How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a House in 2025?
Check out the costs associated with painting your home’s interior
The average interior painting cost is around $2,021, ranging from $350 to $18,000.
Location, size, and paint quality significantly impact pricing.
Completing this job regularly enhances your home's appearance and preserves its value.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
The cost of an interior painting project ranges between $966 and $3,086, with a national average of $2,021. At about $2.75 per square foot for walls, or $4.70 per square foot including walls, trim, and ceilings, square footage makes the biggest price difference, with larger spaces and rooms costing more. Knowing what to expect can help you plan your budget confidently for your painting project. For the most accurate price, request a quote from a local interior painting pro.
Interior Painting Cost Factors
Beyond square footage and room type, several key factors influence the cost of your interior painting project.
Size
Interior painting costs between $2 and $6 per square foot, including paint and materials.
| Square footage | Average Cost to Paint Inside a Home |
|---|---|
| 800 | $1,600–$4,800 |
| 1,000 | $2,000–$6,000 |
| 1,200 | $2,400–$7,200 |
| 2,300 | $4,600–$13,800 |
| 2,500 | $5,000–$15,000 |
| 3,000 | $6,000–$18,000 |
Interior Painting by Room Type
Painting costs vary by room size—smaller areas such as bathrooms run less, while large spaces like living rooms cost more. Painting a bathroom costs less since it's typically the smallest room.
| Room Type | Square feet | Average Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom | 70 | $140–$420 |
| Bedroom | 120 | $240–$720 |
| Dining Room | 300 | $600–$1,200 |
| Kitchen | 160 | $300–$960 |
| Living room | 330 | $700–$2,000 |
Materials
A 2-gallon can of paint covers up to 800 square feet, enough for two coats in an average-sized room. A 3-gallon can cover up to 1,200 square feet. You'll need about 6 gallons of paint per coat for the average home.
Most gallons of paint cost between $15 and $40, depending on the type and finish. Flat paint averages $13 per gallon, semi-gloss interior paint costs around $17 per gallon, and high-gloss enamel paint averages $35 per gallon. VOC-free paints also average around $35 per gallon.
Gloss vs. Matte
Add roughly $2 per gallon each time you move up a gloss level—the shinier the finish, the higher the price. For an average-sized home, choosing glossy paint adds roughly $10 to your final cost. Glossy paints are more stain-resistant and easier to clean, making them ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and dining rooms.
Primer
Primer costs around $10 per gallon, covering approximately 100 square feet with a single coat. 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.
Labor
Labor costs make up 75% to 95% of the total price. Professional painters may charge by the square foot of coverage or by floor space, so discuss pricing structures with your local professional painter to understand your estimate.
Accent Walls
Plan on paying 20% to 30% more for an accent wall to cover the extra paint and prep. Custom murals push costs higher—typically $1,000 to $2,000—because they call for specialized labor.
To choose the perfect accent wall, select one with maximum focal point potential, such as:
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 Walls
Textured walls often need twice the paint of a smooth surface, which can raise your overall price by as much as 50%. Consult a local painting pro to ensure they specialize in textured wall treatments before hiring for your project.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
DIYers generally spend just $200 to $300 on supplies and can pocket $1,700 to $1,800 in labor savings. Factor in your time and effort before breaking out the roller. Hiring a local interior painting pro delivers a faster, high-quality finish—and usually comes with a workmanship warranty.
“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.”
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by measuring each wall’s length and height, then add the square footage together. Subtract doors, windows, and other areas you won’t paint. One gallon covers about 350 square feet, so divide the final paintable total by 350 to see how many gallons you’ll need. Using this quick formula keeps estimates accurate and helps you avoid last-minute paint runs.
Painting a room requires between six and ten hours based on room-specific factors. However, when undertaking the task yourself, expect that each room may take an entire day due to additional preparation, multiple coats, and clean-up. In contrast, a professional can complete painting an entire home in just one to three days. This clear breakdown enables you to plan your project schedule with precision, ensuring every step from preparation to final touches is efficiently managed.
When determining the type of paint for indoor use, high-performance latex enamel or acrylic latex paint is employed because it dries quickly and cleans easily, ensuring a durable finish on walls. For special surfaces such as cabinets, window trims, and doors, oil-based paint is preferred for its smooth, resilient finish. These high-performance options deliver superior coverage, longevity, and aesthetic value, guaranteeing a flawless result when applied by professionals.
Yes, painting your home interior in the winter is advantageous. The lower humidity in winter accelerates drying times, and professional painters are more available during the off-season. Ensure proper ventilation by opening any available windows, running fans to circulate air, and using dehumidifiers to eliminate excess moisture. This approach maximizes drying efficiency and minimizes fume retention, making winter painting a highly effective choice.
When requesting a painting estimate, your quote must list the exact square footage for every designated area. It must include all cost components, such as labor fees, material expenses, and preparatory charges for sanding and wall repairs. Additionally, the estimate must clearly specify the paint brand, finish, timeline, and any warranties on workmanship and materials. This detailed and transparent estimate guarantees complete clarity and ensures that every aspect of the project is accounted for without ambiguity.
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