Free Painting Estimate Template
A complete, line-item painting estimate you can preview below — masking and prep, patching, primer, two finish coats on walls and ceilings, trim and doors, plus materials and cleanup — with a plain-language guide to surface prep, coating systems and the lead-paint rules that apply to pre-1978 homes.
| Line item | Qty | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Prep — mask, cover, patch & caulk | 1 lot | $780.00 |
| Primer — stain-blocking, spot & full | 1,850 sf | $520.00 |
| Walls — 2 finish coats | 4,600 sf | $2,300.00 |
| Ceilings — 1 coat flat | 1,850 sf | $740.00 |
| Trim & baseboard — enamel | 620 lf | $930.00 |
| Doors & jambs (both sides) | 12 | $960.00 |
| Materials — paint, sundries | 1 lot | $1,140.00 |
| Cleanup & touch-up walkthrough | 1 lot | $260.00 |
| Total | $7,630.00 | |
Payment schedule
How to measure and price painting work
- Measure wall square footage as perimeter x ceiling height; subtract only large openings, and count ceilings separately.
- Trim, base and crown are priced by the linear foot; doors, windows and cabinets are priced per unit.
- Estimate paint at roughly 350 sq ft per gallon per coat, then add 10% for touch-up and leave-behind.
Painting building-code guide
Painting is governed less by the IRC and more by federal lead-safety rules, VOC limits and the coating manufacturer's written spec — which is the document a warranty claim will be judged against.
- Any disturbance of more than 6 sq ft interior or 20 sq ft exterior of painted surface in a pre-1978 home requires an EPA Lead-Safe Certified firm
- Required practices: contain the work area, no open-flame burning or high-speed sanding without HEPA, and a verified cleaning at the end
- You must give the owner the 'Renovate Right' pamphlet and keep records for 3 years — fines are per day, per violation
- Clean, dry, dull and sound: wash off chalk and grease, sand gloss, and remove all failing coating back to a sound edge
- Moisture content of wood siding should be under 15% before coating — trapped moisture is the #1 cause of peeling
- Prime all bare wood, patched drywall and stains; spot-priming patches without priming the surrounding area causes flashing
- Spread rate on the label is the legal spec — thinning beyond the label voids the manufacturer warranty
- Two coats is the standard for a color change; a one-coat 'refresh' should be written as such on the estimate
- Many states (CA, NY, and OTC states) cap VOC content — confirm the product is compliant before ordering
- Caulk only the joints designed to be sealed — never caulk the bottom edge of lap siding or weep holes; that traps water
- Do not paint over active moisture intrusion; flashing and sealant failures must be corrected first
- Respect temperature and dew-point limits on the can (usually 50°F and rising, and 5°F above dew point)
Code quick reference — Painting
| Item | Requirement | Code reference |
|---|---|---|
| Substrate moisture | Dry per coating data sheet before priming | Manufacturer |
| Spread rate | Apply at labeled sq ft/gal to hit dry film thickness | Manufacturer |
| Recoat window | Respect the min/max recoat times on the label | Manufacturer |
| Lead-safe work | Certified RRP practices in pre-1978 housing | EPA 40 CFR 745 |
| VOC limits | State/regional VOC caps on architectural coatings | Local air district |
Drawings & details
Simplified section and plan views of the details inspectors look at most. Illustrative only — not to scale.
Adjust the values — the drawing below updates in real time.
- 1 · Topcoat 2 — recoat window per label(0.06")
- 2 · Topcoat 1 — Layer in the assembly, drawn top to bottom(0.06")
- 3 · Primer / sealer — stain-blocking where needed(0.06")
- 4 · Prepared substrate — clean, dry, sanded, patched(0.50")
- Topcoat 2: 0.06"
- Topcoat 1: 0.06"
- Primer / sealer: 0.06"
- Prepared substrate: 0.50"
- Total assembly: 0.69" (0 11/16")
Adjust the values — the drawing below updates in real time.
- 1 · Front clearance — Mask & protect(36.00")
- 2 · Rear clearance — Ventilate + lead-safe if pre-1978(1978.00")
- 3 · Unit / fixture width — Repair / patch area(60.00")
- 4 · Wall to wall — Total room dimension needed(170' 2 12/16")
- Front clearance: 36.00" · Rear clearance: 1978.00"
- Unit / fixture width: 60.00"
- Mask & protect
Inspection-day checklistShow
- Surfaces washed, scraped, sanded and patched before priming.
- Bare wood, stains and repairs spot-primed.
- Containment and HEPA cleanup documented on pre-1978 homes.
- Cut lines and coverage inspected under raking light.
- Batch numbers recorded for future touch-ups.
Code references are based on the 2021 IRC and related model codes. Local amendments, state codes and manufacturer instructions can be stricter — always confirm with your local building department before starting work.
Common painting estimating mistakes
- Quoting from a walkthrough without measuring — the ceiling height alone can swing the price 20%.
- Bundling prep into the coating line, so extra patching turns into free work instead of a change order.
- Ignoring the RRP rule on a pre-1978 house, which is a federal fine and an uninsured liability.
Export a branded, client-ready PDF or send a sign-from-phone link.
Your client reviews and signs the estimate from any device.
EPA lead-safe (RRP) requirements, surface-prep standards and manufacturer spread-rate specs that protect your warranty.
Painting estimate FAQ
What should a painting estimate include?
A painting estimate should list prep and masking, patching and caulking, primer, the number of finish coats with wall and ceiling square footage, trim and door counts, materials, and cleanup with a touch-up walkthrough.
How do painters price a job?
Most painters price by measured square footage of surface plus linear feet of trim and per-unit doors and windows, then add materials at about 350 sq ft per gallon per coat. Prep is priced separately because it varies the most.
Do I need to be lead-certified to paint an older house?
Yes. Under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, disturbing more than 6 square feet of paint inside a pre-1978 home requires a Lead-Safe Certified firm and documented containment and cleaning.
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