Free browser tool
Painting estimate calculator
Turn one room's measurements into a wall-painting estimate. Subtract door and window openings, enter your paint's coverage and planned coats, and calculate labor from your own work speed. Paint, other supplies, labor and markup are shown separately so you can review what the price includes.
Painting price breakdown
Enter the room measurements and your own painting assumptions to see the estimate.
The formulas
Gross wall area = 2 × (room length + room width) × wall height.
Paintable area = gross wall area − door openings − window openings.
Gallons needed = paintable area × coats ÷ coverage per gallon. Purchased gallons = gallons needed rounded up to a whole gallon.
Labor hours = paintable area × coats ÷ your painting speed per coat.
Materials = purchased gallons × gallon price + other materials. Labor = hours × hourly rate.
Price = (materials + labor) × (1 + markup ÷ 100).
How it works.
- Measure a rectangular room's length, width and wall height. Add up door openings and window openings separately, then enter those areas to subtract from the walls. Ceilings, trim and irregular room shapes are outside this model.
- Enter expected coverage per gallon per coat from the paint information and the surface you are working on. Choose the coat count and your gallon price. The tool shows calculated paint use and rounds the purchase quantity up to whole gallons.
- Supply the square feet you expect to paint per hour per coat and your labor hourly rate. Allow for preparation in that productivity assumption or scope preparation separately. Add primer, masking, patching and other materials as a separate cost.
- Apply your chosen markup to the combined material and labor cost. Check surface condition, access, cleanup and exclusions before presenting the estimate. The browser calculation is not a contract, does not add tax and does not save entries.
Useful answers.
Does the area include the ceiling?
No. The calculation uses the perimeter of a rectangular room multiplied by wall height, less openings. Estimate ceilings, trim, cabinets and unusual shapes separately so the labor and materials for those surfaces are not missed.
Why are paint needed and purchased gallons different?
Paint needed is the calculated amount across all coats using your entered coverage. The purchase quantity rounds that amount up to a whole gallon, and the paint cost uses that purchase quantity. Review container sizes, remaining stock and any extra allowance yourself.
How should I account for preparation?
The labor estimate divides coated wall area by the productivity you enter. You can use a measured rate that includes the preparation involved, or estimate preparation separately outside the tool. Heavy patching, protection, moving furniture and difficult access need attention before you settle on a price.
Is the markup a profit margin?
Markup is added to material and labor cost; margin compares profit with the selling price. They use different denominators. Use the linked profit margin calculator if you want to compare them, and include overhead in the costs or rates your quote needs to recover.
Keep exploring.
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Create your invoice or use your calculated price in the app. This browser tool does not transfer entries into your account. Start your 14-day free trial. No card needed.
Compare plans in USD