Interior painting is one of the fastest ways to refresh your home’s look, but how much should you budget for it? In this guide, we break down interior painting costs for U.S. homeowners. You’ll learn the national average price, see how costs vary in Florida, California, and Texas, and get specific examples by home size (1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 sq. ft.) and by room type (bedroom, kitchen, bathroom).
We’ll also compare DIY vs. professional painting – outlining the pros, cons, and cost differences. The goal is to give you clear, helpful information so you can plan your painting project with confidence.
National Average Interior Painting Cost
On a national scale, homeowners spend around $2,000 on average to paint a home’s interior. Of course, this number can vary widely based on the size and condition of the home. Typical whole-house interior painting projects range anywhere from about $1,000 on the low end for a small space up to $5,000 or more for large homes with multiple rooms.
In terms of pricing by area, many professional painters charge roughly $2 to $6 per square foot of floor space for interior painting. This means if you have an average-sized home, you might be looking at roughly $3 per square foot as a middle-ground estimate. Keep in mind that this usually includes the labor and standard materials (like paint and basic prep work for walls).
High-end jobs (using premium paint or including detailed trim and ceiling work) will tend toward the upper end of the range, while simple repainting of walls in a smaller home will fall on the lower end.
What influences your interior painting cost? Home size is the biggest factor – more square footage means more paint and more labor. But other variables play a role too, such as the quality of paint you choose, the number of coats needed (going from a dark to a light color might require an extra coat), and any prep work like patching drywall or moving furniture. These factors can nudge your cost higher or lower, but to start budgeting, it helps to use the national averages as a guideline.
Regional Cost Variations: Florida vs. California vs. Texas
Location is another key factor in interior painting cost. Prices can vary from state to state due to differences in labor rates, cost of living, and even typical home sizes. Here’s a quick comparison using Florida, California, and Texas as examples:
Florida:
Interior painting services in Florida tend to be slightly more affordable than the national average. Due to a somewhat lower cost of labor in many Florida regions, homeowners might find quotes on the lower end of the scale.
For example, a full interior paint job that might cost $2,000 elsewhere could be closer to around $1,500–$1,800 in some parts of Florida. In terms of square footage pricing, Florida painters often charge roughly $2.25 to $3.50 per sq. ft. (with about $3 per sq. ft. being common for a typical job). This means painting a medium-sized home can average around 10–15% less in Florida compared to high-cost areas.
California:
In California, expect interior painting costs to hit the higher end of the spectrum. The cost of living and wages in California are higher, and that reflects in painting quotes. Professional painters in California may charge closer to $3 to $6 per sq. ft. for interiors, especially in large metropolitan areas.
So while the typical project cost for a whole-house paint job might be similar to the national average (often around $2,000 or more for an average home), California homeowners could see higher bids if their home is large or the job is complex. In short, painting a given space in California generally costs more than it would in Florida or Texas, largely due to labor rates.
Texas:
Interior painting costs in Texas fall somewhere in between. Per-square-foot rates in Texas are often fairly moderate (around $2 to $4 per sq. ft.), similar to national averages or slightly lower. However, Texas homes tend to be spacious, which can increase the total project price. It’s not uncommon for a full interior paint job in Texas to end up a bit above the national average in total dollars – not because the painters charge more per foot, but because there’s simply more square footage to cover in many Texas houses.
As an example, if the average Texas home interior paint job comes in around $2,400 (slightly higher than the U.S. average), that could be attributed to larger room counts and layout rather than expensive paint rates. Overall, Texas residents enjoy reasonable painting prices per unit area, but bigger homes can mean bigger totals.
Interior Painting Cost by Home Size (Square Footage)
One of the quickest ways to ballpark your interior painting cost is by considering your home’s square footage. Below are example cost ranges for painting the interior of homes of different sizes. These estimates assume painting of the main walls in average condition with a typical quality paint:
- 1,000 sq. ft. Home: Approximately $3,000 – $4,000. (This would be for a smaller home or condo. The range can vary based on how many rooms that 1,000 sq. ft. is divided into and whether ceilings and trim are included. On average, expect around mid-$3,000s for a basic job.)
- 1,500 sq. ft. Home: Approximately $4,500 – $6,000. (This is a common size for a modest single-family home. At roughly 1,500 square feet, painting costs tend to increase but still hover around a few thousand dollars. Closer to $4,500 would be if you’re just doing walls with minimal prep, whereas $6,000 might include extra work like trim or multiple paint colors.)
