wall painting with white paint using a paint roller

Interior painting cost: How much do painters charge in the US?

Get a free quote now

Post to find a price. It's free and only takes a minute.

Price guide

$150 - $2,000

low

$150

median

$1,000

high

$2,000

Low, median and high bar chart distribuiton

Last Updated on

Key Facts

  • Professional painters prevent common mistakes like patchy walls and uneven lines, giving your home that fresh, polished look that DIY often misses
  • Being clear about what you need (room size, paint type, timeline) helps you find the right painter and get accurate quotes without surprises
  • Different rooms require different approaches. For instance, bathrooms tend to be simpler projects, while living rooms need more preparation and time due to furniture management and larger wall surfaces.

Looking to brighten your home with fresh paint? You're making a smart investment! Studies reveal that interior painting delivers one of the best returns of any home improvement project, often adding twice the value of what you spend.

Today, professional interior painting typically costs between $1.50 and $6 per square foot, with most homeowners spending around $3,000 for a complete 2,000-square-foot home refresh. This price varies based on room complexity, wall condition, and paint quality. To help you set a realistic budget for your space, this guide will break down the costs and all the factors involved in painting your house

Average cost of interior house painting

Disclaimer: Airtasker’s cost estimates come from thorough research on industry and third-party rates. Please only use the listed prices as a benchmark when setting your budget.

Painting is one of the smartest ways to refresh your living space without breaking the bank! It can instantly brighten rooms, hide those annoying imperfections, and create a completely new feel throughout your home. In the table below, you’ll find what to expect depending on property size:

Room

Estimated price

Bathroom

$150 – $450

Kitchen

$130 – $750

Bedroom

$300 – $960

Dining Room

$300 – $1,000

Living Room

$600 – $2,000


a man painting a wallA man painting a wall with a roller. (Source: iStock)

Bathroom

Averaging between $150 to $450, the bathroom costs less than the other rooms since it’s often the smallest space in the house, but the rate is higher if you’re revamping a master bathroom. Its accessible walls, ceiling, and trim make it a straightforward interior paint job. 

Kitchen

Like bathrooms, kitchens are also relatively easier to paint due to cabinetry. Interior kitchen painting costs around  $300 to $750. If you include kitchen cabinets, you’ll likely spend another $50 to $260.

Bedroom

The cost of painting a bedroom depends on its layout and size and whether it’s a quick job or an extensive project. The cost of painting a 12x12 room can range from $400 to $950, but painting a bigger one, like a master bedroom, can cost more. 

Dining Room

Expect to pay around $300 to $1,000 to paint the dining area. Tables, chairs, and other furniture pieces can make moving or working around during a paint job longer and more demanding. 

Living Room

Living rooms are often the biggest areas in the house and accommodate multiple furniture items like tables, couches, and shelves. This increases the complexity and interior house paint costs, which range from $600 to $2,000.

a man painting the ceilingA man painting the ceiling with a roller. (Source: iStock)

What affects house interior painting costs?

On top of the prices listed above, these factors can dictate how much it costs to paint a room or other parts of the house. 

Location

Where you live significantly influences how much it costs to paint a room professionally. For instance, the interior painting cost in the Northeast region can be higher than in other regions like the Midwest. 

Region
Price

Midwest

$1,500

Northeast

$2,100

Northwest

$2,000

Southwest

$1,900

Southeast

$1,900


Labor

Painters can charge a minimum labor fee, but the rate could be higher based on where you live and how many people you’ll need for the job. Prepare to be flexible, as your painter may price per square foot of coverage or floor space, per room, per hour, or per day. 

If it’s a small paint job, you can ask how much a handyman charges to paint a room and the basis for their rate to set your budget. 

House type

Determining how much to paint a house's interior also depends on the type of residence. Naturally, the price to paint the interior of a 1500-square-foot house will be different from that of a studio apartment. Costs are also different for an interior painting job for a condominium unit and a mobile home. 

House type

Estimated price

Apartment

$1,500 – $4,800

Condominium unit

$1,800 – $5,000

Mobile home

$2,000 – $4,200

House

$3,000 – $14,000

Custom interior painting

You can opt for custom interior paint jobs, such as two-tone walls, patterns, sponging techniques, or stencils for a more personalized touch in your room. Confirm with your painter if there will be any added cost to paint a ceiling.  

Paint type 

The kind of paint and interior color you’ll use also determine the total cost to paint a room. You need to assess the cost per gallon of the paint finish, such as flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss paint. You’ll also need at least a can of primer, so include that in the cost calculation. 

Planning to paint an office space? Check out this Commercial Painting Cost Guide to get an idea of how much to spend on a project.

Find expert painters near you

The DIY cost to paint a house interior may be less expensive, but you’ll need to spend time, effort, and resources on the prep work it requires to get the job right. That’s why it’s better to hire a professional house interior painter to transform your home. 


To post a task on Airtasker, complete the request form and tell as much as possible about the paint job to book a professional faster. Here are some suggestions on what to include in your listing:

  • Your budget

  • Your location

  • Your house size, room type, or number of rooms

  • The type of paint job (standard or custom paint job)

Remember that the more details you provide in your listing, the easier it will be for Taskers to offer an estimated cost to paint your house interior. 

FAQs

Every three to five years is a good rule of thumb. Depending on your lifestyle, daily activities, and renovation plans, you may need to do it sooner than later. Keep an eye on your walls and other surfaces to gauge when it’s time for a paint upgrade. If the paint looks dull and faded, it’s probably time for a refresh.

You should expect the process to take three to five days, depending on the size of your home. However, know that the duration will vary considering the paint job coverage. For instance, it may only take one day to paint a 1-bedroom wall, but longer if the painter will also work on the ceilings, windows, doors, and moldings. 

A gallon of paint typically covers a 400-square-foot room, which is roughly the size of a standard living room. When estimating how much paint to buy, remember that you may need more than one coat of paint and a primer. 

Find interior painters, fast

Post a task

Related price guides

Related articles