| Project | Time | Typical cost | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room paint (10×12, walls only, 2 coats) | 1 day | $527 | $433 – $633 |
| Whole interior repaint (1700 sq ft, walls + ceilings) | 4–6 days | $4,529 | $3,713 – $5,434 |
| Exterior repaint (1700 sq ft, prep + 2 coats) | 4–7 days | $5,281 | $4,330 – $6,337 |
| Kitchen cabinet refinish (sand, prime, sprayed enamel) | 3–5 days | $2,049 | $1,680 – $2,459 |
| All trim + 6 interior doors (whole house) | 2 days | $1,293 | $1,060 – $1,552 |
| Ceiling paint refresh (avg 1500 sq ft) | 1 day | $736 | $604 – $883 |
| Deck stripping + restain (300 sq ft) | 2 days | $896 | $734 – $1,075 |
| Pre-paint pressure wash (whole exterior) | half day | $268 | $220 – $322 |
| Wallpaper removal + skim coat (one room) | 1–2 days | $596 | $489 – $715 |
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.