If you’ve ever asked “how much does it cost to paint a room,” you’ve probably seen a wide range of answers—and for good reason. A small bedroom with clean walls can be inexpensive, while the same-size room with heavy patching, multiple colors, tall ceilings, and lots of trim can cost several times more. In the U.S., most reputable cost guides land in a similar ballpark: roughly $200 to $2,000 to paint a room, with many “typical” projects clustering around the ~$1,100 mark depending on scope and local labor rates. (Angi)

The short version: typical cost ranges (pro vs DIY)

Professional painter (most common): Many national cost guides put a single-room interior paint job around $200–$2,000 depending on room size and scope. (Angi)

Priced by size (example): Thumbtack’s national averages show small-room projects often starting in the few-hundred-dollar range and rising with larger wall surface areas and additional work. (thumbtack.com)

DIY materials only: Often $80–$300+ for paint and basics for a typical bedroom, depending on paint quality, whether you need primer, and how many gallons you use. Paint alone can range roughly $10–$100+ per gallon, and premium lines list higher (store/location-dependent). (Angi)

Why painting prices vary so much

Room painting isn’t priced only by “the room.” Pros price by the time and complexity it takes to get a clean, durable finish. The biggest cost drivers show up again and again in major pricing guides:

1) Room size and ceiling height: More surface area = more time and paint. (Angi)

2) Prep work level: Patching, sanding, stain-blocking, and caulking can be the difference between a quick job and a two-day project. (CertaPro Painters)

3) Scope: Walls only vs walls + ceiling + trim/doors/closets. (Fixr)

4) Pricing model in your area: Pros may quote by square foot, by the room, or hourly for smaller/specialty spaces. (Angi)

What painters charge: per square foot and hourly rates

Many national sources cite $2 to $6 per square foot as a common interior painting range (often based on home/room footprint and scope), which is why estimates jump quickly when you add ceilings and trim. (Home Advisor)

Hourly pricing is also common for detailed or awkward spaces. Angi notes hourly painter rates commonly run $20–$50/hour for standard jobs, and up to $75–$100/hour for highly detailed work. (Angi)

Cost by room size (realistic expectations)

Different guides summarize the range slightly differently, but they’re consistent on the big picture: small rooms can be a few hundred dollars, and larger rooms with ceilings/trim can push well past $1,000.

Angi’s room painting guide cites an average around $1,100 with a broad range of $200–$2,000. (Angi)

Fixr’s room-cost breakdown notes many professional room projects fall roughly around $300–$1,750 depending on whether you’re painting walls only or the entire room (including trim/ceiling), with small baths on the low end and large spaces higher. (Fixr)

Thumbtack’s cost guide also shows national averages scaling up with surface area and scope. (thumbtack.com)

Walls only vs “the whole room”: what you’re actually paying for

A common misunderstanding is assuming “paint a room” always means the same scope. In reality, these are different jobs:

Walls only: fastest, least expensive, often one color.
Walls + ceiling: more ladder time, more cutting-in, more paint.
Walls + ceiling + trim/baseboards/doors: detail-heavy; trim often needs a different paint type and more careful application. Fixr’s tables and HomeAdvisor’s pricing notes reflect that adding trim/ceilings increases per-square-foot pricing versus walls-only work. (Fixr)

DIY cost breakdown: paint, primer, and supplies

DIY can be much cheaper, but you’ll still spend real money—especially if you’re buying quality paint and the right tools.

Paint price reality: Angi estimates a typical gallon of paint at about $20–$30 on average, with a wider range of $10–$100+ depending on brand and finish. (Angi)

Premium paint example: Sherwin-Williams lists premium interior lines like Emerald Designer Edition with list prices around $120.49+ per gallon (pricing varies by store/location and discounts). (sherwin-williams.com)

How much paint you need: Coverage varies, but a common planning number is roughly 375–425 sq ft per gallon for wall paint (less if walls are rough, very porous, or you’re making a dramatic color change). (Clare)

Primer coverage: Often lower—Clare estimates primer around 225–275 sq ft per gallon, which matters if you’re covering stains or switching from dark to light. (Clare)

A realistic DIY materials bucket for one average bedroom often includes: 2 gallons wall paint (two coats), optional 1 gallon primer, roller covers, brush, tape, tray/liners, spackle/sandpaper. Depending on paint tier and what you already own, that frequently lands in the $80–$300+ range (and can climb higher with premium paint or more prep). (Angi)

A simple cost estimator you can use in minutes

You can get surprisingly close with three steps.

