Ever wondered how much to paint a bedroom? As in, how much does it cost to paint your bedroom, either by yourself or via a contractor? Well, having painted my own bedroom several times, I can tell you that the overall cost can vary quite a bit but there are some general ranges you should expect when getting bids or planning your budget.
There are many different factors to consider, from the type of paint you’re using to the prep work you didn’t know you needed. Gosh, that’s the worst! Even where you live will impact the final price. For example, in San Francisco, it’s about 15-20% higher than it might be in a more suburban area with a lower cost of living.
Still, you guys are here for answers, so that’s what we are gonna do. Keep reading, to get all the details on how much it costs to paint your bedroom, along with a few other things to consider before starting this common renovation project.
How Much to Paint a Bedroom, the Simple Answer
The average cost to paint an average size bedroom is around $2 to $6 per square foot and often hovers around $1,000 a bedroom if you decide to have your bedroom professionally painted. However, this falls within a range of $600 to $1,600, which are generally considered average prices for room painting.
Of course, factors such as wall height, room layout, and the number of coats of paint you’ll need will affect the final price. However, if you want to get a rough estimate this is a great place to start.
The average total cost of painting your bedroom varies by location and changes from year to year. Economic changes can have a fairly noticeable effect on the price of paint supplies.
Unfortunately, short of moving, location-based price differences are something you’re likely stuck with. I recommend shopping around a bit to find the best deals, rather than committing to your first option.
If you’re planning on decorating as well, check out my post on thrifting tricks to save even more!
How to Calculate Costs
To accurately figure out how much to paint a bedroom, you’ll first want to know how much a gallon of paint covers. One gallon of paint is generally good for 350 to 400 square feet of coverage.
Here’s an example. Let’s say your room is 300 square feet but needs two coats of paint. In that case, you’ll actually need 600 square feet of paint coverage! As such, two gallons is a common prerequisite for painting the average room size.
Measure the wall height and width to get the square footage for each wall you’ll be painting. Multiply these numbers together to get the square footage for each wall.
Once you’ve calculated the square footage using the width and height of the walls, you’ll need to subtract the areas you won’t be painting. But don’t overthink it. I like to have extra paint at all times for repairs and touch-ups. But, if you are tight on budget, this is a great thing to do to save some cash.
You can calculate the square footage for doors and windows using the same method as above. Just subtract the square footage of the door/window from the total square footage of the wall!
You may also need to make additional adjustments for other paintable areas, mainly trim, baseboards, or the ceiling. Consider grabbing paint for the nightstand, dressers, or other furniture if you’re trying to make your room fit a certain theme!
Paint Expenses
Alright, now you know how to use the size of the room to estimate the amount of paint you’ll need. While having high ceilings or a large surface area can certainly affect project costs, the type of paint you decide to work with can be just as influential!
There are a few different types of paints for you to choose from. I’ll briefly be going over the differences below. However, don’t feel like you’re limited to a single selection. Using too much paint in one color, tone, or type can make the room feel bland.
You can avoid blandness by incorporating different paints throughout the room. One option is to change colors as you approach ceiling height. You could also just paint the ceiling an entirely separate color.
For something that really stands out, it may be worth considering making one wall an accent wall. Regardless of what you choose, remember to go with paint that complements the larger layout.
Houseplants, furniture, bedsheets, wall art, and lighting are just a few of the things that will need to blend with your paint scheme. Be sure to put some thought into it before making your final selection.
Now, on to the paint types!
Gloss vs. Flat
When considering paint finishes, you’ll have flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss paints to choose from. Each one offers a unique look for your walls. Take some time to compare them and see which one(s) you like best.
Exactly how much to paint a bedroom ends up costing can be greatly influenced by the finish you go with. The cheapest flat paints will run you around $10 per gallon, whereas expensive high-gloss paints can cost $80 per gallon (or more!).
Most potential paints will fall somewhere within this per-gallon price range. However, prices range quite widely, so you can likely find a good deal if you shop around enough!
You can check out my favorite white paint here!
Latex Paints
Latex-based paints are extremely common for interior paint jobs. Fast drying, easy to apply, and easy to clean, it’s no wonder that so many people swear by latex paints!
These paints also have the advantage of being resistant to yellowing, cracks, and fading. This gives your walls a high probability of looking amazing for longer. That said, they’re also more prone to chips or peeling when compared to oil-based paints, and aren’t ideal in high-humidity areas.
Prices vary, but a gallon of latex paint will generally run from $15 to $70 per gallon.
Oil-based Paints
You can expect to pay a bit more for oil-based paint, with average prices ranging from $20 to $60 per gallon. This paint is highly durable, being resistant to the cracks, scuffs, and scratches that come from daily life.
However, oil-based paints are harder to work with. You’ll need good ventilation while painting with them and they require strong solvents to remove them from surfaces. Furthermore, they take longer to dry than their latex counterparts.
Even so, many people love oil-based paint, overlooking the downsides in favor of the glossy finishes that oil-based paints can provide.
Preparations
There’s one factor that many people don’t think about when trying to figure out how much to paint a bedroom: the required prep work! Proper prep work is much more than simply cleaning your space, but that’s a great place to start.
If hiring someone to paint your room then they’ll most likely take care of most of the prep work for you. However, if you’re doing it yourself then you’ll want to grab a protective apron and move down through the following steps.
Required Repairs
Painting requires a smooth surface if you want great results. Professional painters usually come prepared to remove your current paint (if required), sand down any bumps, and fill in tiny holes.
