| Project | Time | Typical cost | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room paint (10×12, walls only, 2 coats) | 1 day | $765 | $627 – $918 |
| Whole interior repaint (1700 sq ft, walls + ceilings) | 4–6 days | $6,569 | $5,386 – $7,882 |
| Exterior repaint (1700 sq ft, prep + 2 coats) | 4–7 days | $7,659 | $6,281 – $9,191 |
| Kitchen cabinet refinish (sand, prime, sprayed enamel) | 3–5 days | $2,973 | $2,438 – $3,567 |
| All trim + 6 interior doors (whole house) | 2 days | $1,875 | $1,538 – $2,250 |
| Ceiling paint refresh (avg 1500 sq ft) | 1 day | $1,068 | $876 – $1,282 |
| Deck stripping + restain (300 sq ft) | 2 days | $1,299 | $1,065 – $1,559 |
| Pre-paint pressure wash (whole exterior) | half day | $389 | $319 – $467 |
| Wallpaper removal + skim coat (one room) | 1–2 days | $864 | $709 – $1,037 |
A pro painter's job is mostly prep, not paint: washing, sanding glossy/peeling areas, scraping, patching nail holes and drywall damage, caulking trim seams, masking floors and fixtures, priming bare or stain-prone areas, then finally rolling, brushing, or spraying two coats of finish. On exteriors, that prep includes a full pressure wash, scraping any peeling sections to bare wood, spot-priming with a bonding primer, and re-caulking every trim seam — typical exterior jobs are 3–5 days for a 1,700 sq ft home. The most common scope inflation is "spraying" cabinets without sanding/de-glossing first; it looks great for six months and then peels. Lead-paint disclosures are required for any pre-1978 home (EPA RRP rule) and a properly-trained painter will follow a containment protocol.
A bid that's 40% lower than competitors almost always means thinned paint, one coat instead of two, or skipping primer on patched areas — and it shows within a year.