Painting Your Whole House: Real Cost
Quick Answer
$3,500 whole-house average. Always get two-coat quotes — one-coat bids cost more long-term.
About This Video
Interior painting costs broken down in 60 seconds — the number, the range, and the one question that saves $1,200.
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About This Data
This 60-second version focuses on the two-coat vs. one-coat quote trap because it is the most common way homeowners overpay on painting. The $3,500 whole-house figure comes from PDCA regional surveys. Published first on homeservicecost.com. Full room-by-room breakdown linked below.
Full Transcript▾
Interior painting in 2026: $3,500 for a whole house, 4 to 6 rooms. Per room: $350 to $600 for a bedroom, $500 to $900 for a living room, $900 to $1,400 for a great room with high ceilings.
The one question that saves you $1,200: does the quote include two coats? A one-coat bid looks $800 cheaper but will need a redo within a year, especially if you are going from a dark color to a light one. Always compare two-coat quotes.
Paint matters but not as much as labor. Mid-range Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore at $45 to $55 a gallon is the sweet spot. Labor is 60 to 70 percent of your bill.
Get three quotes. The average spread on identical scope is $700. That is the cheapest $700 you will make on this project.
Full room-by-room pricing and the 4 add-ons that inflate quotes in the 6-minute version below.