House Painting Prices: What to Charge Per Room and Per Job (2026)

The short answer

Interior painting usually runs about $250 to $800 per room, and exterior painting runs roughly $1,500 to $10,000 for a whole house depending on size and stories. By surface area, interior work is often $2 to $6 per square foot and exterior $1.50 to $4, including labor and materials.

Typical prices

• Single interior room: $250 to $600
• Whole interior (average home): $1,800 to $5,000
• Trim and doors only: $200 to $600
• Single-story exterior: $1,500 to $4,500
• Two-story exterior: $4,000 to $10,000

What changes the price

• Wall and surface condition, and how much prep (patching, sanding, priming) is needed.
• Ceiling height and number of coats.
• Trim, doors, and detail work.
• Paint quality and who supplies it.

Quote the job after a walkthrough, and itemize prep

Prep is the hidden cost that eats the day, and the client cannot see it once it is painted over. Walk the job, quote the whole thing rather than per hour, and list prep as its own line so the value is clear. Use the free calculator to set your per-room and per-job pricing.