- 2,000 sq. ft. Home: Approximately $6,000 – $8,000. (For a larger home, labor and paint needs are greater. Costs in the lower $6k range would cover standard walls in good condition, and toward $8k might include additional surfaces like baseboards, doors, and ceilings, or higher-end paint products. It’s worth noting that 2,000 sq. ft. is above the national average home size, so not every project will reach this range, but it’s typical for bigger interior jobs.)
These figures boil down to roughly $3 to $4 per square foot for most average homes when calculating based on floor area. If you only need to paint part of your home (say, just the living areas and not bedrooms, or only the downstairs of a two-story house), your cost will be proportionally less.
Conversely, if you have a lot of intricate trim, high ceilings, or you’re painting every nook and cranny (walls, ceilings, trim, and doors), the costs could push a bit higher than the ranges above – potentially up to $5 or $6 per sq. ft. in a high-detail scenario. Always consider that these are general estimates. For a precise quote, a painter will evaluate your specific square footage and other details in person.
Interior Painting Cost by Room Type
If you’re not painting the whole house and instead plan to paint specific rooms, it helps to know typical costs for those spaces. Different room types have different sizes and challenges that affect the price. Here’s a breakdown of common rooms and what it usually costs to paint them:
Bedroom:
For an average bedroom (say about 120–150 sq. ft. of floor space), the cost typically ranges from $300 to $800 for a professional paint job. A smaller bedroom or a simple repaint (same color, no repairs needed) might be on the lower end of that range.
A larger bedroom or one with high ceilings or lots of trim (windows, doors, crown molding) could move toward the higher end. Master bedrooms (primary bedrooms), which are often bigger, can cost more – sometimes $600 to $1,200 or so, depending on size. The price includes walls and usually the ceiling; adding closets or extra trim will add a bit more.
Kitchen:
Painting a kitchen often costs a bit less than a bedroom, typically around $200 to $500. Why generally cheaper? Kitchens usually have less wall area to paint because cabinets, backsplashes, and appliances cover much of the space. For example, if your kitchen has cabinetry taking up most walls, a painter might only need to paint the upper wall sections and perhaps the ceiling.
A small kitchen might even be as low as ~$200-$300 since there’s minimal wall area. However, if your kitchen has an eat-in area with more open wall space, or if you’re also painting a connected dining area, costs can go higher. (Note: Painting kitchen cabinets is a separate, more labor-intensive project with its own higher cost; here we’re just talking about walls and ceilings.) In general, expect the kitchen to be one of the lower-cost rooms to repaint inside the home.
Bathroom:
A small bathroom is another lower-cost area – usually in the range of $150 to $400 to paint. Like kitchens, bathrooms have limited wall space (due to mirrors, showers, tile surrounds, etc.), but they do require the right type of paint (moisture-resistant paint is recommended for high-humidity areas). A half-bath or powder room on the smaller side might only cost a couple hundred dollars.
A larger full bathroom (with more wall area or perhaps a vanity area) would be on the higher end. Painters also need to work around fixtures and may need extra time to ensure paint adheres well in a damp environment, but overall the square footage to cover is small, keeping costs relatively low.
Living rooms
What about other rooms? Living rooms and large family rooms tend to be more expensive – often in the $600 to $1,500+ range – because they’re larger spaces. If you have a vaulted two-story living room, that will cost extra due to high walls and ladder work.
Dining rooms or hallways
Dining rooms or hallways might fall in the middle depending on size (perhaps a few hundred dollars each). But for most homeowners, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms are common painting projects, and the figures above give a sense of what to budget for those individual rooms.
DIY vs. Hiring Professional Painters (Cost Comparison & Pros/Cons)
Should you tackle an interior paint job yourself or hire a professional painter? The answer often comes down to budget vs. convenience/quality. Painting is a project many handy homeowners can do on their own, but it’s also labor-intensive and requires a certain level of skill for best results. Let’s compare the two approaches in terms of cost, pros, and cons:
DIY Interior Painting
Going the do-it-yourself route can save you a significant amount of money. If you paint a room yourself, you’ll primarily spend on paint and supplies. For example, painting an average room might require 2 gallons of paint (roughly $30–$60 per gallon for good quality paint) plus rollers, brushes, tape, drop cloths, and other materials (perhaps $50–$150 in supplies if you don’t have them already).
In total, you might spend around $200 to $300 to paint a single room DIY. In contrast, hiring a pro for that room could cost closer to $600–$800 when you factor in labor. For an entire house, the DIY cost might be a few hundred dollars in paint and tools, whereas professionals would charge a few thousand. The trade-off is that with DIY you invest your own time and effort instead of money. Consider DIY if you have the patience and physical ability to do the prep, painting, and cleanup properly.
