Converting a door to a window costs between $1,000 and $3,000. Doors with side windows, also called sidelights, and a transom typically range from $1,000 to $4,000. You’ll pay more to install exterior doors than interior ones.
Updated January 31, 2024
Reviewed by Robert Tschudi, Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor.Hiring a pro for interior painting ensures quality work, expertise in dealing with room type and paint variables, and saves time.
The average cost of an interior painting project is $1,988, with costs ranging from $967 to $3,044.
The cost of interior painting depends on square footage, room type, materials and supplies, and labor fees.
Common materials for interior painting include paintbrushes, drop cloths, ladders, painting kits, rollers, tape, and trays.
Interior painting enhances aesthetic appeal, hides flaws, personalizes space, and can increase property value.
Highlights were summarized from this existing cost guide text using automation technology and were thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
The cost of an interior painting project ranges between $966 and $3,059, with a national average of $2,000. At about $2 to $6 per square foot for both materials and labor, square footage makes the biggest price difference, with larger spaces and rooms costing more.
We'll get into more specifics related to painting prices and break it down by the material cost, labor fees to hire a painter near you, and project complexity, amongst other factors.
Let's calculate cost data for you. Where are you located?
Where are you located?
| National Average | $2,000 |
| Typical Range | $966 - $3,059 |
| Low End - High End | $350 - $5,600 |
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 61,731 HomeAdvisor members.
Typically, it costs around $2 to $6 per square foot, including paint and materials, with most jobs averaging $3.50 per square foot. As we can see below, there might be some price differences when painting a house, condo, or apartment.
| Sq. ft. | Average Cost to Paint Inside a Home |
|---|---|
| 800 | $2,800 |
| 1,000 | $3,500 |
| 1,200 | $4,200 |
| 1,300 | $4,550 |
| 1,500 | $5,250 |
| 1,600 | $5,600 |
| 2,300 | $8,050 |
| 2,500 | $8,750 |
| 3,000 | $10,500 |
If you're a homeowner, you'll have more freedom to tackle this project any way you wish. Expect to pay a pro around $8,050 for a 2,300-square-foot house. For a single room, you'll spend anywhere from $150 to $2,000.
If you live in a condo, check with your homeowners association before hiring a local wall painting service or picking up a paint roller yourself. There might be rules governing your color choices. Painting a 1,200-square-foot condo typically costs around $4,200.
Painting an apartment is a great way to make it your own. You're looking at a price tag of around $3,000 to have a pro paint a 950-square-foot apartment. If you own the unit, you'll have to foot the bill. However, if you're a renter, the landlord or owner might pick up some or all of the tab. Always talk to your landlord or property manager first before picking up a brush or hiring a pro.
You might be wondering if the cost of interior painting varies by room. The answer is yes, because of the difference in square footage. Painting a bathroom costs less since it's typically the smallest room. The living room is typically the largest in the home and will cost more to paint.
| Room Type | Sq. ft. | Average Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | 70 | $150 – $300 |
| Bedroom | 120 | $300 – $750 |
| Kitchen | 160 | $300 – $750 |
| Living room | 330 | $900 – $2,000 |
Other than square footage and room type, there are a few other variables that’ll affect the cost of your home painting project:
Materials and supplies
Paint
Labor
Walls
Paint supplies cost anywhere from $3 to $200. Many painters will provide the supplies for a project when they give you their quote. But if you want to buy the supplies and pay them for labor only, it never hurts to ask if this is OK. Should you decide to DIY a paint job, have these supplies on hand to save you time and money. Here are the most common supplies needed.
| Paint Tool or Supply | Average Price Range | Tool or Supply Description |
|---|---|---|
| Paintbrush | $3 – $20 each | Trim and sash brushes for intricate work; beaver-tail handles on larger brushes for larger surfaces |
| Drop cloth | $5 – $30 each | Protects floors and furniture from drips |
| Ladder | $200 | Helps you reach high areas safely |
| Painting kit | $10 – $20 each | Includes trays, brushes, and roller heads |
| Roller | $10 – $100 each | Covers a large portion of a wall more quickly than a standard brush and cuts down on visible brush strokes |
| Tape | $3 – $10 per roll | Protects the trim and ceilings from paint droplets and splatters |
| Tray | $2 – $5 each | Lets you pour an adequate amount of paint so the paint in the container doesn’t dry out |
The right paint will depend on what you're looking for and what you want to pay. A 2-gallon can of paint can cover up to 800 square feet, which is enough to cover an average-size room in two coats, while a 3-gallon can of paint can cover up to 1,200 square feet. Here are some factors that'll determine the final cost.
