Interior painting cost: per room, per square foot of wall, by state
Three rooms, 1,150 sq ft of wall: about $1,500 to $2,100, typically $1,750. That's two coats on the walls, with the contractor's overhead, profit and sales tax. Everything in, it runs $1.25 to $2.00 a sq ft of wall.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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What it costs
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| One 12 by 12 room, 384 sq ft of wall | $500 to $700 |
| Three rooms, 1,150 sq ft of wall | $1,500 to $2,100 |
| A whole house, 4,000 sq ft of wall | $5,300 to $7,300 |
About $1.25 to $2.00 a sq ft of wall, everything in.
Totals include the contractor's overhead and profit (20%) and the state's average sales tax. Prices as of November 2026.
What’s in these numbers
Each total is a typical job, priced the way a contractor’s estimate is priced:
- The walls, two coats. Two coats give an even finish and are the usual count for a repaint.
- Overhead and profit: 20%, the standard markup on a contractor’s estimate.
- Sales tax on the materials, at the state’s average rate.
The sizes are square feet of wall: a 12 by 12 room with 8 foot ceilings has 384 square feet of wall. The paint calculator works it out for any room and gives the gallons.
Not in them: ceilings, trim, doors, primer, repairs to the walls, wallpaper removal, and moving furniture. The cost to paint a house exterior covers the outside walls.
What moves the price
- Ceilings and trim. Ceilings take their own paint and a roller on a pole; trim and doors are brushed by hand. Each is priced on its own.
- Prep. Patching holes, sanding, caulking and taping off take as long as the painting in a room with a lot of trim.
- Color changes. A big change in color, dark to light especially, takes primer and sometimes a third coat.
- Height. Stairwells and vaulted ceilings need ladders or scaffolding.
- Where you live. Pick your state in the box above.
Working out your own job
- Work out the wall area: the distance around each room times the ceiling height. The paint calculator does it and takes off doors and windows.
- Type the square feet into the box above for the range at that size.
- Add ceilings and trim separately.
Common questions
How much does it cost to paint a 12 by 12 room?
The walls, 384 square feet, two coats: about $500 to $700. Ceiling and trim are extra.
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a whole house?
With about 4,000 square feet of wall, about $5,300 to $7,300, typically $6,200, for the walls in two coats.
What does interior painting cost per square foot?
$1.25 to $2.00 a sq ft of wall, two coats, with overhead, profit and sales tax included.
How long does it take to paint a 12 by 12 room?
Often about a day for the walls of one room in two coats, with drying time between the coats. Ceilings, trim and repairs add to it.
Is primer needed?
On new drywall and patches, over stains, and for a big change in color. A repaint in a similar color over sound paint usually goes on without it.