Free painting calculator
Paint Cost Calculator
This calculator estimates paint quantity, material cost, labor cost, overhead, and target price so painting contractors can sanity-check a quote before sending it.
Use it for interior repaints, exterior projects, apartment turns, commercial rooms, and add-on paint work where wall area, coats, coverage, and labor need to be visible.
Estimate paint job cost before quoting
Enter square footage, coats, paint coverage, paint price, labor hours, hourly labor cost, overhead, and target margin to calculate gallons and price.
How it works
How the paint cost estimate works
The calculator divides total coated area by coverage per gallon, rounds up gallons, adds labor and overhead, then applies target margin.
1
Calculate coated area
Wall or surface area is multiplied by the number of coats.
2
Estimate gallons
Coated area is divided by coverage per gallon, then rounded up for purchasing.
3
Price the job
Paint, labor, and overhead are combined before margin is applied.
Field example
Example: interior repaint estimate
A painting contractor can use the result to compare material assumptions with crew time before building a customer-ready estimate.
Two coats over large rooms can change paint gallons quickly, especially with primer or color changes.
Labor can outweigh paint cost when prep, masking, furniture moving, or touch-ups are included.
The estimate should still document rooms, surfaces, exclusions, color choices, repairs, and access notes.
Common mistakes
What to double-check before using the result
Ignoring prep time
Patching, sanding, masking, moving items, and cleanup can change labor cost more than paint price.
Using perfect coverage
Texture, color changes, primer, and application method can reduce real coverage.
Forgetting overhead
Travel, supervision, supplies, insurance, and office time need to be recovered.
After the calculation
Turn the result into cleaner field work
Attach room notes
Save surfaces, colors, prep needs, and access notes with the estimate.
Confirm materials
Review primer, finish, brand, sheen, tape, plastic, caulk, and repair supplies.
Schedule the crew
Carry approved scope, room order, and customer expectations into the work order.
Related resources
Related templates
FAQ
Questions service teams ask about this tool
How do I estimate paint gallons?
Multiply surface area by number of coats, divide by coverage per gallon, and round up to the next whole gallon.
Should paint estimates include prep work?
Yes. Prep, repairs, masking, cleanup, and access can materially change labor cost.
Can this calculate exterior painting?
Yes, but exterior work should also consider height, weather, substrate condition, equipment, and safety requirements.