Painting quote calculator
Price a painting job from the areas and your own rates for walls, ceilings, doors and trims, plus prep, materials and markup. See the price per m² and how many days it is.
Price a painting job
No sign-up. Your rates are remembered for the next job, and nothing is uploaded.
Open the quote calculatorOpens in a new tab. Works on a phone, tablet or computer.
What it does
- Your rates, by surface: walls, ceilings, doors, skirting and architraves, windows, exterior walls, eaves and fences, by the m², the metre or each.
- Prep and harder jobs: prep hours at your hourly rate, and a loading for access or poor surfaces.
- Materials with markup: paint, sundries and equipment hire at cost, with your markup on top, and GST if you’re registered.
- Check it pays: the price per m² of painted area, and the hours and days at your hourly rate.
- Ready for the quote: copy the lines into a quote or a message, or print them for your records.
An example painting quote
| Item | Worked out | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Interior walls | 120 m² × $14 | $1,680.00 |
| Ceilings | 45 m² × $16 | $720.00 |
| Doors and frames | 6 × $110 | $660.00 |
| Skirting and architraves | 60 m × $9 | $540.00 |
| Prep and other labour | 6 hours × $65 | $390.00 |
| Paint and materials | at cost | $570.00 |
| Markup on materials | 15% | $85.50 |
| Total before GST | $4,645.50 | |
| GST (10%) | $464.55 | |
| Total inc GST | $5,110.05 |
An interior repaint with example rates, not market prices: about $28 a m² of painted area, and about 4 days for two painters at $65 an hour. Use your own rates.
How to use it
- Add a line for each surface with the area, length or number. The paint calculator works out the areas room by room.
- Set your rate for each surface once. They’re remembered on your device.
- Add the prep hours, materials and markup, and a loading if the job is harder than usual.
- Check the price per m² and the days, then copy the lines into your quote.
Common questions
How much should I charge per m² for painting?
Work it up from your own rates, prep and materials, then see what it comes to per m². The calculator’s example job (120 m² of walls, 45 m² of ceilings, 6 doors and 60 m of skirting) comes to $4,645.50 before GST, about $28 a m² of painted area. Your costs, area and the type of work will move that up or down.
How do I work out a painting quote?
Measure each surface, multiply by your rate for it, add a loading if access or the surfaces are hard, add your prep hours, then your paint and materials at cost with your markup. Add GST if you’re registered.
Should I quote by the hour or by the m²?
Most customers want a fixed price, so quote by the m², the metre or the item. The calculator also turns the price back into hours and days at your hourly rate, so you can check the job pays.
When do I add GST to a painting quote?
If you’re registered for GST, add 10%. You must register once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 a year. If you’re not registered, leave it off and don’t call your invoice a tax invoice.
What is the loading for access or condition?
An extra percentage on the surface lines for jobs that take longer: high or raked ceilings, stairwells, a lived-in home full of furniture, or surfaces that need a lot of patching. It saves changing every rate.
Is anything uploaded?
No. It all runs in your browser, works offline once open, and remembers your rates on your device for the next job.
More free tools
Got the price? Send the quote today.
Save your painting rates once, quote room by room with prep and materials spelt out, get it signed on site and invoice in one tap. Free for 30 days, no credit card.