2026 Pricing Benchmarks
| Job | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior walls only (per sq ft) | $1.50 | $2.50 | $4.00 |
| Interior walls + ceiling + trim (per sq ft) | $2.50 | $4.00 | $6.50 |
| Cabinets (per linear ft) | $95 | $135 | $185 |
| Doors (per door, both sides) | $85 | $135 | $225 |
| Trim / baseboard (per linear ft) | $1.50 | $2.50 | $4.00 |
| Exterior siding (per sq ft) | $1.80 | $2.75 | $4.50 |
| Exterior with prep + caulk + 2 coats | $3.00 | $4.50 | $6.50 |
Paint Coverage Math
- 1 gallon covers ~350 sq ft (1 coat, primed surface)
- Most jobs require 2 coats — multiply by 2
- Add 10% waste factor
- Premium paints (Sherwin Williams Emerald, BM Aura): $75-$95/gal
- Mid-tier (Cashmere, Regal Select): $45-$65/gal
- Contractor-grade: $25-$40/gal
Time Estimates (Pro)
- Cutting in: 80-120 lin ft/hr
- Rolling walls: 200-300 sq ft/hr (1 coat)
- Spraying exterior: 600-900 sq ft/hr
- Doors (both sides, prep + 2 coats): 60-90 min each
- Cabinets (full kitchen, prep + spray): 24-40 hrs labor
Sample Bid Math (Interior, 2,000 sq ft home)
Walls only, 2 coats, mid-quality paint:
- Paint (2,000 sq ft walls / 350 = 5.7 gal × 2 coats × 1.1 waste = 12.5 gal × $50): $625
- Supplies (caulk, plastic, drop cloths, tape): $250
- Labor (2 painters × 4 days × 8 hrs × $42 burdened): $2,688
- Cost: $3,563
- 40% margin → $5,938 (~$3/sq ft)
Target Margins
- Survival: 30-40%
- Healthy: 40-50%
- Top-tier: 50%+
Bid Mistakes That Lose Money
- Underestimating prep. Repairs, sanding, caulking eat hours. Walk every wall before quoting.
- Skipping the customer's color choice impact. Dark over light = 3 coats. Always.
- Not pricing per-coat for difficult colors
- Forgetting trim color changes. Adds days.