2026 US figures · every formula shown · nothing uploaded
What will it cost to paint? Real numbers, no guessing.
Room-by-room painting costs, gallons, whole-house budgets, and the honest DIY-vs-pro math — every formula visible so you can check the painter's quote or price your own weekend. Start with the room calculator below.
ft
ft
ft
×
2 standard
Wall area
331 sqft
2 gallons for 2 coats
DIY cost
$85.1
$0.26/sqft
Materials
$85.1
2 gal paint + primer + supplies
Paint (2 gal × premium $37)$74.00
Supplies & sundries$11.10
Labor— (DIY)
Total$85.10 ($0.26/sqft)
Compare honestly: the DIY line is materials only — your hours are real. The DIY vs pro calculator prices them against the quote.
Wall area = 2×(L+W)×H − doors(21 sqft) − windows(16 sqft). Gallons = area × coats ÷ 350. Pro rate $1.5–3.5/sqft of wall (default $2). 2026 US figures.
All 7 painting calculators
From one bedroom to the whole house, inside and out — gallons, budgets and the break-even on hiring.
Interior Painting Calculators
View category →Interior Painting Cost Calculator
Room dimensions, coats and paint quality in — get paint gallons, material cost, and the full DIY vs pro breakdown.
Painting Cost Calculator
Whole-house repaint budgeting: home size and room count in — get total wall area, gallons and the DIY/pro cost.
Paint Coverage Calculator
Wall area and coats in — get exact gallons, primer, and the buy list by can size.
Paint Cost Per Square Foot
Work backwards from your budget: dollars in, paintable wall square feet out — at DIY or pro rates.
DIY vs Pro Painting Calculator
The honest comparison: your hours priced in dollars against the painter's quote — with the break-even rate.
Cabinet Painting Cost Calculator
Doors and drawers in — get the repaint cost DIY vs professional, and the vs-replacement reality check.
Guides
How Much to Paint a Room
The 2026 answer by room size, story and market — with the formula so the number survives contact with quotes.
Interior Painting Cost Per Square Foot
The $/sq ft bands for walls, floors and floor-area — and which one your quote is using.
DIY vs Hire a Painter
The decision framework: cash, hours, quality risk and the jobs that always go to pros.
Painting Labor Rates
What painters charge per hour and per sq ft in 2026 — and how labor-only quotes work.
Paint Buying Guide
Gallons, sheens, tiers and the can-size math — buy once, buy right.
Cabinet Painting Cost Guide
Per-door rates, prep reality, paint spec and the paint-vs-reface-vs-replace decision.
What this site does — and what it does not
It does
- Run the painting math — wall area with openings, gallons by coats, material and labor lines — and show every formula.
- Price the honest DIY decision: your hours converted to dollars against the quote.
- Keep every calculation in your browser; nothing you type is stored or sent.
It does not
- Replace a walkthrough quote — prep, repairs and your local market move real numbers.
- Know your walls — heavy textures, wallpaper removal and damage change coverage and hours.
- Quote the job — estimates for budgeting; the contract comes from your painter.