Some contractors use a rough base rate of $1.50 or $2.00 per square foot, some multiply 4 to 6 times the paint cost, some estimate the time the job will take and add it to an estimate of materials—and some may simply offer the lowest price to outbid the competition.
Multiply the painting's width by its length to arrive at the total size, in square inches. Then multiply that number by a set dollar amount that's appropriate for your reputation. I currently use $6 per square inch for oil paintings. Then calculate your cost of canvas and framing, and then double that number.
How do you calculate the price per square foot for house painting? To find out your price per square foot on a project, divide your total cost estimate by the square footage of their home. Your cost estimate should include all expenses that go into the job, including materials, labor, and overhead costs.
Bidding on a paint job begins with inspecting the site to measure the walls and find any damage or other problem areas. Use the square footage to find the amount of paint and other materials you'll need. Estimate the labor costs of the job and add your overhead and profit margin to the final estimate.
“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” – Pablo Picasso. “Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.” – Stella Adler.
The general rule for estimating is to look at the digit to the right of the digit you want to estimate. Estimating or rounding to the nearest whole number means looking at the digit to the right of the decimal. If you see a digit greater than 5, round up, and if it's less than 5, round down.
A meticulous painting quote from reputable painting companies will generally encompass several elements — a detailed breakdown of services, the total cost of materials, labor costs which may be based on an hourly rate, the project timeline, the square footage to be painted, and yes, often the paint cost.
To estimate the square footage, you multiply length x width. For example: If you are painting a bedroom, you should measure from corner to corner of a wall and then measure the height. So if your wall is 12 ft wide and 8 ft high, that wall is 96 square feet.
The price per square foot for ceiling painting projects typically ranges between $5 and $9, depending on the complexity and requirements of the job.
Your quote should be broken down into three sections:
Second should be the decorating work that will be carried out – including how many coats of paint will be applied to certain areas. Lastly should be details of the materials to be used, including the make of paints used.
Always make sure your pricing covers your actual costs (canvas, paint, framing, shipping if applicable — unless you're going to charge a separate, additional amount for shipping/packaging). You also want to take into consideration how much time you put into creating your work.
Painters charge $300 to $1,000 per room, depending on the size. The average cost to paint a 12' x 12' room is $400 to $950. Labor costs alone are $180 to $650 per room. The DIY cost to paint a room is $100 to $300, which requires two gallons of paint.
Estimating is composed of four steps: 1) estimate preparation; 2) the takeoff; 3) extension and review; and 4) bid summarization.
Apply the three-point estimate formula: The three-point estimate formula is E = o + 4 m + p 6 , where E stands for the three-point estimate, o stands for the optimistic estimate, m stands for the most likely estimate, and p stands for the pessimistic estimate.
A detailed quote includes the brand of paints to use, cost of materials, measurement or size of area to paint, estimation of completion, guarantee and many other small details. Remember, a quote is not an invoice.
Based off our rule of thumb, two coats of paint is the absolute minimum you'll want for your walls. However, the material and previous colour of the wall can both influence this number – for unfinished drywall, for example, you'll want to add a coat of primer or undercoat paint too.