How Much It Costs to Paint a Room or an Entire House

Whether you're updating the look of your home or making preparations to sell, a fresh coat of paint can make your space look cleaner, brighter, and more spacious. While it's possible to paint the interior of your home on your own, it can be a time-consuming project with a potentially sub-par outcome.

If you're not sure you're up to the task, your best bet is to hire a professional. To get a better idea of the average cost to paint a room in each state, we contacted the professionals at HomeAdvisor. Also, a painting expert shares their top tips on how to hire a professional painter and make sure the paint job stays on budget.

Average Costs to Hire a Painter in 2024

Before you hire a pro, it's a good idea to figure out how much the project will likely cost you, as well as the variables that will affect the total cost. High or vaulted ceilings, detailed trims or moldings, room size, and the cost of labor in your area will all influence the final bill.

To Paint One Room

In general, the average cost of painting one room in 2024 ranges from $150 to $2,000, depending on the size of the room. This does not include ceilings, trim, or the cost of the paint. According to the True Cost Guide, you can expect to pay the following:

• Bathroom: $150–$300
• Bedroom and kitchen: $300–$750
• Living room: $900–$2,000

To Paint a Home's Interior

To get an estimate of how much it would cost to paint an entire home's interior, HomeAdvisor gave us a state-by-state breakdown, detailed below. These 2024 estimates are based on how much HomeAdvisor member homeowners in the area reported they spent painting the interior of their homes.

National Average: $1,997

• Alabama: $1,988
• Alaska: $2,762
• Arizona: $2,075
• Arkansas: $1,644
• California: $1,990
• Colorado: $1,873
• Connecticut: $2,173
• Delaware: $1,107
• Florida: $1,718
• Georgia: $2,000
• Hawaii: $3,614
• Idaho: $2,250
• Illinois: $1,476
• Indiana: $1,635
• Iowa: $1,719
• Kansas: $2,196
• Kentucky: $2,008
• Louisiana: $1,836
• Maine: $1,488
• Maryland: $2,183
• Massachusetts: $2,144
• Michigan: $2,054
• Minnesota: $1,632
• Mississippi: $2,110
• Missouri: $1,392
• Montana: $1,720
• Nebraska: $1,626
• Nevada: $1,456
• New Hampshire: $1,780
• New Jersey: $2,595
• New Mexico: $2,800
• New York: $1,693
• North Carolina: $1,911
• North Dakota: $871
• Ohio: $1,714
• Oklahoma: $2,218
• Oregon: $1,669
• Pennsylvania: $1,777
• Rhode Island: $1,838
• South Carolina: $2,143
• South Dakota: $2,500
• Tennessee: $1,779
• Texas: $2,440
• Utah: $2,077
• Vermont: $2,925
• Virginia: $1,965
• Washington: $2,716
• West Virginia: $1,154
• Wisconsin: $1,698
• Wyoming: $1,712*

*HomeAdvisor is still gathering data on this location for its True Cost Guide. This number serves as an average and is based on costs provided by painting services in each state's capitol city zip code.

Factors That Affect the Cost to Paint a Room

Various factors can impact the final cost of getting a room professionally painted, including your location, the size of the room, the complexity of the job, and even the paint type. Below, we go over these factors in detail so you can get a good idea of what to expect.

Room Size and Type

This one is a bit obvious, but the size of the room you want to be painted is a factor that can greatly determine the cost. A large room with high ceilings, such as your primary bedroom or living room, will typically cost much more to paint than a small room because it requires more paint, more supplies, and additional labor hours.

According to HomeAdvisor, the average interior paint job is priced at $2 to $6 per square foot. Additionally, painting a kitchen may cost less than painting a living room since the cabinets take up much of the wall space (unless, of course, you want to get the cabinets painted too.)

Paint Type and Quality

While it may be hard to choose the right color for your space, you also have to choose the right type of paint and finish. There are two main different types of paint: latex-based and oil-based paints.

• Latex-based paint is long-lasting, durable, and a great option for main living spaces.
• Oil-based paint is best for humid areas in your home, like your bathroom or kitchen, as it performs better against moisture over time.

According to HomeAdvisor, the average gallon of paint costs around $20 to $30, but higher-end designer brands can cost up to $100 per gallon.

You also have to decide on the right finish: matte or glossy, the latter costing about $2 more per gallon than matte, according to HomeAdvisor. The glossier, the pricier.

