium paint is cheaper overall.
Industry Benchmarks
| Category | Good | Average | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per room (interior) | £200-300 | £300-500 | £600+ |
| Full exterior | £1,500-2,500 | £2,500-4,000 | £5,000+ |
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