Pros of DIY Painting
- You save money on labor – typically the biggest portion of a painting bill – and you’ll often spend only a third (or even less) of what a professional crew might charge.
- You also have full control over the timing and pace of the project; you can paint at your convenience, one room at a time.
- Many homeowners also enjoy the personal satisfaction of completing a home improvement project themselves and take pride in the result. It can be a rewarding experience if you like hands-on work.
Cons of DIY Painting
- It’s time-consuming and physically demanding. What a team of painters might finish in a day or two could take you several weekends.
- You’ll need to purchase or borrow a fair number of tools and materials (brushes, rollers, trays, ladder, tape, patch kits, etc.), which add to the cost and require know-how to use effectively.
- There’s also a skill factor – achieving clean lines, smooth coverage, and an even finish is harder than it looks. Mistakes like drips, uneven coats, or splatters can happen, and fixing them can be frustrating.
- Finally, any prep work (such as repairing drywall or removing old wallpaper) and cleanup (like washing out brushes and safely disposing of paint cans) will be on your plate.
In short, DIY painting can save money, but you’re trading dollars for your own time, effort, and risk of a less-than-professional result.
Hiring Professional Painters:
Bringing in the pros will cost more money, but it comes with valuable benefits. Professional painters handle all the labor, prep, and cleanup. For a typical room, as noted, you might pay a few hundred dollars in labor – usually $20–$50 per hour per painter, or a flat project rate that equates to about $2–$6 per square foot.
For whole-home projects, it’s not unusual to get quotes in the several-thousand-dollar range (depending on your home size, as detailed earlier). While the monetary cost is higher than DIY, the idea is that you’re paying for expertise, speed, and convenience. A crew might paint your entire home in a couple of days, whereas it could take you many weeks of spare time to do the same.
Pros of Hiring a Pro:
- You’ll get a high-quality finish in most cases. Experienced painters know how to prep surfaces (sanding, priming, filling holes) so that the paint job looks smooth and beautiful.
- They have the right tools and techniques to cut in edges cleanly, roll on paint evenly, and handle tricky areas. Professionals are also much faster – what could be a month-long DIY project might be wrapped up in a long weekend by a good crew.
- Another big plus is zero hassle for you: you won’t need to climb ladders, move heavy furniture, or deal with paint fumes and splatters. The painters take care of protecting your floors and furniture, and they clean up when done.
- Many reputable painting companies are licensed and insured, meaning if something goes wrong (like an accidental spill or damage, or a painter getting injured on the job), they have coverage – giving you extra peace of mind.
- Ultimately, hiring professionals is often more efficient and yields a result that can increase your home’s appeal and even value (a neat, well-done paint job makes a great impression).
Cons of Hiring a Pro:
- The primary downside is higher cost. You’re paying for the painters’ labor, expertise, and overhead, so a project will cost significantly more than just the price of paint.
- For budget-conscious homeowners, the price tag of a full interior paint job can be a hurdle. Additionally, you’ll have to schedule the work and potentially deal with having contractors in your home for a period of time (which can be an inconvenience, though short-term).
- There’s also an element of less personal involvement – if you enjoy DIY, you might feel you’re missing out on that hands-on experience. However, for most, the convenience and quality are well worth it.
- To mitigate costs, you could choose a hybrid approach: maybe hire pros for the most visible areas or high-risk parts (like that tall stairwell or the textured ceiling) and DIY smaller, simpler rooms yourself.
In summary, DIY painting is cheapest but demands sweat equity, while professional painting delivers top-notch results at a higher price. Think about the scope of your project, your own skill level and free time, and how critical a perfect finish is for you.
For a simple bedroom or two, DIY might be quite feasible. For a whole house or any situation where you want a flawless look (and don’t want to spend your free time with a roller in hand), hiring painters is the way to go. Either way, a fresh coat of paint will beautify your home – it’s just a matter of deciding the best method to get it done.
Make Your Home Beautiful – Get Started with Paintlogs
Interior painting can transform your living space and boost your home’s value. Whether you choose to do it yourself or bring in professionals, knowing the cost expectations will help you plan wisely. If you’re feeling ready to freshen up your home’s interior with new colors, why not let the professionals handle the hard work? Paintlogs is here to help make your painting project effortless and stress-free.
Our experienced team delivers quality results at competitive prices, and we’re dedicated to exceptional customer service. Contact Paintlogs today to request a free quote or book a consultation – and take the first step toward giving your home a beautiful new look. We’re happy to answer any questions and guide you through the process. Let us help you bring color and new life to your home’s interior!