Where You Live

Where you live can make a big difference in how much it will cost to paint the interior of your home. Higher cost of living areas will typically make hiring a professional painter more expensive. Always research various professionals in your area and determine what option is best for your budget.

Color Choice

Yes, your choice of color can make an impact on the final bill, especially if you're springing for an accent wall. According to HomeAdvisor, accent walls can cost anywhere from 20% to 30% more than a room with one paint color due to the extra paint and supplies needed to do the job. Choosing one paint color for your entire house will be the cheapest way to go.

Another reason why your color choice may create a pricier paint job is if the original wall paint was a darker color and you decide on a lighter color for that space. More coats of paint and primer will be needed to completely cover the original wall color.

Materials Used

Many materials are needed to complete a paint job, including brushes, rollers, trays, painter's tape, and drop cloths. Higher quality brushes and rollers will cost more yet create a better outcome, so you'll have to decide what is important to you when choosing what company to hire.

When researching companies, ask what type of materials they use to do the job to determine what is right for you. The painting professionals may also require additional materials for a more complex paint job—think bigger house, intricate cabinet or trim painting, or using a variety of colors.

Why You Should Hire a Professional Painter

Anyone can paint a wall, which is why painting is a popular DIY project. But if you want a first-rate finish for the living room, foyer, or another high-profile part of the home, you'll get the best results by bringing in a pro. Here are a few other reasons:

• They'll know the best kind of paint for the project—flat finish for that formal dining room, eggshell for the high-traffic kitchen, durable semi-gloss for the trim, etc.
• They'll do all of the necessary prep work, from sanding away rough edges to filling gouges with spackling compound.
• They'll apply the paint with an expert touch, feathering edges for a smooth finish and eliminating streaks and drip marks, which is especially important with bold paint colors.

HomeAdvisor also recommends that homeowners hire a pro if the project includes a lot of hard-to-reach areas, like stairwells and cathedral ceilings. The scaffolding or extra-tall ladders required for this kind of job add too much cost and safety risk.

Cons

While there are many pros to hiring a professional painter, there can also be some drawbacks. Here are the top cons to consider.

• Hiring a professional painter is more expensive than doing it yourself. Professional painters are paid hourly, so if you have a large space, the bill can increase pretty quickly. In addition to labor costs, you'll have to pay for the materials.
• Hiring a professional can disturb your daily life. In addition to the workers coming in and out of your home, the mess and noises might also bother you.
• When going pro, you will also need to work with their schedules. You might need to change your plans to be around when they're working. If you choose to DIY the paint project, you can choose when you paint and don't have to alter your plans.

Tips for Hiring a Pro and Staying on Budget

Here are DiClerico's top tips for hiring a professional painter and saving money on your paint job.

Plan the Project During the Offseason

Homeowners on a budget should plan the project for the winter months when painting contractors tend to lower their rates. The bigger the job, the more bargaining power you have, so if you're planning multiple projects, consider combining them and negotiating for the best possible price.

Pick an Option Based on Your Budget

Keep in mind that, depending on the project, pros will often be able to offer a good, better, best option. Let's say you live in an old home with plaster walls that are covered in dozens of coats of paint. For a perfectly smooth finish, the contractor will likely need to remove every last layer with a heavy-duty grinding tool and then essentially start from scratch. That's time-consuming and costly.

But if you can live with minor imperfections, the painter can probably get away with a light sanding of the top coats, significantly lowering the labor costs. It's important to have this discussion upfront so that you and your contractor are on the same page.

Get Multiple Estimates

Narrow your list of potential contractors down to a handful and then get bids from each to make sure they're within the same price range. If one seems too high or too low, ask additional questions to understand why.

Be Thorough in the Interview

Some key questions to ask include:

• How long have you been in business?
• Are you licensed and insured?
• Do you do the painting yourself or hire it out to subs?
• Can you provide references from previous clients?
• Do you guarantee your work? If so, for how long?

Review Their Credentials

Make sure potential painters are licensed and insured, so you aren't left with repairs or financial hassles after they complete the job. Sometimes a bid that comes in really low can end up costing you in the long run if that contractor is unqualified and makes critical and costly mistakes.

Check for Lead

If your home was built before 1978, older layers of paint might contain lead. If this is the case, your painting contractor will need to safely contain the hazard following the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule.

Determine a Payment Plan

A small deposit is customary, but never pay more than one-third of the total cost upfront. If a contractor insists on cash, that's often a red flag (check is preferred). And don't make the final payment until you're 100% satisfied with the result.