Step 1: Estimate paintable wall area

A quick method is: (Perimeter × Ceiling height) = wall area
Example room: 10′ × 12′ with 8′ ceilings
Perimeter = 10 + 12 + 10 + 12 = 44 ft
Wall area = 44 × 8 = 352 sq ft

Step 2: Convert area into gallons

If 1 gallon covers ~375–425 sq ft, then one coat on 352 sq ft is roughly ~0.8–0.95 gallons. Two coats is roughly ~1.6–1.9 gallons, so most people buy 2 gallons for walls (more if your walls are very thirsty or you’re changing colors heavily). (Clare)

Step 3: Apply a pro pricing range (if hiring)

If pros commonly price interiors around $2–$6 per sq ft (depending on scope), you can use that as a sanity-check range—then refine based on prep level, ceiling/trim, and local labor costs. (Home Advisor)

Real-world example budgets (what most homeowners run into)

Budget scenario (walls only, minimal prep): A small-to-average room, one color, clean walls, standard ceiling height can often land in the lower end of the $200–$2,000 spectrum cited by Angi, especially in lower-cost labor markets. (Angi)

Mid-range scenario (walls + some patching, two coats): Common “typical” pricing aligns with guides that put the average around ~$1,100 for a room with normal prep and pro labor. (Angi)

Higher-cost scenario (add ceiling + trim/doors + heavy prep): Detailed work can push prices toward the top of typical ranges; Fixr’s “entire room” tables (including trim/ceiling) and HomeAdvisor’s broader interior-cost notes show higher totals when scope expands. (Fixr)

Hidden add-ons that can change your quote fast

These are the items that commonly add time (and therefore money):

Ceilings: extra cutting-in and ladder time. (Fixr)

Trim/baseboards: detail work; often different paint and finish level expected. (Fixr)

Doors and closets: more edges, more drying time, more handling. (Fixr)

Dark-to-light color changes: may require primer and extra coats. Primer typically covers less area per gallon than paint. (Clare)

Wall repairs and stain blocking: prep can rival the painting time itself. (Home Advisor)

How to get accurate quotes (and avoid surprise charges)

Ask each painter to quote the same scope so you’re comparing apples to apples:

Specify: walls only vs walls + ceiling vs full room (trim/doors)
Confirm number of coats and whether primer is included (especially for color changes)
Ask how prep is handled: patching, sanding, caulking, stain-blocking
Get clarity on pricing model: square foot, per room, or hourly (some jobs are billed hourly)

FAQs

How much does it cost to paint a bedroom?

Most national guides put room painting broadly in the few-hundred to low-thousands depending on size and scope; Angi cites $200–$2,000 with an average around $1,100 as a broad benchmark.

Is it cheaper to paint yourself?

Usually yes—labor is the biggest cost. DIY expenses are primarily paint, primer, and supplies; paint prices can still vary widely from $10 to $100+ per gallon, with premium paint listing higher.

How much paint do I need for one room?

A common planning estimate is ~375–425 sq ft per gallon for wall paint; primer often covers less (around 225–275 sq ft per gallon). Exact needs depend on texture, porosity, and how dramatic the color change is.

Do painters charge by the hour or by the room?

Both happen. Angi notes hourly rates can range from $20–$50/hour for standard work and up to $75–$100/hour for detailed work, while many pros also quote by square footage for typical interiors.

Bottom line

For most U.S. homeowners, the cost to paint a room lands somewhere between $200 and $2,000, with “typical” projects often clustering around ~$1,100 depending on size, prep, and whether you add ceilings and trim.