Calculators
Painting Job Estimator
Estimate a painting job price from area, coats, production rate, labour rate, paint cost, prep time, supplies and markup.
- Runs in your browser
- Nothing uploaded
The tool
Enter your numbers below. Results update as you type, and nothing leaves your browser.
Everything you enter stays on your own machine. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else, which you can confirm in your browser network tab.
What people use it for
- Quoting interior or exterior painting
- Checking a contractor's quote
- Estimating crew time
- Setting per-square-foot prices
About this tool
What the Painting Job Estimator does
Painting contractors price jobs from labour hours and materials. Labour comes from the area, number of coats and how many square feet a painter covers per hour, plus preparation. Materials come from paint quantity and price, with sundries such as tape and rollers.
It also works as a painting labor and materials estimator.
Formula
- Labour hours = area × coats ÷ production rate + prep hours
- Materials = gallons × price × (1 + supplies)
- Quote = (labour + materials) × (1 + overhead and profit)
Worked example
Using the starting values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Area to paint | 1,200 sq ft |
| Coats | 2 |
| Production rate per coat | 150 sq ft/hour |
| Preparation hours | 6 |
| Labour rate | $45.00 |
| Paint price per gallon | $45.00 |
| Coverage per gallon | 350 sq ft |
| Supplies | 10% |
| Overhead and profit | 20% |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Quote price | $1,604 |
| Price per sq ft | $1.34 |
| Labour hours | 22.0 |
| Labour cost | $990 |
| Materials cost | $347 |
| Gallons of paint | 7 |
How to read the result
Track real production rates on your jobs; ceilings, trim and cutting-in are much slower than open walls.
Price trim and doors separately for accuracy, often per linear foot or per door.
Quantities are estimates. Check product data sheets and local codes, and confirm with your supplier before ordering.
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Browse every calculator in Construction and Materials Calculators, or talk to us about websites for construction and trades businesses.
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Questions
Questions about this tool
The things clients actually want to know — costs, timelines, ownership and what happens after launch.
Usually by estimating labour hours and materials, then adding overhead and profit, or by price per square foot.
Open walls are often painted at roughly 100 to 200 sq ft per hour per coat with rollers.
Commonly 15% to 30% for overhead and profit, depending on business costs.
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