Does this separate trim and doors?

No—enter total area or run separate calcs for trim/doors if priced differently.

Interior vs exterior?

Use appropriate coverage and labor rates for your project; exterior often needs higher waste and labor.

Can I set labor to zero for DIY?

Yes—set labor/ft² to 0 to see material-only costs.

What about special finishes?

Increase labor/material costs for specialty finishes (high-gloss, textured, etc.).

How accurate is coverage?

Coverage varies—use manufacturer data or add waste to stay safe.

construction calculator

Paint Cost Calculator

Estimate paint materials, primer, labor, and supplies using area, coats, coverage, rates, and waste to get total cost and cost per sq ft.

Results

Adjusted area (sq ft): 1320.00
Paint gallons: 7.54
Primer gallons: 0.00
Paint cost: $264
Primer cost: $0
Labor cost: $1,980
Supplies: $150
Estimated total cost: $2,394
Cost per sq ft: $2

How to use this calculator

Enter area, coats (and primer if needed), and coverage per gallon.
Enter paint/primer cost per gallon and labor per sq ft.
Enter supplies and waste allowance.
See gallons, material costs, labor, total, and cost per sq ft.

Inputs explained

Area: Square footage to paint (walls/ceilings as applicable).
Coats/Primer: Topcoat and primer coats if required.
Coverage/gal: Manufacturer coverage per gallon per coat.
Paint/Primer cost: Cost per gallon for each.
Labor/ft²: Prep and paint labor per square foot.
Supplies: Rollers, brushes, tape, plastic, etc.
Waste/overage: Extra for texture, touch-ups, and losses.

How it works

Adjusted area = area × (1 + waste%). Gallons = (adjusted area × coats) ÷ coverage per gallon.

Material = paint gallons × paint cost + primer gallons × primer cost. Labor = adjusted area × labor/ft².

Total = material + labor + supplies.

Formula

Adjusted area = Area × (1 + Waste%)
Paint gallons = (Adjusted area × Coats) ÷ Coverage
Primer gallons = (Adjusted area × Primer coats) ÷ Coverage
Material = Paint gallons × Paint $ + Primer gallons × Primer $
Labor = Adjusted area × Labor $/ft²
Total = Material + Labor + Supplies
Cost/ft² = Total ÷ Area

When to use it

Budgeting an interior or exterior paint job before getting bids.
Comparing paint quality tiers by changing cost per gallon.
Estimating DIY vs pro by lowering labor to $0 and keeping materials realistic.

Tips & cautions

Increase waste for heavy texture or many cut-ins.
Primer coats matter for new drywall/stains; set primer coats to 1 if needed.
Labor rates vary by region/scope—adjust for ceilings, trim, or exterior complexity.
Does not separate trim/doors from walls; enter combined area or run separately.
Coverage varies by substrate and paint; use manufacturer specs if available.
Assumes flat labor rate; specialty finishes may cost more.

Worked examples

1,200 sq ft, 2 coats, no primer, $35/gal, $1.50 labor/ft², $150 supplies, 10% waste

Adjusted area = 1,320 sq ft
Paint gallons ≈ 7.54
Paint cost ≈ $264
Labor ≈ $1,980
Total ≈ $2,394; Cost/ft² ≈ $1.99

900 sq ft, 1 primer + 2 coats, $40 paint, $25 primer, $2.00 labor/ft², $200 supplies, 12% waste

Adjusted area ≈ 1,008 sq ft
Paint gallons ≈ 5.76; Primer gallons ≈ 2.88
Paint cost ≈ $230.40; Primer cost ≈ $72
Labor ≈ $2,016
Total ≈ $2,518; Cost/ft² ≈ $2.80

Deep dive

This paint cost calculator multiplies adjusted area by coats and coverage to find gallons, then adds paint/primer costs, labor, and supplies to show total cost and cost per sq ft.

Use it to budget DIY or pro paint jobs and to compare different paint qualities or waste assumptions.

FAQs

Does this separate trim and doors?: No—enter total area or run separate calcs for trim/doors if priced differently.
Interior vs exterior?: Use appropriate coverage and labor rates for your project; exterior often needs higher waste and labor.
Can I set labor to zero for DIY?: Yes—set labor/ft² to 0 to see material-only costs.
What about special finishes?: Increase labor/material costs for specialty finishes (high-gloss, textured, etc.).
How accurate is coverage?: Coverage varies—use manufacturer data or add waste to stay safe.

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Estimates only. Actual costs vary by surface, paint quality, and labor market. Confirm with contractors or paint suppliers.