STRUCTURE
1. The three parts of the cost
Material: the paint itself, plus primer on new or repaired drywall. Labor: what the painter charges, usually quoted per sq ft of wall. Prep: spackle, sandpaper, tape and drop cloths — the invisible part that decides the finish.
MATERIAL
2. Material cost per sq ft, with your gallon price
At 350 sq ft/gal per coat, two coats cover about 160 sq ft per gallon after waste. Divide your gallon price by 160 and you have material cost per sq ft of wall.
Example: a $40 gallon works out to $0.25 per sq ft of wall. A 12×12 room's 330 sq ft of wall costs about $82 in paint for two coats; a gallon-plus-quart covers it.
| Gallon price | Material per sq ft | One gallon covers |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | ≈ $0.16/sq ft | ≈ 160 sq ft |
| $40 | ≈ $0.25/sq ft | ≈ 160 sq ft |
| $70 | ≈ $0.44/sq ft | ≈ 160 sq ft |
Practical reference with 10% waste, no primer. A 5-gallon pail covers about 800 sq ft at two coats.
LABOR
3. The labor line: the range that moves the budget
Labor per sq ft swings by region, ceiling height and finish level more than by paint brand. The practical rule: on straightforward rooms, labor costs as much as or more than material, and on fine finishes it can double it. Get two quotes with the same written scope — coats, prep, cut-in — and compare that, not just the bottom number.
BUDGET
4. Building the full budget
Material × total wall area, plus quoted labor, plus 10% contingency. The cost calculator in the US toolbox runs the numbers with your real local prices, for one room or the whole house.
Ready to skip the math?
Open the paint calculator