| Project | Time | Typical cost | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room paint (10×12, walls only, 2 coats) | 1 day | $653 | $535 – $783 |
| Whole interior repaint (1700 sq ft, walls + ceilings) | 4–6 days | $5,605 | $4,596 – $6,726 |
| Exterior repaint (1700 sq ft, prep + 2 coats) | 4–7 days | $6,535 | $5,359 – $7,842 |
| Kitchen cabinet refinish (sand, prime, sprayed enamel) | 3–5 days | $2,536 | $2,080 – $3,044 |
| All trim + 6 interior doors (whole house) | 2 days | $1,600 | $1,312 – $1,920 |
| Ceiling paint refresh (avg 1500 sq ft) | 1 day | $911 | $747 – $1,093 |
| Deck stripping + restain (300 sq ft) | 2 days | $1,108 | $909 – $1,330 |
| Pre-paint pressure wash (whole exterior) | half day | $332 | $272 – $398 |
| Wallpaper removal + skim coat (one room) | 1–2 days | $738 | $605 – $885 |
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.