How to use this painting estimate generator
Start from the three example lines and make them yours: set your labor rate, the paint and materials you'll actually use, and any equipment rental. Change a quantity or price and the running total on the right updates instantly. Add a global markup, your sales-tax rate, and a deposit, then export a PDF to send. Nothing is uploaded — the draft saves in your browser so it's still here when you come back.
What to include in a painting estimate
A quote that wins work — and protects you later — spells out the job instead of hiding it in one number. Include:
- Labor, broken out by task (prep and patching, walls and ceilings, trim and detail). Prep is where painting jobs are won or lost; don't bury it.
- Paint and materials — gallons by product, primer, caulk, tape, and supplies. Note the number of coats.
- Equipment — sprayer, ladders, or scaffold if the job needs them.
- Assumptions — surface condition, coats included, and what would change the price (extensive repairs, lead-safe work, extra colors).
- Terms — deposit to schedule, balance on completion, and how long the estimate is valid.
Typical painting price ranges (edit to your market)
The tool seeds these as editable hints — they are starting points, not gospel. Your real rates beat any table:
| Line | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Interior painting labor | hour | $40–$65 |
| Exterior painting labor | hour | $45–$75 |
| Interior paint | gallon | $30–$65 |
| Primer | gallon | $25–$48 |
| Airless sprayer rental | day | $50–$90 |
A worked example
Say an interior repaint runs 24 hours of labor at $45, 12 gallons of premium paint at $38, and $85 of supplies. With a 10% markup, 8.25% tax on materials, and a 25% deposit, the tool lands on a $1,898.20 total — $474.55 to schedule and $1,423.65 due on completion. Change any input and the receipt on the right re-totals in integer-precise cents, so your numbers always add up.
Mistakes to avoid
- Quoting one round number. A lump sum invites haggling; itemized lines make your price make sense.
- Forgetting prep. The single most underbid part of a paint job — measure it and charge for it.
- No written terms. Put the deposit, coats, and "what changes the price" in writing before you start.