Most gallons of paint cost between $20 and $30. However, some designer brands can cost as much as $100 per gallon. High-end paint brands are made of natural coloring agents, unlike standard paints made of synthetic ones. It can result in a more impactful color that absorbs more light so the room looks more vibrant.
The average home needs about 6 gallons of paint per coat. If you opt for two high-end coats, painting your entire interior may cost more than $1,000.
Painting rooms with different colors tend to cost more since you'll likely have paint left. A great way to save money is to paint your entire house or all the rooms the same color.
You'll spend about $2 per gallon or more per gloss level. The glossier the paint, the higher the cost. But for the average-size home, the price of glossy paint will only add a little over $10 to your final cost. These paints are more stain-resistant and easier to wipe down and wash, so consider using them for your kitchen, bathrooms, and some dining rooms.
It costs anywhere from $10 to $20 per can. Primer is the step most people want to skip, but applying it before that first coat of paint can help the finished product look smoother and last longer. Some brands even sell paint and primer in one. Primers come in water-based latex or oil-based types.
For walls and ceilings, use a water-based primer. And for doors, windows, metal, and woodwork, use oil-based. If you have water damage or mold stains, try a stain-blocking primer.
It'll cost around $170 to $680 to have a pro paint a single room in your home. Their rates range from about $20 to $50 per hour. While these are national averages, be prepared to be flexible as your painter might charge by the square foot of coverage or floor space.
If you choose to include an accent wall, plan to spend 20% to 30% more to cover additional paint and materials. Specialty work gets more expensive. For example, murals cost around $750 to $1,850.
Wondering which wall to paint? Choose a wall with maximum focal point potential, such as the following:
Living room: Choose the wall where the fireplace or TV is situated.
Bedroom: Choose the wall your bed sits against.
Wall art: An accent wall is a great way to complement or showcase a collection or piece of art.
Open or close a room: You can add an accent wall on one end of a narrow hallway to provide a lengthening effect.
Textured drywall can hide paint flaws and make walls look more attractive. Orange peel is the most popular drywall texture, named because it looks like an orange peel. However, painting textured drywall costs drive up painting fees by up to 50% because textured walls need more paint.
For example, where a can of paint covers 400 square feet of smooth wall, you might only get 250 square feet on a textured one. Factor in the additional surface area into your square footage when seeking professional estimates.
You could save thousands of dollars by taking care of your painting project without the help of a local interior painter. A handy homeowner can buy paint and equipment for about $200 to $300. But don’t forget to factor in the time it’ll take to do this yourself and get the materials you’ll need.
“Many homeowners will offer to buy the paint for the professional painter, thinking that they’ll save money,” says Bob Tschudi, Expert Home Building and Remodeling Contributor. “But painters usually get significant discounts from their suppliers and often pass some of that savings on to you.”
Depending on the size of the room and how much help you have, the process could take a few hours or a few days. Painting can also be physically challenging. In that case, consider the cost of hiring a painter to help you.
To determine how much paint you need, use our handy paint calculator to plug in the dimensions of your painting project. Another option is to measure your coverage area by taking the wall length times its height and subtracting any windows, doors, or other unpaintable areas.
It’ll take anywhere from six to 10 hours to paint a single room. It depends heavily on the experience of the person doing the job. Pros can get it done in a few hours, while a DIY-er may likely take two to three times as long.
Most homeowners and pros use latex paint indoors—whether that’s latex enamel or acrylic latex—since it dries quicker than oil-based paint and is easy to clean if you make any mistakes. However, for cabinets, window trims, and doors, some opt for oil-based paint for a smoother surface.
Yes, you can paint the inside of your house in the winter. There are even some benefits to doing so. Because there’s less humidity, you can expect a faster dry time, and because it’s off-season, you may find that painters have more availability.
You still need to ventilate your home to help the paint dry and keep everyone safe from paint fumes. If it’s too cold to open your windows, opt for fans, dehumidifiers, and paint with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC).
