Painting Estimate Calculator
Estimate a painting job from crew hours, paint and supplies, equipment and overhead, plus your margin. The calculator gives the job price and the price per square foot of wall, so you can check a quick per square foot quote against the real work.
| Labour cost | $896 |
| Overhead | $193 |
| Total job cost | $1,479 |
| Price to quote | $2,113 |
| Profit | $634 |
| Markup on cost | 42.9% |
| Price per square foot | $1.76 |
| Revenue per labour hour | $66 |
Before sales tax, GST or HST. Works in any currency: the $ is just a label. Example numbers only: replace them with your own costs.
What to count in a painting price
- Prep time as well as painting time: patching, sanding, masking and cleanup
- Paint and primer by the gallon for the coats you plan, plus tape, rollers and caulk
- Equipment such as ladders, sprayers and drop cloths, and travel
- Overhead such as insurance, vehicle and marketing
- Your margin after paying the crew
Worked example
With a crew of 2 for 16 hours at $28 an hour, $350 in paint, primer and supplies, $40 in equipment, drop cloths and travel, 15% overhead and a 30% margin, the job costs $1,479 and the price comes to $2,113. That is $1.76 per square foot for 1,200 square feet of wall, $634 profit, and a 42.9% markup on cost.
Margin is not markup
Margin is profit as a share of the price; markup is profit as a share of your cost. A 30% margin needs a 42.9% markup, because the profit is measured against a smaller number. Mixing the two up can leave a busy season with less money than you planned. This calculator asks for the margin you want and shows the matching markup.
The Painting Estimate & Job Costing workbook (C$19.00, Excel, also opens in Google Sheets) keeps your rates in one price book, builds a printable client quote, and tracks what each job really cost and made, so your next price is based on your own numbers.
Questions
SHOULD I QUOTE BY THE SQUARE FOOT OR BY THE ROOM?
Per square foot is quick but prep varies a lot. Use the calculator with the real hours for the job to see whether the per square foot number still holds.
HOW MANY COATS SHOULD I PRICE?
Price the coats you will actually apply. A second coat adds labour hours and paint, so put both in the calculator.
This calculator is a planning tool, not financial or tax advice. Check the results against your own records before you rely on them.