Are you thinking about doing some work to your home? While full room renovations can be costly and time-consuming, a paint job can freshen up your living space at fraction of the expense. But, you may be asking, how much does it cost to hire a painter to paint a room?
On average it costs $380-$790 to hire a painter to paint a 10×12 room. This doesn’t include trim, ceilings, or the cost of the paint. To get an estimate of the average price of painting per room, other factors are figured in. The painter will need to know the square footage of the surface to be painted. To calculate square footage yourself, measure the height and length of each of the walls you want to be painted. Multiply the height and length of each wall separately, then add them all together.
How Much Does a House Painter Charge Per Hour?
The labor cost for a painter to paint a room can depend on the time of year, the type of project, as well as the level of experience needed. House painting projects are usually around $50 an hour, but if you want a specialty project, such as a mural, it can be up to $70 an hour.
Factors That Influence the Cost to Hire a Painter?
100 to 120 square feet of a flat surface should be able to be covered in about an hour. If the walls are wood or plaster, the amount covered an hour would be about 80 to 100 square feet. There are other cost factors that will influence the price of hiring a painter. They include:
- The size of the room to be painted.
A larger room will take a longer time to paint, so that means more supplies and more time. A gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet, so you’ll be charged for the number of cans of paint needed.
- The texture of your walls.
Walls with a coarser texture will need more paint applied than on smooth walls.
- Drying time.
Also added to the cost is the amount of time it takes for the first coat to dry before being able to add the second coat.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Painter
Before hiring anyone to do work on your home it’s important to do your due diligence. Here are some questions you’ll want to ask a painter before hiring them.
- How long have you been painting?
- What’s the experience level of your crew?
- How long will this project take to complete?
- What do you need me to do before the job is started?
- Do I need to complete any repairs?
- What paints do you recommend for this job?
- What happens if you get paint on the furniture or carpet?
- Do you do a complete cleanup of your trash when the job is completed?
- Are your insurances and license up to date? Do you have a warranty guarantee?
- Do you do the job yourself or do you hire freelancers?
- Can you provide references with contact information?
How much would a painter charge to paint a room?
It depends on the size of the room and what texture the walls are made from. It takes a painter longer to paint a large room than a smaller one. You will be charged for the number of cans used. Plus, textured walls need more paint than smooth walls do. An additional 300 to 350 square feet of paint will be needed because of the texture.
What can you do to cut costs?
If you’re feeling like you’d want to cut down on how much you’re about to spend, here are some ideas that you can do to reduce the cost of a painting estimate. If you do the surface preparation yourself, then that will be a step that the professional painter won’t have to do.
To do so, you’ll need to prepare the area by washing it. Just make sure that no soap is left on the walls, or the paint won’t adhere properly. Inspect the area for any cracks, holes, or other issues. Use acrylic caulk to fill in any problems you find. To smooth out the caulk, use a putty knife. Apply a second coat once it dries because it will shrink.
Make sure there isn’t any furniture in the way of the painters. If you can remove all the furniture out of the room, that’s ideal. If not, move it into the center of the room, and your painters will cover it with plastic sheets. Also, remove pictures, clocks, mirrors or anything else you have hanging on the walls. If you’re paying your painter by the hour and they have to move all this stuff, it will cost you extra money.
Remember to remove all your light switch plates and covers, especially if they don’t match your décor. Removing dried paint isn’t always easy. Another thing is to contain your pet or pets. Either place them in another room or a crate. If not, you’ll have paint on your pet and fur and hair on your walls.
Is this something you can do yourself?
Painting the rooms in your house yourself is something you can do. However, they may not be completed as fast if you do them. A professional will have 3-4 people working at any one time. Plus, reaching those hard-to-paint places are important to prevent mold and other damage. You can save money by doing it yourself, but a professional is just that, professional. The other question is, do you really want to spend your spare time painting the rooms in your home?
Summary: Average Cost to Hire a Painter
On average it costs $380-$790 to hire a painter to paint a 10×12 room. Many factors come into play when you hire a painter, such as room size, amount of people on the job, time of year, type of project, and even the preparedness of the room beforehand. But for a professional job, it’s worth the cost of a professional painter. Soon you’ll be able to enjoy your home’s new facelift!
At Bishoff Home Services, we offer painting in small rooms (i.e. Dining room, Bathrooms, Bedrooms smaller than 12 x 12). If you would like a free estimate, please call 704-349-6008