Interior Paint Cost Calculator
Interior painting can cost anywhere from $500 for a DIY bedroom refresh to $15,000+ for a pro-painted whole-house premium job. This interior paint cost calculator breaks down the total into paint, primer, supplies, and labor so you can compare DIY to pro quotes or budget a project room by room.
How Interior Paint Cost Is Calculated
Interior paint cost has four parts:
- Paint gallons: wall sq ft × coats ÷ 350 (standard coverage per gallon)
- Paint price: $25-70 per gallon depending on quality
- Labor: $1.50-3.50 per sq ft of wall area for pro; free for DIY
- Supplies and primer: $50-100 DIY supplies, $30/gal for primer if needed
Paint Price Tiers
- Economy ($25/gal): builder-grade, one-coat rarely works, covers 300-350 sq ft
- Standard ($45/gal): Behr Premium Plus, Valspar Signature, solid 2-coat coverage
- Premium ($70/gal): Sherwin-Williams Duration, Benjamin Moore Aura, one-coat on most surfaces, 10-15 year lifespan
Cost to Paint 1500 Sq Ft House Interior
For a 1500 sq ft home with 8 ft ceilings, interior wall area is roughly 4,500-5,000 sq ft (ceilings included). Using standard paint and pro labor:
- DIY: 12-14 gallons = $540-630 + $60 supplies = $600-700 total
- Pro standard: paint $540 + labor $11,250-12,500 = $11,800-13,050 total
- Pro premium: paint $840 + labor $15,750-17,500 = $16,600-18,350 total
Cost to paint 1500 sq ft house interior averages $4,500-6,500 for pro labor when only walls are painted (excluding trim and ceilings), and $11,000-13,000 for walls + ceilings + trim.
Cost to Paint 3000 Sq Ft House Interior
For a 3000 sq ft home, wall area is about 9,000-10,000 sq ft. Using standard paint and pro labor:
- DIY: 25-28 gallons = $1,125-1,260 + $60 supplies = $1,200-1,320 total
- Pro standard: paint $1,125 + labor $22,500-25,000 = $23,625-26,125 total
Cost to paint 3000 sq ft house interior averages $8,500-14,000 walls-only pro, up to $20,000-25,000 for a whole-house premium job with trim and ceilings.
Cost to Paint 1200 Sq Ft House Interior
For a 1200 sq ft home (townhouse or small starter), wall area is roughly 3,600-4,000 sq ft:
- DIY: 10-12 gallons = $450-540 + $60 = $510-600 total
- Pro standard: paint $450 + labor $9,000-10,000 = $9,450-10,450 total
Cost to paint 1200 sq ft house interior averages $3,500-5,000 walls-only, $8,500-11,000 whole-house with trim.
DIY vs Pro
- DIY saves 85-90% of total cost. Expect 2-4 days of work for a 1500 sq ft home. Best for confident painters with time.
- Pro charges for prep (hole filling, sanding, caulking) and cleanup. Expect 3-5 days for a 1500 sq ft home. Ask for a fixed-price quote, not hourly.
Cost by Room
| Room | Wall Area | DIY Cost | Pro Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedroom (12x12) | 400 sq ft | $85-130 | $600-1,400 |
| Master bedroom | 650 sq ft | $130-200 | $975-2,275 |
| Living room | 600 sq ft | $120-180 | $900-2,100 |
| Kitchen | 400 sq ft | $85-130 | $600-1,400 |
| Small bathroom | 200 sq ft | $60-90 | $300-700 |
What Drives Pro Paint Quotes Up
- Dark-to-light color changes (needs primer + 3 coats)
- Textured walls (coverage rate drops to 200-250 sq ft/gal)
- Crown molding / baseboard cutting-in
- Ceiling painting (harder to reach, slower)
- Multiple colors per room (each color = more tape, time)
- Heavy repair needs (patching, skim-coating)
- Occupied homes (need to move and cover furniture)