That said, how much repair work your painter is willing to do will depend on the specific contractor. You should have a discussion with the contractor before the first day of the project to ensure there’s nothing you’ll need to do on your end.
Expecting small, basic drywall repairs is reasonable. However, expecting your painter to replace an entire wall due to water damage is not. Remember, any extra tasks may result in a higher bill, especially if you’re being billed by the hour.
For this reason, I recommend doing as much prep work by yourself as possible.
Priming the Walls
Priming the walls may or may not be required. You can’t always just slap on a fresh coat of paint and call it a day! It really depends on the condition of the wall, the types of paints involved, and the colors in question.
Fortunately, priming the walls is both easy and affordable. A gallon of primer covers 200 to 300 square feet and costs an average of $20 per gallon. Of course, more expensive variants are offered as well.
You’ll need to factor primer costs into the total project costs.
Down to the Details Some Things to Consider for How Much to Paint a Bedroom
The majority of your paint costs will come from the walls themselves. However, it’s important to consider the smaller sections that will require paint as well. Will they be the same color, or will you opt for something else?
How much trim paint you need will depend on the amount of trim you have. Similar to the walls, it’s fairly easy to calculate the square footage of your trim. Just measure the length and width of the trim to get the magic number!
A gallon of regular paint covers up to 400 square feet. However, trim paint is generally sold by the quart, meaning it will only provide 80 to 100 square feet of coverage.
DIY Vs Hiring a Painter
Hiring a professional painter to complete your project can make painting your bedroom a much easier process. However, interior painting costs can vary widely from painter to painter, and simply hiring someone can complicate things.
From the vetting process to the hourly rate they charge, there are a lot of things to consider when searching for a contractor. Exactly how much to paint a bedroom costs are always more if you hire someone.
Turning your bedroom into a DIY project might seem like an easy way to save money, but that doesn’t mean the whole thing is a cakewalk. Here’s what you’ll want to know before tackling things yourself!
What You’ll Need for a DIY while Figuring Out How Much to Paint a Bedroom
If you’re painting a small room and already have the required tools on hand, how much to paint a bedroom yourself can cost as little as $200! Of course, the major downside is that you’ll have to do all the work—from prep to painting to cleanup—yourself. Still, the savings are definitely enticing.
That said, if you don’t have the equipment on hand already then the savings are reduced. Basic painting supplies such as drop cloths, paint rollers, painters’ tape, brushes, and paint trays can cost up to $100.
Depending on the height of your ceiling, you may also need to invest in a ladder. If you’re planning on painting multiple rooms, picking up a paint sprayer may be the most practical option. Naturally, everything you need to buy will increase the costs!
Calculate the total cost of the paint and required tools, then compare this against the pro’s prices to see if the DIY method is worth it to you.
Summary for how Much to Paint a Bedroom
In the end, exactly how much to paint a bedroom costs depends on a lot of different factors. The best way for you might not be the best way for someone else, so I strongly encourage you to consider all of the options available.
While paying someone for the perfect paint job can definitely be satisfying, marveling at your own work has its own appeal as well. Plus, since you’ll likely have a lower final cost, you can spend some of your savings on other bedroom upgrades!
Speaking of, check out my post on the best bedding for the perfect night’s sleep!
So, having figured out the approximate cost of your project, are you ready to revamp & repaint your bedroom? If so, I’d love to hear all about it! Let me know about your painting projects below, or check out what I’ve been up to over on my Instagram.
Until next time, guys. Love y’all!
Frequently Asked Questions About How Much to Paint a Bedroom
How much does it cost to paint a room 12×12?
It depends on how you go about it! The DIY approach has an average cost of $100 to $300. On the other hand, hiring a painter incurs labor costs, on top of the costs of multiple gallons of paint.
Paint prices themselves vary, depending on the quality of paint you’re using. You can expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $950 to paint a 12’ x 12’ room.
Is it cheaper to paint your own room?
Most definitely! The average price for hiring someone to paint a single room ranges from three to five times the price of painting it yourself. That said, you will need to make time to complete the project yourself and may need to purchase additional equipment.
On the plus side, you can invest the money you’ve saved in a bedroom gallery wall, mattress upgrade, or other bedroom revamp!
How do I estimate painting a room?
First, you’ll need to figure out the square footage for every surface you’ll be painting across the entire room.
The average price per square foot is $2.75, but you’ll want to check with your local painters to calculate a more accurate number. Multiplying the price per square foot by the total square footage will give you a general idea of the costs.
However, don’t forget to leave space in the budget for additional costs, such as required repairs!
How long does it take to paint a bedroom?
Painting the interior walls in your bedroom can take anywhere from one to four days. It ultimately depends on the size of your room, the speed at which the paint dries, and the overall scope of your project.
If you’re installing upgrades like wall sconces alongside completing your painting, you should expect the overall project to take a bit longer!
Can you paint ceiling and walls same day?
You can, but ideally, you’ll want to use the same paint color and start with the ceiling first. If you’re using different colors or different types of paint, it’s best to wait for the ceiling to dry completely before starting on the walls. Doing so will eliminate the risk of paint drips that require repainting!
Do professional painters wash walls before painting?
Generally speaking, no. While some painters may offer this service, you should expect to pay extra for it. Instead, it’s a good idea to wash the walls yourself. Not only will this make the painter’s job easier, but it also saves you some cash!
